karenulijohn

Everything I am reporting today came second hand, but from a very reliable source.  Dawn and her son, Cole, drove up from San Mateo this morning to visit Harvey, and to give me a day to restore my energy.  Fortunately, Dawn has a good balance of my desire for details and Harvey’s unflappable composure.  Cole’s role is to verify her conclusions.

Harvey did not have a very good night.  He experienced a bout of Atrial Fibrillation (Afib), although the nurse reassured Dawn that this is often the case after chest surgery.  He has some fluid in his lungs, but it is not due to pneumonia.  Apparently, after this kind of surgery, the body produces a lot of fluids in general.  Both surgeons have been in to see him and have assured Dawn that everything is under control.  They prescribed Lasix, which is a diuretic to treat fluid retention.  Though I don’t know what drug, I am sure they have given him something to slow him down because his speech is very slurred, and he reports that he is unable to pull his thoughts together.  Of course, he also still has the nasogastric tube down his throat, making it very hard for him to speak.  Using Dawn’s mobile phone, I was able to talk to him, and believe me, he does not sound like himself.  He even admits that the minute his eyes close, he is asleep.  He did have a walk down the hall and back today.  His nurse is Gretchen, and she is amazed at how straight he is and how good his balance is.  So, the news today is mixed.  He will spend another day and night in ICU, but he is hoping to have nasogastric tube removed tomorrow.  I hope so too, for his sake.

I will be going to the hospital tomorrow, and will, hopefully, have only good news to report.  It turns out that his room does have a phone, and he telephoned me just moments ago.  It is difficult for him to have a conversation, but it was wonderful just to feel connected.