[nagdu] Ed is in the hospital

[Ed and Toni Eames]

Ed got into bed on the evening of Sept. 29 about 11:30 and was 
obviously feverish.  Unlike the past week when he had some night 
sweats, this time his body began to violently tremble.  Toni gets 
severe chills when she gets cold, but Ed's shaking was beyond 
anything Toni experienced!  Ed got up to use the toilet, and Toni 
could here his feet tap dancing on the floor.  She attempted to help 
him back to bed, but his body was so racked with tremors, he could 
not hold onto her.  Thinking he might be having a stroke, she asked 
him questions, which he answered in a clear voice, but was obviously 
delirious.   Settling Ed in Bed, Toni quickly dressed and called 
911.  Rushing downstairs, she unlocked the door and put Siamese Kizzy 
on the enclosed patio in preparation for the door being held open and 
grabbed the things she would need for her night in the ER.  To her 
horror, Ed had left the bed and was standing on the top of the 
stairs.  In panic, Toni demanded that he not move, and rushed to 
escort him back to bed.

The emergency crew of six arrived in a matter of minutes and began 
their examination.  The thinking was that Ed was having a diabetic 
low, but his glucose was slightly elevated, so with an uncertain 
diagnosis, it was off to the hospital in an ambulance.  The EMTs 
preferred to have Ed go downstairs under his own power rather than 
carrying him down in a gurney.  With a great deal of effort and 
guidance, Ed made it downstairs and was whisked away by ambulance.

Given the new smaller ambulances, Toni was told she and Keebler and 
Latrell would be in the way, so the rescue squad was called to take 
the threesome in another ambulance.  Always the skeptic, Toni was 
pleased to learn that the newer, gas-saving vehicles were indeed 
considerably smaller than the ambulance she had ridden with Ed two 
years previously.

Thank goodness, Toni had grabbed her Victor Stream machine so she 
could read talking books while Ed received a series of tests and 
slept on and off.  When he did get settled in a room six hours later, 
he was shocked to learn that he had no memory of the evening's events 
or ride to the hospital.

We've had all too much with this hospital and have always been 
accepted with our guides.  Latrell is easy to handle, so Toni 
harnesses both dogs, has Keebler guiding and Latrell walking calmly 
on her left.  In the room, the Goldens are out of harness and enjoy 
being fussed over by the staff.  Ed's cardiologist is a real Latrell 
fan and jokes he comes to the room more to visit his canine friend 
than to see Ed.

On Wednesday the 30, after a brief rest at home, Toni spent the day 
with Ed.  Every
possible test is being done to pinpoint the source of the 
infection.  Jumping ahead a few days, the blood culture came back as 
a gram positive coci, but the exact bacterium has not yet been 
identified.  If anyone has had experience with this systemic blood 
disease, please let us know.

Ed is in St. Agnes Medical Center and he'd love to hear from 
you.  Please help keep him company by calling 559-450-3000 room 
581.  Cards should be sent to our home, 3376 North Wishon, Fresno, CA 93704.

It's still pretty scary stuff, so please drop Toni a line for comfort 
and support.

As we've said many times, friends are our greatest gifts, and we value you.

Toni, Ed and Furries (TEF)