Feb. Update
Hi everyone,
2/1/07 - Tina communicated to me that Dr. Chung, from Country Villa, will be taking her off the ventilator during the days. She is so much more expressive and does facial and mouth exercises everyday so all the staff and visitors have a much easier time communicating with her.
2/2/07 - Tina's first day off vent for 5 hours - she was breathing deeply and happy to be doing so. They are going to do some swallow tests to see how she swallows water and then food.
2/3/07 - Tina is tired and yawns a lot, I think it is from breathing on her own, but she is proud of her own improvement. But she feels so much better breathing on her own and takes deep breaths for me.
2/7/07 - Tina is moving a bit more and she slips and slides, this week I've had to adjust her or call someone to adjust because she can't position herself.
2/8/07 - Tina's roommate, Kathleen, who is shriveled and twisted from ravages of MS, made a painting for Tina. I really got choked up when I saw it - Kathleen was so happy to give it to Tina.
2/11/07: Jessie came down from San Francisco to visit her auntie Tina. Tina just loves when my kids visit - they clown around and Tina is right there in the act. I feel it helps her healing process.
2/12/07 - Tina is breathing so deeply that the Passi Muir Valve blew out and surprised the Respiratory Tech. Dee Dee. They had a big laugh about that. As she gets more volume and strength in her lungs they want to do the swallow tests and hopefully close up the tracheostomy hole. Wow, I can't wait until the day that I hear her voice again.
2/13/07 Tina's friend Kurt visited and brought her some beautiful orchids and asked her to be his Valentine - I told her that even in the hospital she has more aciton than me! 2/14/07 - Valentine's Day for Valentina. I sang to Tina, and her roommate Kathleen, songs from the "Dirty Dancing" CD. That CD is a favorite for both. I especially got tearful when I sang "Hey Baby", because I sang that to her when back in the day (last July) she was in the Cardiac ICU at Kaiser when she was not doing well at all. A nursing assistant came in on her day off with her two daughters with a vase of flowers each for Kathleen and Tina. She called them her princesses. She spoke to Tina and Kathleen in Spanish and Tina, who I didn't think knew that much Spanish responded. I think when Tina gets out of the hospital she will have a much better understanding of Spanish and maybe Tagalog (Phillipino) too! I started to cry overwhelmingly with the nursing assistant's love for Tina and Kathleen.
2/22/07: Following is an email I sent to those who visit Tina on a weekly basis - so they wouldn't get scared finding her bed emplty. I didn't send a major email because we thought Tina would only be gone a day or two:
I received a phone call at work that my sister was going to be transferred to Los Alamitos Hospital because she had an infection in her G -tube (the feeding tube in her stomach) and they were going to change the G-tube. It seemed that it would only be a matter of a few days before she'd be back at Country Villa. When I got to Country Villa, they were wheeling Tina out to take her to Los Alamitios Medical Center. She was crying because she was scared and since her feeding tube had been out she hasn't had any nourishment (and according to her friend Charlene, who is a surgical tech, Tina may have also been dehydrated). When I got to Los Alamitios Hospital, Tina was chanting (those of you who may not know, Tina and I were raised as Buddhists). It is kind of funny because I was trying to figure out what she was saying, and then she communicated, "I'm chanting" and gave me a "duh" look and we giggled. The vampire tech (can't think of what they are called) had difficulty trying to find her veins. I have veins that any heroin addict would love, but poor Tina, they couldn't find hers for the IV nor the blood test. So I assisted the tech to calm her down and translate for him. It was good I was there because since it is a new hospital the staff doesn't know how she communicates. Before I got there, the nurse tried to put a G tube down her nose to her stomach, but Tina kept gagging. When he tried again I held her hand and I talked her through it, like, "Tina just relax, go somewhere pleasant in your mind, get out of your body." "Almost there Tina, it is almost there." Stuff like that. It was difficult for the tube to pass through her throat because of the trachesostomy tube already in her throat. Man, I'm not cut out for all this mucous and blood, I had to muster the strength for me not to gag. The two male nurses were Napoleon and Julius - two conquerors. Napoleon put in a cold liquid to help with a contrast for the cat scan they were going to give her two hours later, she calmed down and I had to go shopping for last minute things for my trip to Florida the next morning. When I went back to the hospital at 11:00 PM, she was dozing off so I told her I had to go home and pack and be up at 4:00AM. She knew I was going to Florida for an Arts Conference, so she was OK that I left. They were going to call me if they find an obstruction. As I left a doctor asked me who had taken out the G-tube feeding tube she had in her stomach. I told him I didn't know, and he should call Country Villa. She was still in emergency when I left, but the doctor said they'd probably keep her a day or two. Here is the address: 3751 Katella, Los Alamitos, 90720 Phone: 562.598.1311 Parking is FREE!!!! Please take care of her while I'm gone. She'll be ok, she's a lot stronger than she was when she first went through this procedure. I'll be back from Florida on Monday 2/26. Love, Linda
02/25/07 Charlene and family visited and they asked Charlene if she was family and she said yes. They asked for consent for a pick line - a permanent IV something, something (you know me by now - not medical in any way) and she gave permission. Thank you Charlene because I would have given consent myself anyway.
