Boring/Exciting Day #3

Another boring/exciting day.  Joe took a few steps throughout the day and hung out in the chair.  Turkey and mashed potato dinner was OK.  The big news is that the Art Cart came around and replaced the creepy girl with our choice of Manet's "Bar at the Folies-Bergere".  We have their phone number now in case we ever have an art emergency like the creepy girl picture again.

Another Boring/Exciting Day

Joe spent much of the day in the chair instead of bed, had a hockey puck hamburger and a dry ham sandwich.  We're using the term "nose thing" instead of cannula for the device that delivers the oxygen since "cannula" reminds us too much of "cannoli".  The nose thing stayed in place all night.  Yay.  The docs aren't pushing tapering the oxygen too quickly, which is good, since we need to see the oxygen saturation levels stay high and not drop too quickly with activity.  Boring as she goes.

Bye Bye ICU!

Joe was moved from the ICU to a general pulmonary floor this morning. Still using oxygen through a cannula.  Did a little activity today.  Said the egg salad sandwich wasn't bad.  All in all, a boring/exciting day.  The painting of the little girl and her dog on the wall in front of us creeps us out. Added incentive to get outta here.  Thanks for all your support!

Houston, We Have Extubation

They removed the breathing and feeding tubes this morning at 11:30 without a problem.  Joe's been breathing on his own all along with varying levels of assistance.  He now has a cannula providing air.  When I asked the nurse how long Joe should refrain from talking, in a riff on Joseph Campbell, she said to "Follow your pain."  Great.  They'll monitor Joe for a day or two in the ICU, and then he'll move to a general medicine floor.  Three cheers for the Amazing Joe!

Cruisin' in the Right Direction

There's an indication that Joe's breathing is getting stronger and that the steroids he's being given are working on the lung infection.  Joe had a relatively peaceful, productive day breathing with less help from the breathing tube apparatus.  If the current trend continues, they may be able to remove the breathing tube as early as tomorrow.  That would be hugely wonderful.  Keep those positive rays comin'!

A Step Up to the ICU

Around 3:30 this morning, Joe woke up having extreme difficulty breathing. He couldn't maintain adequate oxygen saturation (in the 90's), even with 95% oxygen.  The decision was made to move him to the ICU and he had a temporary breathing tube and 2 blood lines inserted without problems. This is a good place for him to be.  With the breathing tube, he's able to breath effectively with lower oxygen percentages (he moved down quickly to 50% with this more effective apparatus).

FYI, I turned on comments on the blog.

Thanks for your support and positive rays!

Healthcare up close and personal. Joe's in the hospital.

Joe's in the hospital getting treatment for serious pneumonia.  Doctors advise against visitors at this time so that he can rest and get the treatment he needs.  You can send silly (or not so silly) cards to the house, which I'll happily deliver.  He was admitted Friday, Oct. 24th due to shortness of breath and other symptoms. It's been a very frustrating week of negative test results and no plausible hypothesis.  That changed a few minutes ago when a wonderful Bone Marrow Transplant resident, who has been tracking Joe's case, and her advisor came to Joe's room to propose a hypothesis based on a suppressed immune system from the 2010 transplant.  We will have confirmation in a couple of days if the results of the culture sent to Mayo Clinic come back positive. But, they're starting treatment asap to make up for lost time.  We are definitely not out of the woods; Joe will likely be here for weeks. Since Joe's fan club is so big, I'll keep you up to date through blog entries. Please send continuous positive rays for a complete and speedy recovery.  Thanks!