Joyce's KP Adventure mikepasini.com headlines
Lunch With Joyce
13 February 2021
Yesterday Joyce called to tell me Dr. Tong wanted me to observe a wet-to-dry dressing change today at 11. Just go to the lobby and tell them your name, she said. You'll be on the list.
Tuna Salad. Here's Joyce reviewing her lunch today..
I was there at 10:55 but my name did not arrive on the list until the security guard's supervisor advised her to call the fourth floor nurses station to advise them that I had arrived but am not on the list so have the AOC (whoever that is) put me on the list so I can go up.
I'd suggested the first part of that. The security guard suggested I call Dr. Tong. Right. Not even the in-home nurses can contact Dr. Tong.
Half an hour later my name appeared on the list and the security guard gave me a name tag she'd already made out, she said, knowing I would eventually be admitted. "Mike Pacinie," it said. Which Joyce found hilarious.
Sarah the RN greeted me, recognizing the lone visitor on the ward as the guy she was waiting for to do the dressing change.
A few minutes later she came into the room and walked me through the procedure, starting with two Tylenol.
Oddly enough, she did it with Joyce on her side. It was a little like trying to assemble a hamburger sideways.
She didn't have the Adaptic that we'd been using (and apparently Dr. Tong too) and asked me where I got it so they could get some. Instead, she left the old Adaptic in.
On top of that was a roll of gauze that had been soaked in a quarter bottle of Vashe (which is about $50 bottle). Sarah promised to send us home with two weeks supply.
A couple of dry pads go on top of that packing and then some big bandages hold everything in. Piece of cake.
I took photos and asked questions and documented the supplies she used. So if I have to do it, I can. But it would be nice if Salwa were able to do at least one a day. With Toni on the weekends.
Otherwise, I'm not sure what I'm going to do for a social life.
After Sarah left, lunch arrived. A tuna salad sandwich. The bread looked like it had been run over by an ambulance. But she liked the tomato soup, fruit salad and tuna salad. There was no mayonnaise nor anything resembling it. It would have made a very dry sandwich.
She didn't want milk, so they gave her a bucket of water. I poured it out so it wouldn't spill on the bed.
She's going to need the bed a couple more days, Sarah said. The goal is to get her out on Monday.
Meanwhile we took two laps around the ward. And she did well. She seems more alert, too, I noticed.
After about two and half hours I gave her an early Valentine's Day kiss and drove off into the sunset.