karenulijohn

What a difference a day makes!  I arrived at the hospital yesterday at about 2:00 PM and was surprised to see Harvey sitting up in the bed reading a book on his iPad.  The nasogastric tube had been removed, but he still had the nasal cannula for oxygen.  He gave me a big smile and said that he had a very busy morning.  Clearly, he did.

His nurse, Rose, had him up walking at about 7:30 AM.  I commented that she must be a miracle worker.  He doesn’t get up much before 9:00 AM when he is at home.  Upon returning to his room, Dr. Graves appeared with a “brace of doclings” in tow.  He commented that all of Harvey’s vital signs were very good, and said the  nasogastric tube was to be removed.  He challenged Harvey with the goal of going home on Friday.  Whoopee!!  Harvey was then given the contrast drink to check for leaks in the esophagus, and happily, none were detected.  Rose brought him some chicken broth, applesauce, and jello, and while he tried each one, he said he really wasn’t that hungry.  I noticed that one of the bags hanging on “Howard” was glucose.  It seems that he has only lost one pound since being admitted, but that may be due to all of the fluids they are giving him.

He doesn’t seem to be suffering much pain even though the epidural catheter has been removed.  He did tell the doctors that he thought the PCA pump was really a placebo; “Just give the old boy a button to push and a flashing light, and he’ll think he is well medicated.”  Truly, he hasn’t bothered with it much.  By the way, I counted 20 staples on his chest, the incision he refers to as “the zipper.”  They have not removed the dressing on the incision on his back, so I don’t know about that one.

Another surprise for me was the mustache and beard that Harvey is cultivating.  It is very dark in comparison to the white hair on his head.  I wanted to take a photo, but he wouldn’t let me.  In fact, he asked me to bring in his razor, and he plans to shave it off before he comes home.  Even his nurse, Rose, commented on it.  Speaking of Rose, she told us that she is from the Placerville area and has two sons, five and one and a half.  She showed us a couple of pictures of two very handsome little boys.  She said she liked having Harvey as a patient, and she hoped they wouldn’t move him to “the floor” until her shift change.

Last night, he called to let me know that he has been moved out if ICU and into a semi-private room in the older part of the hospital.  We agreed that I would not visit today because I’m not sleeping very well, and I’m just exhausted.  He has promised to call me a couple of times during the day to let me know how he is doing.  I’m sure they will have him up and walking, maybe more than he wants.  I told him to do everything they tell him and then a little more.  I want him home on Friday!