Here we are at the hospital, Me, Jason and Jess. Jason has had Dad up for a walk two times today. That makes three which is good. Dr. Alexander's intern was here this morning. She checked his oxygen level without O2, while resting, and it dropped to about 86 within 4 minutes. So he is still hooked up. She indicated that they didn't want to send him home oxygen dependent. The real concern I believe is that there is some fluid in the lower lobes of the lung. Today is the first that I heard about that fact. I always thought it was just some fluid pressing around the lungs causing the breathing problem. We have a great respiratory therapist and she is helpful about giving good info. I can see them sending him home on O2, but not with fluid in the lungs. It might not be good to fly in that condition.
News flash! The nurse?, aid?, someone just came in and gave Dad a pain pill. She then tells us he needs some immunizations: flu shot, Pneumonia, and Meningitis. All of these he just had 2 days ago. I had to show the girl the paper work they gave us about "possible side affects" She then tells us that, by the way, a room came up on the surgical oncology floor and he would be moving. When? right now! Of course on hospital time that could mean 4 am in the morning. Here we are, the last to know. I do get concerned about the lack of coordinated communication.
We were told Friday that he would most likely be discharged on Sun. We had planned to stay at the hotel until Wed. when we would fly home. I can't believe that they will release him until the issue is resolved. I wish they would be more pro active in getting rid of the fluid on the lungs. All other things are progressing along pretty good.
The Dr. said he would recommend at least 4 rounds of chemo after we got home. It would be at least 6 weeks before starting up chemo again. The path. did show a protein in the tumor that reacted to a certain medicine. Dr. A said he would recommend the drug be included in the chemo treatment. Only problem -- it isn't covered by insurance. Here we go again. We have yet to find out if the Dr. thought he got at least 95% of the cancer out. That question is on the list for Monday when he is back in the hospital.
It has been good to see Jess and Jason. They worked on guitar lessons for a couple of hours last night before turning in. They come over this morning to take care of Dad while I got another load of clothes done. The Holiday Inn people are beginning to think of me as family. We will both be so happy to get back home. Say prayers that he get the oxygen problem resolved so we can get out of here.
Jess and Jason both leave tomorrow, but, hopefully, we will be on our way home too, shortly!!!!
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