rivka | (no subject)

My gratitude to the hospital for putting in this computer terminal has been dimmed, somewhat, by the discovery that they put games on it. With sound. With no way, apparently, to lower the sound. There's an older guy in the waiting room today who has developed a fondness for some sort of noisy shoot-em-up game, god help me.

Yesterday was a much quieter waiting room day, without the constant stream of family visitors requiring civil conversation. We saw Papa four times. Each time he looked a little better. At the 5:00 visit he was sitting up in a chair, and he managed to eat a fair amount of his dinner. So it's been encouraging. All day yesterday they were saying that today he'd be moved up to the floor.

Today, not so encouraging. He spiked a little fever last night, and today there's something they don't like on the heart monitor whenever they get him out of bed. (I heard about this second-hand through his wife, so the medical details were somewhat lacking.) He's going to have another day in the ICU. The slightly alarming part is that he doesn't mind having another day in the ICU - it sounds good to him. I guess it's better for him to have another day of the highest-quality nursing care, but it feels like a step backward from where we expected to be today.

When we got to visiting hours this morning, they were just taking out his chest tube. Afterwards, all he could really do was sleep - he looked utterly drained. Hopefully he'll be feeling a bit better by the noon visit, and we'll be able to stay a little longer.

My task for the day, I think, is being charitable towards Papa's wife. She's really starting to get on my nerves. I'm trying to remind myself that no one is at their best under stress, and that I need to be as kind to her as I can, regardless.

I think I'm going to be in this waiting room for the rest of my life.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

If you were in Nashville rather than Memphis, I would offer to come sit with you for a few hours, but Memphis is a bit too far away for that. Nevertheless, you are in my thoughts and I continue to hope that all goes well.

That's kind of you, Janet. Thank you. I know you've recently been through a lot worse than this, with your father's final days.

My having had a rough couple of months doesn't make what you're going through any less difficult, and doesn't diminish my concern and sympathy.

Hang in there love. You're doing fine. Please pass along my regards to Michael.

*gurgle*

My gratitude to the hospital for putting in this computer terminal has been dimmed, somewhat, by the discovery that they put games on it. With sound.

Oh dear. I had been thinking what a brilliantly sensitive idea it was to have Internet access for the families of people in intensive care. When we were keeping vigil for my father, the waiting rooms just had pay phones, old magazines, and television.

I'm not sure which would be more annoying, video-game noises or random loud television.

Here are more good thoughts, espcially for Misha's father's healing and your patience.

*wishing you well*

if making polite conversation and giving updates gets to be too much of a pain, you can start a caringbridge page and just point people at it. it's free, and

monstersocks and i found it very helpful when my dad was in the hospital.

http://www.caringbridge.org/ is the url.

it's a pain to have him in icu for extra time, but it's better than having to come back to icu.

*hug* and one for misha *hug*

Thinking of you both, and hoping all will be well.

John

*hugs* You're in my prayers.

Just a suggestion -- does the computer have an earphone jack? Could it be suggested that the hospital provide a pair of earphones?

Keep hanging on. You're absolutely right about people not being their best under stress. Even knowing that, it's hard to bite one's tongue all the time. You will not be in the waiting room for the rest of your life, but I understand the feeling... it got harder and harder to go back there when I had a parent in the hospital. Sigh. Promise yourself an indulgence credit for making it past little milestones (chocolate, earrings, fripperies, whatever treat) if that helps. My first recourse is always a stack of books.