5PM. Katie was moved up to the “Cardiac Recovery Floor” (my term) on the 4th floor a little over an hour ago. Everyone is very nice in her “new home”, but it’s very busy here. It was so calm down in the CCU, and the nurses were able to be quicker in responding; I am in no way, shape, or form being mean to the nurses up here. It’s just that with a smaller amount of people to attend to, it’s nicer. These ladies up here are doing a fantastic job…they just are in higher demand.
Before I write anymore, I want to say how much the love between Katie and Alex just fills me with motherly pride and humble love. They have always been incredibly close friends, which has been such a blessing; but the sibling love is so wonderful to see in action. It was Alex’s choice to come with us yesterday; he was our alarm clock to get us up by 4AM; he kept Katie laughing when she was getting ready in the hospital before going down to surgery; he stayed with me in the waiting room the whole time; he made phone calls for me when needed; he was with me when we saw Katie right after the operation and she was still “out of it”; he was in her room as we held hands with Pastor Obey and prayed for her; he was there for her first journey to the chair two hours after “waking up”; he noticed the huge improvement on her second journey to the chair a few hours later; today, he was there again for her first steps with her new heart when she ventured into the land of the nurse’s station—he applauded when she completed her venture. Last night, I told him how much I appreciated him being there for Katie and me, how much I love him, and how much it meant to me to have him to lean on all day. I was so overcome with emotion and love I almost couldn’t talk. When I gave him a hug, he hugged me back very, very tightly and gave me a long hug. That showed how much he was concerned about Katie, how relieved he was that everything was OK with her, and also how much he loves both Katie and me. Alex is not an automatic hugger, so when he gives prolonged hugs, I know exactly what he’s saying. He is a precious, precious son. I love and respect him so much. I think it’s so great how much he and Katie love and support each other.
6PM….Katie has “graduated” to eating pudding. Yay!! Her diet is technically a salt-free liquid diet, but since she’s able to hold even that atrocity disguised as food down, the wonderful nurse (told you they were great) brought in some chocolate pudding for her and ordered her food to be changed to “soft deliciousness”. Ok, I made that up, but that’s basically what she’ll be able to eat now. Katie should have her new and improved food tray here any minute. Yum! Nurse Michelle is amazed with how great Katie is doing….Katie requested to go back to Chairland; when Nurse Michelle went to help her, Katie did most of it on her own. Nurse Michelle said that if all the patients were as good as Katie, her job would be so much nicer. Yay!! NM expects Katie to be one of the “faster release” patients. Maybe by Saturday.
I’m so proud of Katie. Even though she’s in so much pain, she is doing everything she’s supposed to. No whining, complaining, or putting it off. She’s incredible.
Katie said she’s getting used to what to expect with the different parts of pain, depending on how she moves. She is definitely on the fast road to recovery. Yay!!!
Til later…..
No comments:
Post a Comment