Sunday

This is Nadia, a Nurse Tech. As I understand the progression, when you're in nursing school you work first as a Patient Care Tech, then as a Nurse Tech, and then you get your LPN. Don't hold me to that because I'm a person who's still drugged!



Nadia came to nursing by way of math. She really likes math and started studying to do something in that field. Then, after looking at a couple of possible career paths, discovered while taking her pre-requisite classes that she really liked biology. That led to micro-biology, which she enjoyed even more. There were a lot of nursing students in that class, and it seems Nadia found her calling there. She is definitely well suited to her job. She's ultra efficient, very caring, and kind.



Jessica was my nurse last night. Unfortunately, it was a busy night and I didn't get a chance to grill her - I'm mean talk to her - about how she became a nurse.



This is Courtney. Isn't she adorable? She has been my nurse a couple of times. I was afraid we had missed getting a photo of her to share - as I know we have with some folks - but we caught her today just as she was leaving after a 10 hour shift. I know, we have no mercy to impose on someone at such a time. But she was still looking wonderful, as you can see.



Today she was paired with Hemma and they were both so concerned when I slept through a pain medication dose and was in tears when I woke up hurting. I made a spectacle of myself. I'm not good with pain. No matter how much I tell myself to be reasonable and not embarrass myself, when it comes to pain I'm a complete and total wimp. But, their quick action, combined with a meditation about pain control, had me feeling better in just a little bit.


This is proof I can actually stay still for 10 seconds. On one of our many walks, Greg and I noticed a window by the elevator where you can see my room window. We thought it would be fun to take a picture of me that way and here's the result. It was weird because I couldn't see Greg at all, and didn't know when he was taking a photo. But, it's cool.

You can see some of the flowers Mark sent in the photo, but other things are lost in the details.


Note from Greg: A special thanks to the women of CHICKS - that Woodstock you sent makes a great shadow on the ceiling.

Thankful

Patsy here - I'm going home tomorrow. Today I've had some a fib but a new cardiologist called in says its probably related to the overall trauma of the body going thru surgery and will go back to normal. He also said the new med will do a better job of controlling it.

So they will change my meds a bit but it seems there's no long term problem although I do obviously need a cardiologist. maybe this guy is it.

They disconnected my iv pole today and started giving me percoset by mouth. It makes me tired but does kill the pain.

Overall I feel ready to go home tomorrow and get settled in there. I'm up most of the day every day and feeling decent but of course not doing much. But I will be able to take care of basic things which is good.

The incision is from my pubic bone up to my belly button and makes a question mark loop around my belly button. The sorest part is the belly button where they fixed the hernia.

This surgery to remove a tumor ended upbeing four surgeries in one. Tumor out, hysterectomy, hernia fixed, and appendectomy. Wow. I'm feeling very fortunate.

Now I'm hopefully getting a better answer to the a fib as well. I'm so thankful for all the care I've received up to this point. So very thankful.
Patsy
www.patsyterrell.com
(sent from mobile device so please forgive brevity and typos)

Saturday

Greg here. Patsy was quite touched that Mark (left) and Carl and Kris from the Kansas City area drove down Saturday. They not only visited Patsy in the hospital, but made a stop in Hutchinson first to stock her refrigerator with home made meal portions that they, and Mark's mom, had made.



Another random act of kindness was a visit by Nichole, who had been Patsy's patient care tech earlier in the week. Nichole wasn't working Patsy's section but wanted to stop by and check on her anyway.

Overall, Saturday was a pretty quiet day with emphasis on the monitoring of Patsy's reaction to the betapace medication for heart arrhythmia. This is being done through daily EKGs and telemetry constantly broadcast from a portable unit she wears.

Funny to think that with units like these, we are literally broadcasting heartbeats as electronic signals all over the place. Kind of nice and primal, I think, when you consider all the other stuff with which we clutter the airwaves.



You know you're in Patsy's room when the IV drip units are plugged into a green Christmas power bar.

Friday

Patsy here. Greg did the photos for me but I'm writing my first full blog post in awhile.

It has been an eventful day. I was in a-fib much of the day, off and on. The most enlightening thing was that I didn't realize it at least once when I was in it. But Sara, my nurse, was exceptional about checking on it today. I really, really like her.



In the background, notice the basket of beautiful yellow flowers. Mark sent those. He's been sending me flowers every day and that was today's entry. Do I have the best friends, or what?



