A friend asked recently how James was, and I fired off a short "about the same" reply. I was thinking I would post something here in that vein; sadly, I tell you that things have changed a lot in the last 24 hours.
This afternoon, during the World Series game, one of the caregivers called and said that James's "g-tube" had come out. I've lost count of how many g-tubes had to be changed because of clogs, tears, missing plugs, looseness, or just old-worn-out-ness. It is an annoyance, particularly on the weekend, when we must deal with the emergency department instead of the usual doctors. Mary took James up to Walnut Creek to handle the situation. She was informed that now the ER doctors don't do tubes, the interventional radiologist does them, even on the weekends. The IR was not available, but we did manage to get a temporary tube because JAMES COULD NOT RECEIVE HIS MEDS SIX TIMES A DAY WITHOUT IT. The doctor suggested a temporary "ng-tube", but we refused it, since he hates it and pulls it out, and since watching James get an ng-tube is the WORST THING I have ever experienced. He doesn't mind surgery a bit, but this procedure makes him scream and fight.
Well, we got the tube, but while there, James had a seizure. It had been a very long time since a "big" seizure, but it was only one, so Mary took him home. While we were having dinner, the caregiver called again - James was having another one. He got some Ativan, but the seizures have kept coming. James and Mary are back at the ER. The ambulance driver said his O2 saturation got down to 60 on the ride there. but he will not be intubated; the orders are in place. Mary called just now; his breathing is rapid and his saturation is staying at about 92 percent. His fingers on the right hand are blue.
Is this the trip? Lord, please show your hand and give us strength because we have none left. Mary will call again; pray for God's mercy and comfort whatever the result. B
