Our weekend nurse, Karen, saved this meme from her Facebook and brought it in to show Vernon. I love his nurses: they don’t forget about their patients even when they go home.
Anyway, her message is spot-on. I remember ages ago, when I was watching some BBC news segment, young Maki said: “Alli, you shouldn’t watch the news. Didn’t you know that not watching the news is the second key to happiness?”
“Really? What is the first?” I asked, surprised and pleased by his authority on the subject.
“Deciding to be happy.”
Well I guess they are teaching them good stuff in schools after all. At least kids are listening to the good stuff, anyway.
I do decide to keep a positive attitude with this ordeal. And its not like its Easy Street, but when I remember the alternative at are at any stage, I am relieved and thankful. Things become a lot more clear in the middle of a life/death journey, I suppose. (Maybe you’ll have to remind me of this when life gets back to normal…or the new normal.)
The Big Miracle is that Vernon is alive. After that, its just getting used to new things and seeing little miracles along the way. After the big miracle of survival (the doctors have said that had he skidded and damaged the organ of his skin at all that night, just that one injury more, he would not have survived the night.)
At this point, its ALL GOOD—as long as we aren’t moving backward. And even then, sometimes it still is…
Today our good news that is that Vernon has contracted a surprise infection. They have removed his PCCT line but are testing the cultures this week to find out what it could be. Why is this good news?
Because he stays in the hospital. I know the staff can get on top of this with antibiotics, just as they have before. And this buys him more time to recover in this place, close to home. The money/insurance people at the hospital probably wouldn’t like this post because its pretty expensive real estate we are taking up, as it but as long as we have the extra time, I’m still hoping that he can continue to move off the trach in his neck, which again will open up more rehabilitation options. At the moment, Vernon is still making too much secretion in his chest for the doctors to close the trach, but the longer he stays in one position, the more his chest will have this problem.
I have been pushing the nursing staff to put an order in for Physical Therapy assessment. Apparently they have been waiting for him to be more awake. I am beginning to understand how inter-related all these areas of recovery are.
As far as watching the news, I don’t recommend too much of it these days. Take it in small doses, its pretty bad out there. If you must watch it on tv, I recommend watching it in a hospital room, or even the waiting room, if you get the squeamies. It makes it doubly surreal.
I read a post last night by the amazing Anne Lamott. She was trying to make sense of the world falling apart seemingly all at once this month. Here is her conclusion:
“I take care of my own. You are my own, and I am yours–I think this is what God is saying, or trying to, over the din. We are each other’s. Thee are many forms of thirst, many kinds of water.”
I don’t know if this helps any of you…but it helps me.
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More answered Prayers…No move for awhile longer…and a Child shall lead them…..Way to go Maki…teaching others…many more than you can even imagine with this website…..Attitude is everything…Your attitude and Love is contagious Allison……and your Transparency shifts the atmosphere and helps others to move forward…. Vernon Will recover…..in HIS time….Trusting with you….sending Love out to you and Prayers up to the one who is able…..Love you….XXXOOO
Thanks Jessica. I saw your wonderful son and your daughter in law tonight in passing. What a perfect couple they are: anyone can see it! Anyway, thanks for your constant support and prayer. I really can’t thank you enough. Vernon has always done things at his own pace, to his own drum…and so I embrace the time it takes, Vernon would do it no other way than different. 🙂 Its why I love him… and I have to remember that. Thanks for sticking it out with us…
Sorry to hear about the PICC line (presumably)infection. Even though it seems like a blessing to keep from moving on just yet, I will pray for a speedy recovery of this. I love Maki’s outlook! It IS A good day to have a good day! This is the day The Lord has made! He is keeping watch over you & Vernon and you can’t ask for better than that. Continued love & prayers.
We will see what they say tomorrow…or in the days to come after they get culture results. But after this long in the hospital, an infection seems so insignificant. I know they can be bad…so I appreciate your faith of prayer on this one. But my feeling is that its bought time. And if anyone can get on top of infections, its our hospital. They have a reputation to keep up, after all! 🙂
Glad/not glad to hear of Vernon’s infection. Like you said: More time in the hospital can only be a good thing for right now. For both of you.
I have to tell you, Alli, you’re incredibly inspiring. And I know that that’s not why you write these eloquent and painfully beautiful posts (and feel free to bite me with your newly grown teeth!) but a by-product of all of this terribleness is that you’re touching so many people. Making us think in new ways. See in new ways. And for that, I want to thank you.
And as always, I’m sending you and Vernon massive love from the BK.
She broke her silence…and what a wonderful ‘voice’ to hear. Thank you for always being on my side, from the day I met you! xoxox