Sunday, February 16, 2014

He Sleeps

The morning of February 12th is the most rested I have seen the Marine since he was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday.  This is a new type of mask on his face that will allow us to wean him from the oxygen.

The marine started having breathing issues from another bout of an URI.  I could not take care of it fast enough at home so Wednesday morning when the Marines oxygen levels and heart rate begin dropping, we loaded him up and headed to the hospital.

We have two hospitals in our area.   We first went to the one that is not our first choice for two reasons.  The Marine's sister works there and his Pulmonary doctor has an office in the complex.  I thought the Marine would enjoy seeing his sister on her breaks and before and after work.    I made a bad choice.

 Papa Bear dropped the Marine and I off at the ER and left us to park.  They did get a wrist band on the Marine, took his vitals.  It was obvious the Marine was in distress.  They two at the desk said a room was being cleaned and they would get him back in 5 minutes.  Over 30 minutes later we were still in the waiting room, about 10 more people had come in and one who kept pacing back and forth near us was coughing up blood.  I called Papa Bear (who had just found a parking space) and told him to come back to the ER and pick us up.  We needed to go to the other hospital.  The Marine's lips were blue at the time and his heart rate was erratic going from as high as 150 bpm to as low as 24 bpm.

The other hospital is about 15 minutes away.  When we arrived they took the Marine straight in.  With-in 30 minutes we had an IV going, a chest x-ray done, more oxygen going than what our little tank could do and his pulmonary doctor had been called.

We were told that the hospital was full and we may have to spend the day and maybe even the night in the ER.  At this point I didn't care.  The Marine was getting the medical attention he needed. The initial x-ray shows pneumonia in his right lung just as we suspected.  We did not have to wait as long as we were originally told for a room.  We got one by around 5PM.

 The remainder of my post is a few pictures and comments.  I have been trying to write this for a couple of days but with no activity on the WI-fi here at the hospital, it signs you out in 30 minutes or so.  I am constantly having to stop and then try to sign back in.  My little Dell notebook isn't to great either.



The Marine is a very hard stick as his veins have shrunk.  It takes several sticks to get blood and a  IV started.  If IV's and drawing blood gets to be difficult, or if the Marine is going to be here awhile,  I will ask for a PICC line.












Getting two kinds of IV antibiotics and I can already see an improvement but he still cannot get by with just room air. IV fluids and two types of antibiotics has the Marine feeling much better.  Believe it or not but there are no extra pillows at the hospital.  Here we are using a stuffed bear brought to the hospital by his cousin to prop his hand on until Papa Bear can get back with pillows from home.    I can't even tun the Marine to his side until I get some.

When the doctor made rounds this morning (February 14th)  he told us his assistant would be doing rounds over the weekend.   As the Marine's GP is at the Navy base, one was assigned to him at the hospital.  He told me that everyone would be consulted on the Marine's case and he may can go home this week-end.  I don't know if he knows what he's talking about.



The clock is funny in the Marine's room.  Everyday is Friday!  This was the 13th's time and date. 

















This was a new to us fitting for the nebulizer for the Marine's breathing treatments.  I told him he looked like Pop-Eye the sailor man smoking his pipe.


















The Marine's sister got this thing ordered for him.  One of her patients uses one.  It wraps around the chest, pumps air and vibrates the lungs,  It reminds you of the spin cycle on a washing machine.  It makes the Marine laugh when the therapist tells him she is going to shake him up like pop corn.  The Marine's doctor is going to write us a prescription for the Marine so he can have one at home!







Our family would like to thank all of you for your prayers and nice comments.  As I get the time I will comment to each of you.  We ask that you do keep up the prayers for the Marine.  They are working!

29 comments:

  1. That sure was a good move to get out of that first ER, I have heard lots of stories like that though none as close to disaster as yours. Let's hope they keep him in there as long as necessary but it would be nice to be home as well.

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    1. SF...this was our shortest hospital stay ever but the Marine is doing much better. Nothing like home! I will be glad when daughter completes her education so she can leave that hospital. Sine Sacred heart took it over it has really gone downhill which is surprising to me. We have been to another Sacred Heart hospital about 100 miles from us and they were great. It was also about 12 years ago, Healthcare is changing and not for the good.

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  2. Oh I hope he gets better soon! Good thing you changed hospitals. When I took the hubs to the ER I noticed no one was in a hurry. He was about to unwrap his leg to get in faster. They didn't want him to do that, lol :/
    I will be praying for the Marine and your family {{{Hugs}}}

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    1. He is getting better Kelly and we have felt the love and prayers. I know exactly how your hubs felt. We don't run to the doctor or hospital for every little thing. When we go it is a crisis and I expect for them to treat it as such.

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  3. So glad you got him the care he needs. Hospitals are so frustrating. Prayers still coming.

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    1. Thank you DFW. I could write a book of hospital horror stories! We so much appreciate the prayers!

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  4. So glad he is doing better. We have a hospital here that is about the same as your first hospital. Since I'm alone, I have told my extended family if something happens, I want to go to the other hospital. I have no idea if the second one is better, but it surely can't be as bad as the first.

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    1. Thank you kristine. At least you are forewarned on one bad hospital and your family knows your wishes. I should have known better too.

