Good morning
We are waiting for the discharge instructions as both his surgeon and his nephrologist have given him the green light. So now, nurse Trink and our tuxedo kitty, Tralee, will take over John's .care at home (assisted 2x week by home health).
Thank you again for your continued concern, love, and support .
John, Trink, John Jr, and Lisa
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
On the move
Hi
Tuesday was busy with John's being disconnected from all IV lines and his subsequent move to a regular room from progressive care. So he moved up in the world to the 5th floor and will be moving on home possibly as early as Thursday! A great feature of this hospital is that all of the rooms are private! This floor is so quiet, plus he has a room with a view.
His doctors are extremely pleased with his progress. John wants to be a little stronger prior to his going home. He is surprised how much effort it takes to walk the halls or take a shower. To quote a line from one of his favorite movies, What About Bob!, "BABY STEPS!"
I read him all of your emails (and jokes) which we both appreciate. Keep them coming.
Trink
Tuesday was busy with John's being disconnected from all IV lines and his subsequent move to a regular room from progressive care. So he moved up in the world to the 5th floor and will be moving on home possibly as early as Thursday! A great feature of this hospital is that all of the rooms are private! This floor is so quiet, plus he has a room with a view.
His doctors are extremely pleased with his progress. John wants to be a little stronger prior to his going home. He is surprised how much effort it takes to walk the halls or take a shower. To quote a line from one of his favorite movies, What About Bob!, "BABY STEPS!"
I read him all of your emails (and jokes) which we both appreciate. Keep them coming.
Trink
Monday, June 24, 2013
Bring on the food
Dr Cobb , AKA the early bird, came in all cheerful at 6:20 this morning. I must say, it is so much better than waiting all day for a doctor. He advanced John's diet today, so John ate a banana and a few bites of dry toast which he tolerated fine.
Know the PT will be here soon and John will be up walking. He even had therapy yesterday,which apparently is rare on Sunday. She had him marching in place and I lost count when he neared 100 reps.
He has resumed his interest in the news and is currently reading the Sunday NY Times after watching a little morning news and some Wimbledon.
Keep those emails coming, I read every one to John, although you may email him too :JSHollett@aol.com as he is reading on his phone and iPad .
Know the PT will be here soon and John will be up walking. He even had therapy yesterday,which apparently is rare on Sunday. She had him marching in place and I lost count when he neared 100 reps.
He has resumed his interest in the news and is currently reading the Sunday NY Times after watching a little morning news and some Wimbledon.
Keep those emails coming, I read every one to John, although you may email him too :JSHollett@aol.com as he is reading on his phone and iPad .
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Free again
6-23
Good news yesterday and action today.
Dr Cobb came in on his weekend off to tell us that the pathology news was all good: the lymph nodes were clear and the carcinoma, while high-grade, had remained "in situ" in the bladder so was non- invasive.
Today the NG tube was removed so his nose feels better already, and he was allowed his first sip of apple juice. (I was thinking champagne when he said "clear liquids", but don't think that's what the Dr had in mind.)
He's not in any hurry for the epidural line to be removed as he has remained pain-free since the surgery started 4 days ago. However, his pain management drug of choice has been ordered PCA so he will be able to push the button as needed.
Only complaint from John is his hiccups! As with his previous abdominal surgeries, he gets the hiccups for hours at a time and it wears him out. Now that the tube is out, we'll see if that remedies the situation. Also, he now has a tight seal with his B-pap machine, so is resting peacefully now.
We tried ALL of the homemade suggestions for getting rid of hiccups several years ago.
We hope you are enjoying a great summer weekend, wherever you may be. It has been a God-send for me having J and Lisa here for support and levity!
Thanks to all of you for your emails, cards, phone messages, humor, positive thoughts, support, and prayers.
Trink
Good news yesterday and action today.
Dr Cobb came in on his weekend off to tell us that the pathology news was all good: the lymph nodes were clear and the carcinoma, while high-grade, had remained "in situ" in the bladder so was non- invasive.
Today the NG tube was removed so his nose feels better already, and he was allowed his first sip of apple juice. (I was thinking champagne when he said "clear liquids", but don't think that's what the Dr had in mind.)
He's not in any hurry for the epidural line to be removed as he has remained pain-free since the surgery started 4 days ago. However, his pain management drug of choice has been ordered PCA so he will be able to push the button as needed.
Only complaint from John is his hiccups! As with his previous abdominal surgeries, he gets the hiccups for hours at a time and it wears him out. Now that the tube is out, we'll see if that remedies the situation. Also, he now has a tight seal with his B-pap machine, so is resting peacefully now.
We tried ALL of the homemade suggestions for getting rid of hiccups several years ago.
We hope you are enjoying a great summer weekend, wherever you may be. It has been a God-send for me having J and Lisa here for support and levity!
Thanks to all of you for your emails, cards, phone messages, humor, positive thoughts, support, and prayers.
