SUSU'S PETALS. Sister Susie brought these pretty tulips when she came to visit earlier this week. (Sorry for all the junk in picture - we don't have a lot of surface room in the room.)
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Michael's doing SO much better with the transition to real food! He ate enough to skip the cans via tube - and if he can continue this way, they'll take the tummy tube out Monday. YES!!!
Of course, I'm plying him with snacks and high cal milk and apple juice between meals - with his utter cooperation. His tracking of reality seems better already and he totally gets that eating more is the road to everything.
As you can imagine, the challenge is for him is to eat slowly. After no eating for 50 days, we'd all be wolfing down food and ready to growl at anyone nearby who might take it away. But when he eats too fast, he chokes, coughs and gets full too fast. He's urging me to remind him to slow down - and I am. I'm also going to buy soft cheese and soft bread to ply him with high calorie, low quantity food that will help get to the 500 calories per meal that means he doesn't need the tube meal.
He loved the small square of white cake with the whipped cream frosting that was the dessert at tonight's dinner and wanted another piece back in his room. I asked - with joy in my heart to get
my sweetie seconds - only to discover there was none left.
Then Tom, a sweet volunteer (double for Donald Crisp from the old movies), who was personally responsible for keeping me fed at this facility, heard we wanted another piece, and before we knew it, he'd come up with one - and then another! Michael was intensely happy. (Tom, by the way, is retired from some kind of rocket science where he said he built bombs. He told me he volunteers at Rehab to "make up a bit" for that time in his life. So many stories in the city!
By the way, his white blood cell count is down to 10. He is well!
Although nausea and dizziness appear to still be a part of this journey - due to several factors: the transition from tube feeding to real food; his altered vision; and his natural reaction of anxiety as he becomes more grounded and aware of his situation.
Also, it's hard to get good rest in a hospital. Even a rehab hospital.
BLOG IS MICHAEL-APPROVED! I showed Michael this blog today and he said: "It looks like a lot of fun to read, sweetie. I look forward to reading it thoroughly when I'm out of here."
He also said that when we're sitting in Hawaii recuperating he'll want to ask more questions about what this journey was like for me and for him. He asked if I have pictures of him intubated and on the ventilator - yes - and said he'd like to see them then.
After we're safe and outta here.
1 comment:
We just heard about Michael's illness this pass week. Thank you so much for this blog, it has given us a chance to catch up on where he has been and how well he is getting. He continues to be in our thoughts and prays. Our good friend is senting Good MOJO his way. We look forward to the latest updates and know that you are taking great care of him. Remember to take good care of yourself as well.
With all our love,
Terri and George
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