Dan the Ice Man, Julie the Angel and the ER from Heck

Sorry we haven't had a chance to update the blog in the past few days but a lot has happened. When I heard Dad had C Diff and was to go back into the hospital I couldn't help but remember many years ago when my Grandmother Cruise had knee surgery, developed a staph infection, spent a month at UVA receiving IV antibiotics, and then went home without incident. In my mind I saw the doctors managing this infection much like my grandmother's especially with today's newest antibiotics. My biggest concern was how all of this would affect Dad's rehab. This "wishful thinking" continued despite everything I had read online about C Diff being a very strong, drug resistant bacteria.


Things didn't go quite the way I planned though. Dad spent over 34 hours in the emergency room since there "was no room at the inn." This was an experience I would never want anyone to have. As was mentioned earlier in the blog, Matt met Dad in the emergency room upon transfer from Health South. He spoke with Dr. Ling, the attending for my father, and sat with Dad most of the first night. Matt had to leave that morning and I went on to Charlottesville to take the next "shift." I was appalled when I arrived. They had Dad in a tiny cubicle that was hot and stuffy with emergency room "trash" all over the floor. There were sheets on a chair as if someone had planned changing Dad's sheets but hadn't had the time. Dad, his usual stoic self, was trying to cope with his environment even though he looked worse than I had seen him since this whole fiasco started. He was obviously in pain, the lights from the nurses' station across the hall were glaring, and the noise was deafening to ears that just wanted silence and sleep. They were busy and it took a while to find his nurse but they were helpful and gave me all the information they could, basically there was no change from information Matt had received earlier. They could not find recent blood work and had no idea when it had been taken. Mom arrived and got to see Dad. After giving one of the nurses my "list" of issues and questions around Dad, I left the ER which by then was packed with patients stacked in the hallway like sardines, to take Mom to our hotel room. Feeling very uncomfortable with the whole situation and questioning how anyone with a serious illness could be properly managed in this chaotic setting, I talked with my siblings and we decided to try and do everything we could to get him up to the floor where he would be able to obtain more consistent care. After several telephone calls, I slept a couple of hours and went back in to the ER to be with Dad.

 There I met the Angel of Ice Chips, Dan. Dan had been assigned as my father's nurse. He was a competent, no nonsense type of man with long black hair braided in a ponytail that ran down his back. He was able to give me up-to-date information on Dad's care and had done the kindest thing imaginable--he was allowing Dad to have one or two little ice chips at a time. Despite the pain, Dad was in heaven. Here was someone who cared enough to stand beside Dad's bed and monitor him having an ice chip or two. With the help of the nursing supervisor/patient representative, they found an isolation room in the wee hours of Thursday night/Friday morning. Dad was moved to a quiet room on 5 west--the surgical unit. At first I though they had just placed him on surgery because it was the only room available but this would later be a Godsend.

Feeling Dad was in good hands I went back to the hotel room for some sleep. Mom and I slept in a little late and arrived at the hospital about 10:30 a.m. This is when I got to meet my next "Angel of Mercy" Julie. Julie would prove to be not only a wonderful nurse but a wonderful wonderful support throughout the day of many fearful changes. When I arrived, Dr. Ling had already made rounds and Dr. Black was reviewing my Dad's chart. Dr. Black is a surgeon. Somewhat startled by a surgeon he explained the surgeon's role in my Dad's care. He explained there are times when C Diff does not respond to antibiotics and the "last ditch" response was to remove the colon due to the amount of damage done by the bacteria to this organ. This is an extremely invasive surgery and only completed when everything else has been tried and fails. Julie told Dr. Black and me the newest development ---my Dad's kidneys weren't working enough. Matt and I had noticed it the day before and had mentioned it to the doctors. Julie confirmed our fears, for whatever reason the kidneys were not working as they should. Shortly after that I was able to talk with Dr. Ling. He informed me that my father was, "a very sick man." We discussed the problems facing Dad. For whatever reason the large amounts of fluid they were giving Dad were staying within his body. He looked swollen all over. The plan was to continue giving him fluids in hope of getting the kidneys to "kick back in." They had to be careful though... if they gave him too many fluids they could cause further complications. Dr. Ling indicated the goal was manage the problems caused by C Diff until the antibiotic began working. This could take several more days. Katie came to get Mom and take her home. I stayed as I didn't feel comfortable leaving him.

Suddenly, all heck broke loose. The doctors indicated Dad had taken a turn for the worse, it looked as if they needed to do surgery now. One bright spot though. The head surgeon was to be Dr. Shirmer, an excellent surgeon, who had operated on Dad several years back when they found a tumor in Dad's leg. Dad, who was aware of everything happening, trusted Dr. Shirmer and felt comforted knowing he was in charge.

Matt had arrived, we contacted Mom and the rest of the family and Matt signed the papers for surgery. Terry and Katie brought Mom back to Charlottesville, Dad was wheeled into surgery and we all began one of the longest night of our lives. I could only think of one worse place to be--in Boston--like Mark was, unable to be at the hospital as everything unfolded. I know we felt helpless, I can't imagine how Mark felt. 

After over three hours of surgery we heard that Dad made it through with flying colors (Go DAD!!!!!!) Dad will remain on the respirator for at least a day to take the pressure of breathing off his body so it could recover. We all went to the hotel tired but at peace.