Sunday morning was sunny and bright. I made it to early service at Lake Highlands Church. The praise was amazing and I was very emotional. I was really tired but so glad that I made the effort. I was beginning to worry about Randy and was thinking of all the things I could do to stimulate him mentally make him want to wake up. In our International Ladies Life Group we began to do our usual thing. We shared what was going on in our lives and then began to pray. Each lady would take turn praying for another and then Martha Brown prayed for Randy. I truly believe when this woman prays, that God sits up and listens harder. She prayed for Randy and although it is sometimes hard to understand her words there was no doubt what she was saying.

I headed to the hospital thinking of all that had happened. I was going to turn on the TV or maybe music or a sermon and when I walked in his room he was sitting up! I was so startled and happy. Sitting was exhausting for him but such a change from laying in the bed for so long. I asked what the plan was and how soon he might get moved to a room. I talked with the charge nurse and she offered that if he was able to utilize the call button then she would feel more comfortable moving him. The other option was that someone would spend the night with him. 

I jumped on the opportunity and headed home to get ready. When I got home I had this idea for a painting collage using thoughts about My Love’s Heart. I gathered some pieces I had worked on previously and some paint leftover from a previous project. I was quite satisfied with the quick work but it is not quite finished. I had to go back in the house three times because I would get ready to leave and remember something else.

I finally made it back to the hospital and even got everything upstairs in one trip feeling much like a pack horse. Back in the room Randy was settling in but he was very thirsty. I called to see if he could get ice water with a sponge lollipop like he had in ICU. I was immediately told NO WATER. I had a feeling the question had not been relayed correctly so I found his nurse and asked her. She said yes and Randy was happy when I came in the room. They did tell me to shake the sponge out so he didn’t get too much water. It was funny because sometimes he would just about suck the sponge off the stick trying to get more water.

I made up the rollaway bed and then the room got crowded when a piece equipment was rolled in the room. They were taking a chest X-ray to make sure there was no fluid in his chest. People were coming in and out and always leaving the door open. It is a great room but no privacy curtain. I still can’t figure that out because Randy would be laying there trying to use the urinal in bed and the door wide open. Of course, I would get up and close it half-way. The man needs some dignity left after all he’s been through.

We started settling in for the night but there was a constant parade in and out, just like at any hospital, but this night had so much more in store for us. There was the alarm that would go off intermittently from the IV tree sitting next to him. Then Randy would try to hit the Nurse-call button and somehow would hit the System Test button on his LVAD controller. If you want to see some activity then just push this button in a heart unit. Immediately about 6 personnel came running into his room. Everything was checked out with the system and with Randy and the OK was done. Then it would start all over again. I did get about 1½ hours sleep at some point. I would also get up helping Randy when he needed it. The nurse came in and said she didn’t know what she would do without me. I was thinking she would do her job. 

Morning came and I was up helping Randy again when I sat on the bed. The bed alarm went off. I didn’t know there was such an alarm so of course nurses came running. Randy told me someone came in during the night and told him they wouldn’t “consider doing the swallow test for 3 more days”.  He was upset as he was so looking forward to drinking.  I got up and went and found his nurse again. The swallow test was done that day. He passed!

I had an appointment to make and took off to get there on time. That took a couple of hours and then I had the last day of school. It is a critique of work you have completed since the last critique and I had 5 pieces completed, including the one I did for Randy. It was a fun and successful semester. The class was great to work with and everyone had positive and some constructive feedback. I headed back to the hospital after picking up Zanda. 

I took two pieces to put in Randy’s room. The work based on My Love’s Heart was a hit with doctors and nurses. It made me feel good to share my feelings about Randy.  I did have to inform him that I would not be spending the night with him again. He understands because he knows my physical limitations but I miss him at home.  I told him goodnight as he settled into a clean bed. 

Tuesday morning was crisp and cool. I am loving this already. I headed to the ROC in Garland where I go to help with a sewing class in the mornings. I stopped by the church to check in with Julie and the rest of the staff. More prayer support was offered during the staff meeting.  It was still cool outside and I headed back to the hospital after grabbing lunch and running another errand. 

I got a call on the way that I would have training to do a “Sterile Dressing Change”. This will have to be done every three days until Randy gets a transplant. Unfortunately we are a little too late for the more compact units that are currently being designed and tested. These units will have internal batteries and that means no dressing changes.

Randy had ordered lunch as I arrived and he had backed chicken with mashed potatoes, ice cream, juice, tea, and frozen lemonade. This was his first solid meal in 9 days. I put his ice cream and lemonade in the refrigerator so he could savor them later. I hung around for a little while longer and headed home. I have a few things to do before he comes home, rest being the most important.