So far, I like everyone I've come into contact with here. The reason the deal about me not recognizing the a-fib is significant is that it can be dangerous over the long haul if it's happening a lot. I thought I always knew when mine was happening but the telemetry lab tells another story. So, after consultation with a cardiologist who has seen me a couple of times since I've been here, she and my surgeon agreed it would be ideal for me to stay a couple of extra days while they put me on a medication that has to be monitored in a hospital setting, to address the a-fib on an ongoing basis.

I jumped at the chance to do that because it does affect my life when, at times, I just can't do anything but wait for it to pass. My heart always converts but if I can take a pill that just addresses the issue that would be fabulous. So, I started that tonight and we'll hope for the best in the morning and see where we're at. I'm hopeful this pill will do the trick and the a-fib will no longer be a factor in my life.



My patient care tech today was Hemma. It's the first time I'd been with her and she's a jewel, too. Her name is Austrian, by the way. Of course, you know me, I asked. Her parents are from Austria and gave their kids traditional Austrian names. She's a real sweetie.

I am continually struck by the superior care I'm receiving here. Everyone seems to go the extra mile for the patients and this patient appreciates it.

I was sharing that tonight with Staci, who was my nurse last night, too. But tonight I realized she was the charge nurse. I'm not sure exactly what that means except that she's in charge of some things. I'm not a medical person, you know.



Late this afternoon I was having some pain in my left leg. Because of the a-fib and surgery there was a concern about clotting so they sent me down for an ultrasound that came back negative so all is well in that department. Greg couldn't resist a photo of me with the morphine pump in hand.



And, bear in mind, if this isn't the most eloquent, or understandable, writing you've read on my blog, that I'm a person with a morphine pump. And I'm using it.

Patsy here. I am feeling much better today. My bowels are still not fully functional which is not unusual with female surgeries. That is probably why my stomach was so upset yesterday. But I have eaten a little bit today with no ill effects so that's a good sign. I have been having more a-fib problems so the cardiologist is talking to the surgeon about trying a medication that would completely control the a-fib but it would require monitoring the effects in the hospital for 2-3 days. I think this is a great idea so I am hoping it all works out.

Patsy
www.patsyterrell.com
(sent from mobile device so please forgive brevity and typos)

Thursday Pictures

After Patsy finally settled into a deep sleep Wednesday night I went exploring and found there was a 1947 chapel literally hidden in the center of Via Christi, having been surrounded and dwarfed on all sides by subsequent expansions.

It's called the Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother. Do you feel guilty just reading that name? I almost do, and I'm not even Catholic.

It was locked when I took this picture at 3 AM, but it's amazing what you can see through a crack in the door. I have since been able to enter and will post pictures on thelope when I get the time.



Dawn painted the walls of Via Christi Thursday morning. I went over to the motel for five hours of sleep at about 10AM. Sharon and I seem to have settled into a routine; I sleep a few hours in the late morning to mid-afternoon and she sleeps from about 11 PM to 6 AM.



Patsy's friend Barbara Robinson (left) stopped by and brought her friend Mary Bruce. Patsy shot this picture, her first since arriving here. It was a slow day for visitors, which was just as well because she was nauseous most of the day - not exactly a great social mode.

She got better in the late evening and walked the halls quite a bit. At about 2AM Friday she ate some apple sauce with no ill effects. She woke up a couple times during the night and we go out for "walkies. It's 4:15 AM now and she's watching TV - catching up on what Obama has been up to. She's more "herself" - a cautious sign that today's dawn will bring a better day.

Caring

patsy here. Greg and I have been out to walk a bit in the halls. I can't tell you how impressed with the care at Via Christi. everyone on staff seems to truly care. We've run into no one that's jaded. Very cool.

Patsy
www.patsyterrell.com
(sent from mobile device so please forgive brevity and typos)

Patsy update

this is Patsy... It has been a rough day. I've been nauseated all day and had horrible heartburn. It has been a rough day but I'm feeling somewhat better tonight. I hope its over and I'm on the mend. They tell me this is very common with female surgery. I guess I didn't escape it.

Patsy
www.patsyterrell.com
(sent from mobile device so please forgive brevity and typos)

Pictures from Wednesday

This is Greg, again. Of course, the big news was that Patsy's tumor was benign, but other stuff happened yesterday, including some visitors.



Patsy's anesthesiologist, Dr. Eilert, dropped by soon after Dr Holbelt left.



