Nancy
Well-known member
I was just thinking today about how this past month has been such a roller coaster for Joe and for me. But it has also been some kind of special gift.
Joe has been through so many, many absolutely terrible things and has come to the brink of death a number of times. This one was the worst so far, and I truly thought I would lose him. He was that ill. One of the cardiologists told him that he was one of the sickest people in the ICU that he had ever seen. And he remained that way for several days, not wavering from his downward spiral.
Each daughter came up to see him (they live a distance), and each of them spent an overnight in the ICU with me on separate days, just watching the monitor and reassuring him that we were there and he was not alone. They were profoundly moved by it. Joe was in another world, hallucinating and just terribly ill.
After this very critical period, he started to improve, ever so slightly each day. The heart rate came down, the rhythms became more regular. His respirations were not as rapid and shallow, and his oxygen level normalized.
He tried to speak, but what came out was so garbled that it was hard to understand. That was very frustrating for all of us.
But each day, the fog lifted more and more.
It has been one of the greatest gifts in the world to witness my husband during the healing process and on more than one occasion. It would have also been my privilege to help him enter what comes after life, if that were the case, but this time, the body healed.
I just wanted to express this to you, especially loved ones who have or will be witnessing someone they love heal from a difficult medical problem.
Today, he was sitting up in a chair watching football and enjoying his dinner, talking to me about home and even discussing when he thought he would be able to come home from physical rehab. His goal is Thanksgiving, and I believe this is a realistic goal, could even be sooner. I have my orders to bring up his socks and sneakers tomorrow because he wants to try walking in earnest. He has a ways to go, but he is a determined person.
Two weeks ago, my thoughts were of different things.
So, hold dear your loved ones, and if you also have this unbelievable opportunity, you will never forget it.
Joe has been through so many, many absolutely terrible things and has come to the brink of death a number of times. This one was the worst so far, and I truly thought I would lose him. He was that ill. One of the cardiologists told him that he was one of the sickest people in the ICU that he had ever seen. And he remained that way for several days, not wavering from his downward spiral.
Each daughter came up to see him (they live a distance), and each of them spent an overnight in the ICU with me on separate days, just watching the monitor and reassuring him that we were there and he was not alone. They were profoundly moved by it. Joe was in another world, hallucinating and just terribly ill.
After this very critical period, he started to improve, ever so slightly each day. The heart rate came down, the rhythms became more regular. His respirations were not as rapid and shallow, and his oxygen level normalized.
He tried to speak, but what came out was so garbled that it was hard to understand. That was very frustrating for all of us.
But each day, the fog lifted more and more.
It has been one of the greatest gifts in the world to witness my husband during the healing process and on more than one occasion. It would have also been my privilege to help him enter what comes after life, if that were the case, but this time, the body healed.
I just wanted to express this to you, especially loved ones who have or will be witnessing someone they love heal from a difficult medical problem.
Today, he was sitting up in a chair watching football and enjoying his dinner, talking to me about home and even discussing when he thought he would be able to come home from physical rehab. His goal is Thanksgiving, and I believe this is a realistic goal, could even be sooner. I have my orders to bring up his socks and sneakers tomorrow because he wants to try walking in earnest. He has a ways to go, but he is a determined person.
Two weeks ago, my thoughts were of different things.
So, hold dear your loved ones, and if you also have this unbelievable opportunity, you will never forget it.
