CONTACTS
SUBJECTS
Mother Stricken Serious Affliction Hospitalized Providence Medical C
0403 -
0403 - ..
0404 - Summary/Objective
0405 -
040501 - Follow up ref SDS 5 0000, ref SDS 4 0000.
040502 -
040503 -
040504 -
040505 -
040507 - ..
0406 -
0407 -
0408 - Progress
0409 -
040901 - On arrival, Sally was in mom's room.
040902 -
040903 - Sally is very attentive, thorough and skilled caring for mom.
040905 - ..
040906 - She adjusted the bedding, and applied cream to mom's lips, which
040907 - become dry from breathing through her mouth. Mom smiled indicating
040908 - this was very helpful.
040910 - ..
040911 - Sally talked to mother, and continually encouraged her to keep her
040912 - eyes open, necessary for the system to gain strength through normal
040913 - function, e.g., neurology processing sights.
040915 - ..
040916 - Sally placed a small moistened section of sponge in mom's mouth for
040917 - hydration. This is facilitated by a long toothpick-like stick, so the
040918 - small sponge piece dipped in water enables mother to suck only a small
040919 - amount of water into her mouth and swallow for hydration, all as
040920 - required for NPO status, done previously during recovery from CABG on
040921 - 091102 0642. ref SDS 2 WC6B
040923 - ..
040924 - Mom's eyes were open. She noticed I was in the room, and reached out
040925 - her hand. I stepped forward and held her hand. Her strong grip was
040926 - surprising and reassuring. She said in a low but strong voice: "Oh,
040927 - hellow Rodney." She would not let go of my hand. I remained by her
040928 - side, and leaned close to explain having driven from San Francisco and
040929 - hurried to be with my loving, kind, wonderful mother, this morning.
040931 - ..
040932 - Mom then raised her arm with some effort and pointed to the flowers
040933 - ordered on Sunday, reported on 170326 1037. ref SDS 4 1U7M Sally
040934 - moved the flowers from the vanity counter at the foot of the bed, to
040935 - the top of a cabinet, so mother could see them easier while laying
040936 - back in bed.
040938 - ..
040939 - Sally noticed that mother seemed uncomfortable. She was slightly
040940 - twisted to the right. Found her nurse, Shannon at the Control Station
040941 - just outside mom's room (2058). She came into mom's room, and Sally
040942 - asked Shannon about re-positioning mom, so she is more comfortable.
040943 - Shannon left and got another nurse. The 2 nurses carefully
040944 - re-positioned mom, so she laid flatter in the bed. Mother indicated
040945 - she was more comfortable.
040947 - ..
040948 - Mom complained of pain. Sally left to ask the nurse for medication,
040949 - possibly morphine. She later said mom is off Fentanyl. Shannon came
040950 - quickly and gave mom pain medication. This took effect quickly, as
040951 - mom smiled and said she felt better.
040953 - ..
040954 - Sally noted that mom sometimes has allergies that are triggered by
040955 - some types of flowers. Decided to remove the flowers. Took them to
040956 - the nursing control station. Shannon said to put them on the counter,
040957 - so if mother wants to see them later, they can be brought back into
040958 - the room.
040960 - ..
040961 - The doctor arrived. Sally was with him during examination. He
040962 - seemed to feel mother is doing better.
040964 - ..
040965 - While Sally spoke with mom, reviewed the doctor's work plan. Now that
040966 - labs show mom's initial infection has subsided, the nasal tube
040967 - relieving gas from mom's stomach can be removed. The team will try
040968 - getting mom to swallow liquid and near liquid diet toward normal oral
040969 - nutrition. The doctor seemed further to say that today the nurses
040970 - will help mom take a few steps up and down the hallway. Later, he
040971 - clarified that today, it would be a good goal for mother to simply get
040972 - out of bed and sit up in the chair for a few minutes. The team is
040973 - striving for mother to move that stimulates the body's systems. This
040974 - is essential for recovery, similar to post-CABG care on 091024 0600.
040975 - ref SDS 1 1P8M
040977 - ..
040978 - Thanked the doctor for reviewing the case.
040980 - ..
040981 - Sally was understandably frustrated by others discussing mom's care
040982 - with the doctor. She feels this could confuse or alienate the doctor
040983 - rather than advance recovery.
040985 - ..
