Blogging from ICU

February 28, 2008 /

Mom is doing better today than anyone expected, which just goes to prove that she’s strong and determined, even when knocked out cold. They woke her up for just a few minutes today, and she was breathing on her own for a bit, so they feel confident that they will be able to remove the breathing tube in a day or two. I’ve been in here, talking to her and rubbing lotion on her wintery feet, and I think she can hear me. She opens her eyes once in awhile. I know she’s not completely awake, as they said they don’t like to do that with the tube down her throat, and I’m sure she won’t remember that I was here, but I also think she knows I’m here now, and that’s a good thing. She and I are both doing SO much better today. Thank you all for your good wishes and prayers. They have helped a lot.

I went and checked out an extended care facility here today, which is where mom will go if when she’s discharged from the hospital, she isn’t quite ready to go live with my grandma and great-aunt, since she will need to be self sufficient to do so. It was OK, though not as nice by any means as the hospital itself. I hope she doesn’t have to go there. But at least if she does, I have some idea of what it is like and where it is. After that, I walked over to TGI Fridays, taking the opportunity to get away from the hospital and its cafeteria for a bit. Perhaps I’ve spent too much time at the salad bar lately, but the chicken dish I had was pretty darned good! It was called Firecracker chicken, and it was spicy and yummy.  After that I walked back to the hospital, which was about 3 miles in the balmy 29 degree weather (though it’s dry here, so it doesn’t feel that cold), and helped with the tension and sadness a lot.

Just took a break from blogging because Mom woke up a bit!  She opened her eyes, she squeezed my fingers, she smiled a bit.  I know she’s pretty uncomfortable, and they won’t let her come fully conscious until she’s ready to get rid of the tube, but it’s wonderful to talk to her and know that she can hear me, that she’s listening and responding!  Even if she won’t remember this.  I hope she won’t remember this, because that tube is pretty uncomfortable, I think.

So you all are taking a back seat now, I’m hanging up the blog and going to hold her hand and talk to her some more.  Happy Day, all!

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