Jul. 23, 2022
TRANSFERRING FROM MAPLE RIDGE TO SURREY HOSPITAL, CLINGING TO HOPE
Saturday, July 23, 2022
11:08 AM
Thank you for being with us today!
It's Saturday morning. Last night was really rough for Larry, back in ICU. It was midnight when the nurse called saying the doctor suggested that I come in. Larry could not breathe on his own. They did a chest Xray & head CT scan. His lungs showed that he had aspirated some of the liquid from his feeding tube, and he had pneumonia. There is a bleed on his brain. Larry spiked a fever, his blood pressure dropped to as low as 55/19 and stayed low for some time, until they managed to get it under control. The doctor & 2 nurses worked on him, inserting I.V.s in arteries in his neck & groin.
Our 2 sons, & Larry's sister & a brother came and stayed till very late. I came home at 7:00.
Although the signs outside of ICU said "no visitors past 8:00 pm & before 11:am", the staff were very generous in allowing us to stay. Each one had time alone with Larry/Dad. I stayed in the room at times when they were working on him. It was constant. When I had to leave the room once, the nurse (who had called me to come in) asked if she could sit with me and pray with me. When I arrived, she was attending to Larry & could hear me, while I leaned close to his ear and prayed aloud. I had such profound peace all through the night. I am certainly aware of the many What if's? but I am choosing to be present to my husband with faith, hope & love. Actually 'choosing' does not seem to be an effort that I have to make, it is a gift of grace that I am being given.
Throughout our entire lives together, I have often found my hand, held in Larry's hand, but now, more than ever the meaning of this gesture has become our constant love language. It is the same for our sons, which is a wonderful gift for their Dad and for me to witness.
The ICU doctor phoned just now & said that Larry had to be transferred to Royal Columbian for dialysis, as his body is not producing much urine. That was a concern that began before I left. There are no beds at RCH, where he spent the last 3 wks., so he is being transferred to Surrey Memorial, as we speak.
Shane is picking me up in a bit, to go to Surrey. I'm trying not to be negative about that move across the river and believe that this is the best place for him, that will meet his needs for now.
Many messages coming in with the common phrase "Storming heaven!" Thank you for your part. I know that's why I can be and do all I need to for Larry. God bless you. I am so sorry if I cannot report at the end of the day, as I can only enter my blog from home. I'll figure it out. Thank you.