Another Wild One

Today has been about the worst day mother has spent since she has been in Lexington. June has now had eight surgeries in twenty eight days. A day ago the plan was to do the procedure for irrigation of the wound on June’s back on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. By now as you may suspect that was not the way it happened. Early this morning the surgery group came and moved June to the pre-op area, preparing her for another irrigation and debridement of the infection. They forgot one thing, the pain meds. She knew they were supposed to administer them to her, but the weekend crew was not aware of it or at least promised her they would give her the meds in pre-op, didn’t happen. Mother was one miserable person. She told me it was the worst day she has had since she’s been here. Scary is what she said. Ernie had called a time or two and told me she was out of it and terribly uncomfortable. After June returned from the recovery room, she was experiencing chest pains. Dr Mueller, a really nice and compassionate doctor, who has been mom’s number one ally since she’s been here immediately called in a heart specialist. June was then admitted into the UK side of the hospital and a heart monitor was put in place. By 3:00 the heart doctors had concluded that there was not a problem with her heart. They are unsure what caused her chest pain, but were going to continue to monitor her through the night.

I spoke to mom tonight and once again she had come through this day successfully and was in good spirits. She told me that her hip joints were returning to the way they were a week ago Friday when she was discharged from the hospital. Saturday mom and Ernie actually had a good day as well. Ernie said he felt June was returning to normal. They had anticipated mom would be in tremendous pain and would probably not be up to communicating with anyone. That turned out not to be true.

I wish I could tell you what was going to happen next but I don’t think anyone can predict that. June had dinner tonight so that means there will be no surgery in the morning. Mother sends her love to each of you and is looking forward to speaking to many of you as soon as she is able.