Found out today that Lee must walk 20 consecutive laps before he can leave this unit. Twenty laps equal a little over a mile. Today he walked a little over one lap three different times and will do another lap before bedtime. And he thought football was tough!
I arrived at the hospital around 8:15 and was surprised to find Lee having difficulty breathing. He had not been up to walk and when he returned from the bathroom around 11:00 he was in some respiratory distress. I called for the nurse and she in turn called for the doctor. Within a matter of minutes it was decided that they had to do a bronchoscopy. This is a very uncomfortable procedure. It is done in his bed with NO anesthesia except for some lidocaine (numbing) spray into the back of the throat. A bronchoscopy is a procedure where a small tube with a camera and suction is passed through the nose into the upper part of the lung (bronchus). They were able to visualize the bronchus and to suction and remove a mucous plug. After this he was able to breathe freely and with no difficulty. He said the procedure was very painful and extremely uncomfortable.
The morning was filled with educators such as the pharmacist, the diabetic teacher, the speech therapist, the physical therapist, and the post-lung coordinator. Each person required at least 30 minutes or more and Lee and I were to pay close attention. During this time, the nurse would enter intermittantly to hang more meds in the I.V. or add something to the stomach tube. The aide would enter for vital signs and urine calculations. Lee could not get any rest at all. He was sitting in the chair before and after the bronchoscopy.
Around 2:00 he finally had his first walk of the day and was able to go one round before becoming exhausted. He walked again @ 4:30 and once more @ 5:45. When I left him around 6:00 , he was ready to be left alone. I was exhaused from just watching what he had to do. I cannot begin to imagine the fatigue he was experiencing.
On a good note. Todd, Donna and the boys stopped by on their way home from the beach. It was a bright spot to Grandaddy as he was walking when he saw his two grandsons waving from the small waiting room. We were glad that the grandsons could see their Grandaddy from their vantage point.
Thanks you for all the cards that are arriving by the tens........Lee gives me a big smile when I tell him he has more cards! We ask for your prayers......this is a very challenging time now.....much harder on Lee than either of us had anticipated. Two major operations like this at one time has been very hard on Lee and for the very first time I have seen him discouraged. Pray that God will strengthen him and give him the endurance to walk, walk, walk.......................that will be the key to his success.......no walking will be a complete failure. Thank you for your prayers................More Later.........................Brenda
Remember that you told me that you would get some rest too, Brenda. So glad that Betsy brought you some warm peach cobbler. Let Lee know that I am always thinking about him and that he is always in my prayers. I know that tomorrow will be a better day for you both. Love Bonnie
ReplyDeleteBrenda, if you think it would help get a tape recorder and record the conversations with the "educators" because it's a whole lot to try to remember and write at the same time. They won't mind and may help the both of you. Debbie & I remember well how much stuff is flying around during the meetings. We're praying for both of you. God Bless.
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