Chuck is headed back to Columbus. He's leaving on a jet plane. He came out here to help us through Ken's eye surgery.
He has done that.
Since he's been here we've:
Consumed 12 gallons of fresh squooze orange and grapefruit juice.
Realized you can use a golf club to shake citrus from the trees.
Developed a fondness for Progresso soup, especially Tomato Basil. (He brought 6 cans with him.)
Redeveloped an appetite for candy, popcorn, thriftstore shopping.
Increased our already large book selection by 20 more books Chuck is leaving behind.
Been to our first Saturday's farmers' market where we were fortunate enough to have only $20 cash on hand.
Become hooked on The Wire.
Watched the finals of two stockcar races and found the drivers very cute.
Introduced Chuck to Tess and the Golden Greek.
Discovered Chuck is no fan of sauteed kale.
Celebrated that Ken can now indeed see from his left eye, declaring the second surgery a complete success.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Dr. Bob
I have shallow knowledge about many things, but not about hospitals, nursing care and post-op care. All of which we experienced yesterday.
Here's the update.
Ken's second eye surgery to replace the bad corneal pumper cell donated tissue with a fresh new one went splendidly. This morning when we saw Dr. Bob (the affectionate name for the eye surgeon who is now our hero) Ken could read not just the big E on the chart but the second line too. (When we went for the post-op check the morning after this same surgery in November he could make out the nurse's three fingers having failed to see the big E let alone the line of letters underneath it.)
We left with three bottles of eyedrops, detailed instructions along with a dose chart (something not given by the other doctor the first time around) and Dr. Bob's cell phone number. (Certainly not anything I was given the first time. Although, in fairness, I didn't ask how I would get hold of the doctor over the weekend if something happened. Dr. Bob offered his cell phone and said please don't hesitate to call me. I know.)
Yesterday, the nurses were arguing over helping Ken through his pre-op stuff because they loved working with Dr. Bob and his gas guy, Dr. Peter. They had each had these two men do surgeries on them. They would have no other. Now, neither would we.
In the midst of this is Chuck. He got up at 5 after flying here yesterday and being stuck on the tarmak in Columbus and Memphis for de-icing. He waited with me until 11 a.m., with a break at Matt's Big Breakfast and a plate of their incredible organic thick-cut bacon and sourdough bread, for Ken to be transported back home.
When I got home, there was a tablecloth he had brought from Columbus (Mexican theme) on the dining room table. Candles lit, a cheese plate ready and a salad ready for tossing. We had leftover chili and cookies for dessert, something Chuck had brought with him.
We are on the mend here in Phoenix.
Here's the update.
Ken's second eye surgery to replace the bad corneal pumper cell donated tissue with a fresh new one went splendidly. This morning when we saw Dr. Bob (the affectionate name for the eye surgeon who is now our hero) Ken could read not just the big E on the chart but the second line too. (When we went for the post-op check the morning after this same surgery in November he could make out the nurse's three fingers having failed to see the big E let alone the line of letters underneath it.)
We left with three bottles of eyedrops, detailed instructions along with a dose chart (something not given by the other doctor the first time around) and Dr. Bob's cell phone number. (Certainly not anything I was given the first time. Although, in fairness, I didn't ask how I would get hold of the doctor over the weekend if something happened. Dr. Bob offered his cell phone and said please don't hesitate to call me. I know.)
Yesterday, the nurses were arguing over helping Ken through his pre-op stuff because they loved working with Dr. Bob and his gas guy, Dr. Peter. They had each had these two men do surgeries on them. They would have no other. Now, neither would we.
In the midst of this is Chuck. He got up at 5 after flying here yesterday and being stuck on the tarmak in Columbus and Memphis for de-icing. He waited with me until 11 a.m., with a break at Matt's Big Breakfast and a plate of their incredible organic thick-cut bacon and sourdough bread, for Ken to be transported back home.
When I got home, there was a tablecloth he had brought from Columbus (Mexican theme) on the dining room table. Candles lit, a cheese plate ready and a salad ready for tossing. We had leftover chili and cookies for dessert, something Chuck had brought with him.
We are on the mend here in Phoenix.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Chuck's arrival
For the second time in 10 years, my college roommate, matron of honor and dearest friend Margot is sending us Chuck.
Her husband is coming to help us navigate the second eye surgery. The first one didn't work. It appears that the donor pumper cell tissue was bad. So, Ken has been blind out of his left eye since before Thanksgiving as we've sorted out our next step.
The next step is Dr. Bullington who will lay a new layer of donated pumper cell tissue on Ken's
cornea, place a bubble over this new tissue to hold it in place, stitch things up and send Ken home. There he will spend the next 24 hours mostly on his back looking at the ceiling while Chuck cooks us luscious meals and brings his usual energy, crazy jokes and unbridled excitement over weird caps, thrift store finds and most anything he finds on the produce aisle.
The last time he came Ken had developed spinal meningitis right after fracturing his ankle. So, he was tethered to an IV pole for high powered antiobiotics and bound in a wheelchair. That time Chuck bought material to make a tablecloth, new napkins and made us chicken salad with fruit, his sweet potato fries and all kinds of calorie-laden desserts. Ken recovered, lost the IV and eventually the wheelchair but never the weight.
It was during this trip that Chuck discovered the Mormon thrift store. We'll go there this weekend after Ken's done lying on his back staring at the ceiling and hoping that this time the tissue transplant takes.
Thank you, Margot.
Her husband is coming to help us navigate the second eye surgery. The first one didn't work. It appears that the donor pumper cell tissue was bad. So, Ken has been blind out of his left eye since before Thanksgiving as we've sorted out our next step.
The next step is Dr. Bullington who will lay a new layer of donated pumper cell tissue on Ken's
cornea, place a bubble over this new tissue to hold it in place, stitch things up and send Ken home. There he will spend the next 24 hours mostly on his back looking at the ceiling while Chuck cooks us luscious meals and brings his usual energy, crazy jokes and unbridled excitement over weird caps, thrift store finds and most anything he finds on the produce aisle.
The last time he came Ken had developed spinal meningitis right after fracturing his ankle. So, he was tethered to an IV pole for high powered antiobiotics and bound in a wheelchair. That time Chuck bought material to make a tablecloth, new napkins and made us chicken salad with fruit, his sweet potato fries and all kinds of calorie-laden desserts. Ken recovered, lost the IV and eventually the wheelchair but never the weight.
It was during this trip that Chuck discovered the Mormon thrift store. We'll go there this weekend after Ken's done lying on his back staring at the ceiling and hoping that this time the tissue transplant takes.
Thank you, Margot.
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