“OK,”  I said.  (Well, I first asked what was going on a few times, and then I said OK.)

I called Rita and put her on speaker phone.

“I can eat popsicles.”  Cindy said with a smirky smile.  She was so pleased.  She had the next swallow test this morning and passed it.  All she has been asking for is popsicles and now was her big day.  So Rita bought her a box of popsicles so that the staff could put them in the freezer and Cindy can have one whenever she wants. 

And now a word from our sponsor.

Dr. Bear has ordered everyone to have a Happy Fourth of July!!!

What’s under that cover?

 Pureed Meat and Pureed Potatoes with gravy.  The green stuff peeking out is pureed vegetables.

Fruit

 Vanilla Pudding

Cindy tried the pureed meat and potatoes.  She almost choked because she isn’t ready for that yet.  Just the pudding.  So she started on the pudding and was full after a few bites. She currently prefers the ice over the food.  We’ll be watching what she eats over the next few days.  We just know there is no BBQ for her on the Fourth of July. 

Ice!  Ice!  My Kingdom for more Ice!!!

The doctors are recommending that Cindy be moved to a sub-acute nursing facility sometime in the near future.  We asked that she not be moved as quickly as she was last year when she was transferred to the rehab in San Leandro as soon as she was trached.  The move last year seemed to be due to a decision by the insurance company and had nothing to do with Cindy’s health issues..  A social worker came to see her this afternoon.  We requested a less aggressive transfer that would be more beneficial for Cindy’s total recovery.

The doctors are continuing to have a difficult time deciding what the treatment plan is for Cindy.  We’re not even sure who the doctor is that makes the final decision.  Today we were informed that they are consulting doctors from UCSF and Stanford. 

 

Is this good?  Are Cindy’s doctors stuck?  Looking for more brain power? 

This week, Cindy was often on total assist from the ventilator.  The doctor thinks it would be kinder for her to be comfortable more than trying to make more progress in weaning off the ventilator.  The tracheotomy will probably be done this Friday afternoon.  At some point (not sure when), she will have a swallow test to see if she can eat and drink.  Her most immediate goal is to suck on some ice.  Anything more than that would be a bonus.  It isn’t clear when she will be leaving the hospital. 

Cindy was also told that she is not a candidate for the surgery to repair the hernia any time in the near future because her heart can’t take it.   It might be possible to have the surgery in a year or two.

Today, a nurse observed how much Cindy is able to tolerate having the breathing tube down her throat.  She said that most people  don’t do as well as Cindy does.  I know that I couldn’t.  She is braver than me.

Rita and I were minding own business, grabbing a tray, salad, soup, sandwich, drink, etc.  There were two cashiers.  I stood in the shorter one and watched Rita leave the line I was in and walk over to a table.  My eye wandered back to the front of my line to a woman who was dressed in a black fancy dress and heels.  She was very thin and looked frantic as she searched her purse for what I assumed to be money to pay for lunch.  She was also engaged in an angry conversation with the cashier, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying, since there were three people between us.  The line wasn’t moving so I moved to the other line behind two other people.  I paid for lunch and walked to the table Rita was at, passing the woman who was still in discussion with the cashier.  I noticed there was a lot of food on her tray for one person and wondered if she was not able to cover her bill. 

Right after I sat down, the woman passed our table.  Rita looked frazzled.  The woman sat at the table furthest from us.  I was about to say something when I noticed the woman was heading towards us like as if her pants were on fire. 

“HERE!!!”  she bellowed at Rita, throwing a $10 bill at her.  “The cashier said that was how much your meal was.  That should cover it.”  She turned around and walked back to her table.

“I didn’t realize I was cutting in front of her.”  Rita said. “I didn’t think she was in line.”

Then the woman appeared out of nowhere.

“That’s Karma for you.”  and she walked away again.

“Wait!” I quietly called after her so she couldn’t hear me.  “I think I cut in front of you, too – twice.”  I was hoping for a $20 bill to fly in front of my face
 
Mary came into the cafeteria a little while later and sat down between us.  Rita told her what happened. 

“Well, there’s your lunch money for tomorrow,”  Mary said laughing.

As if she had heard Mary laughing at her, the woman got up, picked up her tray and started walking over towards us again.  I was hoping for more cash, but instead ….

“Take that.  You can bus my tray.  HAH!”  and she was gone – thank goodness.

The woman at the next table, who was in front of me in the cashier line, said “I would never want to mess with her.”

Mary picked up the woman’s tray – which was still had most of her food on it -shook her head and said “Let’s just hope we don’t see her again.”

Truthfully, I’d like to have someone throw some money at me, wouldn’t you?
 
Oh, how’s Cindy?  The same.  Sitting in a chair, breathing on her own, watching daytime TV, and waiting for the breathing tube to be removed.