Mother is coming along, with all her vitals as they should be. They're moving her from ICU into a "step-down" room this afternoon. In a few days, she'll go into a regular room again. The therapists have already been there and had her to sit on the edge of the bed. After them getting her up with some discomfort, she was able to sit upright on her own.
She opened her eyes when we talked to her and had a short conversation. She had told the nurse she didn't have pain and, just as I expected, when I asked her if she hurt, she said she did. Ed explained that as a Southern lady, she wouldn't want to cause the nurse extra work so she denied pain. The nurse immediately got something and added it to her IV. She nodded off in about 5 minutes.
I'm now going to have a long nap.......I am really beat and I admit it (for a change).
Thank you to all our family and friends for your prayers and support.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Prayers Helped with Surgery
4:30 p.m.
The surgeon just called and said the surgery went well and they found just what they had expected. He said her osteoporosis has made her bones very soft so they are making a back brace to add stability for now. I forgot to ask him how many vertebrae were included in the fusion/steel rods but will find out later. I am thankful that they're putting her in ICU for now. Being here at the University of Virginia Medical Center is also reassuring to me because of their experience and the resources at hand. Thank you for your prayers.Pastor Bob arrived before Mother went down to the prep area and we both went with her. I enjoyed talking to him for over an hour until Ed arrived, then the three of us had a pleasant lunch out on the patio.
Ahhhh, I will be able to sleep tonight - especially since my "Angel Man" is here. He needed to see his doctor this morning regarding his CAT scan last week. He is going to have a PET scan this week - I'm trying not to worry.....
Hunter and Mary Margaret Hollar, my cousins, helped me out this weekend. Besides letting me use their condo, they came over, cooked for me, visited Mother, and gave me rides so I could stay after dark (Their condo is a 10 minute walk away), but most of all, they just "took care of me." God bless them both!
8:00 a.m.
Mother will go down to surgery prep about 9:30. The surgery will be about 10:30 and will last about 5 hours.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Mom moving to private room
Mother is being moved to a private room so her phone number is different. She might be in critical care after surgery so that'll be another room change. (We won't find out the surgery time till tonight.)
Starting today, please call the main number and ask for her by name. 434-982-1100
She's really getting cold feet - this is a VERY long day. Too bad it didn't happen on Friday. Oh, well, it'll all work out in God's plan. Bless all of you!
Starting today, please call the main number and ask for her by name. 434-982-1100
She's really getting cold feet - this is a VERY long day. Too bad it didn't happen on Friday. Oh, well, it'll all work out in God's plan. Bless all of you!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Surgery postponed
Mother's surgery is postponed until Monday. There is going to be some big surgery which will pull all the OR staff. I wonder if they're doing a transplant or a separation Siamese twins! ; )
The hospital has sitters so we're trying to find one to help her through the night. She is really having a tough time emotionally, even with the anti-anxiety medicine. Plus, she's having some confusion.
I can't get on the internet from my computer so have a few minutes on this one in the Visitor's Lounge. Since it's Saturday the techie who helped us yesterday isn't here here to help......that's terrible - The Computer Team and we can't fix it. When Ed comes back over, he'll probably figure it out.
The hospital has sitters so we're trying to find one to help her through the night. She is really having a tough time emotionally, even with the anti-anxiety medicine. Plus, she's having some confusion.
I can't get on the internet from my computer so have a few minutes on this one in the Visitor's Lounge. Since it's Saturday the techie who helped us yesterday isn't here here to help......that's terrible - The Computer Team and we can't fix it. When Ed comes back over, he'll probably figure it out.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Mother will be having back surgery tomorrow here at the University of Virginia Medical Center. I was puzzled that it was postponed from Thursday till Saturday because she wanted to think about it. That's not quite right. There are many things that have to be checked out - such as the medical team who decides if her heart is strong enough.
If she gets no treatment, she'll just get worse and worse and worse and the lower back vertebrae could all collapse.
The surgeon met with Ed and me to show us the MRIs and explain what they're going to do. He also called Phil and Phil talked to Mother several minutes because she had said earlier she didn't want the surgery. She's very afraid of the pain after surgery and they've reassured her that they'll be using all sorts of things to fight the pain. Her RN today is a bit older and has been really wonderful with reassuring her.
I was impressed with Mother's smart question: "Will I be able to bend to pick up things from the floor?" They said she would. Finally, she agreed.
In layman's terms: There is a small fracture that shows a little piece of bone that's sort of hanging in the spinal canal. One of the disks has burst and that "jello" type liquid is also leaking into the spinal canal. They will be clearing out the "debris" and putting in screws with 2 rods that will hold the vertabrae in place. They won't know how many vertebrae will be included until they get in there.
The doctor explained to Ed and me that this is no small surgery. The surgery itself will last about 5 hours. She might be in neo-intensive care for a day or so if needed. And she might be here about a week.
They have 4 main goals:
1. To decompress the spinal canal.
2. Push the fracture back or remove it.
3. Fuse as many vertabrae as needed with 2 rods
4. Preserve the function.
Mother's scared and I'm not looking forward to it either - I just hope they deal with the pain as well as they did after Ed's heart surgery. I feel reassured about being here at U.Va. Medical Center with all their resources. Her surgeon is Dr. Mohamad Khled and her nurse said he's the best. I thought he would look foreign but he doesn't. I've googled but haven't found much: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/searchweb/home.cfm?s=+Mohamad+Khaled&st=people&Submit=Search+People
Please send a few extra prayers for her!
p.s. There was not an infection in the spinal canal.
