Update on the FlowerCat

[mdlbear]

High-order bits first: The flower_cat is in the hospital (see previous post for how she got there), but appears to be improving. As of 2pm today when I left her room, the redness was almost gone from her infected finger, and was retreating from the cellulitis on her right leg. She was still looking pretty pale, though; she's anemic and her white-cell count is still up.

She's still getting IV ampicillin, and got a shot of something in the opiate family at about 1:30pm to manage the pain. By the time I left at 2pm she was sleepy and a lot more comfortable. Yay for Good Drugs.

Biggest disappointment was the lack of both a WiFi connection and a place to plug in her little laptop; I spent some time this morning loading up an SD card with 4GB of filk and folk, but without a place to plug in it was useless. I did bring a stack of books, though; almost all paperback mysteries. Hopefully by the time she wakes up it'll be easier for her to hold one; between the IV in her left arm (she's sinister) and the pain from the infected finger on her right hand, it's been difficult.

Thanks for all your good wishes -- I printed out the previous post with its comments for her to read this morning, and we had a good phone call with cflute before lunch (*waves*). (Her cell phone is not where she can reach it, and she can't hold it -- don't bother. I can relay messages or dial and hold the phone for her while I'm there; I'll be going back this evening.)

Comments

[jenkitty.livejournal.com]

I will kick much ass for her tonight. Alligator!

[mdlbear]

Yay! I'll let her know.

Does that mean you'll be up to your ass in alligators?

Break a nail!

[kyrielle]

Please add my good thoughts and well wishes for her - I'm glad to hear that the antibiotic seems to be helping (and yaayyyyyy for pain control!).

[mdlbear]

Thanks!

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

We had the power-source problem when dunkelpig was in the ICU. LOTS of outlets, but all the ones near near enough were reserved for medical use. Solution: an extension cord, with our name on it.

[mdlbear]

Thanks for the suggestion; it might work, though I didn't see anything within a reasonable distance. Would require a 25' cord at least.

[tiggerypum.livejournal.com]

Tell her I send my wishes for her quick recovery too. Doesn't sound like a lot of fun, but I'm glad the iv antibiotics are kicking the butt of whatever infected her!

[mdlbear]

Will do! Thanks!

[harmonyheifer.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad that the infections are responding to treatment. A low tech solution for the reading challenges would be for someone to sit by her bed and just read one of her books to her a bit at a time. I remember the pilot of the Beauty and The Beast TV series when Catharine ends up down below, her face covered in bandages and Vincent reading to her to comfort her and help pass the time. I was very young then, but it seemed to me to be one of the most romantic gestures I could imagine. Taking the time to read aloud to someone is one of the almost forgotten pleasures of the time before TV or radio or computers and one we never seem to think of.

Not to diss the extension cord solution in any way, just adding a non-geek outlook.

Candles are burning, prayers will continue. Virtual hugs to all.

[mdlbear]

Actually, when I'm there she seems content to just chat -- I find it surprising that we have that much to talk about after only a few hours apart, but we seem to.

It's when there's nobody around that a book would be comforting.

Many thanks for the candles, prayers, and hugs. ((hugs back))

[kayshapero]

Last time I was stuck in the hospital, I had Nicolai bring me a bag of books I'd fortunately picked up in the thrift store the day before and not unbagged yet, and read my way happily through the collected Saint.

And HUGS to both of you and the rest of the family.

Hugs worries wishes, GET WELL, etc

[capplor.livejournal.com]

What they said. And an extra hug for both DD's, zen though they may be.
And zen chocolate, as well. (Fred's idea)

Re: Hugs worries wishes, GET WELL, etc

[mdlbear]

Thanks, and yum!

[roaringmouse.livejournal.com]

Gosh, Steve. Tell Colleen that I thinking good thoughts.. Hope everything gets better.

[mdlbear]

Will do. (And so do I.)

We're making progress, anyway.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear progress is being made... but suckitude on the no nettage. Jeez. U-W had *both* wifi and wired in-room; I ended up using wi-fi because I couldn't get the wired to work, but... and most of the rest of'em have some sort of wi-fi as well, AFAIK...

Anyhoo. See you next weekend? Bringing any instruments?

[mdlbear]

Definitely see you. Debating whether to bring Plink (the travel guitar) -- probably.

The newer Kaiser hospital has WiFi; this one's a decade or two older.

[andpuff.livejournal.com]

Please let Colleen know I'm thinking of her and keeping my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery! ::zen hugs::

[mdlbear]

Thanks! She was looking and sounding much better when I saw her this morning; hopefully she'll be out Monday or Tuesday.

[mvt.livejournal.com]

I've been off line since 16th. Please send Collena hug and healing thoughts dfrom me. I spent 10 days in the hospital with cellulitis a number of years back so I know how hard thngs are for her now.

[mdlbear]

Will do, and thanks! Hopefully this won't take that long; there's every indication she'll be out Monday or Tuesday. She's no stranger to very long hospital stays, but with any luck we caught this one in time to make it a short one.

[pwl1.livejournal.com]

Please convey hugs and good wishes from myself and technogeek1 - and purrs from our house full of furbabies.

[mdlbear]

Will do, and thanks!

[mbumby.livejournal.com]

Sorry I'm so slow -- got busy over the weekend and "forgot" to read. Best wishes to Colleen.

[mdlbear]

Thanks.

Not to worry - it seems as though a lot of people have been out of touch this weekend.

[filkferengi]

I hope she's doing much better [& you too].