On Thursday June 2nd I spent time with the kids in the AM
and in the afternoon showed our May 12 to June 1 pictures of the kids to my
girl. This was highly encouraged as a means of helping my wife reconnect and
give her hope. My sister and husband and my mom had still been at our house and
were graciously taking care of the kids, taking video and pictures so that my
girl could have some memory of her cherished little ones for that time period. To
this day we are a more picture happy family, having seen the benefit of it
during that journey.
My lady mouthed the words that she wanted to see her mom,
this was a great sign that she was thinking and communicating her wants. We
shared kisses that day, something we hadn’t been able to do much of in 3 weeks.
The ventilator had been reduced down to 8. The antibiotics had been stopped and
the pain meds had been reduced. Stopping the antibiotics was double edged since
further antibiotics could leave side affects and stopping them if the infection
was still present could be life threatening.
On Friday June 3 The surgeon reviewed the leg and said he may finish up sewing up the opening on June 6. Nurse 1 mentioned that my wife may be off the ventilator over the weekend and moved into a room by herself (within ICU and with a window). We were looking forward to that, the ICU environment was one of constant beeping and noise, even at night. She also mentioned that they may need to put her on antidepressants to assist in the recovery.
I announced that it would be date night. I planned to show my girl the May 12 to June 1, 2005 video footage of our kids. I arranged to have a tv and vcr brought to ICU. My girl and I watched the video; she was alert for approximately 45 minutes. We kissed and enjoyed our alone time (date) in a room full of sleeping patients and medical staff.
I announced that it would be date night. I planned to show my girl the May 12 to June 1, 2005 video footage of our kids. I arranged to have a tv and vcr brought to ICU. My girl and I watched the video; she was alert for approximately 45 minutes. We kissed and enjoyed our alone time (date) in a room full of sleeping patients and medical staff.
On Saturday June 4 my girl had a fever during the day
("alarm bells"), which lessened by evening. Thank you Lord. She sat
in a chair for 45 minutes. During this time she had a physiotherapy and breath
on her own session. My girls body, fingers, everything were very stiff from
being so still for so long. It was important that they get her moving. Her body was also returning to its slim self, the retained fluids from all of the IV were going away. The
charge nurse and another nurse cornered me about my staying nights, trying to
encourage me to start staying at home. They felt that I should make this change
immediately. They could see the toll this was taking on me. I kept staying the
night.....it was comforting to my girl. It was reasonably frequent that I would
be called on to calm her at night. I could certainly feel that I was stressed out though.
On Sunday June 5 my girl was very kissy with me; she was
alert and did very well during her breath on her own session which was one hour
in the morning. I said I love you and she responded with same, man that felt
good. We say that all the time, but until you miss it, you sure don’t want to
take it for granted again. While sitting in the chair and watching the video,
with the tracheotomy capped, her voice was audible and she said I love you and
that she was glad that we could spend father’s day together (she was confused, father’s
day was 2 weeks away). She also mouthed the words, how long have I been here? I
told her it is June. She asked where will I go after this. I tried to explain that she may go to a nearby hospital for
further therapy. When told of our Friday night date, she mouthed the words that’s
sweet, she waved at our daughter on the video and asked where my mom was. She was
still very confused, very simple and we were starting to wonder about her
vision.
On Monday June 6 during a 1 hour sitting in a stretcher
chair and breathing on her own session and while her tracheotomy was capped she
said to me “thanks everyone for being here, I feel privileged, I want to
fulfil my husband’s dreams". Boy was she ever doped. It was too funny.
My girl had surgery that day at 3:30pm. They sewed up across the groin and some
inner tissue on the inside of the leg. The surgeon who was happy with my lady's
progress had her relocated within ICU to a private room with a window
overlooking the psychiatric garden. The room was nice, the view into the ward
garden, not so great. It was a bare fenced in area. Shrubs and trees had recently been removed because patients were doing the hooby dooby behind them (sex).
During this time I remember feeling a great peace with my wife’s
health and whenever I thought about it I got this picture showing me a very
rapid recovery. It was truly a miracle that she was alive, and the rate she was
recovering at was unreal. God was involved, no doubt. No question, even in today’s
world He performs miracles. I witnessed many during my special girls journey.
Psalm
77:14
New
International Version (NIV)You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.
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