The cafeteria at Via Christi actually supplies respectable eats at about 2/3 the price such dishes would cost in a typical restaurant. This is part of the dining area.



Sharon wore a blue velour shirt that makes her look much like a costume from the first or second pilot shows of Star Trek.



Belinda was Patsy's patient care tech.



A statue of St Clare of Assisi (1194-1253) stands by a window on the 8th floor near Patsy's room. St Clare is the patron saint of television. Her bones are on display at her shrine in Santa Chiara, Italy. Note the train in the background.

(Note added by Greg on 2-7-09: St Clare was an inspiration to Mother Frances Streitel, who founded the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, who in turn, according to the Via Cristi website, took charge of St Francis Hospital in the late 19th century. St Francis later became part of the Via Christi system.)



Although Via Christi as a whole is architecturally too new-ish for me, there is a bit of older character in this doorway near the northwest corner. It is part of a late 1920s addition made to St Francis Hospital.



This is another detail from the 1920s building.



I arrived back at the hospital to find Jocelyn Woodson, who visited for several hours. Patsy and I helped her with some website difficulties.





Diana Heim-Johnson stopped in.



Patsy takes one of her first "walks around the block" with student nurse Dorcas assisting. Patsy tells me Dorcas is from Kenya and has lived in Wichita about four years now.



Martha Slater-Ferrell showed up later in the afternoon bearing flowers and a candy-carrying Woodstock sent by "CHICKS", a small group of Hutchinson women that Martha and Patsy are a part of. I don't know what CHICKS does, but I suspect them to be part of a shadowy underground city government, manipulating local politics with subtle machinations which...Oh..uh. Forget what I said about CHICKS. Nothing to see here. Move on.



Christy, an RN, gave Patsy a shot of heparin, a blood thinner. The flowers are from Mark Reddig.



Patsy was on her cell phone as the shot was given. For some reason that struck me as funny. She told me later she was talking to her great nephew, Bobby Clark. She assumed he was calling because he had gotten the message the tumor was benign, but he hadn't heard yet. When Patsy went to call her family she couldn't reach anyone because Kentucky is iced in. No one has any power there. She reached her nephew, Jackie, on his cell phone, and let him dispense the news on that end. A short while later she heard from BC and assumed that was why. How cool that it was just happenstance he called that night.

In the evening, the good news about the tumor being benign arrived.



What was supposed to be a relaxed night of savoring the news turned rather active. Late Wednesday night, Patsy's atrial fibrillation acted up. Dr Horbelt had advised her to tell someone if the A-fib acted up as it could lead to a clot.

After messages were passed between various medical personel, including Dr Dory (above), she was tested for pulmonary embolism via a CT scan and was found to have none. At about 2 AM she was settled back in her room.

BENIGN

Greg here. The word just arrived from Dr Horbelt. The lab results came in early. Patsy's tumor was benign.

Was there ever a more beautiful word than "benign"? Nope. Not today. Not for all of us.

"Benign." There; I said it aloud just to hear it.

Patsy update 2/3/2009: This is the first time Ace has ever smiled. I'm flattered.

Wednesday Morning

Greg here, I made sure to arrive at Patsy's room in time to catch her surgeon, Dr Horbelt, making his 6 AM rounds. He got here around 7.



He's a jovial guy and seems to really put her at ease.

There was really no new information but it was the first time Patsy had gotten to talk to him, post-surgery. He went over the same stuff he told me yesterday - that her tumor was a "tumor of low malignant potential" - not cancer and not necessarily benign. He said it is "low suspicion". This is an improvement over the "highly suspicious" status the radiologist had given it.

I asked him about the size of the tumor, as most of the estimates of its size we've heard have been related to sports equipment or fruit. Dr Horbelt says he prefers sports equipment comparisons because such things are standardized. "If you say orange, how do you know you didn't get a wienie orange" he had previously said. To satisfy me, he gave a number - 16 centimeters - not bragging size, he added.



I still want clarification, especially as to how something that isn't cancer can have even a slim chance of being malignant, but he doesn't speculate and says to wait for the results. He reminded us that the pathology report would be in Thursday or Friday and at that point he'll be able to go into greater detail.



He removed her bandage, checked her over and told her to get up and sit in a chair today and to try drinking some fluids if she likes (she can even have pop as long as it's flat). Her incision looks neatly done and stapled.



I hope to return you to your regularly scheduled Patsy later today. She is hitting the morphine pump button less often and is more normal all the time.

