It was a typical hospital day, I guess: lots of waiting around, passing information back and forth, watching Vernon sleep, walking the grounds aimlessly, trying to read my book, since I finally had the time.  I did see my friend Talar a couple of times, which was lovely. She’s a social worker there, so she can make time for visits. She even introduced me to some passing chaplains, one who had known my parents in the past. Hospitals can make for surprisingly small worlds.

This morning, I got news that Vernon would likely be having surgery on his hip, to clear out a perceived abscess. He needed a blood transfusion…and I was finally give information on his Type of blood that I’ve been asking about for a long time, so there’s that! (Didn’t it used to be that people couldn’t get married without knowing the other’s type of blood? More proof that we are modern kids!)

When I arrived at the ICU, Vernon was complaining of pain in his stomach—so much that he was moaning loudly. He couldn’t stop. After a pain killer, he said his pain had dropped to an 8/10, and he kept up his moaning. I was glad I got there when I did:  though it’s hard to watch your loved ones go through pain, its good to know they aren’t by themselves.  Even a Dilaudid, administered next, didn’t bring him down for awhile. He finally arrived at a six, he reported through his moans.  He doesn’t complain about pain much, so when he does, you know he means it.  At a loss for what else to do, I pulled out the 23rd Psalm, which always seems to bring comfort in hospital rooms. I read it once to him: he became quieter. I read it twice: I could hear almost a snore. I read it three times for good measure, to make sure he was asleep…and maybe I needed to hear it again too.

He slept for a few hours after that.  When he woke up, he was no longer complaining of pain. He still seems confused, but more peaceful. Dr. Leiber, his orthopedic surgeon came in to look at his hip (where he had taken the bone graft exactly a month ago today) and decided the infection couldn’t be from that area, but in fact the area that the X-rays had pointed out was actually a healing (and healthy!) bone. So Vernon’s surgery was cancelled for tonight! This also means that he may be moved out of the ICU to a less-intensive area as soon as tomorrow.

Blood cultures are still being taken and tested. The popular suggestion at the moment is that it’s probably the dialysis catheter that has been infected. It sounds like it’s MRSA this time too. But watch this space, I’m sure we’ll have conformation soon enough. I was also told that he is doing much better than he was yesterday. So the antibiotics (and prayers!) are kicking in already.  I left shortly after the dialysis nurse hooked him up to the machine for his afternoon session..

And now that I’ve got through the day and finished this update:  I get to watch the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympics! This is what I’ve been looking forward to all season. Did you know there is a Refugee Olympic Team? I just think this is the best idea! I’ll be rooting for them (along with my own country and the UK and Norway!) I LOVE THE OLYMPICS, can you tell?