June 30 Update

(This one is out of order: it is the update from Monday.)

Monday June 30th
by Amanda (with thoughts from Carl)

Grandpa, Kelsey and I arrived at the hospital around 10:00. We were very pleased to see that grandma was alert and had only a slight fever. She told us that during her session with the speech therapist that morning she had experienced an upset stomach. She told us she didn't feel badly, but that it had occurred after another coughing fit.

Soon after we arrived a representative from Peabody came to assess grandma. She asked her a number of questions and wanted to hear updates from us as well. Grandma did very well with responding, though when asked the date, she stated that it was "Saturday, June 28th." We believe that because she has been dealing with the fever during the past couple of days, she basically lost two days in her mental timeline.

Kelsey and I were very pleased with how well grandma was doing all morning. She was as alert as we had seen her, was very talkative and speaking more quickly and clearly. Though she didn't have an appetite for the breakfast she had ordered, we were able to get her to eat some fruit and she initiated holding her own cup and fork.

Grandma napped from around noon until 5pm. She seemed to be sleeping more comfortably. While she was sleeping Dr. Kachmann visited. He seemed surprised and concerned to hear that grandma had been feverish during the past days. He took some fluid from her head and ordered chest x-rays. He also asked the nurse to call the doctor for infectious diseases. He expressed that her symptoms could indicate that she was experiencing a shunt infection.

During her nap, Kelsey and I hung all of the cards we found in the room. We counted around 110 cards! The nurses that came in throughout the day said they had never seen so many cards in their hospital rooms. Our hope is that they will not only encourage grandma, but also represent to those working in the hospital how supported and loved this woman is.

The evening came with chest x-rays, a visit from the doctor for infectious diseases, and more upset stomach. Dr. Kachmann came back and told us he wanted to wait to get all of the test results back before taking any action with removing the shunt (a procedure that would have be performed if there is an infection).

We helped grandma eat some dinner (again, she did much of the work), sang some songs that she requested (she sang the alto part), and said our goodbyes for the day. As we were leaving, she asked that the TV be turned on. It seems that her long nap this afternoon energized her, which was very encouraging!

Reflections on the day as shared by Carl and recorded by Judy:
It was a discouraging day for him. He keeps hoping for continued improvement, and the up-and-down nature of the recovery has been very difficult for him. Some days he has glimpses of Doreen's mortality, and that is very sobering. But as he and Dr. Kachmann shared, she is a fighter, and we are all going to do what we can to help her get through this.

Carl had the opportunity to do some impromptu chaplain work today. He was in what is called the quiet room across the hall from Doreen's room. A woman in the room seemed distressed and sad, so Carl talked with her and encouraged her to look at the gifts she had to give to her family. Supporting others can be a very therapeutic activity for all of us.