Coming Home

When my mom arrived at the hospital early this morning, she noted the following progress:

1. Last evening, Grandma was given an injection for dizziness and nausea so that she could drink more fluids. After that she was able to pass water, which was a big relief for her because she was so afraid of catheterization.

2. Grandma is not as dizzy this morning.

3. She is not nauseated any more and tolerated her breakfast and lunch well. She was actually feeling hungry before the breakfast tray arrived. She was wishing for oatmeal, but she got corn flakes. She was nicely surprised by getting pancakes and she enjoyed them.

4. Her oxygen saturation is 100%, so no more oxygen and the uncomfortable tubes sticking into her nose.

5. She is able to get in and out of bed by herself and is totally independent in going to the bathroom.

Dr. Yakimets visited before 7 am. this morning and stated that the surgery went well. He discharged Grandma and would like her to see him on November 6 for removal of the two drains that are left in her wound. My mom has to drain and measure the drainage three time a day.

Grandma was supposed to be discharged this morning. When the nurse changed the dressing, she was a little concerned about an area that forms a skin fold right over the incision line. To be on the safe side, she asked the doctor to take a look at it. A doctor assessed it and she was not sure if it was okay or not. Later, Dr. Yakimets came by the unit and examine the wound. He reassured us that it is fine. As a result of the waiting, Grandma stayed for lunch.

My mom accompanied Grandma to walk around the unit for exercise. They got into the patient lounge. There was a fake staircase for patients to practice stair-climbing. My mom recalled some of the questions Emily asked the night before:

1. Do you need help with taking Grandma home?

2. We have stairs. Will she need to be carried into the house?

3. Who will be strong enough to carry her?

These were all needless worries, as Grandma walked up and down those steps with no problem. There was also a 500-piece puzzle sitting on a table. Grandma and my mom went at it putting in one piece after another. If the nurse didn't come to the lounge to fetch Grandma to remove her IV (intravenous) tubes, they would have stayed and finished that puzzle. Just kidding! They'd rather come home even though they enjoyed working on the puzzle.