040986 - Asked Sally about Progress Notes? Sally said she trusts the doctor to
040987 - tell her everything needed to help mom. Explained that Progress Notes
040988 - typically tell a different story from memory of verbal exchanges with
040989 - the doctor. Sally said she trusts the doctor, his memory and her
040990 - memory, and wants to avoid alienating the doctor. Didn't bring this
040991 - up again.
040993 - ..
040994 - Mother suggested Sally and I go to the cafeteria for breakfast, so she
040995 - could rest.
040997 - ..
040998 - Just about this time, Rob arrived. Mom smiled and her eyes brightened
040999 - seeing her son.
041001 - ..
041002 - Sally, Rob and I went to the cafeteria. Rob and Sally had coffee, I
041003 - had eggs, sausage and orange juice. Rob commented how much better mom
041004 - looks today, compared to yesterday evening, when he called and said
041005 - she was not doing well, reported on 170327 0822. ref SDS 5 D18Y
041007 - ..
041008 - Sally noted that her daughter, Katie, who is a nurse, was terrific
041009 - yesterday helping Sally care for mother. In the later afternoon, the
041010 - emotion of seeing her grandmother in severe decline overwhelmed Katie,
041011 - so she has been home at Sally's house with her children drawn near.
041013 - ..
041014 - Sounded like Katie's husband, Ben, returned to their home in Bend
041015 - (??), because of continuing work duties. This follows up telecon with
041016 - Ben yesterday, on 170327 0822. ref SDS 5 XM6M
041018 - ..
041019 - Very much enjoyed reminiscing with Rob and Sally in the cafeteria. We
041020 - so rarely have had any time together over the years.
041022 - ..
041023 - Rob related getting treatment with a chiropractor, who was the father
041024 - of a friend in high school, There were 2 Hitchmen brothers. We knew
041025 - the younger boy. His big brother played quaterback for Fremont High
041026 - school, and when we knew him he had already graduated from Stanford.
041027 - The younger boy was an outstanding quarterback at Saratoga High
041028 - School. I was not aware, that Rob knew (think his name was Mike)
041029 - Hitchmen through track. Tdoay, Rob related that in our senior year at
041030 - Cupertino High School, he developed severe back/nexk pain just before
041031 - the league track finals. Mike (??) suggested Rob get treatment from
041032 - his dad, who had a Chiropractic practice on Highway 9, close to where
041033 - we lived on Dunbar in Garden Gate. Rob asked mom, and she facilitated
041034 - Rob getting treatment, but warned not to tell dad, because he would
041035 - object.
041037 - ..
041038 - Rob got the treatment and then set the league record in the pole
041039 - vault. What a great story.
041041 - ..
041042 - Sally said that Mike (her Mike) is taking their grandchildren hiking
041043 - today, in the woods. This seems risky for someone with 2 knee
041044 - replacements.
041046 - ..
041047 - Rob seemed to say he plays tennis with someone at his club, who has
041048 - had knee replacement treatment.
041050 - ..
041051 - This was surprising good news. Doctor Fow, who replaced Bob's right
041052 - knee advised that knee replacement would fail from running and
041053 - climbing irregular terraine, like Half Dome, reported on
041055 - ..
041056 - After we visited in the cafeteria, Sally said she is going to check on
041057 - mom, and then would going home to spend with her daughter and
041058 - granchildren. She needs sleep.
041060 - ..
041061 - She said Patty and Pablito plan to visit mother OA 1430, so she asked
041062 - me to go to mom's room about 1400, and move flowers from the bathroom
041063 - into mom's room on the counter in front of the bed, so Patty can see
041064 - them when they visit mom. After mom saw Patty's flowers, Sally moved
041065 - them into the bathroom to reduce exposure to allerties. per above.
041066 - ref SDS 0 HU9M.
041067 -
041068 -
041069 -
041071 - ..
0411 -
0412 -
0413 - 1042
0414 -
041401 - Left hospital and returned to Super 8 motel.
041402 -
041403 - Checked out.
041404 -
041406 - ..
0415 -
0416 -
0417 - 1125
0418 -
041801 - Retuned to hospital.
041802 -
041803 - Working in cafeteria.
041804 -
041805 -
041807 - ..
0419 -
0420 -
0421 - 1342
0422 -
042201 - Before going to mom's room - 2058, decided not to take the computer.
042202 -
042203 - There were 2 ladies having lunch at an adjacent table. They offered
042204 - to watch the computer for a few minutes, while I went upstairs to
042205 - visit mom.
042207 - ..
042208 - upstairs on the 2nd floor, visited briefly with the doctor, who was in
042209 - the Control Station area near mom's room.