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  5. Good move on the ER. Shortness of breath and chest pain are immediate priorities in the ER!!! The chest band will break the mucus up in the lungs, I imagine, as this is the first time I've seen one. We are glad the marine is doing better, but you can bet that he will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers until he gets home. Now, Mama Bear and Papa Bear need to get some rest and a few healthy meals while at the hospital. Take Care of yourselves.

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    1. You would think K. Thank God it wasn't his heart as well as pneumonia but they didn't know that. We would have called an ambulance but it would have taken twice as long as we had a bad storm and fresh clay was just put on the roads. It was about a foot deep of pure slime. Daughter who is a health nut brought me salads and turkey with avocado slices on wheat sub bread. I am sure I am much healthier now than when the Marine went in...LOL

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  6. Tell him I said hello, and God bless him. He looks good.

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    1. Thank you Stephen and the Marine says thank you. I am reading all of the comments to him. He is just full of smiles today!

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  7. May the Lord bring you folks the rest you need and healing for the marine.

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    1. Thank you GS.. The Lord always gives us the strength to do what needs to be done. We are blessed.

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  8. Glad to hear and see he is responding well and healing up. Hang in there and best wishes. Rest and get well!!!

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    1. Thanks PP. Shortest hospital stay ever. We all will rest much better at home. There is no rest in a hospital. The moment we would doze off someone would come in for meds, blood pressure breathing treatment or something.

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  9. Mamma - we are so happy to hear that all of the various treatments are working. tell The Marine that i think he looks like pop-eye the sailor man, too. now all he needs is a tatoo and some spinach - bahahahah! i think it's great that The Marine laughs when the nurse tells him he's gonna be shaken up like popcorn - bahahahah! THAT is funny!

    i am glad that you are super quick on knowing when to get him to the hospital and i just know how frustrated and scared you must have been at the first hospital. but i am super glad to hear that these treatments are helping!

    update us as you can....i sure do hope that he can go home soon!

    tell The Marine that jambaloney went ice fishing yesterday WITH clothes on - bahahahah! i have a few pics of the ice fishing tournament that i will send.

    Mamma - i know how stressful all of this is on you and Papa, but i also know how well you both handle these situations! we send healing thoughts and prayers to The Marine, and prayers for you and Papa. with much love, your friends,

    kymber and jambaloney

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    1. thank you kymber...the Marine is fast on the mend thanks to everyone's love and prayers. The Marine laughed at the picture of cat in the fruit bowl you sent him. Haven't had a chance to email you back to tell you.

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  10. I'm so glad you made the decision to take him to another hospital right away like you did. It makes me so mad how hospitals are anymore. I'm thankful it has been a very long time since I've had to go to the ER myself or my kids for that matter. It sounds like he is getting better care where you have him. My sister had to ask for a pillow when she was there last week with chest pains again. Luckily for her the nurse went and brought her back 2 pillows. Prayers for the Marine and you and Papa Bear as I know this is difficult on the entire family.

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    1. I figure if the ER is bad so would the staff be if admitted and I was certain he would be admitted. The healthcare system is just crazy, It has been three years since the Marine has been hospitalized which has been the longest stretch yet.

      The pillow situation was crazy, Papa Bear brought some from home with crazy colored pillow cases so it would be obvious they were ours and staff still came into the room to try to take them! The Marines catheter came off and everything on the bed was soaked so I put hem in a garbage bag to take home. When family came in I walked down the street to Walmart and bought more pillows and bright purple pillow cases and staff tried to get those! I should have bought all the pillows at WM and sold them in the lobby of the hospital. Could have made a killing!

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  11. Mamma Bear,

    I'm so happy to see the Marine smiling and trying to laugh when the therapist states she's going to shake him up like a bag of popcorn.

    Please give the Marine a big hug from his Oklahoma friends. Sending prayers for a speedy recovery and the ability to return home soon.
    Sending love to the Marine, you and Papa Bear
    Sandy and Bulldog Man

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    1. Sandy... The doctor is going to try to get one of those popcorn machines for home use! Awesome!
      When I read this to the Marine is said I want a hug...lol

      Thanks so much!

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    2. "he said" can't type or spell these last few days....LOL

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  12. That vibrator band thing is something I have never heard of, but I am sure it is very efficient in breaking up mucus. I had to wear myself out to help my daughter get the mucus out. It's good he is better.

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  13. Oh Linda... I know exactly what you are talking about. I do percussions on the Marine until I think my arms are going to fall off but it sure does work most of the time. I do hope we can get one of those machines at home soon. It will make the Marine smile and give my arms a break!

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  14. Mamma Bear,

    (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((The Marine))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

    Don't worry about typing or spelling!!!!

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    1. Hugs back at you Sandy!.. Misspelled words, incorrect grammar, dangling participles....My teachers would be so proud.

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  15. Hospitals like that can only be found in Florida. No pillows?? Ungodly conditions.

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    1. LJ...The marine hasn't had to be hospitalized in 3 years. The lockers in each room used to house several pillows . Don't know what happened. Good thing I bought jevity from home for his stomach tube feedings. Took them almost 24 hours to get that to his room and I had to threaten them to get that done. It is always a fight when we go to the hospital until everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing.

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