U of M Day 2

Elevators was the word of the day Monday.

I finally slept good Sunday night, but was awoken by my cell phone.  It was one of the doctors, scared me at first, but just wanted me give consent for another spinal tap.  This would be Tracy's 3rd one in 15 days. They wanted me there at 9:30AM.  At 9:45 we headed to the basement for the test. We then waited an hour for them to decide how much anesthesia she was would need as she had been agitated by the move.  I told the doctor that she had had two spinals already and all were done bedside with only a local.  When they finally took her she had calmed down some.  I went to a waiting area hoping I would get a cell phone signal, but no, we were in the basement.  So I prayed for wisdom, clarity and patience for the doctors and nurses, and peace and strength for Tracy.  Our friends Sarah & Keith Harfield were on there way to visit, but I could not get a hold of them to tell them where we were.  Finally I remembered that the hospital had wifi.  So I just emailed them, technology is great when you know you have it!  They came down and sat with me for about an hour, until I got called in to see Tracy.  It was nice to see them.  They had a very calming effect on me as we had 2 fire drills during this time.  All could I think of during the drills was how the strobes and alarm would cause Tracy to jump.  But they kept me distracted.

Once I got out of the waiting room the doctor told me that things went better than he ever expected, they didn't use any anesthesia!  That one of his best nurses, Wendy, had held and stroked Tracy's  head and talked to her throughout the whole procedure.  I told him what I had prayed for, and he agreeded that God had put Wendy on this procedure.  I asked if I could thank her and took me into the procedure room to meet her.  I hugged her and thanked her and told her what I had prayed for.  She thanked me and said she would pray for us.

We got back to the room just before 1PM and were soon back on our way to the basement for a brain wave test.  No cell again in the basement and Mr. forgetful forgot about the wifi again, so I played solitaire most of the wait.  We got back up to the room a little before 4PM and was told that she was to have a CT scan off her chest at 5:15.  I took advantage of this timed to get a bite to eat and call the family and the office.

When I got back to the room Tracy was gone.  They took her early.  So, off to the basement again.  When I got there they said she had just finished and that I should go back up to the room and wait for her there.  So back up the elevator again to wait for her arrival. 

I forgot to mention that shortly before the brain wave test, I got a minute or so with Tracy where I talked with her and she followed me with her eyes, smiled and even tried to respond to me as I talked with her.

I left her room around 7:30 and went over to the new C S Mott Childrens Hospital to get a sandwich at Subway.  I got back to the room a little after 8:00 to eat and talk to family and friends.

I think I mentioned that I am staying in the building next to Tracy's on the same floor and can even see see her room from mine.  However, it takes two elevators to get to her room.  Hence the title, Elevators.

As I was getting ready for bed the phone rang.  It was Tracy's nurse calling to tell me that they did not have a sitter for Tracy from 3:00 to 7:00AM.  So right to bed I went for about 4 hours of sleep.

That's where I will leave off for know.

God Bless,
Rob