The day started early just shortly after 5:00 a.m. with a text from Kuna School District, notifying everyone that there would be no school again. It was followed by many more texts from people commenting on having no school again. I was chatting with my friend Lucinda, who is a priest yesterday. I told her that I thought that God was giving me a break. The reason we are having so many snow days is because God is giving me a break from feeling too guilty about not being at work. You see, you all have very powerful prayers creating blizzard conditions so that I don't have to go to the work!!! However, while being blessed with snow, it was not necessarily easy for me to make it to hospital. The roads were terrible in my neighborhood and terrible tonight. The slushy snow is very difficult to get around in and I almost got stuck again.
When i got to the hospital around 9:00 there was a sitter there for the day with Doug again. I was relieved knowing he had support when I was not there. Doug liked this young woman. She was very sweet with him. I asked him how the night had gone and wondered about the sitter, who had been rather rude when she came. He said that she was nice and helpful through the night. I was relieved to hear that the night went well. It is so difficult to leave him when he is so fragile and helpless.
Doug and I together met with the doctor this morning. Even though we agreed yesterday for Doug to stay at St. Al's until the end of the week and then to move to Vibra, this morning he wanted to tell me that he thought it was best to move Doug sooner so that he does not loose the bed that is available. After more conversation I agreed, but asked for it could be tomorrow and not today. He agreed. He told me that the transition coordinator would be meeting with me soon. In the conversation with her, I asked again about an availability of a sitter at Vibra. She told me that was unlikely and I should think about asking friends to spend the night or hire someone. Ok, well that got me going. I told her it was not my responsibility to make sure that Doug is safe, it is the hospitals. I told her that at some point I need to go to work. She said well she could never work when her husband went through 3 heart attacks. I would just have to tell my employer I can't work. So, this conversation made me crazy. I said, rather sharply, other hospitals ask families and provide help without the patient or advocate having to always push. Hospitals have a responsibility to make sure that patients are cared for and my husband is helpless. Unlike her husband he cannot even push or button and can barely talk!!! Yikes, sometimes...
Doug was very tired today. He had a difficult time getting a comfortable position. His throat is very dry and hurt all day. This is probably caused by the feeding tube. His voice was barely a whisper. The edema is finally resolving some, but he is looking very thin. The good news is that he has a little more strength in his arms and is helping to move them down when they are in a bent position.. He can move his foot a little more. All of this is very pleasing. And today he asked to watch some MSNBC. He has been an MSNBC junkie for years. Since they removed the tube from his throat he has not been interested in any TV. Tonight we watched President Obama's final speech, with his sitter, and 2 Respiratory Therapists giving him a treatment. Angie and Cole came by and joined in. It was nice to have a few minutes of normal,
So, tomorrow morning we should be moving to Vibra. Please pray it all goes well and that it is not too much for Doug.
God of Light and Life, thank you for lighting the path for us. We see the light through the kindness of others, who write us comments each day and send us messages of hope. We thank you for the tender mercies of our providers who care for Doug each day. We pray that with the new day tomorrow, and the new facility that Doug will feel strengthened and encouraged. We pray too that the providers receiving him will welcome him and watch over him and make him well. In your name we ask it. Amen
Eileen, you every right to feel anger and assert the hospital's responsibility make sure patients are safe. Sometimes hospital staff stop thinking about the needs of the patient before them and slide into institutional think - Putting standing procedures ahead of actual patient needs. Sometimes they need to be shaken out of their complacency and remember their responsibility to first do no harm and insure patient safety.
ReplyDeleteLoving Father, guide and protect Fr. Doug during this time of transition. may He continue to regain strength and mobility.May all healthcare staff work to keep him safe and support his recovery. Comfort and strengthen both Doug and Eileen in this time of struggle. May the Holy Spirit be their Advocate, Guide and Comforter, now and always. This I ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen