We got a smile today! What a nice surprise - worth millions. So great to see Mark more relaxed but he wants water soooo bad and a jamba juice.Told him first chance when he can have liquids, we'll bring him juice's, etc.
We will know in the morning what the plan is for Mark and where?He seems to breathing so much better, but still coughing away.I tried to get back to his room last night to tell them to turn on the fireworks for him on his little TV but he was asleep.Darn, they should have woke him up (guess that's what I should have said) bad mom!
He wants to come home - if he keeps up this progress he will be home shortly - lots of prayers for that.
Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend.Back to the ole grind tomorrow and keep on truckin!
This afternoon was much better and Mark seemed very alert and eyes wide open.His nurses had just flipped him around a little to be comfy.I surely don't know how I’d feel after these many days just lying down- Oh boy!
They seem to think that Mark might be transported on Monday to where?????It is great that they feel he is pretty well fit for that but I’m sorry to see him leave Stanford that's for sure.Kaiser has been his soul source of care for years and his primary Dr. and assoc., have given Mark their best care and have become family to him.We owe a lot to Kaiser also, as they put concern, time and effort into getting Mark his new kidney and pancreas and their affiliation with UCSFhospital, giving Mark all his transplant care.This family has a lot to be so thankful for!
Beautiful weather for the 4th and hope your enjoying every moment of it.They sure roll around fast for some people -ha!
Our visit today was about the same as yesterday's.Mark is not a happy camper and neither would any one of us be. They were changing his wrappings on his legs and then trying to reposition him in the bed. He was making motions his back was hurting bad. We just feel helpless aside of taking cold washcloth to his forehead and face to cool him down. They plan to put a speaking piece in his trake so he can talk - don't know when? His numbers again looking pretty good - still getting the junk out of his lungs and that is good as much as he can. He's is holding his own right now and that is super - his memory is still not good so I am waiting until he is better and can talk before taking him his numerous cards to open and tell him about the 'blog', and also his book of telephone messages every day.There is going to be plenty of time and lots of patience needed.
Thankfully, another good day, the trend is positive...
Day 30 - Stanford Hospital ICU
A better day today! Still don't know the extent of yesterday's surgery to Mark's shattered legs - most of it was on the right leg, which has 15 pins in it.The left leg brace and pins (8) were removed (wonderful) and his leg is fully wrapped. The right leg is still in a big circle brace that the pins are connected to.
He was breathing pretty well without the aide of the ventilator. The only downside is that he has a lot of coughing to rid his lungs of the fluids built up this past 30 days just lying in a bed and so many operations. I will say he has a marvelous miracle comfy bed that does everything but talk. So hard to visit with him - have to be careful we don't ask questions just give him information about all of you and the phone calls, the blood drive, etc. A little at a time as he cannot grasp what has happened to him let alone what is ahead of him. One thing at a time and the main thing is to get him mended first. He is going to have another massage tomorrow so that should make him feel better.
All of his numbers look good right now and we just hope and pray he can get the goop out of his lungs. Then all of us can rest more easily.
While we were pumping blood at Stanford (and having supporting friends there too), Mark was having a very long day too.
Thank you to everyone who showed up, and to those who wanted to but couldn’t, your thoughts and wishes are still very much appreciated!!!
Kevin O’Neill of the blood bank showed me the report for their supplies before we showed up yesterday, they were in "critical shortage" on certain bloodtypes and our show of numbers yesterday was REALLY a fantastic help!
Andrea
Day 29 - Stanford Hospital
First of all, today was the blood drive and a great success. It was so nice to meet and see everyone. Wish we could have stayed to the end.Super BBQ with the works. Steve, Paul and Ken added some music for everyone to enjoy - Ken sang a special song for Mark, so many thanks guys for sharing your talent with all of us. Our thanks to Andrea for organizing the blood drive and making it a special day for Mark.
Today Mark had both legs operated on. He went into surgery at 7:30 a.m. and did not come out until 3:45 p.m. this afternoon. We could not believe he was there so long. When we got to the hospital they were just getting him settled down and when we could see him he got very sick. We had to leave, but the nurse had told me his lungs today had more fluid in them than yesterday.
They apparently took more cultures and we will have to wait until tomorrow for more details from the doctors. The liver is looking better since draining the infection out of the gall bladder perks the liver back up. That is good! I think after getting him off of the verset and this morning putting him back on it for more surgeries, made him so sick and such long surgeries being under.
Hopefully, with rest tonight tomorrow will be a better day.
If you are planning on coming to today's blood drive:
If you are coming in the mid-afternoon -- eg, not during the lunch hour rush, or after work -- you probably don't need an appointment - and some folks have told me this was a PITA, so show up!
The BBQ will be running all day, so don't worry about getting a bite to eat, they will be cooking for us all day...
Also: EAT A GOOD SOLID MEAL today, at least 2 hrs prior to donating! Don't just count on eating at the BBQ, you need to fill the tank prior to donating. EAT EAT EAT...
DRINK LOTS OF FLUIDS!. Bring a water bottle, and keep pushing fluids all day. They will have juice and snacks for after your blood draw, but good idea to keep yourself well hydrated!!!
See you all there at some point, and thanks for showing up!!!
A big surprise!This a.m. when I called the hospital to check on Mark, the nurse told me, “Mark just woke up” from amnesia, they took him off of the drug ‘verset’ (?sp) which places the patient in a memory loss and pain free condition.Mark was trying to talk like crazy and guess the nurses are good to mouth readings.He wanted to know where he was, and were they checking his blood sugars, and please call my mom and dad for me.We just could not believe what they told us - so all these 27 days we thought Mark was looking at us and smiling some - we were just strangers to him.
So tonight, what a surprise to see him.I am no good at mouth reading so it was frustrating for him and glad the nurse could figure it out.Just a big change!They did not do the liver ultra-sound procedure today (?) but the orthopedic surgeon called and they will operate on both legs tomorrow morning.
I told him of Mark’s blood drive tomorrow and he said he would try to get over there also, how about that!So hopefully, hope and prayers are what we have all will go well from here on out.
Looking forward to tomorrow and for those who cannot make the ‘blood’ drive your there for Mark in spirit like always.
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