I too am waiting to hear Jill's next fabulous report. However, I know that she is probably exhausted... So, in the meantime, here's a quick little blurb of highlights, lowlights, and decisions for those who aren't able to be here.
Highlights-
- Liz arrived around 8:30pm, safe and sound. She came into ICU with Jill, Curt, Wendy and I (so there were 5) and they allowed us all to be in there at the same time. Mom perked up a little bit. Liz massaged her swollen legs and ankles and moved her legs. Mom seemed to like it. (Much like how Dad liked it when you rubbed his legs... ouch, stop, don't, don't stop)
- Mom's oxygen level, blood pressure, respiration rate, and heart rate seemed to be at good levels most of the day.
- Mom did get something besides water in her. But she didn't eat any of hte solid food dinner that they brought her.
- Jill had a chance to visit with several doctors about mom's condition, and she knows what she's talking about. Dr. Kenwood seems to feel like he has an experimental proceedure which could get her a temporary heart valve solution with a minimum of disruption...which could give her enough strength to help her prepare for heart surgery.
Lowlights-
- She seemed to be coming out of the grogginess that she's been in since Tuesday, around 5:00, and Jill and Curt seemed to be encouraged. But by 7:30, She was groggy and dreamy again until we left her at 9:30.
- Her rest seems troubled. She moans a lot.
- Dr. Thorne and her internest seem to feel that mom wouldn't endure surgery. And that the heart is not the only thing in trouble here. She has so many systems that are breaking down, and her strength is so low, that rather than operations, we should be considering taking her home, and helping her find peace in familiar surroundings. IF she were to get strong, they would reconsider surgery, but at this point, neither of them feel that's in mom's best interest.
- Dr. Kenwood's option sounded good, but as we talked about a number of factors, we tend to trust Dr. Thorne opinion more.
Trust factor: Dr. Thorne seems to be one who is trying to save mom from months of unnecessary stress and pain, which I know is what mom wants. His recommendation (take her home and let her enjoy her recovery/last days) would seem to not be in his best interest (no extra money etc) but would be in her best interest. Dr. Kenwood seemed unnaturally pushy to line up the surgery today. He has vacation today and wouldn't be able to do anything for her after today for a month. So he wants to push a team of people to prepare to do this new procedure in the next few days while he's gone (he's not the surgeon for this procedure anyway). We know that sometimes in the medical world decisions have to be made quickly to save life. But in this case, it seemed we were rushing things, not because mom needed it so quickly, but because the doctor needed to move quickly. It felt very much like a hidden agenda - he had found a guinea pig, let's try it while her family is willing. Also, his staff wasn't very helpful to mom after her angiogram when she had questions and concerns...who's to say they would be any more helpful w/ Dr. Kenwood away?
Decisions-
- At 8:00 this morning Jill and Liz are going to meet with Dr. Kenwood who wants to transfer mom from St. Marks ICU to Intermountain Hospital's ICU. They are going to resist making that change. 1. They don't want to 'rush' a decision which would put mom into more stress and possibly kill her, just to give her strength so she can go through more invasive surgery which would put her in more stress and possibly kill her. We're talking about months of rehab, anxiety and pain for mom. And after seeing what the little bit of drugs she's taken this week has done to her, and how quickly her strength and awareness has disappeared, thinking of major surgeries lined up, just doesn't sound like what mom would have signed up for.
- Try and get mom moved into a room today. This would allow visitors to come visit, and her family help care for her. Allow her to get up and move around. The goal would be to help her be around her 'people' so she can get strong enough to go home.
I suspect all this will change after Jill's report and after Jill and Liz visit with Dr. Kenwood.
But it summarizes how we felt when we said goodnight last night.
Loves to all.
From: bassettbark@googlegroups.com [mailto:bassettbark@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of bruce.bassett@L-3com.com
Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 7:04 PM
To: bassettbark@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: update on Mom 12/9
I’ll bring the egg nog…. Wait we’re trying to revitalize her spirit and not clog the arteries. Love you all. I am so inspired by your examples and sacrifice for Mom and the family. Looking forward to being together with Mom .
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