042211 - ..
042212 - He said mom is doing a little better.
042214 - ..
042215 - The team got her up, per planning reported earlier above. ref SDS 0
042216 - IN6I She was too weak to walk, so they let her sit in a chair. This
042217 - lasted only a few minutes, because an xray tech arrived to do an
042218 - in-room xray.
042220 - ..
042221 - The xray found some resolution of condition in mom's stomach.
042223 - ..
042224 - The team will try getting her up again, either later today, or
042225 - tomorrow, as this is essential for mom to progress and go home, per
042226 - above. ref SDS 0 IN6I
042228 - ..
042229 - Thanked the doctor for taking moment. He said questions are helpful.
042231 - ..
042232 - Went into mom's room. She is sleeping.
042234 - ..
042235 - Moved Patti's flowers from the bathroom, where Sally put them
042236 - yesterday in order to reduce exposure to allergies, per above.
042237 - ref SDS 0 HU9M. Placed the flowers on the counter in font of mom's
042238 - bed, so Sally will see them when she arrives to visit mom later
042239 - today.
042241 - ..
042242 - Shannon then came into mom's room. She explained to mom that the
042243 - doctor says she has recovered enough for the team to remove the nasal
042244 - tube. Mom will then be able to eat liquids, possibly gels, maybe
042245 - Cream of Wheat. This will help recovery, so mom can get stronger and
042246 - go home.
042247 -
042248 -
042249 -
042251 - ..
0423 -
0424 -
0425 - 1403
0426 -
042601 - Returned to the cafeteria and continued working.
042602 -
042603 - Called and left message for Sally, that her assignment to move the
042604 - flowers from the bathroom into mom's room on the counter, has been
042605 - done.
042607 - ..
042608 - Explained some of the doctor's report, per above. ref SDS 0 P159
042609 -
042611 - ..
0427 -
0428 -
0429 - 1500
0430 -
043001 - Closed workstation in the cafeteria. Took computer and keyboard and
043002 - stored in the trunk of the car. Then went to mother's room.
043004 - ..
043005 - Sally had arrived, and Patty was there.
043007 - ..
043008 - Hugged Patty and exchanged pleasantries.
043010 - ..
043011 - Sally said how much mom enjoyed Patty's flowers. Mom was resting at
043012 - this time.
043014 - ..
043015 - The three of us walked down the hall to the main elevators. There is
043016 - furniture for visitor seating, so we sat and talked for 30 minutes or
043017 - so.
043019 - ..
043020 - Patty said Pablito could not come today, but they come back later in
043021 - the evening. Pablito is resting. He is exhausted from having spend
043022 - weeks organizing a religous retreat, and participating the past week.
043023 - There is a lot of work to conduct events that are enjoyable for
043024 - participants. Sounded like Pablito may have one of the main
043025 - inspirational speakers.
043027 - ..
043028 - After Patty left, we discussed the time in 1962, that Mr Pittman
043029 - arranged from Robby and me to go on a religious retreat to a location
043030 - some 100 miles or so North of Vancuover British Columbia in Canada.
043031 - This was sponsored by the "Yound Life" organization.
043033 - ..
043034 - Sally said that 6 years later, when she was at Cupertion, Mr Pittman
043035 - also included her in the Young Life trip to Canada.
043037 - ..
043038 - We walked back to mom's room. She seemed uncomfortable, and struggled
043039 - to raise her arm.
043041 - ..
043042 - Sally then noticed her IV seemed to be a bloody mess. She got a nurse
043043 - at the Control Station. The nurse came and investigated. Rather than
043044 - change the IV, she cleaned the location, and wrapped mom's arm perhaps
043045 - to maintain alignment of the catheter.
043047 - ..
043048 - Robby arrived back at the hospital.
043050 - ..
043051 - He seemed very tired.
043053 - ..
043054 - We talked about having dinner this evening to visit.
043056 - ..
043057 - Sally explained how mom is doing this afternoon.
043059 - ..
043060 - Rob said he has to go home and rest for awhile. He will call later to
043061 - coordinate everyone having dinner this evening.
043063 - ..
043064 - After Rob left, Sally explained he is still tired from the long drive
043065 - from Aptos yesterday.
043066 -
043067 -
043068 -
043070 - ..
0431 -
0432 -
0433 - 1612
0434 -
043401 - Case nurse came into mom's room. She discussed possibilities for
043402 - discharging mom...
043403 -
043404 - 1. Go home with Sally.
