Positivity.

So today I visited Dad again. Another 7 hour stint in the hospital.

Today was much easier to cope with. He looks a bit better. I'm not sure if that's because I've got over the shock of seeing him yesterday. Mum reckons he looks the same.

Today the nurse shaved him and moisturised him as well as doing his mouthwash for him. She was really helpful and lovely. Such a contrast to what went on in September when he was in ICU.

It helps us to know he's being looked after well. They talk to him and tell him what they're doing, when taking temperature, blood, giving him things...everything. It's comforting to know they're treating him like a person.

Today they took him off the ventilator and sedation for a few hours. They don't like to leave the patients sedated for long periods and they wanted him to breathe on his own for a bit to monitor his output and to stop his muscles from wasting. He didn't wake up but they weren't expecting him to. He made a few facial expressions and moved his hands a bit.

They've found out what the bacteria is in his lungs so they're treating that and targetting it with the correct meds.
He's being sedated and put back on the ventilator tonight and they will take him off both for a few hours a day from now on.

We've been told it'll be "a long haul" in recovery and ICU, longer than last time.

He hasn't gone downhill though so far, so it's positive.

They're checking his para-protein levels and we'll have results in the next few days. That's to check on the cancer.

His bone marrow and platelets have taken a knock so they've topped him up with platelets today.

So in conclusion, the doctors have said he's still not "out of the woods yet" but he's stable. Not getting better but more importantly, not getting worse, at this stage.

I'm feeling a bit more positive today. I've been chatting away to him and have found it easier seeing him. I just hope he gets through this and will be able to have some quality of life, afterwards.

Take care,

K