Tuesday, October 4, 2022

7:30 PM

Hello, welcome to our today!

  Larry was finishing up with the physio doing exercises in his bed. We then continued with playing catch, which he is better at than I am. The speech therapist so far has only focused on swallowing exercises, so we did our own exaggerate mouth movements to A E I O U! There is obvious improvement, the more Larry does it. The team came for Larry's daily hygiene routine, so I took a break. When I returned, Larry was not looking good at all. He had a barf basin under his chin and a wet cloth on his forehead. Trying to adjust how to administer his feed is taking a lot of trial & error, since the round the clock, 24 hour routine changed, to 3 X a day, then adding more fluid. The issues are: that his stomach has shrunk to a certain size & gets upset if it fills up with too much over a short time; & since his kidneys are off of dialysis, they require steady fluids, to continue functioning well . He is so wiped out after a bout of throwing up.

 Two porters came later in the afternoon & said they were taking Larry to the hallway, to wait for a room on 5 South, which is the neuro unit. The communication was poor, as even his nurse had not been informed yet. He was beginning another feed at that time & had just had the extra fluid flush through the tube to his stomach. Again, throwing up, enroute to the hallway. The nurse did not manage to give him gravol, but he quieted down for the hour in the hall. The nurse on 5 wasn't really ready for a new patient. I mentioned the gravol, so he went to check Larry's binder of notes. It's pretty rough for everyone concerned, especially when a nurse's shift has a bit more than an hour to go. I'm glad I was there to mention the missing bone flap & Larry's choking/non swallowing issue. Nurse asked if Larry could walk. Oh dear!

 It seems to be a room with 4 needy patients. There's a wheelchair parking lot against the window. Larry's room-mates are all women. That won't phase him. He's not able to be social other than up close, so he wasn't chatting up his mates on the 6th floor & he won't be doing so either, in his new room. 5 South is the neurology unit. It's where he was before he left RCH for Ridge Meadows at the end of July. They are equipped on this unit to help patients with rehab, much more effectively than where he's been over the past 10 days.

  The doctor who's seen Larry over the past 5 days reported today that most of Larry's medical issues are no longer of concern. His kidney/bladder function is very good, his blood is good, no issues with his bones (fr yesterday's scan), the skin biopsy was good & hoping that the St. Paul's allergy clinic appointment will put a rest to the rash issue. Once a balance is established re: Larry's tube feeding, I think that'll be it. On with the rehab, as Larry daily expresses his desire to get on with.

 Our one hour taste of a bed in the hallway, was just a glimpse into what 6 or 7 patients are enduring as we speak, on the unit Larry just left. Bright lights, no privacy, bed getting bumped by carts, stretchers & equipment constantly. The medical team are running all the time. They are amazing! We're going to miss our little community of friendships we established in the room this week. But, on to new ones!

 I want to go in fairly early tomorrow, as the first day in a new setting is always rough, until the team get to know Larry's needs & how best to serve him. Larry will be so happy to get on with his rehab. He, for sure is a patient patient! Prayers today were silent at his bedside, as he tried to recover from his stomach upset. I leave him with the Blessing with my hand on his head. He is so peaceful when I do that, & answers "Amen!" "Sleep well my Love!"

  God bless you & thank you for journeying with us! xoxo