From Allan:

Part one is from her sister. Part 2 is a horror story from one of my
Mother's oldest friends. I'll do part 3.

I.
They had Chris sitting in bed in a chair-like position today. She is
pretty much the same as yesterday. . .no worse, that is, but no better.
Yesterday and today all her labs were the same. I got the impression
that she isn't going anywhere until those were to improve. Her mental
state is pretty much the same. . .a lot of delusion and some bits of
clarity. Annmarie said they (dr.'s and nurses) were all talking about
what they thought was causing the delusion and they think it is a
combination of the cirrhosis, kidneys and coming off of the meds. . .it
is just going to take some time.

I asked if they gave her food yesterday (jello or Italian ice) because
that was a possibility. Apparently her labs showed that she is still
considered 'malnourished' and they hooked up the feeding tube again
which is high caloric and the most nutritional.

One other positive thing I thought was they ordered some physical &
occupational therapy for today. They are going to help her with some
range of motion and start working with her on hair brushing, teeth
brushing, etc. At least it will be some entertainment for her!

============

II.
(My Mother's friend evidently has a stuck shift key )

A note from my dear friend Penny. Kaye is her husband and she is telling
about his hospital stay and the aftermath.

MISS JUNE.

I DON'T WANT TO BURDEN YOU WITH EMAIL TO ANSWER SO JUST READ THIS AND
FORGET IT. I DO GO ON THE CARING BRIDGE EVERY DAY AND HAVE DISCOVERED
MICHAEL DOES A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING US UPDATED.

I WANTED TO TELL YOU IN 2004 WHEN KAYE WENT IN FOR AN ANGIOGRAM
SOMETHING WENT HORRIBLY WRONG. HE BECAME PSYCHOTIC THAT NIGHT IN THE
HOSPITAL. CALLED ME AND SAID OPRAH WINFREY AND SOME VIETNAMESE SOLDIERS
WERE IN HIS ROOM AND THEY WERE TAKING HIM TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE
NEXT TOWN AND I HAD TO COME RIGHT AWAY OR I WOULD NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN. I
CALLED HIS DIABETES DOC AS HE WAS THE ON CALL AND BY THE TIME WE BOTH
GOT TO THE HOSPITAL HE WAS IN A COMA.

HE WAS ALLERGIC TO THE CONTRAST DYE USED IN THE
ANGIOGRAM( FOUND THIS OUT MANY DAYS LATER). LONG STORY SHORT , FOR 21
DAYS HE WAS LIKE YOUR DEAR CHRISTY, HOOKED UP TO A CENTRAL LINE WITH 16
IV'S GOING IN HIM, ON A RESPIRATOR, FEEDING TUBE, DIAPERS AND THEN
DIALYSIS. AFTER THE THIRD DAY THEY PUT HIM IN A MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA
AND SAID I SHOULD CALL HIS CHILDREN TO COME AND SAY GOODBYE.

HIS DNR WAS ON FILE AND A COPY BY HIS BED. HE HAD A JAPANESE NURSE NAMED
GRACE WHO WAS WITH HIM 12 HOURS A DAY. HIS HEART STOPPED FREQUENTLY AND
WHEN IT HAPPENED SHE WOULD RUN UP TO HIS BED AND JAB IN ANOTHER SYRINGE
WHICH SHE CALLED 'JUICE' AND IT WOULD START HIS HEART AGAIN, SHE SAID
SHE WAS NOT GOING TO LET HIM GO NO MATTER WHAT HE HAD ON THAT PAPER. SO
AFTER 21 DAYS THEY LET HIM COME OUT OF THE COMA WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HIS
KIDNEYS STARTED TO WORK AND HE WAS ABLE TO BREATHE ON HIS OWN.

HE CAME HOME AFTER ANOTHER MONTH AND IT TOOK TWO YEARS OF INTENSIVE CARE
TO GET HIM TO THE POINT HE IS AT NOW. WHEELCHAIR BOUND FOR THE MOST PART
BUT AT LEAST HE IS ALIVE AND ABLE TO ENJOY SOME THINGS, SO FOUR AND A
HALF YEARS LATER THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A LOT OF NEW TREATMENTS AND I AM
HOPING AND PRAYING FOR THE SAME MIRACLE FOR CHRISTY. ALL THIS AFTER THEY
SAID HE WOULD BE ON DIALYSIS FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE AND NEVER WALK
AGAIN AND NO CHANCE OF A TRANSPLANT AS HE WAS TOO SICK FOR THAT.
KEEP ON KEEPING ON AND KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SHARING THIS WITH
YOU.
WITH MUCH LOVE TO ALL OF YOU FROM YOUR OLD OHIO FRIEND
==============================

III.
We had a few chuckles today. It's good to see her laugh. She's doing
much better and they're talking about moving her to a regular room
tomorrow.
They're really pumping the food to her via her tube.
She's ****ing like a racehorse. The nurse said that anything above 30 ml
a day was good. She's been doing 70 ml, and she squirted out 100 ml
today, and she's not done yet. Good sign for the kidneys.

Hopefully feeding her ice every few seconds has contributed to this.

She was really excited about the bottle of Fiji water I had today. She
went on and on about how good it was. I'd say, 'here, have some Fiji
ice.' It wasn't Fiji ice, but if she thought it was better, so be it.

Then she sent me away demanding I give the kids (cats) some Fiji water.

TFM®

--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

ACHTUNG! ALLES LOOKENSPEEPERS! Das computermachine ist nicht fuer
gefingerpoken und mittengrabben. Ist easy schnappen der springenwerk,
blowenfusen und poppencorken mit spitzensparken. Ist nicht fuer gewerken
bei das dumpkopfen. Das rubbernecken sichtseeren keepen das cotten-
pickenen hans in das pockets muss; relaxen und watchen das
blinkenlichten

PeterL > wrote:

> II.
> (My Mother's friend evidently has a stuck shift key )
>
> A note from my dear friend Penny. Kaye is her husband and she is telling
> about his hospital stay and the aftermath.

No comment on the grandstanding, but you really didn't need to post
any of that, Peter.

-sw