Patsy again. Greg just arrived. I'm glaf I insisted he go sleep becaude I've hardly slept at all. Nothings wrong. I'm not in pain.i just wasn't sleeping. I'm feeling ok. Little nauseaus but I think that's jsut drugs with no food or water.

Patsy
www.patsyterrell.com
(sent from mobile device so please forgive brevity and typos)

This is Patsy. I insisted Greg and Sharon go get some sleep in real beds. The staff here is so good I feel comfortable being by myself even though I can't get up. I've got the call botton and the phone as a backup. I am so thankful for everyones comments and emails. Your prayers have meant do much. I've tried to be accepting of the situation and I have been very comforted by the power of prayer. Thanks.

Patsy
www.patsyterrell.com
(sent from mobile device so please forgive brevity and typos)

Moved to Room 8042

Patsy has been moved to a private room, 8042. Here, Katie, an RN, helps move Patsy, who carries a balloon and a gift bag from Ann, who has headed back to Hutchinson.

Room 8058

Patsy is intermittently awake in room 8058, a shared room, though she is on the list for a private a room.

She has been fairly lucid - even showing a bit of her sense of humor at times - though the morphine tends to put her to sleep.

After a day of being a supportive trooper, Sharon has left to sleep at a motel for awhile and will relieve me at about 9 PM so I can sleep and be up at 6 AM when the surgeon comes by. Hopefully, by 9 tonight Patsy will have a private room and I'll be able to sleep on a cot. They won't let me stay in the shared room past visiting hours because I'm a male and the other occupant is female.

I am told that Patsy may or may not remember anything that happens today, so I'm trying to leave her a record of the better things about this day, and to think like Patsy while doing so (i.e. photographing people instead of buildings.)



So, I shot pictures of Ann, who visited her from Hutchinson today. Ann is a nurse at Promise Regional Medical Center, which will probably always be called by its former name of Hutchinson Hospital by locals.



Ann was quite a help in that she brought useful stuff like lip balm and made suggestions the nurses followed like putting a bubble thingie for comforting humidity on the oxygen line they are using on Patsy to help work the anesthetic out of her system, and adjusting the bed so Patsy's tummy muscles felt better.

As much as a "document everything" nut as I am, I haven't taken any pictures of Patsy after surgery because...

A. It would not be her at her sparkling best.

B. I don't doubt that even though has more tubes and wires hooked to her than a Star Trek Borg, she could reach out and strangle me with said tubage.

So far, I am impressed with Via Christi. The staff have been polite and personable while staying focused on their tasks. It feels very professional here - like the people actually enjoy their jobs. Nobody has been dismissive of Patsy's post-operative pain.



We chatted awhile with Alyce (right), a Nurse Care Manager and Dorcas, a nursing student.

Also, the place doesn't smell like a hospital. It's a teaching hospital and students are everywhere. As I write this, a student nurse is conversing with the other patient about looking forward to her career. So far, so good.



Much to my surprise, Patsy asked to have her picture taken with Ace. She's getting perkier when she's awake. She says it's because she's watching the clock and knows to hit the morphine button every 15 minutes (its minimum allowed interval).

Thank you for all your comments so far, I read some to Patsy and will respond to a couple questions from comments in the previous post as I am able.

Not Cancer - Tumor of Low Malignant Potential

Patsy's surgery is finished. Her surgeon, Dr Douglas Horbelt, just spoke with me. He says that Patsy's tumor is not cancer but neither is it definitely benign.

He called it a "tumor of low malignant potential" and described this as being in a gray area between benign and malignant. He did say it was entirely removed, along with the hysterectomy. They also took her appendix and some of her omentum.

As to the whether the fact of this tumor having been in her has any negative implications for her future, he said he could not answer until the pathology report on the tumor comes back on Thursday or Friday. He said it would be sectioned like a loaf of bread and studied.

I wish I had a more definite answer for all of us, but that's all we know for now except that she is expected to be in recovery for about three hours and should be released Friday or Saturday.

A quick google reveals articles from The National Cancer Institute and The Library of Cancer as well as a smattering of other information. Despite the sources of the articles I cite, I should stress again that he said it was not cancer.

Clearly, we'll have many questions later in the week when the pathology report comes back. I hope for a more black and white answer then.

9:30 Report

The waiting room attendent took a call from the surgery area which reported that Patsy is doing fine - no other information, though. Her surgery continues.