Trink
Friday, June 21, 2013
TGIF
Today was John's second full day in the hospital. He is on the road to recovery, but we still have a bit of a way to go. We are waiting for J to arrive from Orlando but he has been stuck in traffic. This post will be short because Lisa is teaching Trink how to use Siri on the iPad to write posts.
That's kind of it for today, hope you had a great National Flip-Flop Day. And if you live in Jacksonville, there's still time to get your free smoothie at Tropical Smoothie if you wear your flip-flops. Also Happy first day of Summer.
That's kind of it for today, hope you had a great National Flip-Flop Day. And if you live in Jacksonville, there's still time to get your free smoothie at Tropical Smoothie if you wear your flip-flops. Also Happy first day of Summer.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Don't Let the Door Hit Ya Where the Good Lord Split Ya
Apologies for the lateness of this post. Apparently all this sitting around watching JSH heal takes a lot out of us.
But, the headline is, he has been moved out of ICU and into a Progressive Room. This is what's called a step-down room, and is, brace yourselves for this elaborate explanation, a room between ICU and Standard.
He went from having his nurse care for two patients to having his nurse care for four. Today's nurse is from Michigan (which I figured out within moments, because I'd know that accent anywhere. My Michigan-born parents did not appear to hear it.)
This forced inertia has taught me some things about television. Frightening things. Here they are:
1. If you have any sort of job that involves wild animals or what seems like a job you could not possibly make any money at, you can get a show on the Discovery Channel or one of its subsidiaries.
Gator Boys: http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/gator-boys
Treehouse Masters: http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/treehouse-masters
2. Every village needs an idiot. Sometimes two. Naked and Afraid is actually a show. One I won't be watching. http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/naked-and-afraid
3. I could never work at home full-time. Because the TV options are increasingly brain-atrophying.
As you can tell, busy day here at Baptist South, where their cafeteria is open on alternate Thursdays when the moon is full and the sun doesn't shine. (Last sentence courtesy of Trink, who is still knitting. I suspect this will be a theme.)
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Don't F* with Mr. Zero
Oh, yeah, JSH is alive and kicking. He was moved into his ICU room this evening with much fanfare as he wanted to know exactly who was steering the nursing ship. Pity the fool who told him she was a "Flex" nurse rather than a FT ICU nurse.
So, he is VERY lucid, asked lots of questions, and was finally reassured of the staff's proficience. We left him in the capable hands of Krista, who while exceedingly smart, competent, and nice, could really use a better colorist. (Watch my mother make me take this aside out tomorrow. Read it while you can!)
Trink will be back before 6 AM tomorrow morning to be there when Dr. Cobb does his rounds pre-7 AM. This is one of many reasons I could not be a doctor. How on earth do people expect you to not only be coherent that early, but also have people's fates in in your hands before you can truly be appropriately caffeinated?
On that note, I'm going to bed. More from the trenches tomorrow!
(This post's title comes from "When Harry Met Sally," which is MY all-time favorite movie. Possibly because I remember how hard my dad laughed when we saw it together in the theatre when it came out. Back when they made movies that both children and their parents could see together. As I look at the rating for this film, R, and its release date, 1989, I'm ever so slightly curious HOW it was I got to see this with my father, as I was only 14 at the time. Clearly he knew I was wise beyond my years, even then. I bought it again for him on Blu-Ray last Christmas, despite his already having it on VHS and DVD. When he inquired as to why I bought it again, I informed him that Target had it on sale for $4, it was a gift, and to just say thank you. It is not $4 on Amazon, but it is less than $8 if you need to pick it up for yourself. And if you've ever seen me order food in a restaurant, now you know why.)
So, he is VERY lucid, asked lots of questions, and was finally reassured of the staff's proficience. We left him in the capable hands of Krista, who while exceedingly smart, competent, and nice, could really use a better colorist. (Watch my mother make me take this aside out tomorrow. Read it while you can!)
Trink will be back before 6 AM tomorrow morning to be there when Dr. Cobb does his rounds pre-7 AM. This is one of many reasons I could not be a doctor. How on earth do people expect you to not only be coherent that early, but also have people's fates in in your hands before you can truly be appropriately caffeinated?
On that note, I'm going to bed. More from the trenches tomorrow!
(This post's title comes from "When Harry Met Sally," which is MY all-time favorite movie. Possibly because I remember how hard my dad laughed when we saw it together in the theatre when it came out. Back when they made movies that both children and their parents could see together. As I look at the rating for this film, R, and its release date, 1989, I'm ever so slightly curious HOW it was I got to see this with my father, as I was only 14 at the time. Clearly he knew I was wise beyond my years, even then. I bought it again for him on Blu-Ray last Christmas, despite his already having it on VHS and DVD. When he inquired as to why I bought it again, I informed him that Target had it on sale for $4, it was a gift, and to just say thank you. It is not $4 on Amazon, but it is less than $8 if you need to pick it up for yourself. And if you've ever seen me order food in a restaurant, now you know why.)
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