Day 42 - Kaiser Hospital, Oakland

Got on our way this morning on hwy 237 to 880 all the way. Left our home at 10:30 am, and arrived at the hospital garage at 11:35 am — that put an end to the route over the San Mateo Bridge.

Mark was having therapy and so we had to wait out in the lobby area. Shortly, here they come with Mark in a wheelchair — wow! He did not look happy but rather scared and shocked to be moving on wheels. They took away the catheter — yeah! The water is running again! Also, the chest tube is out. He only has an IV line for glucose and the gallbladder tube. He is getting there. Asked to speak with the orthopedic surgeon — what’s the plan?

It looks like Mark will be going shortly to Kaiser’s skilled nursing facility in San Leandro! Apparently it is the longer term (and nicest) facility they have. They have to wait and see how Mark’s right leg heals before they can proceed with any further surgery to that leg. He said the left leg is healing well and should not need any further surgery. They will give therapy shortly for weight bearing pressure on that leg. Mark was only in the chair for 15 minutes as he was nauseated. But that was another step forward.

I brought popsicles, and Lipton chicken soup, plus g2 drinks. He thought I brought him a little bit of heaven compared to what he has gotten for food. He was sick yesterday so this was so good to him. They brought his lunch in, and of all things, a beef hamburger! Mark does not eat “mad cow”. He sure was glad he had the soup — ha!

So we will see how much longer he has there, sounded like a short time if he keeps up the good work.

It is amazing how you have to take care of yourself or speak up — there were orders to turn Mark every 2 hours. It happened one time on Sunday. Today, was the first day in a week that they came in to wash him (after I had complained as to what was going on with the nursing staff). He has lost so much weight he looks like a POW. I guess his stomach shrunk so small it cannot hold much of anything. Day by day, guess that will pick up too. I have to keep the popsicles and other home food coming. His appetite is anything that does not have sugar in it. That should be me — not Mark!

Hope everyone stayed cool today! Oakland was alot cooler than Mountain View.

Some more hugs! The Alexanders