Joyce's KP Adventure mikepasini.com headlines
Dinner With Joyce
23 September 2021
Late Wednesday Cat the Physician's Assistant called to let me know the visiting restrictions at the hospital had been relaxed. They were now allowing one visitor at a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Just call ahead, she advised.
So this morning, I did just that. Called ahead.
It seems no one knew about the change in restrictions. But a nice nurse at the desk on Joyce's floor promised to find out what the situation was and call me right back. She repeated the number.
My plan was to go over to the deli and get her a shrimp salad sandwich on Ciabatta bread. She hates the food at Kaiser (the turkey sandwich was soaking wet, so she threw away the bread and ate the meat). At least she'd get lunch.
℘
WELL, THAT WAS A BUST. Never heard back. And, no, I don't feel like being the pioneer who gets arrows in his back.
If they haven't figured it out yet, they haven't figured it out.
℘
AFTER RESUMING my Life as a Hermit, including tending to the yard on garbage day, it occurred to me to visit the hospital Web site to see what the current visitor restrictions are.
And lo, it said exactly what Cat told me.
If they try to turn me away, I thought, I can show them on their own Web site that they are admitting visitors now.
So I drove over there with a card from Mary and a chocolate bar (because Joyce hates the food), parked on Fortuna St. for luck and marched in like Dr. Mike.
The guard had me disinfect my hands, show him my proof of vaccination on my phone and pass him my ID to scan for my paper badge. In five minutes I was on my way up to the fourth floor (which is really the sixth floor).
℘
I THINK I SHOCKED HER when I walked in.
She was sitting in a chair hooked up to a pole with her epidural, her Wound VAC and an IV.
But for once she was glad to see me.
I took her for a walk up and down the corridor and she did well. She was alert and sounded good too. She wanted to know if the washer and dryer were still working (they are).
Not to make too much of it but she's on a course of fentanyl with up to four 4ml doses an hour to manage the pain.
I also took a look at the Wound VAC (it's become a hobby of mine) and saw she had the black foam now with a bridge out of the wound to a spot on her hip where the lily pad was attached. That's much more convenient that putting it over the wound itself, which she has to sit on.
And I only saw red fluid coming out of the wound, no yellow. Hurray.
I showed her the photo of George after his fall at Mike's and she was horrified. I pointed out that happened in his youth and he's fully recovered now. He'll be 87 on Sunday just to prove it.
Her dinner came and this time she ate most of it. Filet of salmon with lentil soup, a chocolate milk and strawberry Boost. And a green banana.
She saved the banana and the chocolate bar. Tomorrow, after all, is another day.