043405 -
043406 - If mom recovers well enough to take oral nourshiment, i.e.,
043407 - eating, and becomes somewhat mobile with a walker, she may
043408 - still require full or part-time nursing. Sounded like Medicare
043409 - will pay for part-time professional care.
043411 - ..
043412 - There was discussion of mom's health insurance. The case nurse
043413 - was pleased that mother is elebigle for strong off-site care.
043415 - ..
043416 - Sally explained logistics at home that seemed to be conducive
043417 - for mom to get good care at home.
043419 - ..
043420 - 2. Re-hab facility.
043421 -
043422 - The case nurse explained that before going home, mom may need
043423 - interim professional care in a facility with medical equipment
043424 - and care givers who can help mom make enough recovery to go
043425 - home.
043427 - ..
043428 - Sally said she is concerned that mom be released to a high
043429 - quality facility. The case nurse listed a few names of local
043430 - re-hab facilities.
043432 - ..
043433 - Sally was familiar with one of these, and said that will be her
043434 - preference, if it is necessary. The case nurse noted that
043435 - everyone wants to go to that particular facility, but it is
043436 - difficult to be admitted, because they always full.
043438 - ..
043439 - 3. Extended care.
043440 -
043441 - If mom is not making progress on eating and mobility, then
043442 - stadard of care is to release the patient to an extended care
043443 - facility.
043445 - ..
043446 - Sally explained that mom has already said even before this
043447 - recent adverse event, that she does not want to go to extended
043448 - care.
043450 - ..
043451 - The case nurse said that sometimes family members tell the
043452 - patient they are going to a re-hab facility in order to
043453 - prevent anxiety and stress.
043455 - ..
043456 - Sally asked about circumstances for discharging mom?
043458 - ..
043459 - The case nurse seemed to say that the hospital cannot release mother
043460 - until her infection and other treatable conditions are resolved, or
043461 - the doctor determines she cannot benefit from further care in the
043462 - hospital.
043464 - ..
043465 - After the case nurse left, mother seemed uncomfortable.
043467 - ..
043468 - Sally got a nurse to examine mom, while we waited in the hallway.
043470 - ..
043471 - The nurse said mother seems to be developing bed sores, so they
043472 - changed her position. This may have occurred yesterday, resulting in
043473 - mom seeming to be in a twisted position this morning, per above.
043474 - ref SDS 0 JN8I
043475 -
043476 -
043477 -
043479 - ..
0435 -
0436 -
0437 - 1637
0438 -
043801 - Sally and I went for something to eat in the cafeteria.
043802 -
043803 - She called Rob and suggested that he and Joyce join us for dinner here
043804 - at the hospital.
043806 - ..
043807 - We got got salad from salad bar.
043809 - ..
043810 - Had a good conversation about how Sally first cared for Mike's mome,
043811 - when all lived in the house until his mother died. Later mom came and
043812 - lived with Mike and Sally. Sally has been caring for elderly mothers
043813 - for a long time.
043814 -
043815 -
043817 - ..
0439 -
0440 -
0441 - 1720
0442 -
044201 - Rob and Joyce arrived.
044202 -
044203 - Sally filled them in on mom's progress, and talked about how she
044204 - would go about caring for mom, when she is discharged.
044206 - ..
044207 - Rob said the family should consideer possibility that mom may not go
044208 - home.
044210 - ..
044211 - Sally said she understands that.
044212 -
044213 -
044215 - ..
0443 -
0444 -
0445 - 1743
0446 -
044601 - Sally left for home.
044602 -
044603 - Rob explained his China project hit a snag getting his product
044604 - through US or Chinease customs. There is a delay caused by wood of
044605 - some kind being a problem.
044607 - ..
044608 - Rob is also having problems getting money together to finance a
044609 - marketing trip to China and/or Japan. Sounded like Joyce's brother
044610 - may have helped on this issue.
044611 -
044612 -
044614 - ..
0447 -
0448 -
0449 - 1930
0450 -
045001 - Left cafeteria and went to see how mother is doing.
045003 - ..
045004 - Said goodby to Rob and Joyce.
045006 - ..
045007 - Decided to return home, to avoid adding to Sally's stress and anxiety
045008 - caring for mom.
045009 -
045010 - [On 170328 1105 drove home from Medford. ref SDS 6 LN6M
045011 -
045012 -
045013 -
045014 -
045015 -
045016 -
045017 -
045018 -
045019 -
045020 -
0451 -