karenulijohn

After an approximately six hour delay, Harvey was finally, and officially released from the hospital yesterday.  Both Dr. Suhag and Dr. Y. checked him and agreed to the release, but the hospital doctor decided that Harvey should have one more blood draw to check his hemoglobin.  He wanted to reassure himself that the blood count was still on the right trajectory.  These events occurred around 9:00am.  The phlebotomist arrived at noon, and the report came back providing the result for hematocrit, not hemoglobin.  Another delay, another call to the lab, and finally, at 2:00pm, the nurse came in to remove all of the venipuncture needles and unhook him from the heart monitors.  I then helped him dress, and again we waited for the wheelchair transport to the main entrance of the hospital.  At 3:00pm, Lynnette, one of the Aides, came in with a wheelchair saying that we would likely be there until Thanksgiving if we waited for transport.  After stopping at Walgreens to pick up prescriptions, we arrived home at 3:50pm.  We, especially he, was overjoyed to be home.

Our happy day was slightly marred by a near “curtsy” event when Harvey asked me what we were going to have for dinner.  I listed some of the items that I had bought last week on the recommendation of my friend Debbie.  They were all nutritious, had lots of protein, and met the ease of eating requirement.  It was as if he hadn’t heard me, and then he said he would just have a can of chili.  All of a sudden, I could feel it happening.  I was losing control.  Weeks of anxiety, stress, worry, and uncertainty seemed to well up and, I broke.  He had hurt my feelings!  Did he even consider that I had to eat also?  I had tried so hard to find foods that we could both eat so that we could enjoy a meal together.  Of course, he immediately apologized and was truly contrite.  And of course, I forgave him, but it was difficult to get over the hurt.  I do appreciate that when one has been as ill as he has been, that it is easy to become self-absorbed.  This is not Harvey’s usual MO, thank goodness!

In the evening, our potluck group was meeting not far away, so we drove over for a short visit.  It was good to see everyone, and they were happy to see Harvey looking so well.  I made him wear his pink shirt so that his color would reflect the color in the shirt.  I know he enjoyed the outing.

Our daughter, Dawn and her family are on their way here right now.  We are so looking forward to seeing them.  I have separated myself from the issue of lunch and placed that obligation fully on my daughter’s shoulders.  Not fair, perhaps, but a relief for me.