Out of SICU - Looking Toward Home

So long SICU...

Yesterday Tom moved from the SICU to the James Cancer Hospital.  We are so thankful that progress is being made so that Tom can be at 2076 for Christmas!  We are thankful too that his eye that was swollen shut is now opened.  A PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) line was inserted in Tom's left arm yesterday that will be in for 8 weeks.  This PICC line will allow Tom to be on a continuous IV antibiotic drip and also he will be able to get blood draws from this without being stuck each time.  I am a little overwhelmed with the responsibility of learning, caring and keeping and eye on this, but with God's help I know I can do it.  I also have been relying heavily on my sister-in-love, Cheryl, who is so knowledgeable in these things.  She was able to have a "private" learning session with the PICC team last week at Akron General where she works, because she was certain Tom would come home with one!  She knows all the right questions to ask and keeps the staff here on their toes!

View from Tom's New Room...beautiful architecture!

A cute story...when Cheryl and I arrived at the hospital this morning, Tom was still asleep so we told the nurse we would be in the ever-so-tiny waiting room and asked her to come get us when he woke up.  She came and got us and when we got into his room he was sitting up eating his breakfast.  I told him we arrived at 8:30 but he was asleep so we went to the waiting room.  Tom said, "I called you".  Now you have to understand that his communication is still very limited and I'm trying to understand, did you call out with your voice? did you use the phone? and he picked up the remote that calls the nurse and asked for Lisa!!  So sweet.

View from the "ever-so-small" waiting room!

We are also thankful that the cultures have not shown any other more serious infection.  Tom has a gram positive bacteria that is a staph infection and is covered with the one antibiotic:  Nafcillin,  according to  Wikipedia, "Nafcillin sodium is a narrow-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic of the penicillin class. As a beta-lactamase-resistant penicillin, it is used to treat infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, in particular, species of staphylococci that are resistant to other penicillins."
Timing is the key with going home today.  Our case manager has to order the antibiotic, coordinate the Home Health nurse and time it all with when we will all arrive at the same time!  Logistics...

Our seminary student son-in-love, Zac...

We pray that we do not offend and of our Jewish friends who may be reading our blog...but we are all amazed at the frequent sightings of the menorah here at the hospital.  I haven't seen any sightings of a cross or manger scene, yet...imagine that!  Happy Hanukkah!