Catherine-Ann / Pure-Grace

Jul. 26, 2022

LARRY IS WORKING SO INCREDIBLY HARD

Monday, July 25, 2022

7:38 PM

 I'm sad that I am now used to seeing him this way.

    Larry is totally unconscious. His eyes don't blink, arms & hands are so limp. This morning they tried reducing sedation, but quickly brought it back up because Larry started madly moving his arms. His stomach & chest thrust as he coughs silently, no sounds of that horrible congestion for the past 2 weeks. I watch the breathing/oxygen monitor rhythm go wonky, wait 10 seconds then loud sounds , like repeatedly hitting the lower keys on an organ. Then 1 or 2, sometimes 3 nurses come in to readjust the dialysis 'nuts & bolts'. In the last hour, it happened about 6 or more times. I'm just praying that it settles down tonight.

  He'll have an echo cardiogram, & possibly another CT scan of his head to monitor the brain bleed from a few days ago.

  The nurse took out Larry's staples today from the back of his head. When I asked if it bled, she said "No!" She kept telling him how sorry she was, as she removed each one. He wouldn't like how messy all this stuff makes his beard & mustache. When it's all removed again, I'll get in there with the clippers & tidy it up. (Least of our concerns for sure.) Oh, some of his beard is pink, from disinfecting his neck for another IV catheter.

   I was alone with Larry today. It's hard to get close to him with all the 'hook ups'. Mostly I would stand at his head and gently stroke his temples & eye lids, as every other part of his face had 'technical interference'. Prayed & sang, prayed & sang. I read all the messages that have come in and the greetings from folks I've seen. I'm sad that I am now used to seeing him this way. We know how little it takes for us to get excited with hope, each time one more thing is removed from his body. At the end of last week, it was only a narrow feeding tube in his nose, now it's more complex than ever.

 I began my day with Mass, followed by breakfast with my' daughter ' Christine from Syria & Fr. Cosmos, visiting from Nigeria. Wonderful conversation and good humour. Our friend Sue drove me to Surrey Memorial at noon. I may be OK to drive at the beginning of the day, but for sure not at the end of it. Sue is setting up an app to start a schedule for drives to and fro from folks who have offered. Surrey is not as convenient to get to, or on people's way to anywhere, like the last 2 hospitals have been. It will relieve any stress around having to 'think' of how I'm getting there. Christine & hubby picked me up tonight & spoiled me with one of my favorite Serian dishes to take home. They know it's definitely comfort food for me. 10 minutes in the door, & I was enjoying it on our balcony, surrounded by my (now) jungle.  

  Visits are still strict due to high numbers of Covid cases at the hospital. Hopefully it won't last too long.

  Good night. There may be something I can't think of right now (understatement). But, other than the coughing, nothing has gotten worse. The care in ICU at Surrey Memorial is excellent. 

  God bless you. Thank you for your loving kindness.