From the Hospital

It has been 10 nights since Jerry's heart attack. Last night was our 9th night here at the Veteran's Hospital. Before surgery I just slept in his room, since surgery, they haven't let me stay with him all night, I've been staying in guest quarters that the military provides. I am lucky they have had a bed for me available each night (the veteran's come first) and it has saved us plenty and allows me to be close.
Jerry has had the urinary catheter removed and the chest drainage tubes were removed yesterday. The tube removal was planned for noon yesterday, and the plan was to give him pain meds about an hour before. At 10 am, one of the doctors came in, announced she had time to remove it, had a nurse help and yanked the thing out. It caused him MUCH pain for about 2 hours. I was furious! The nurse warned us that he would need pain meds for the procedure and warned us about some doctors that didn't seem to care. We thought we were a step ahead. I lose all respect for a doctor who doesn't care about patients any further than the procedure at hand. That actually was the first negative experience we've had here.
Jerry is doing well. Good appetite. Blood work coming back in acceptable ranges. Doing plenty of walking. Bored and wanting to go home. We are hoping he will be discharged tomorrow.
I spend most of the day in the room with him. Neither of us are TV watchers, there's not much else to do here, so we flick through the channels making negative comments and wondering how TV programming got so bad. Discovery channel has some good stuff. Animal planet is sometimes OK, the rest... 'thumbs down'.
Remember as kids in 4-H or scouts, we went to 'old folks' homes for Christmas programs? Well let me tell you those programs are valued! Last night I was on the receiving end. The hospital had its' annual Christmas Craft Fair for the veterans and dependents here. WOW. Jerry is a prisoner of the ICU but encouraged me to get out. They had very nice box dinners to hand out, I ate. The large hospital auditorium was filled with tables for various groups and their craft projects. There were lots of patients in wheel chairs having a great time and a few of us wives too. What an appreciated break and it was most fun being entertained by the enthusiastic kids helping. There were scouts, Church groups, civic groups, ladies clubs, etc. I made a small Christmas tree, an ornament, leather worked a key ring, wood burned a picture frame, and decorated a Christmas stocking. Tooked them all up to the room and gave Jerry an early Christmas. He almost cried, I just love that man, he didn't even make fun of the elementary-age-art appearance of the stocking, just insisted I hang it on his wall. We have not been together long enough for him to know that I lack artistic abilities, but I don't think he cares....
Time now for me to get a cup of coffee and go up to ICU and ask Jerry what he has planned for the day....
My love to you all.

Update

Jerry is recovering as expected. Today was a painful one and he slept much more than yesterday. His sons and I visited him less to allow him more uninterrupted sleep. He is dealing well with the pain and the temporary loss of independence and is stubborn about accepting all of our offers to help, which is quite healthy I believe. His grandchildren were able to call him today which brought huge smiles to his face. He spent most of the day in the hospital recliner, he is much more comfortable sleeping there than on the bed. I just want to get us both home.

The 'boys' leave tomorrow, early; I'll drive them to the airport at 5 a.m. Their flights are about 2 hours apart. I will miss their help, their support, and their goofy-funny-friendly antics! The nurses and everyone loves them. I wish they were staying longer.

This hospital is the most nurturing place I have ever experienced. I have met and been touched by incredible veterans of all ages and stages of health here. One day I will share some of those stories.

Last night I slept my first good sleep since last Monday night. Tonight I am restless. I was up and in the ICU by 5:30 am, I should be tired. I miss home, I hate seeing Jerry so painful, everything seems so abnormal and 'out of whack'. We will be here at least another week we are being told. I am so grateful and thankful that everything has been as it has been, he is alive and his heart has been repaired.

Tomorrow one of his best friends and wife will visit. He will like that. Jerry has many 'best friends', people like him and he likes people. He's a very social animal. Unlike myself and my need for regular times of solitude. Have I mentioned that I just want to get us home? ;-)

Please would all of you expand your prayers and include all of the veterans and families?

Peace.

A Success

Surgery was successful! Four hours, a triple by-pass, now in ICU. Jerry will be kept sleeping and on a ventilator until tomorrow, when they will slowly awaken him. The surgeon said all went well. I am resting in his sons' hotel room after a nice long hot bath. I feel completely zapped of all energy. The 'boys' are wonderful, wonderful men and I am so thankful they are here. Two of Jerry's dear friends (mine now too) were here with us for the long wait. We are so blessed to have Jerry still with us. After a bit more resting, I'll call them to come pick me up to take me back to the hospital, they did threaten that I not call too soon, that they would not answer the phone. I have a bed in a guest house the military provides right next to the hospital. I will have to stay there tonight, they don't want me sleeping in surgery recovery ICU. He is at a VA hospital and I am totally 'blown away' by the excellent care and compassion we have experienced here. We may be here another 7- 10 days. I want to thank everyone for positive thoughts, comments and prayer.

Detour

We reached a detour on our trail, not a major road-block, just a detour. Jerry had a heart attack Monday midnight, while I was out of town. My phone was turned off so I did not get his messages until Tuesday morning. That was a long 4 hour drive back home! He drove himself to the hospital. They stabilized him and then he was transported to a hospital here in the San Fransisco area last night. I followed the ambulance, kind of. They could use the express lane, I couldn't. It took me four hours to get here. I slept in a chair by his bed all night. He looks bright, alert, and chipper this morning. Two of his sons are flying in today, one from Virginia, one from Idaho. I am sure glad they will be here. Tomorrow they have scheduled his by-pass surgery. He has an excellent attitude and just wants to get on with it. His sense of humor is intact and in full gear. I, on the other hand, am worried sick. I came out to my truck to change and brush my teeth and deodorize and catch up on emails. Now I have to go find some food. I left the room when he dove into his breakfast and I remembered I haven't eaten a thing in a day and a half.