August 18 (Saturday) - 1055pm

I am out of town as I am writing this, but Sully was able to get by to see Rich, and I talked with Sam and am passing along what I have heard.   Today was a quiet day really in the scheme of things, and quiet days we have all learned by now are "good" days.    The bottom line reports from the two hospitals were words of continued healing and progress, with a few minor "ups and downs" that clearly remind us that this healing adventure is a windy hilly trail.   Rich ran a slight fever last night and into today, and he also tired out quickly on one of his hall journeys.   To add to things his lung congestion was a concern, so thay had him doing deep breathing lung exercises, with a little plastic contraption that "measured" how he was doing.  It's like a game of sorts, but not all that entertaining I suppose.          But non of these were big concerns to the doctors, and his fever responded to simple Tylenol and was back under control tonight.   They think some of his issues are that he is a little dehydrated, so now he's on a doctor ordered liquid drinking marathon, plowing down the liquids as he can and hopefully that will be the ticket.   Again, we are reminded of the "art" of medicine as much as the science. He didn't get a lot of sleep last night, but he made up for it during the day.  Of course, with Rich being an international airline pilot who is used to making the night cargo runs, sleeping in the day and being awake at night is nothing new to him.   

Jeannette too had a quiet day, with no big procedures or activities planned, but she had her own ups and downs to contend with.   Her day started out with nausea, which the medical state felt was related to a change in her pain medications, and so they were trying something else tonight.    Her white blood cell count was slightly elevated too, and in the high tech world of the modern ICU that was a concern but something they are used to seeing.  But it prompted some cultures, and some tests to be run, and so far everything is checking out "ok."    Still, it was a reminder day that she is pretty sick, and yet there is a lot of comfort in the knowledge and expertise of the medical team that is caring for her.   The primary care physician told Sam today that Jeannette is by no means the sickest patient in their ICU anymore, but she is by far the "most complicated."

On a different note, today the get well cards were flooding into their Willow mailbox, and are now at the hospital where Sam is lining them up to be read.   It's an amazing thing to see their rooms---they are literally surrounded by cards and well wishes, and your prayers and support are noticed and clearly appreciated by the family.--John