[nagdu] Early Oct. update with Ed in the hospital

[Ed and Toni Eames]

At 09:04 AM 10/7/2009, you wrote:
>Oct. 7, 2009
>
>Hi all,
>
>As you know, Ed was taken by ambulance to St. Agnes Medical Center 
>on Sept. 30 during a terrifying episode of extreme tremors.  I spent 
>eight hours with him in the emergency room until a hospital bed 
>became available.   This was not the first time in the last several 
>years 911 was phoned for a trip to ER, but this is the first time Ed 
>remembers nothing of the episode.
>
>Every conceivable test was done until the final diagnosis of alpha 
>hemolytic strep infection of the blood and endocarditis was 
>made.  He was given a number of different intravenous antibiotics 
>until rociphen was chosen.
>
>Thankfully, Ed was never in pain, but he had a terrible time trying 
>to sleep.  Eventually, he was given morphine to help him have a more 
>restful night., but the induced sleep was never restful!
>
>The nursing staff was terrific, except for the problem of getting 
>them to say their names each time they entered the room.  Being on 
>the heart unit meant that Ed was constantly monitored, so when a 
>lead came loose, someone was in his room right away.  At other 
>times, the staff was a bit slower in responding to the call button.
>
>Two days after admission the IV fluids were discontinued and Ed 
>could move around without the IV pole trailing along.  This meant 
>that he could work with Latrell around the hospital 
>corridors.  Latrell is a slow non-pully dog, so working with him put 
>no stress on Ed.  When I came to the hospital each day, the dogs 
>learned their way from the elevator to room 581 quickly.  Latrell 
>would burst into the room and was obviously so happy to be reunited 
>with Ed each day.
>
>It's truly awe inspiring how quickly friends jumped into 
>action.  Each day, someone drove the Goldens and me to the hospital, 
>often staying to read to us for a few hours.  A different friend 
>came in the evening to drive the dogs and me home.  The many phone 
>calls and visits distracted and healed both of us.  Several puppy 
>raisers brought their GDB pups to visit.  With beeping alarms and 
>equipment in the hallways, the young charges got a look into 
>hospital routines.  Speaking of routines, Latrell and Keebler were 
>not phased by the noise and multiple personnel entering and leaving Ed's room.
>
>I spent at least eight hours a day with Ed.  Nifty and Bonzie were 
>taken care of at home by the wonderful vet techs, and friends 
>visiting Ed in the hospital relieved the dogs mid-day.
>
>I returned home each night physically and emotionally exhausted and 
>barely got through the evening chores.  Once in bed, Nifty cuddled 
>close under the blankets until I fell asleep.  She was clearly 
>feeling my fear and doing what she could to comfort me.
>
>Avoiding the hassle of getting to the hospital cafeteria and eating 
>alone, I was allowed to order food from the new hospital room 
>service menu.  If I had stuck to hospital food instead of 
>supplementing the diet with the fabulous Doug-Out Cookies provided 
>by Marsha for the nursing staff, I would have lost weight!
>
>As discharge plans were being made, I became more anxious.  I am a a 
>very take charge person and the unknown combined with my fatigue was 
>difficult to manage.  Despite Ed's being seen by three doctors, the 
>hospitalist, infection control specialist and cardiologist, we often 
>got slightly different messages.  It was confusing and overwhelming at times.
>
>On Oct. 6 we were given three options for discharge.  Ed could go to 
>a skilled nursing home for six weeks, or he could make a daily trek 
>to St. Agnes for an antibiotic infusion treatment, or home health 
>nurses could train someone to give him the treatment at home.  The 
>first option was out of the question.  The second would be doable, 
>but would be extremely inconvenient.  The last option was the best, 
>but we would be responsible for paying for the Rociphen.  And then 
>there was the issue of who would give the daily infusion.
>
>When we say we are blessed with guardian angels at crisis points in 
>our lives, we do not exaggerate!  Lynn Danell, the veterinary 
>technician, who comes to our home on a daily basis to treat Nifty 
>and Bonzie, has lovingly agreed to include Ed in her 
>ministrations!  What a load off our shoulders!
>
>We send ciber hugs to all who visited, sent cards and e-mails and 
>kept us company over the phone.  Grateful is too small a word to let 
>you know how much you mean to us!
>
>Toni, Ed and Furries (TEF)