March 30, 2007
Friday 30 March 2007 at 12:15 pmHi everyone! Thanks for all your e-mails, cards, flowers and well-wishes to Linda! She really appreciates it.
I just returned from Reno last night. Mom is doing better and better each day. She still has a long road ahead of her, so I don't want to make it sound like she's out of the woods - but progress is being made, so we're all happy about that. Here is the latest:
-She is now being weaned off the nutritional support she was receiving by IV. Her blood work shows that she is now beginning to absorb albumin which is an indicator that she can start eating "real food" (I think it's debatable whether hospital food is real food or not, but that's another story). She has started eating solid foods, but gets full after only eating a few bites and so has to really force herself to continue eating even when she doesn't feel like it. I am also having her drink Odwalla juices in between meals to get her calorie count up. It is critical that she gets enough calories in so she can get her strength back. We were told that if she didn't get enough solid food in, they would have to put a feeding tube down her. The mere thought of this has made mom pack in as much as she possibly could. Feeding tubes suck and mom does not want to go through that again.
-She is walking better and recuperates much more quickly after going for a walk. She is also doing little exercises to build back her strength.
-She still has some fluid on her lungs but the pulmonologist (lung doctor) said that he felt it was due to malnutrition plus residual fluid from the surgery. He's monitoring it closely.
I came up with an acronym which has become mom's mantra:
W.E.B. (WALK, EAT, BREATHE).
These are the only things she needs to concentrate on right now and she seems to be into it a lot more now that she isn't so doped up on morphine, etc.
She will probably be released early next week to a rehabililtative nursing clinic near her home. We do not yet have details of this, but will post as soon as we know. I know many of you want to come to visit. After a few weeks there, she hopes to be home! We all do!
Here is her cell number: 925-381-3364. Don't hesitate to call. Just don't call before 8:00am or after around 8:00pm. She might not be able to talk very long but enjoys the calls. She's on her own for the next 5-6 days until she is transferred. Should you need it, here is the info for the hospital again:
Renown Hospital
1155 Mill Street Room #350
Reno, NV 89502
775-982-4100
And if you have any questions for me, please call my cell at 818-331-0614.
Love,
Suzanne