Surgery has Begun

Patsy's surgery began at 7:52, according to the Via Christi surgery waiting room employee.

Getting There and Waiting

Hi there, this is Greg.

After paperwork and a few tests, Patsy was taken to be prepped for surgery at 6:45. She was in good spirits, as she almost always is.

I'll update all of you as new information is available. It'll be awhile, though. The operation probably won't start until about 8AM and in a best case scenario she'll be out in about 3 1/2 hours - that'll be 11:30. If there are updates before then, I'll jump online and tell you.

In the meantime, have some pictures from Patsy's night and morning.



As Patsy noted, it took us one hour and forty-five minutes to drive the usual hour-long trip to Wichita; this is the view just outside the city. We had snow and freezing drizzle at just the right temperature to freeze on the windshield wipers, which we had to stop so I could de-ice. This wasn't a bad thing, as the attention-intensive drive helped keep our minds off the reason for the trip.

Sharon followed us down. It was reassuring to see her headlights following in the distance. When Patsy saw Sharon's truck drive up as we prepared to leave this morning at 3:45, she said she'd never forget her for that.



A pleasant phlebotomist gave Patsy a green band to match a red one she'd been given earlier - very fitting for a Christmas maven.



The hospital bed was delivered and set up yesterday in Patsy's dining room. Last night she practiced ringing her thrift store bell for attention. I noted its fragility; she noted that she has two metal back-ups.

Again, I'll update this when there is any news at all. Thank you so much for your prayers and positive energy.

I'm in

I'm checked in and in radiology waiting for a chest xray. It took about one hour and forty five minutes to get here in the snow and ice. That's about twice the normal time. But we arrived safely. Sharon followed us over. That woman is a jewel. She will wait with Greg today.

Patsy
www.patsyterrell.com
(sent from mobile device so please forgive brevity and typos)

Surgery Details

Greg and I leave for Wichita in the wee hours of the morning. My surgery is set for 7:30 a.m. We are supposed to be at Via Christi/St. Francis at 5:30. We have some snow on the ground, and possibly freezing rain in Wichita, so we're leaving plenty of time to make our way to the hospital near downtown. I'm hoping for the best, and am mindful this may be a blessing in disguise. I appreciate everyone's good thoughts and prayers.

Greg will be updating my blog at www.patsyterrell.com/blog.htm each time he hears something during surgery. If you read my blog elsewhere, pop over there to get the updates. I'm not asking him to update anything other than that one blog.

When I check in I'm going to ask them to give information about my condition to anyone who calls. I'm not sure if they will do that or not, but I'm going to ask. So, if you want an update, hopefully you'll be able to get it that way. Otherwise, you can call my cell phone or Greg's cell phone. He will have my phone during surgery. Feel free to call for updates, or just check the blog.

I'm not sure when I'll be checking email or blog messages again. But you can send me a note through the hospital's system by going to https://www.via-christi.org/body.cfm?id=1991. Thanks so much for your good thoughts and prayers.
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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on facebook.com. Follow me at twitter.com. Thank you.

A First Hand Look at the Inauguration by Miles Tossie

Miles Tossie is a high school senior from Hutchinson who attended the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama. I prevailed upon him to share some of photos and experiences with us at the blog. I just loved this young man's eloquent account. Thank you, Miles! Here it is:

An Inauguration Experience
by Miles Tossie


The election of Barack Obama means a lot to me personally. Being biracial myself I understand how big this moment was. As someone who would have voted for him had I been 18, this was a truly special event for me, and it was made even better by the fact that I could be there.


I arrived in D.C. on the Tuesday before the inauguration and from that moment I could tell that there was a feeling of excitement in the air. It didn't matter who you were, people treated you like they had known you all their lives. Everywhere you looked people had smiles on their faces. Everyone wanted a piece of history and many people were wearing clothing with Obama's name or face on it.


All of this excitement grew and grew until the 20th came and it was truly palpable. There are very few events that can get people up at 1 or 2 in the morning to stand in the freezing cold for 10 hours for an hour long ceremony. There are even less than can get 2 million people on D.C.'s National Mall, 90% of who knew going in that they may never see him as more than a dot in the distance. But for an event this historic, for a man this inspirational, I know for a fact that all of us who were there would have waited for twice as long in twice as cold a temperature. That was how much we wanted to be a part of history. It was a life changing experience that I will never forget.


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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on facebook.com. Follow me at twitter.com.