02/26/07 - Tina is in ICU at Los Alamitos Medical Center. She didn't look good. She was drugged. Thanks Courtney, Karin, Becky, Lisa, Dave, Diane, Terry & Guy, Stephanie, Charleen & Family for visiting her and thanks for your telephone updates while I was in Florida. I really appreciate your support. During my visit Tina didn't mouth or communicate much - with that tube down her throat, I'm sure she's not comfortable, so I just sat and watched "Wife Swap" with her. She just seemed happy I was there. But even through this ordeal, with her eyes she motioned to me to look at her left arm - she was moving it a bit more than before and she was also moving her upper torso, like she was trying to adjust herself.
02/27/07 - I visited Tina with Derek and Emily late last night. Tina showed us that she was still trying to move her upper torso. She was very quiet. I asked Derek to take some photos of her. I'm keeping photo documentation now, with her approval, every month. Derek is so funny, he goes into a British accent and said, "Ok now Tina, give me an angry look." and he snapped the photo. Then he says, "Darling, give me your pouty look." And each time he took a photo Tina was trying to make the face he wanted. Derek, Emily and I were quietly giggling, we sounded like Scooby Doo (I think he's the dog with that laugh). Tina was pleased with herself that she was able to entertain us with her different poses. A nurse came in and told us that the other patients needed our comic relief. It is these moments when Tina's personality still shines through that gives me so much hope of her full recovery.
2/28/07 - This morning I spoke with nurse Ari. She reported that last night's ultrasound showed some abcesses that need to be cleaned out and that procedure is scheduled late this afternoon or possibly 7 pm. Later the GI doctor will do the procedure to insert a new G-tube. They first have to heal the problem before starting a new G-Tube.
Here is the hospital info: Los Alamitos Medical Center (a tiny hospital the size of a phone booth): 3751 Katella, Los Alamitos, 90720 Main Phone: 562.598.1311 Parking is FREE!!!! Visiting hours: 24 hours – no visitors during morning and evening 7-8 shift change
Right now, we don't know how long she will be there. Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes for Tina's healing. She is improving little by little. Even with the recent events, when a person has foreign tubes and objects in the body, there is bound to be an infection sooner or later. Tina is much stronger and I know everything will turn out fine.
Linda
2/1/07 - Tina communicated to me that Dr. Chung, from Country Villa, will be taking her off the ventilator during the days. She is so much more expressive and does facial and mouth exercises everyday so all the staff and visitors have a much easier time communicating with her.
2/2/07 - Tina's first day off vent for 5 hours - she was breathing deeply and happy to be doing so. They are going to do some swallow tests to see how she swallows water and then food.
2/3/07 - Tina is tired and yawns a lot, I think it is from breathing on her own, but she is proud of her own improvement. But she feels so much better breathing on her own and takes deep breaths for me.
2/7/07 - Tina is moving a bit more and she slips and slides, this week I've had to adjust her or call someone to adjust because she can't position herself.
2/8/07 - Tina's roommate, Kathleen, who is shriveled and twisted from ravages of MS, made a painting for Tina. I really got choked up when I saw it - Kathleen was so happy to give it to Tina.
2/11/07: Jessie came down from San Francisco to visit her auntie Tina. Tina just loves when my kids visit - they clown around and Tina is right there in the act. I feel it helps her healing process.
2/12/07 - Tina is breathing so deeply that the Passi Muir Valve blew out and surprised the Respiratory Tech. Dee Dee. They had a big laugh about that. As she gets more volume and strength in her lungs they want to do the swallow tests and hopefully close up the tracheostomy hole. Wow, I can't wait until the day that I hear her voice again.
2/13/07 Tina's friend Kurt visited and brought her some beautiful orchids and asked her to be his Valentine - I told her that even in the hospital she has more aciton than me! 2/14/07 - Valentine's Day for Valentina. I sang to Tina, and her roommate Kathleen, songs from the "Dirty Dancing" CD. That CD is a favorite for both. I especially got tearful when I sang "Hey Baby", because I sang that to her when back in the day (last July) she was in the Cardiac ICU at Kaiser when she was not doing well at all. A nursing assistant came in on her day off with her two daughters with a vase of flowers each for Kathleen and Tina. She called them her princesses. She spoke to Tina and Kathleen in Spanish and Tina, who I didn't think knew that much Spanish responded. I think when Tina gets out of the hospital she will have a much better understanding of Spanish and maybe Tagalog (Phillipino) too! I started to cry overwhelmingly with the nursing assistant's love for Tina and Kathleen.
