Isolation. What an interesting addition to an already complicated set of circumstances. It seems they believe he has a bacteria commonly found in hospitals...they won't know for sure until Monday. Meanwhile they must take precautions, so we don plastic gowns and rubber gloves before entering his room. My first clue was the large red stop sign hanging in his doorway. Then his new nurse (at least we had Stacy for two days in a row...sigh) stopped me and explained what was going on. What else can happen to this man?!? He has wires attached to electrodes all over his body. He has lots of tubes going into him and tubes going out of him. Now he has a creeping red rash, which gets worse with heat - so anywhere he is in contact with the sheets or pillows that support him, it is really bad. He gets stuck in his finger or ear lobe every hour to test his blood sugar...every hour, 24 hours a day, for 10 days and counting. He can't really swallow - he's gagging on a tube down his throat. When he turns his head side to side it tugs on the tube that goes down his nose. Through that tube he gets to have food that, in Robby's words, looks like its already been digested. He can't roll over...he can't sit up. Because of the restraints, he can't raise his arms more than about 5 inches. He slides down his bed because his upper body has to be elevated. Every two hours the "lift team" comes and hoists him back up to the top of his bed. When he slides he can't stretch his legs out because they shortened the bed to try to keep him in it. He probably has the beginnings of bed sores - who knows - I haven't seen his back side for 10 days. His pancreas is still swollen about 5 times of normal. His heart is still beating much faster than it should be for one who is lying in bed. He has had at least different 16 nurses in 10 days...that is just the RN's - probably also about that many CNA's.
And now he has an intestinal bug. In the healthy it would be a groaner. In him, it may upset the fluid levels they have been fighting to get into balance.
I noticed several more stop signs appeared in doorways of patients rooms today.
I still hate pancreatitis.
~Jeanette
Things that should never be...
10 years ago
5 comments:
Dear Jeanette, Roseanna, and Robby -
I am so sorry for what Robert and you are going through.
"Father, give them Your calmness and strength, for there are many trials to face, Lord Jesus. By faith, I reach out to You, and ask that they receive the gift of Your peace at this difficult time in their lives."
We will also continue to pray for Robert's physical healing.
Micheline and Cliff
We know that God has a permissive will, and we continue to trust in Him. We pray for all those who learn about Robert,to trust in God his Savior.
We know that he will have bumps in the road, and pray for a smoother road ahead.
We will continue to ask our Lord and Savior to provide comfort, healing, and strength for his body.
We Love YOU!!! Give Robert our Love.
Mom and Diane
Along with the "Mom & Diane" note for strength for Robert's body, I ask that the Lord will continue to give you and the children strength for the day--each day.
Love you, Aunt Parise
Dear Bob and Family:
My thoughts are with you and your family. You are constantly on the minds of the Whiteaker staff - we talk about you frequently and check your wife's beautifully written blog daily.
I'm very impressed by the devotion of your circle of friends - it is truly great to see so many people rallying to your side.
Hang in there Bob!
With care and concern,
Matt and Erica Faatz and the Whiteaker Crew.
Rosanna - I love your slideshow of the friends in the ICU waiting room; do you have more of Robert to create a slideshow of him as well? Love, Aunt Parise
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