I am blown away by how quickly things can change. Late last night, Shirley was up and wanted to take a walk to the other end of the hospital to visit the nursing staff on the rehab unit where she spent two weeks. On the walk over, she commented that she felt better than she had for a week and hoped to be released in the next day or so.
It is worth mentioning that she has been on supplemental oxygen. This was due to the fluid build-up in her body and the pressure this was placing on her lungs. She was getting IV diuretics and they were proving to be successful in helping her shed body fluid.
Then this morning, just over eight hours after our walk, she woke up in a very confused state. She was combative and was shouting out contradictory statements: Hot!/Cold!, Hold my hand/Don't touch me!, would ask a question and then say "Shhh!" when you attempted to answer. And in between these statements, her eyes would roll back and she'd fall back asleep.
This went on for several minutes, after which time, a nurse came in to take her vital signs. Shirley fought us as we put a pulse-ox reader on her finger and the readings were alarmingly low. Her O2 was turned all the way up without improvement. The cannula was replaced with a mask, and then a bag so they could assist her in breathing.
Pages went out over the intercom for various teams to come to the room STAT. The crash cart was requested to be at the ready.More and more medical staff arrived. At one point,there were at least a dozen doctors, nurses and technicians in the room and nearly as many more standing by outside running samples to the lab and bringing in supplies and drugs.
She is now intubated and has been moved to one of the ICU units. I just gave the green light that they have a central line inserted and I am being allowed to go in and join her. I expect to provide an update later today.
Please keep Shirley in your prayers.
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