Robin Update -- Home Again -- 10-09-2011

On October 4th, I sent a short email message saying, "Just a quick note to tell you that Robin got home today. They said she would leave at 10:30 AM, and true to form, it took until 3:30 PM before she was able to leave. She will get IV antibiotics for seven days, three times a day."

Here is the rest of the story…

The last time I updated the Blog, Robin was still basically unconscious. She was starting to say phrases on Saturday night, when I wrote the entry, but they didn't make sense. There are some good stories about the whacky things Robin said, but I might get in trouble if I repeat them. I will say that she asked one of our good friends to have her single daughter bring the baby to visit. Our friend wondered if Robin knew something, and John received the "Evil-Eye." There are other stories, but you might need to ask Robin by phone. Anyway, Robin was able to start drinking water, which helped her tongue, which was dried and cracked after almost two days of unconsciousness.

On Sunday morning, I woke up about 6:00 AM and tried giving Robin some water. When I woke her, she started talking like she had never been sick. She wanted to hear the whole story about what had happened while she was out, and she was asking questions when I skipped details. It was amazing; like someone had turned on a light switch. I was supposed to leave to go to Mass, with John due to arrive within 30 minutes after I left, but I couldn't leave her side since she was finally awake after 60 hours. I got her breakfast and started feeding her (her hands were still shaky), and answered questions until John arrived. Later on Sunday, the doctor came to see Robin, and told her that the bug turned out to be ESBL-producing E.Coli (what did I tell them???), and they would be starting Robin on some targeted antibiotics that would help kill it faster. He told Robin that, when she arrived, he did not believe she would survive. I knew you folks were praying for her, so I had faith that she would pull through. I won't say that I wasn't scared, but I know she is tough and I had faith.

As I said, they soon started Robin on the new IV antibiotics, and she continued to improve. By Monday night, the infectious disease doctor said she could go home, but the floor doctor did not clear her until the next morning. The Tuesday delay in getting out of the hospital was because the hospice folks had worked out a way for Robin to get her IV antibiotics at home, but they couldn't get the drugs delivered until late afternoon. So, Robin had to stay long enough to get a dose in the hospital before going home. She finished her afternoon dose at 3:00, and the ambulance arrived to take her home about 3:30.

The antibiotics are given three times a day, and we have them spaced so that I don't have to get up in the middle of the night. That's nice. Last time it was four times a day (every six hours), so there was no way to avoid a break in sleep. Robin has steadily improved through the week.

On Friday night, we had a "Birthday Do-Over" with hot dogs, with all the fixin's, brownies, and ice cream (Blue Bell, of course) and watermelon (Robin's favorite vegetable) which came by special "Deacon Delivery." We opened all her cards and Becky read them to her. Robin was amazed by the number and the distance some had travelled. Some included original artwork, others had to really stretch to incorporate the "angel theme." Some were so funny we were rolling, and some were so touching that we could feel the love. A few folks sent gifts of angel statues, candle holders, stuffed animal angels, cookies, and an angel food cake "kit" with a pan and six boxes of cake mixes. Our sincere THANKS to all who helped make this a memorable birthday "do-over." (I don't think I will be thanking Robin for the memorable birthday; at least, it was memorable to me! She doesn't remember anything from that day.)

Once more, I ask you all to pray for Robin. She is doing much better, but her normal immune system is far too weak. Your prayers and God's Grace are Robin’s immune system now.

Thank You, once again! I will try to keep you up to date.

God Bless Y'all,

                  --- Larry, Robin, & John

Best Laid Plans… --- 10-01-2011

You may recall that I tried to orchestrate a big Birthday surprise for Robin. The theme was “Angels,” and packages and cards arrived all week. We have been carefully putting them away, unopened, in preparation for the big day. Thursday night, when I got home from work (after picking up the gift I had ordered for Robin), Robin seemed perfectly fine. About 7:00 PM, Robin started talking a bit “loopy” and by 7:30 she was not communicating at all. We called the hospice nurse, who checked Robin and called the hospice doctor, who ordered a standard oral antibiotic. First, I don’t know how I was supposed to give her pills when she’s basically unconscious. And secondly, I’m pretty sure that the type of antibiotic and the low dose prescribed was not going to do ANYTHING to the kind of bugs that Robin gets. In fact, it would probably just piss them off!

Friday (Birthday) arrived, and Robin was still out of it. She needed a change, but I couldn‘t do it myself when she was unconscious. So I waited for Connie, Robin‘s friend and attendant, to help me. We discussed the options for Robin‘s situation and agreed the hospital (not the hospice inpatient hospital) was the best place for her. I called an ambulance to transfer her, and they took her to Southeast Memorial-Herman Hospital (instead of Clear Lake Hospital, as I requested), because Robin was not conscious. I might add that I insisted that they NOT use Narcan, a drug used for overdose cases, since we knew the last time she took her medicine, and it was more than 16 hours before they arrived. In spite of acknowledging my “request,” they used Narcan, which has many effects, one of which is immediate withdrawal of any narcotic effects, causing Robin incredible pain. Fortunately for Robin, she will never remember the pain. Fortunately for the ambulance personnel, I didn’t find out until after they left the ER.

In the Emergency Room, they prodded and poked, took samples of almost every bodily fluid, gave her a sedative (since she was still thrashing from the Narcan), and got her into a room by late afternoon.

There was concern that cancer had affected Robin’s brain, or that she had a stroke, so they did a CT Scan. We received a report today that nothing was found. (I didn’t mean it THAT way, and you know it; they did not find tumors or blood showing cancer or stroke). They found bacteria in her urine, and they started Robin on broad spectrum IV antibiotics. She is starting to talk, although what Robin says generally does not make sense. After they get the results of the cultures (Sunday or Monday), they will know what SPECIFIC bacteria is at work, and they will be able to give Robin the right IV antibiotic. (I am betting on ESBL-producing E.Coli; should we start a pool?) She should recover fairly quickly (except for exhaustion) after starting these antibiotics.

I expect that Robin will get released from the hospital to get IV antibiotics at home by Monday or Tuesday (maybe Wednesday). After the antibiotics are finished, she will be able to reregister with hospice again.

With respect to the Birthday, we sang “Happy Birthday” to Robin three times that night, even though there was no response from her. We plan to hold a “birthday party” to open the cards and presents when she is aware enough to enjoy it. My guess is in about a week. So, if you thought you were too late, you were WRONG. Get that card in the mail tomorrow!

Once more, please double your prayers for Robin this week. She is very sick, and her normal immune system is too weak. That means your prayers and the Grace of God are Robin’s defense against infection. We have faith that God will do His part; we need to do ours.

Thank You! I will let you know if there are any significant changes, including when they let Robin out to go home.

Love,

                  --- Larry, Robin, & John