If she gets no treatment, she'll just get worse and worse and worse and the lower back vertebrae could all collapse.
The surgeon met with Ed and me to show us the MRIs and explain what they're going to do. He also called Phil and Phil talked to Mother several minutes because she had said earlier she didn't want the surgery. She's very afraid of the pain after surgery and they've reassured her that they'll be using all sorts of things to fight the pain. Her RN today is a bit older and has been really wonderful with reassuring her.
I was impressed with Mother's smart question: "Will I be able to bend to pick up things from the floor?" They said she would. Finally, she agreed.
In layman's terms: There is a small fracture that shows a little piece of bone that's sort of hanging in the spinal canal. One of the disks has burst and that "jello" type liquid is also leaking into the spinal canal. They will be clearing out the "debris" and putting in screws with 2 rods that will hold the vertabrae in place. They won't know how many vertebrae will be included until they get in there.
The doctor explained to Ed and me that this is no small surgery. The surgery itself will last about 5 hours. She might be in neo-intensive care for a day or so if needed. And she might be here about a week.
They have 4 main goals:
1. To decompress the spinal canal.
2. Push the fracture back or remove it.
3. Fuse as many vertabrae as needed with 2 rods
4. Preserve the function.
Mother's scared and I'm not looking forward to it either - I just hope they deal with the pain as well as they did after Ed's heart surgery. I feel reassured about being here at U.Va. Medical Center with all their resources. Her surgeon is Dr. Mohamad Khled and her nurse said he's the best. I thought he would look foreign but he doesn't. I've googled but haven't found much: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/searchweb/home.cfm?s=+Mohamad+Khaled&st=people&Submit=Search+People
Please send a few extra prayers for her!
p.s. There was not an infection in the spinal canal.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Mays' Medical Maladies
Mother (83) has continued to struggle with pain and inability to move her left leg. The doctor at the rehab center sent her for an MRI yesterday. That showed several things wrong in her lower back, the most important to address first being a suspected infection. She was sent to our local hospital but there are only 2 specialists - one was out of town and the other couldn't come to the ER. So, she was sent by ground ambulance to the University of Virginia Medical Center Friday evening.
My fibromyalgia kicked in and I feel exhausted so Ed and I decided there was nothing we could do last night and I'd come home, rest, get my meds, etc. to go in the morning.
The doctor called about 4 a.m. There are several problems and they feel surgery is necessary. I had him call my brother, Phil, who is a nurse anesthetist in Texas. As I suggested, they have Phil talk to Mother as she is hesitant, which he did.
Meanwhile, my Uncle Bob (87) was admitted to the hospital last Friday with what they thought was a major stroke. That has turned out to be cancer with tumors on the brain and lungs. They are testing other areas to see if it has spread and to pinpoint what kind of cancer it is. The family met with the doctors yesterday and Uncle Bob wants to do the radiation treatments which may give him 6 months instead of 2. Meanwhile, Aunt Ginny has Alzheimer's and needs to have someone with her. They live just over the hill from me and the one time I might have been able to help is the time Mother is also down.
Meanwhile, yesterday my nephew, Levi, who's a freshman at JMU called. He'd been to the infirmary with a sore throat and pain and had gotten a prescription. I had just returned from Mother's MRI to the rehab center so was able to go get him and go to a pharmacy. He goes back to the infirmary tomorrow and if he's not better, they'll test him for mono.
Ed had bloodwork yesterday and a CAT scan today. The shingles aren't gone and his latest X-ray shows something still on his lung from the pneumonia. He still feels lethargic and had said that tomorrow he was going to stay in bed all day. Looks like he might be going to Charlottesville instead - IF he feels he can handle it.
Sounds like the Mays and Angelils are falling apart up here, huh? I can't write a lot now but will update this blog if possible.
Please pray for us, especially Mother.
My fibromyalgia kicked in and I feel exhausted so Ed and I decided there was nothing we could do last night and I'd come home, rest, get my meds, etc. to go in the morning.
The doctor called about 4 a.m. There are several problems and they feel surgery is necessary. I had him call my brother, Phil, who is a nurse anesthetist in Texas. As I suggested, they have Phil talk to Mother as she is hesitant, which he did.
Meanwhile, my Uncle Bob (87) was admitted to the hospital last Friday with what they thought was a major stroke. That has turned out to be cancer with tumors on the brain and lungs. They are testing other areas to see if it has spread and to pinpoint what kind of cancer it is. The family met with the doctors yesterday and Uncle Bob wants to do the radiation treatments which may give him 6 months instead of 2. Meanwhile, Aunt Ginny has Alzheimer's and needs to have someone with her. They live just over the hill from me and the one time I might have been able to help is the time Mother is also down.
Meanwhile, yesterday my nephew, Levi, who's a freshman at JMU called. He'd been to the infirmary with a sore throat and pain and had gotten a prescription. I had just returned from Mother's MRI to the rehab center so was able to go get him and go to a pharmacy. He goes back to the infirmary tomorrow and if he's not better, they'll test him for mono.
Ed had bloodwork yesterday and a CAT scan today. The shingles aren't gone and his latest X-ray shows something still on his lung from the pneumonia. He still feels lethargic and had said that tomorrow he was going to stay in bed all day. Looks like he might be going to Charlottesville instead - IF he feels he can handle it.
Sounds like the Mays and Angelils are falling apart up here, huh? I can't write a lot now but will update this blog if possible.
Please pray for us, especially Mother.
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