You all must have been praying double-time because from about 7 o’clock yesterday evening to most of today, Hook's situation has improved: Sunday 7:00PM: A great second shift weekend nurse, Justin, entered the hospital scene. I was looking forward to having Nurse Daniel back because I didn’t want to break in another night nurse. But … Continue reading Getting Back on Schedule
Rosemary Guzman Hook
From Room 232
The frustration with hospitals is that they are in the business of treating patients instead of people and those closest to the front lines, nurses and technicians, get caught in the political middle ... but the body that pays is the one strapped to a bed completely dependent upon those around him. FRIDAY late afternoon: … Continue reading From Room 232
Ice Chips as an Entree
I guess when you’ve had part of your stomach removed, then eating falls down the list of priorities in the healing process. Oh, Hook receives basic nutrients from one of the half dozen tubes going into his body so no worries that they’re starving him to death, but those tubes tangle with the other half … Continue reading Ice Chips as an Entree
Musings from an Intensive Care Unit
The first words Hook spoke to me when I saw him in ICU were, “I guess I made it.” As I rubbed his little, bald head, I whispered, “Of course you did.” That was the last lucid conversation Hook had with me until this afternoon. Yesterday, the nurses were kind enough to allow me to … Continue reading Musings from an Intensive Care Unit
Surgery a Success!
3:21pm We got the third call from the surgical assistant that the surgeon was closing Hook up and that the surgeon would be by to talk with us. Sagging my shoulders with relief, I let out the deep breath I didn't even realize I was holding in. 3:25pm A second surgical assistant walked us from … Continue reading Surgery a Success!
Time Rolls Slowly in a Surgery Waiting Room
11:41am – We got the second update from the surgical assistant who said “everything looked great” but that there was no real new information. I did get a chance to ask him if he was actually in the surgical room and he said, “Yes, I am standing in the surgical room.” He let me know … Continue reading Time Rolls Slowly in a Surgery Waiting Room
It’s All About the Surgeon
At 9:12am, I received a phone call from the surgical assistant that Hook was anesthetized with all IVs running at full speed and that everything looked good. Wow! They call you from—what?—a medium clean room or maybe the cell is in a plastic bag and the surgical assistant is punching the numbers with a gloved … Continue reading It’s All About the Surgeon
