Nonmusical Beds

Routes and procedures have become more than familiar; they are now routine. So I popped that silver button today, whish went the doors. My blue covered self went boppin’ around the reception desk when I noticed that the sliding glass doors to your room were completely closed. X-ray? With the next step it dawned on me that the room was completely EMPTY.

“Uuuuuh, my brother disappeared.” Sweet Bonnie trotted around the nurses’ station to say, “He went on another tour of the hospital today.” So second time around for new digs.
The good thing is we got in a nice long visit. Your nurse, Jeremy, said they are trying to wean you off the sedative and pain medicine. You had lots of questions today, so I untethered your hands and reminded you not to pull out any tubes. You nodded an agreement. I explained to you that you had pulled out your IV yesterday. You shook your head in amazement.

You were puzzled by the hospital gown. We talked about that. I was happy you didn’t seem to expect me to hand you your jeans and tee shirt. We talked about everything being a mystery to you at the moment and your working on putting the pieces together. When I tried your theme song, you wanted to correct my version so I decided I’d better stop.

A team of therapists came in today. The doctor had you make a fist with your right and which you emphatically did. The left fist was much looser. The doctor asked about your index finger and I explained that was an old injury. “So we won’t try to do much with that, right, Mr. Hinshaw?” He reassured us that you should regain full use of your hands. Then he gave Forrest, Asia and me a new job. Now that we aren’t concerned about fluid retention we can have you working on making a fist, folding your thumb into your palm, and folding your fingers into your palm. Yea, a new goal. He said they would work with you again on sitting up in bed and that the next step would be to help you stand a little at a time even having the ventilator. WOW. We’re making progress, Mikey.

After they left, I told you about Jessie and her pal coming in to help you sit up yesterday. I said she told me about you winking at her last week. So you practiced winking a couple times with your left eye, then with your right eye with your flirty face. It was a hoot.

Good grief, another long blog. And to think, a month ago Colleen and GerRee had to teach me what to do about blogging.

Status: Oxygen assist 40% PEEP 5 No temperature at the moment