July 9, 2012 -
For those of you that don't already know... Today is my birthday. I turned 60 today, and I'm being told that 60 is the new 40. I'm not really sure what to do about that, since I kind'a liked the "old" 40, whatever that was. Five years ago I had no idea that I'd be doing this blog every night, and doing my best to keep people aware of what is going on, with the life of one of my sons. Yet, here I am and it looks like I'm finally coming to a close, of at least this chapter in the lives of the Ross family.
But, instead of taking a walk down "reflective lane", I'm just going to stick with the regular and tell you about the day. I woke Jason up this morning, at about 06:30 because he had an appointment at 07:30. At the time I wasn't aware that he had had a rough night sleeping, all I knew was that I needed to get him up and going and that he wasn't going to get to eat anything, because of the procedure. Linda stayed back at the house, with the girls, and I was to come back and get Stacy and take her to day care. Jackie is fighting a cold so we didn't want to take her in to be around the rest of the kids. Okay, now that 's the setting of the beginning of the day, it just didn't work out that way.
We got to the Naval Hospital with plenty of time to get ready for the procedure, and we went to where we thought we were supposed to go. They had no record of the procedure happening, and told us that it was probably going to happen over in the main building, since Jason was going to be given a "general" (the last time they attempted to do it with a local and couldn't get the job done - that's why it was rescheduled for today... we thought). We headed over to the main building and went to surgery. When Jason told them why we were there we got another surprise. Not only was the procedure not scheduled, the doctor had no idea about what we were talking about. He wasn't even on the base. He apologized for the communication mix up, but there was no procedure being done today. Both Jason and I recall the conversation with the doctor, and because he said he wanted to do it on the 9th, it became a little more important to me. The fact that he was talking about my birthday caused it to stick in my head. On top of that, Jason was now beginning to have some difficulties with his pain level going up, and he was out of the pain meds.
We headed over to Primary and spoke with the Nurse Practitioner and she was able to get more meds ordered for him. This meant the next stop was at the pharmacy. While we at Primary I decided to ask for some supplies and told Jason to go on ahead and I'd join him there. I guess it took about 15 minutes to get all the supplies I had asked for and then I went to the pharmacy. When I got there I could tell that Jason wasn't doing well. He was looking a bit flushed and sweat was dripping off his forehead. I asked him the status of his meds and he said it was going to take another 45 minutes to fill, because of the type of drug it was. That meant it was going to be possibly another hour and a half before he got any relief. I suggested that he needed to get over to the ER for some pain relief and I could wait for his Rx. This coarse of action would usually be the best way to go, except that the ER was very busy, and backed up, so he wasn't being seen anywhere near as quickly as I, or Jason for that matter, wanted to have it happen. I finally went over and started to speak with some of the other folks I know and that turned out to be what I should have done in the first place. They swarmed on him and within about 45 minutes we was admitted to the hospital and there were several people now working on getting his pain under control. Jason had sat in the ER for almost 90 minutes, and it didn't look like he was going to be seen anytime soon. My guess is that he would have been admitted to the hospital anyway, so there was really no need for him to have to go through that phase, just to get there.
With all this running around and going back and forth, it was now about 15:00 (3pm) and I hadn't had too much communications with Linda. I had been able to make one run back to the house to let her know that Jason was being looked at, and also to get Stacy over to the day care, but she wasn't aware of Jason being admitted to the hospital. Linda's cell phone is no longer working and that is another story; without it, she has no communication except through my cell, or if she is around one of her friends. Anyway, we need to get her another phone, and this is an example of why. Anyway, once Jason was back in the hospital I headed back to the house and Linda had a couple of errands she wanted to get done and so she, Jackie and I took off to take care of those, and then picked up Jason's laptop and power cords and headed back to the hospital.
When we got to the hospital we could tell he was doing much better. He was actually getting ready to eat his dinner when we arrived and Stacy was anxious to go in and see her Daddy. Because Jackie has the sniffles and was a little warm we decided not to get her too close to Jason, and so she stayed outside his room, with Grandma. Grandpa and Stacy went in to see Jason. My guess is that Jason will be there for a couple of days and then get to come back to the house. I also believe that this is going to be a sort of a wake up to him, in that he needs to really pay attention to keeping his pain level under control. We stayed for a short while and then headed back to the house. We fixed dinner and then a little while later the girls were headed for bed. It has been a busy day, and I'm glad it is just about over.
Thank you, for all your prayers and all the continued support.
