A GLIMPSE OF TENNESSEE

When I left you Monday morning, Ken had a temperature and things were not looking good at all. He was in and out of reality all day and every time his body was touched he grimaced in pain. His legs and feet kept cramping and he looked as though he could start screaming at any moment. I sat next to his bed all day just waiting to do whatever he needed - pile on the blankets, take off the blankets, rub his face with a cold rag, make sure the fan was on him, make sure the bed was on rotate (the mattress will rise on one side with air, causing the mattress to tilt, then it will go back to the middle, then tilt to the other side and then back towards the other side), rub his legs and feet, pile on the blankets............................................on and on. He was not on dialysis yesterday and some of his levels were up which could have caused the cramping. I did not leave the hospital until after 10:00 Monday night, exhausted. I set the alarm for 6:00 am knowing I needed to get to the hospital around 7:00 am. When I left that night, Ken was on the schedule for 8:00 Tuesday morning to go have a line put in for IVs.

I tell you all that for this reason ----so you know how fast things can change!! Ken was sleeping so hard when I got to his room yesterday we could hardly get him to open his eyes. Dr. M came into the room talking to one of the nurse practitioners and asking about the need for the IV line. When he left the plan was: the dialysis would be restarted and they would run the IVs through that set-up for a few days instead of a new line. I could have stayed in BED. Since Ken was sleeping so well I decided to go run some errands.

After several miles of walking I headed back up to the hospital. Walking down the hall communicating to some of the staff, I stopped and talked to the physical therapist when I saw her. Chris had been in to visit with Ken and work him out some. She said they had a good talk and that he was awake right now so I headed on down to his room.

WAIT A MINUTE -- I MUST HAVE THE WRONG ROOM --- NO, IT'S THE RIGHT ROOM- JUST DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE SAME MAN I LEFT EARLIER!!!!!!!!!!!!

The man I left was so out of it I don't even think he heard me say I'll be back. The man I saw now was sitting up in bed with his glasses on looking like a million bucks!! He was on the trach collar and talking. There are many of the staff that had still not heard his voice and they were all just smiling and so happy. He was "Mr. Chatty"!!! I sat by his bed again, but now it was an occasional suctioning out his mouth. I read some e-mails to him, we talked to the staff who would stop by to visit and we just visited and shared with each other. At about 6:50, Ken asked me if we going to watch Jeopardy. Many nights, in an effort to get him to become involved in something, I would turn on the TV and almost make him watch it. As I was trying to get some things situated he was watching the clock and informed me I had to turn on the TV if we were going to watch. I did not go home until after 10:00 last night, but this time it was because I was watching TV and visiting with the same man I was taking care of the night before.

The diagnosis for why Ken was so sick on Monday -another blood infection. He is responding to the antibiotics and the doctors who take care of infections are still trying to find out the cause. Sunday, I'm sure the infection was causing him to be so tired and agitated although we didn't know it was there yet. They will continue to treat and look for the source of infection, but we do know the lines used for dialysis are clean. The dialysis is now running to filter as well as remove fluid and he is off the IV for keeping his blood pressure up. PRAISE GOD!!!

I was talking to a friend yesterday and told her the last couple of days have reminded me of the parachute ride. You are strapped onto a seat that is slowly raised up into the air. You are enjoying the scenery all the way up (Sunday), then it comes to a stop. The next thing you know you are plummeting back to the ground (Monday) when suddenly you feel a jerk and you slowly glide the rest of the way down (Tuesday). I use to love that ride. I could see so far out from where I was as the operator kept taking me to the top, but when the operator flipped the switch and dropped me it was like my breath was just taken away. When my feet were back on the ground I felt so exhilarated but my legs were a little wobbly.

I bet you think I love amusement parks as much as I use the rides to share with you what this journey has been like. Before Josh was born I could ride anything out there, but ever since I had him I cannot even swing without getting motion sickness. Perhaps my body is feeling the effects of these rides I have been on lately, because this morning I am tired I can hardly keep my eyes open. I called Ken's nurse to see how he was - waiting for Chris to get him in the chair and still bright eyed and talking - and asked him to let Ken know I would be up there a little later. Perhaps I'm exhilarated from the events of the last couple of days but my legs are a little wobbly right now. I need to get some rest before we have company this weekend. JACK is bringing his mom and dad to see me for Mother's Day - what a thoughtful grandson!!!! We are just praying Ken will be up for another field trip to the atrium and a play date with Jack.

Thank you for holding us up when we are tired and wobbly and for celebrating with us when we see and experience all that God is doing. I could see Tennessee on Sunday when I was at the top of the ride!!!