Pretty good twelve hours for Sarah - we can tell by the return of a certain specificity to her requests (is that water fresh? are the bubbles out of the ginger ale? do you have sherbet that isn't so soft? etc) and by her lawyerly talent for negotiation (Nurse: Sarah, you need to sit in the chair until 5:30. Sarah: 5:00. Nurse: 5:20. Sarah: 5:15). She must have learned this from her lawyer colleagues at the DRC, or maybe it was the other way around!
She is now completely off both medications to maintain her blood pressure. She is running oxygen sats of 95% (nice and normal) on room air. She is even showing some signs of conducting beats from her atrial heart chambers to her ventricular chambers although still at a rate too slow (30/min) for comfort - so she continues to need the pacemaker to keep her heart rate at a healthy level. To leave the intensive care unit, she needs to be off the blood pressure maintenance drugs (check), but also needs to be conducting healthy heart beats in her atria and ventricles (not check - yet).
She went for two walks around the unit - the first fairly short, but the second over twice as long. She assigned Dad the task of counting her steps - a task of math and concentration that was a little beyond his current mental status. And, of course, negotiation played a role. (Nurse: Sarah, let's do another walk at 4 o'clock. Sarah: 4:30. Nurse: 4:10. Sarah: 4:15).
Sarah was in good form for wonderful visits with some friends who dropped by. It brought to mind medical school days in Philadelphia when large gypsy or Amish clans would join their ill loved ones in the hospital including the preparation of hot food in the family member's room. Don't ask. Thank you all for your thoughtful visits and contributions to the cause. Though doing well, Sarah is not always ready for visitors, but we are around and full of hospital(ity) - sorry.
Sarah's sleeping peacefully with her teddy bear now after her busy afternoon. Eliza has shared the teddy bear that Sarah made for Eliza when Sarah was in 7th grade. Nameless until now, Sarah has christened him Stuart, Junior in honor of Eliza's boyfriend who was with us yesterday and today. (Young male visitors are a reliable hit with Sarah.)
We are all managing well. Sleep deprivation for whoever spends the night in Sarah's room is the largest physical challenge for us. Psychically, I have to say that when Sarah is feeling down, hearing her crying and saying "I don't deserve this" simply breaks our hearts. But a few minutes later a smile and sly joke from Sarah refuels all of us for the next round.
She is now completely off both medications to maintain her blood pressure. She is running oxygen sats of 95% (nice and normal) on room air. She is even showing some signs of conducting beats from her atrial heart chambers to her ventricular chambers although still at a rate too slow (30/min) for comfort - so she continues to need the pacemaker to keep her heart rate at a healthy level. To leave the intensive care unit, she needs to be off the blood pressure maintenance drugs (check), but also needs to be conducting healthy heart beats in her atria and ventricles (not check - yet).
She went for two walks around the unit - the first fairly short, but the second over twice as long. She assigned Dad the task of counting her steps - a task of math and concentration that was a little beyond his current mental status. And, of course, negotiation played a role. (Nurse: Sarah, let's do another walk at 4 o'clock. Sarah: 4:30. Nurse: 4:10. Sarah: 4:15).
Sarah was in good form for wonderful visits with some friends who dropped by. It brought to mind medical school days in Philadelphia when large gypsy or Amish clans would join their ill loved ones in the hospital including the preparation of hot food in the family member's room. Don't ask. Thank you all for your thoughtful visits and contributions to the cause. Though doing well, Sarah is not always ready for visitors, but we are around and full of hospital(ity) - sorry.
Sarah's sleeping peacefully with her teddy bear now after her busy afternoon. Eliza has shared the teddy bear that Sarah made for Eliza when Sarah was in 7th grade. Nameless until now, Sarah has christened him Stuart, Junior in honor of Eliza's boyfriend who was with us yesterday and today. (Young male visitors are a reliable hit with Sarah.)
We are all managing well. Sleep deprivation for whoever spends the night in Sarah's room is the largest physical challenge for us. Psychically, I have to say that when Sarah is feeling down, hearing her crying and saying "I don't deserve this" simply breaks our hearts. But a few minutes later a smile and sly joke from Sarah refuels all of us for the next round.
HI Sarah,
ReplyDeleteWe are so excited to hear you are getting better every minute!!! You will be chasing Reed and Eliza around that room in no time! All the Marzelli's send their love, Tony called from Colorado and he wants you get better really fast! Mia asks about you every hour and she is sending you huge hugs. Vinny is thinking about you and looking forward to talking to you soon. Joey misses you and cannot wait to see you again. Lou and I are sending you, Reed, Eliza and your mom and dad all of our love!!! See you soon!!! Mary and all the Marzelli's
Thank you for this post. It sounds like Sarah's doing remarkably well. I can hear her saying "I don't deserve this" and it breaks my heart too. The medical detail you're including in these updates comforts and resonates on so many levels. She was very much on my mind today as I shoveled snow off my roof.
ReplyDeleteYou are in our hearts, Sarah Cooley. We think about you a million times a day. Even though we can't be with you, we are following your recovery. I can see your smiling face, my dear. You are so strong, you can do this! We love and miss you very much.
ReplyDeletelove,
arnie, linda, jocelyn, and leah burdick