Nov 10, 2014
GONG SHOW…part 2!
As for me, I really need boots and a huge down filled full length coat. My leather jacket, thin cotton pants and closed toe shoes just aren’t quite what I need at the moment. I used to be a Girl Guide but I have to say that I was not prepared this time. When I got back into the van after 9 hours in the hospital I saw that my water bottles were frozen solid. Someone made a comment that I take the bus, but it is at least a 3 -4 block walk to and from and that is too much for me dressed the way I am plus considering the amount of stuff I carry to & fro each day, just overall too much for me. I shall perservere with the van but very cautiously.
Well, well, well! Had I not been doing copy/paste I would have lost the above paragraph. It seems that I also have a certain amount of space that I am restricted to per post. Sigh! Onto the gong show.
First thing this morning I asked why we were still doing the isolation routine when his last IV antibiotic had been administered last Thursday?? The decision was being made on last Thursday’s blood work. So I asked the charge nurse to check with infection control and within 10 minutes I was informed that he was no longer in isolation. Wonderful! Well that feeling lasted all of two hours. It seems that the powers that be decided that Dad’s room needed to be ‘deep cleaned’. It was 100 times worse that I imagined. No one cared that he was exhausted and in bed but he had to vacate his room for 2.5 hours and sit in the hallway while it was being cleaned. I could and one day may write a book about what took place but in the interim I shall attempt to be brief ( not easy for me 🙂 )
Everything had to come out of his room including the photos on the wall. Everything was wiped with these small Cavi – Wipes and then placed into plastic bags. All of his clothing, sweaters and shawls and ‘shoes’ were sent home to wash. I asked about the special mattress we had purchased, okay they would wipe it as well as his chair cushion. I have to say that the charge nurse was beyond rigid. So all of his things were in small plastic bags and then placed outside on the hallway floor!!! Yes the very very dirty floor. What about my things, well they were placed outside on the floor but not in bags, just directly on that dirty surface, including my coat and purse, etc. So then I was told that he would be stripped just as he returned to the room and redressed. He would have to go barefoot until his shoes were washed. So in my forthright manner I asked if I should also be stripped so I could return to the room with him. That flustered them. They did suggestion I wash my clothes and dry clean my purse and leather jacket before tomorrow!!! I reminded them that just 10 days ago when he was in an acute state with his ecoli infection that they actually took him and his bed down to x-ray and back with him only wearing a mask and no cleaning involved and now they were going beyond the logical. They did not get it. I had to call my sister to come ASAP to come get his things and have them washed pronto. So poor Dad is sitting on a tiny chair in the hall trying to eat his lunch. I am going between him and the person cleaning the room and supervising. He keeps asking me when can he go back to bed, he is frail and exhausted and just wants to rest. I become more upset. I ask a passing nursing instructor on her take of the situation. Yes Contessa you are correct. Bugs do not grow on newspaper and he can have it back. Actually he is living in his own germs and bacteria and all that was necessary was to wipe down the hard surfaces, certainly not his pen and toothbrush, etc. Of course he can keep his sweaters and shoes. Of course you do not have to move your things as you have been in and out so often. Actually I ask, what about the staff in and out and so on and so on. It was a gong show.
He finally got to bed 2.5 hours later and fell asleep immediately. I spent the next several hours putting his room back together as I seethed. What a huge waste of time. So I left after 9 hours and my sister arrived within an hour of my leaving. Dad remains somewhat confused tonight. He kept saying something about having to move somewhere in a car. He had no idea why I was there and was surprised to learn that I was driving his van and staying in his condo. I so hope that when I see him Tuesday morning he will be back to normal. Actually hopefully I will be back to normal also.
Colin found this 2004 photo of me and my parents. Cloii who is on Mom's lap died in Playa Los Glorias and that is our sweet Carmeh on my lap at about 1 year old.
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Contessa, you are such a superb advocate for you Dad. Bless you. So nice knowing you will be heading south over our Thanksgiving weekend. We’re heading down to our condo in Rocky Pt. ( Puerto Penasco) this Thursday for a quick weekend getaway. When we open the door and look out on the ocean we always say “We’re home”. Something about Mexico, the people, the ambiance…. So healing, I wish you well and will look forward to your southern travels.
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Warmer clothes would be a good thing, or even more layers.
Our Canadian Mother Nature played a cruel trick on you….snow and cold and not even middle of Nov yet.
Be careful and get warmer outer wear.
Wow Contessa, you are really “weathering the storm” in more ways than one! Blessings to you and your family.