4.30 p.m.
I reported that this last weekend was brutal. Irene had extraordinary pain on Friday evening which ended up being a severely distended stomach. She was rushed for a CAT scan with the concern of a perforation or burst in the intestinal/stomach areas. Today is a new day. She has no pain, the apparent blockage that caused the episode seems to have passed, and she’s doing very well. The 24/7 dialysis was removed today. She is having dialysis, but it will be daily for 2-3 hours instead of around the clock…The “nose tube” which was placed on Friday evening to siphon fluid from her tract has also been removed. What an amazing turnaround!!!!!!
The nursing team at UCSF has been extraordinary…they are many times the unrecognized and unsung heroes on the front line tending to patients. Today I walked into the blood bank and saw Josephine Juan, one of the attending RN’s for Irene in the ICU, donating her O+ blood…Wow… so very cool that she wanted to donate for Irene…
Another friend, Kathy McFarland, is also giving platelets today…for the second time…Wow… driving over 4 hours twice…an amazing commitment to Irene….
I share these stories to let you know that everyone’s care and expressions are overwhelming us with thanksgiving…each person supporting us in their own way…. We thank you sooooooo much…!!!! We could not travel this road alone…thanks for your support…!!!!!!!
Dave
Hi Dave, I slept better last night when I read that Irene was doing better. I heard something interesting on the radio last night on the John Tesh program. He stated that a medical experiment was run with women being put into an MRI machine and being told that they we going to feel a series of small electrical impulses. The apprehension from this news showed up in the brain activity on the MRI scans, but when their husbands were allowed into the room and told they could hold their wife’s hand there was a dramatic effect in the relaxation of the brain activity from the comfort they recieved in just holding their husband’s hand. John said it proves the healing and comforting effects from the touch of the one you love and trust. I thought of you two when I heard it and wanted to remind you of the value of your loving care for Irene. God bless you, Dave & Bev