From the Desk of Mama...
I went on my final break of the day to see the Spousal Unit. Bear in mind that I work in the basement in an obscure cul de sac behind food services in the north east corner of a huge campus, and that Delfts is on the third floor of an added wing, attached willy-nilly like a mis-chosen puzzle piece at the southwest corner of this same huge campus. Now consider I only had 15 minutes to get there, check on him, and get back to my official duties as the Voice of the Hospital.
So off I go, zigging and zagging, jigging and jogging, up the elevator, past heart patients on their little hallway walks between the big read hearts on the walls, each heart placed 25 ft apart to track their progress, until at last I reach the CICU. I round the bend at team 4, straight down the hallway toward team 3, hit the wall button for access, pick up steam at the nurses desk, then look up to see that his room is dark, the door wide open, the bed empty, and the entire unit is Delfts-Free.
I cannot describe the momentary feeling I had when I saw that room.
After I found my wits, I went to the nurse at the counter just outside the room and asked where he had been moved. She was not able to find his name in the census, so I put two and two together, decided on the new Heart Failure Unit, and walked over. And there he was, alone in his room watching Jesse James grind an exhaust pipe for some chopper on the Discovery Channel.
I wasn't able to talk to his nurse, but from what Delfts said he had a bad angina attack last night. They gave him morphine and darvocet to help with the pain from that. His blood pressure is now so low (for him, anyway) that he feels like he has no strength and is fainty. Even at that, his top number is 144 and his bottom number is fondling 100.
Because that is seen as progress, they decided he didn't need to be in the CICU any longer and put him in a "Step Down Unit" specific to CHF patients. His lungs sounded a lot clearer, they've turned down the volume of his O2, and his color is a little better.
I tried to get him to use the keyboard the hospital provides for wireless internet, but he can't figure out how to use it. Of course, he's still tying to figure out his basic, no frills cell phone, so there's not going to be enough time to teach him how to cruise the net from his room. He simply won't be here long enough.
Hopefully he'll be better tomorrow and they will make a decision on cathing him again or not.
At the very least, he's had his last cigarette, whether he knows it now or not.
A last note: To all of the wonderful people, friends and strangers, old acquaintences and new ones, Emperors and minions, you cannot imagine how much your kindness has meant to all of us.
Each comment has been printed and taken to Delfts so that he can read them all, and I will tell you all now that there is no better medicine than the love of your friends and your family. As far as we are concerned, some of you have long ago transcended the realm of friend and truly are now family.
Thank you all so very much for your many kindnesses.
Mamamontezz
Posted by Mamamontezz at March 6, 2006 09:57 PM | TrackBackThanks for updating us, Mama M.
Give the D-man a big hug for us, and I hope to "see" him in the blogosphere again soon.
You take care of yourself too! Y'all are in my thoughts and prayers.
"H"
Posted by: Lady Heather at March 6, 2006 10:02 PMLady Heather, he will be delighted to know that a hug has been sent by you. At least now he will be in a regular room with a phone that can be reached by anyone from the outside.
He'll also be able to use the Ancient Laptop of Doom™ using his phone line and dial up access. I'm hoping he'll do that soon, just for his own well being.
Thank you for checking up on him. I know he appreciates it.
The Mama.
Posted by: Mamamontezz at March 6, 2006 10:10 PMHang tough. There's a lot of us you've never met who have grown to like you and what you write.
Posted by: Joe Bethancourt at March 6, 2006 10:37 PMHey Mama,
Don't forget to include my post!!!
RWR
Posted by: RightWingRocker at March 6, 2006 11:32 PMMama,
Has anyone called my Dad? PappaSlagle would want to know what is going on. I will tell him as soon as I can, but to be honest I am surprised he didn't call me with the news???
Send Uncle Burp my best.
TSgt SlagleRock Out!
Posted by: SlagleRock at March 6, 2006 11:35 PMI am so happy to hear Delfts is getting better. I know being in the hospital sucks, but don't rush out just for the sake of getting out. Somtimes staying one extra day prevents a return trip. Have him crank up the Ancient Laptop of Doom(TM) and let us know about the cute nurses.
Posted by: SoCalOilMan at March 7, 2006 02:20 AMKind of unnerveing to think that a Heart Failure unit is a "stepdown"...
Give the man a hug from me as well. Thank you for the update. :)
Posted by: alli at March 7, 2006 11:15 AMOn his way home to "healthy eating" and "exercise"!! blech! Glad to hear you've had some good news over the weekend...your family has been and will be in my thoughts and prayers. My father-in-law was in a similar situation (went to the doc with a "bad cold"...). It's a long hard road, but I'm sure you're all up to the challenge :) I know the LCs are certainly behind you!
Posted by: lc ima mommy at March 7, 2006 11:40 AMThanks for the update Mama, It's good to hear he's on the improve, still it's scary. I can't believe he was still smoking, best thing is to never touch another smoke of any kind. Give him my best, I'm not a religious person but I'll pray for him nevertheless. Get well soon Bert.
Posted by: Jack at March 7, 2006 11:58 AMHi Mama M, thank you so much for Delfts update. I can just see you trying to find out where they had taken Bert. The adventures of being in a hospital...ugh!
Lots of prayers here for him and hugs too.
Everyone at my blog is praying too and my husband said to tell Delfts not to take any prisoners when they want to keep waking him up early in the morning which is common at hospitals. He can tell the nurses he has an army of bloggers behind him and want him to get the needed rest so no wake up calls till after 9:00 a.m. heh heh
Dear God! I am so sorry to hear this. Your entire family goes into my prayers as of this moment.
Chin up, Mama M.!
Posted by: Omnibus Driver at March 7, 2006 01:14 PMGood to hear that your health is improving.
I suggest that you stop smoking. Not because the cigarettes will kill you. Because if you don't Lila will kill you.
Posted by: Will at March 7, 2006 01:22 PMsounds like you are getting better Delf, Good to hear it. Now kick them damn cigarettes and I reckon you may even have to go to drinking that damn decag stuff instead of coffee. But nevermind long as it gets you healthy enough to come back down and do some fishin' with me.
Posted by: GUYK at March 7, 2006 01:49 PMI didn't realize what happened! I was wondering why the blogosphere suddenly got so quiet. I'm very sad to hear it. Give Delfts my best.
Posted by: Karlo at March 7, 2006 02:08 PMDelfts, glad to hear you're feeling better. I figure if you try and quit smoking then I'll give it another shot as well! It's a pain in the ass but with the money you save you can buy a couple boxes of ammo a week. Just a thought.
Seriously, do what the docs and nurses tell ya and take your meds and get yer ass better!
See ya on the Bark!
maxxdog
We are thinking of ou Delfts hang in thee and get well..
Ciao NEil and Dea