2/22/07: Following is an email I sent to those who visit Tina on a weekly basis - so they wouldn't get scared finding her bed emplty. I didn't send a major email because we thought Tina would only be gone a day or two:
I received a phone call at work that my sister was going to be transferred to Los Alamitos Hospital because she had an infection in her G -tube (the feeding tube in her stomach) and they were going to change the G-tube. It seemed that it would only be a matter of a few days before she'd be back at Country Villa. When I got to Country Villa, they were wheeling Tina out to take her to Los Alamitios Medical Center. She was crying because she was scared and since her feeding tube had been out she hasn't had any nourishment (and according to her friend Charlene, who is a surgical tech, Tina may have also been dehydrated). When I got to Los Alamitios Hospital, Tina was chanting (those of you who may not know, Tina and I were raised as Buddhists). It is kind of funny because I was trying to figure out what she was saying, and then she communicated, "I'm chanting" and gave me a "duh" look and we giggled. The vampire tech (can't think of what they are called) had difficulty trying to find her veins. I have veins that any heroin addict would love, but poor Tina, they couldn't find hers for the IV nor the blood test. So I assisted the tech to calm her down and translate for him. It was good I was there because since it is a new hospital the staff doesn't know how she communicates. Before I got there, the nurse tried to put a G tube down her nose to her stomach, but Tina kept gagging. When he tried again I held her hand and I talked her through it, like, "Tina just relax, go somewhere pleasant in your mind, get out of your body." "Almost there Tina, it is almost there." Stuff like that. It was difficult for the tube to pass through her throat because of the trachesostomy tube already in her throat. Man, I'm not cut out for all this mucous and blood, I had to muster the strength for me not to gag. The two male nurses were Napoleon and Julius - two conquerors. Napoleon put in a cold liquid to help with a contrast for the cat scan they were going to give her two hours later, she calmed down and I had to go shopping for last minute things for my trip to Florida the next morning. When I went back to the hospital at 11:00 PM, she was dozing off so I told her I had to go home and pack and be up at 4:00AM. She knew I was going to Florida for an Arts Conference, so she was OK that I left. They were going to call me if they find an obstruction. As I left a doctor asked me who had taken out the G-tube feeding tube she had in her stomach. I told him I didn't know, and he should call Country Villa. She was still in emergency when I left, but the doctor said they'd probably keep her a day or two. Here is the address: 3751 Katella, Los Alamitos, 90720 Phone: 562.598.1311 Parking is FREE!!!! Please take care of her while I'm gone. She'll be ok, she's a lot stronger than she was when she first went through this procedure. I'll be back from Florida on Monday 2/26. Love, Linda
02/25/07 Charlene and family visited and they asked Charlene if she was family and she said yes. They asked for consent for a pick line - a permanent IV something, something (you know me by now - not medical in any way) and she gave permission. Thank you Charlene because I would have given consent myself anyway.
02/26/07 - Tina is in ICU at Los Alamitos Medical Center. She didn't look good. She was drugged. Thanks Courtney, Karin, Becky, Lisa, Dave, Diane, Terry & Guy, Stephanie, Charleen & Family for visiting her and thanks for your telephone updates while I was in Florida. I really appreciate your support. During my visit Tina didn't mouth or communicate much - with that tube down her throat, I'm sure she's not comfortable, so I just sat and watched "Wife Swap" with her. She just seemed happy I was there. But even through this ordeal, with her eyes she motioned to me to look at her left arm - she was moving it a bit more than before and she was also moving her upper torso, like she was trying to adjust herself.
02/27/07 - I visited Tina with Derek and Emily late last night. Tina showed us that she was still trying to move her upper torso. She was very quiet. I asked Derek to take some photos of her. I'm keeping photo documentation now, with her approval, every month. Derek is so funny, he goes into a British accent and said, "Ok now Tina, give me an angry look." and he snapped the photo. Then he says, "Darling, give me your pouty look." And each time he took a photo Tina was trying to make the face he wanted. Derek, Emily and I were quietly giggling, we sounded like Scooby Doo (I think he's the dog with that laugh). Tina was pleased with herself that she was able to entertain us with her different poses. A nurse came in and told us that the other patients needed our comic relief. It is these moments when Tina's personality still shines through that gives me so much hope of her full recovery.
2/28/07 - This morning I spoke with nurse Ari. She reported that last night's ultrasound showed some abcesses that need to be cleaned out and that procedure is scheduled late this afternoon or possibly 7 pm. Later the GI doctor will do the procedure to insert a new G-tube. They first have to heal the problem before starting a new G-Tube.
Here is the hospital info: Los Alamitos Medical Center (a tiny hospital the size of a phone booth): 3751 Katella, Los Alamitos, 90720 Main Phone: 562.598.1311 Parking is FREE!!!! Visiting hours: 24 hours – no visitors during morning and evening 7-8 shift change
Right now, we don't know how long she will be there. Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes for Tina's healing. She is improving little by little. Even with the recent events, when a person has foreign tubes and objects in the body, there is bound to be an infection sooner or later. Tina is much stronger and I know everything will turn out fine.
Linda
posted by Lisa @ 4:06 PM