But, instead of taking a walk down "reflective lane", I'm just going to stick with the regular and tell you about the day. I woke Jason up this morning, at about 06:30 because he had an appointment at 07:30. At the time I wasn't aware that he had had a rough night sleeping, all I knew was that I needed to get him up and going and that he wasn't going to get to eat anything, because of the procedure. Linda stayed back at the house, with the girls, and I was to come back and get Stacy and take her to day care. Jackie is fighting a cold so we didn't want to take her in to be around the rest of the kids. Okay, now that 's the setting of the beginning of the day, it just didn't work out that way.
We got to the Naval Hospital with plenty of time to get ready for the procedure, and we went to where we thought we were supposed to go. They had no record of the procedure happening, and told us that it was probably going to happen over in the main building, since Jason was going to be given a "general" (the last time they attempted to do it with a local and couldn't get the job done - that's why it was rescheduled for today... we thought). We headed over to the main building and went to surgery. When Jason told them why we were there we got another surprise. Not only was the procedure not scheduled, the doctor had no idea about what we were talking about. He wasn't even on the base. He apologized for the communication mix up, but there was no procedure being done today. Both Jason and I recall the conversation with the doctor, and because he said he wanted to do it on the 9th, it became a little more important to me. The fact that he was talking about my birthday caused it to stick in my head. On top of that, Jason was now beginning to have some difficulties with his pain level going up, and he was out of the pain meds.
We headed over to Primary and spoke with the Nurse Practitioner and she was able to get more meds ordered for him. This meant the next stop was at the pharmacy. While we at Primary I decided to ask for some supplies and told Jason to go on ahead and I'd join him there. I guess it took about 15 minutes to get all the supplies I had asked for and then I went to the pharmacy. When I got there I could tell that Jason wasn't doing well. He was looking a bit flushed and sweat was dripping off his forehead. I asked him the status of his meds and he said it was going to take another 45 minutes to fill, because of the type of drug it was. That meant it was going to be possibly another hour and a half before he got any relief. I suggested that he needed to get over to the ER for some pain relief and I could wait for his Rx. This coarse of action would usually be the best way to go, except that the ER was very busy, and backed up, so he wasn't being seen anywhere near as quickly as I, or Jason for that matter, wanted to have it happen. I finally went over and started to speak with some of the other folks I know and that turned out to be what I should have done in the first place. They swarmed on him and within about 45 minutes we was admitted to the hospital and there were several people now working on getting his pain under control. Jason had sat in the ER for almost 90 minutes, and it didn't look like he was going to be seen anytime soon. My guess is that he would have been admitted to the hospital anyway, so there was really no need for him to have to go through that phase, just to get there.
With all this running around and going back and forth, it was now about 15:00 (3pm) and I hadn't had too much communications with Linda. I had been able to make one run back to the house to let her know that Jason was being looked at, and also to get Stacy over to the day care, but she wasn't aware of Jason being admitted to the hospital. Linda's cell phone is no longer working and that is another story; without it, she has no communication except through my cell, or if she is around one of her friends. Anyway, we need to get her another phone, and this is an example of why. Anyway, once Jason was back in the hospital I headed back to the house and Linda had a couple of errands she wanted to get done and so she, Jackie and I took off to take care of those, and then picked up Jason's laptop and power cords and headed back to the hospital.
When we got to the hospital we could tell he was doing much better. He was actually getting ready to eat his dinner when we arrived and Stacy was anxious to go in and see her Daddy. Because Jackie has the sniffles and was a little warm we decided not to get her too close to Jason, and so she stayed outside his room, with Grandma. Grandpa and Stacy went in to see Jason. My guess is that Jason will be there for a couple of days and then get to come back to the house. I also believe that this is going to be a sort of a wake up to him, in that he needs to really pay attention to keeping his pain level under control. We stayed for a short while and then headed back to the house. We fixed dinner and then a little while later the girls were headed for bed. It has been a busy day, and I'm glad it is just about over.
Thank you, for all your prayers and all the continued support.
That's not a very good way to spend a birthday! Happy birthday, George!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteKnow that I'm always here praying!
Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
My email address
Wow, lessons learned, trial and error. Jason, I hope that you can keep on top of this pain management. It bums me that you have the pain in the first place, but that is nothing new. What an ordeal!! Geez, what a day. The good news is that tomorrow is a new day and when you turn 60 it means that you get to celebrate for a month. You both are troopers !!!
ReplyDeleteI sure look forward to the Homecoming for Jason in Livermore. It may not be for a year, but, it will be well worth the wait.
I hope you all have a better day tomorrow and remember that we are all here praying!
All our best,
Karen & Rob
Livermore Friends
Happy Birthday, George! Glad Jason is feeling better. Always in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteKaren Lewis
George- what a birthday. I know it is tough when the communications are mucked up and it ends up causing Jason unnecessary pain. You both have done a stellar job of navigating this new hospital and trying to be sure that Jason gets exactly what he needs, and in a timely manner.
ReplyDeletehugs- Carol