How's Diane?

OK so I realized yesterday when Kate from the YMCA came to visit me that while we all care about how Scott is, there are some following this blog that care about the wife too. So here's how the wife is coping, from Diane herself :)



First I have to say that over all, I and my team of specialists at the hospital: a social worker, a minister and Scott's nurses, all feel I'm handling things very well given the situation I'm in. Come on I live in a Hospital, I'm not the queen of cheerfulness by any means, but I'm good. I, right a long with Scott, have had ups and downs. I have experienced a wide range of emotions and often times they change every minute. They range from shear panic and fear to extreme joy.
~ One example is this brain stem swelling on Wednesday. I'm not sure if everyone gets how extremely serious this was. I sure didn't. It was a Brain Stem Herniation and if it continued to 'sink' he would have become brain dead. Luckily it was caught at the beginning of changing and measures were taken to stop in from getting worse. These measures worked...for now. Obviously he's awake again. I can't tell you how exhausting & difficult Wednesday was. But what a difference a day makes! Pure Joy came after shock and panic! Yes, God is hearing and answering all of our many prayers! I see it first hand each minute I'm in this hospital.

With Betsy getting strep throat, I had to find a doctor for me and get tested as well. Carolyn, one of the monitor techs, got me an appointment at an office here in the Medical Center. I now have a doctor of my own. Dr. McHugh is great! He found no strep for me, gave me meds to help with my allergies, and sleeping. (I had to NyQuil it up Wednesday night. He said while this method works, he'd rather give me a prescription sleep aid) But most of all he talked to me about me. He said it was OK to get out for a little bit. He told me it was safe during the day and gave me ideas and directions on where to go. He is at least the 3rd person who has told me this. My bishop tells me every time I talk to him, Claudia the social worker also tells me this and gave me places to go. I think I'm finally ready to listen :) I also can't explain how much it lifts a burden to know I have a doctor here in Seattle. Dr. McHugh said if I need to see him for anything, all I have to do is call and they will get me in right away! What a lift in moral.

With Kate coming to visit, she took me on a walk around the hospital to find food near by. I can't believe I've been here over 2 weeks and didn't know how many great little places there are with in walking distance! Thank you Y family for the food money, you can bet I'll use it to eat at the many places Kate found for me! I think I'll plan to run there and walk back, a little exercises will be good. On that note she feed me well. I can't tell you what the change in Scott and the full belly has done for me. Actually like I told the surgeons this morning, I finally feel like a real person again.

I do want to add that without Kate yesterday, I don't think I'd be as joyful as I am right now. It is amazing to see Scott awake but it also makes me sad. NOW as I told Dr. Husby I love Sad over Scared. He agrees. He is also in the I feel sad that's Scott's aware of his surroundings but can't do much about it, and being stuck in a bed barley moving hands and feet looking and the ceiling, that is enough to depress anyone. So he's getting a mild anti-depression med now. He's also getting Twilight read to him. I started Wednesday...I'm pretending that's what woke him up & not the doctors measures....hehee I told him I will continue to read to him until he can tell me to stop. That should get him off the ventilator faster than anything! Just so you know I did ask if I could read to him, click your toes together for yes. He clicked I read...too bad he doesn't get a choice of the book. Wow mean wife.
OK he's back from a CT. Dr Newell, who is 'The Man' when it come to neurosurgeons, wants one to just to see how things look. So I'm going back to reading.
Diane