Day 33

After I left last evening, there was a tense moment when new Dr. Pearl wanted to move Debbie to the step down ICU unit for closer observation. Dr. Debbie informed Dr. Pearl that she was not leaving her room and that she was dehydrated and needed fluids. He was to hang the fluids and leave her alone! When they hung the fluids, Debbie improved immediately and Mike came home last night around 10:00. Debbie did fine during the night and she had an OK day today. She was up and doing laps on her own this morning, although the rash is still boiling. As was the case the last time, she is now taking on the fluids in the rash and she is "filling up" again.

Deb also has been having problems with her eyes this time and she was taken to the eye clinic this afternoon for an inspection. She has some burst blood vessels in her eyes and a scratched cornea. Apparently, this is because she was so dehydrated.

When I arrived at about 4:00, she was not in her room and had left her room at about 2:15. When they told me where she was, I suspected that she was most likely parked in a hallway somewhere waiting for the infamous "transport" team to arrive. Unfortunately, no one on Rav 9 could tell me where the eye clinic was located after a few minutes of waiting, I went down to the information desks and started asking questions.

Sure enough, when I found "Gates 2" there she was. FOD's what a pitiful sight! Parked against the wall, IV fluids drained and empty, pumps shut down, little blue hat over her bald and slumped head -- waiting -- for one hour in a public waiting room to be wheeled back to her room. Absolutely attrocious! We took matters into our own hands and began the trek back to Rav 9. We rigged the pole between the feet of the wheelchair and Deb held the pole. I had the wheelchair and her huge chart as we made our way down the halls. While I was pondering how to get this rig up the escalator, a transport person appeared and she knew this picture did not look right. She acted as our guide and she directed us through the HUP hallways back to 933. Needless to say, Deb was exhausted when we got back to the room. She went straight into bed, the fluids were restarted, platlates were hung and she received 2 units of blood.

There is money to be made here in a private transport service. This could be like the private water taxis in Venice. You can take the public transportation that will take 2 hours for 5 euros or get there by private water taxi in 20 minutes for $100. There is definitely a market here.

The boys arrived about 30 minutes after this disaster. Had they been there earlier, we would have solved the escalator problem with a brief protage up the steps and over the rail. While Debbie slept, Joey took a nap on the recliner and Mike and I went to CHOP to experience the great cafeteria all the nurses have raved about for the past month. When we found our way to the CHOP entrance, a CHOP Rambo Security guy asked us our business. When we informed him that we were there to try the cafeteria, he informed us that we were only allowed on these premises for "official" business and eating in the cafeteria was not official enough. We were rejected and we tramped back to the slop shop and did the best we could.

When Mike and I got back, Deb had recovered and was sitting up in bed and enjoying the company. The temp. that had been at 100.3 was down to 98.4 and she was doing well. Her dinner came and got the "ugh" so the boys were free to eat it up and that they did. I expect by now that she has turned back about 80 of the 99 meals that have come her way. Can you believe that? Deb had a mac and cheese for dinner, which now seems to be the dinner of preference. She ate the whole thing again, which compared to last time is very good.

Deb had a nice visit with her boys and she laughed and laughed about the dumb stuff that they do which Joey can imitate in a hilarious way. We had to send them both home before Deb blew a gasket from laughing.

Deb seemed fine tonight and we set her up with a movie that should take her into her bedtime. Since she looked fine when we left and I will save the overnight until it is needed. Hopefully, for both of us, that it will not be necessary.

Deb sends her love to all.