Al's Blog-o-Sphere

Today was much the same, travel being a large preoccupation, with visits to Frank in betwen.

Maybe it’s because it’s all new to me, or maybe it just really is a big deal, but getting to and from the hospital is a large part of my day.I don’t think I’ve gone the same way twice, but at least I’m learning bits and pieces about getting around.

I got a little late start and didn’t get to the hospital until almost 10am. Frank was still eating breakfast. I remember oatmeal and apple juice. There were other things, all pretty normal food. Several doctors stopped by and spoke with us. They seem pretty happy. There have been som adjustments to medications – one pain med was switched for another because there was some sort of reaction, and something made him itchy, so he got Banadryl. But nothing serious. They are continuing to monitor his breathing and monitor the improvements. Every day shows more evidence of progress and the miracle this is.

About noon or a little after, I went to the lounge and sat there catching up on email, and Facebook. It really has been busy with all the people following what is going on.

For lunch, I decided not to fight the box lunch challenge in the cafeteria and went out to the Tasty Deli, one of our favorite places. I had my favorite, a Reuben Sandwich and enjoyed it.

Any of you who read my email or text about Frank getting out of the ICU, it was a false alarm. I should have known it was too good to be true.

I thought Frank had texted me with that information. He actually did, but last time we were here.

The address I gave is still good, just pay no attention to the room number. If you’ve already sent a card, don’t worry, it will still get to him. I’d imagine they have a pretty large mail room here and deal with wrong/changed rooms all the time.

This is the official mailing address:

NYP/Columbia University Medical Center
630 West 168th St.
NY NY 10032

He is in the Millstein Hospital Building, which, should anyone be visiting, is at 177 Fort Washington Ave.

I visited him this morning and he was eating a pretty normal breakfast. They are having him use a CPAP/BIPAP sort-of machine because his CO2 levels are a bit high. Three doctors came in while I was there. One was Dr. Davidio, who is the main surgeon on Frank’s case, and he seemed quite happy. He sai Frank got a good set of lungs and that they are considering beginning to remove some of the drain tubes, which should relieve some discomfort that Frank is experiencing.

They changed one pain medication because Frank had some kind of reaction to it, and he’s getting Benadryl because something is making him itch. If Frank is getting cranky and complaining about an itch, he must be feeling somewhat better!

There is a famous bridge called Highbridge near the hotel that they are supposed to reopen as a pedestrian and bike bridge. I don’t think it’s open yet, but if it were, in the summer, it would make the trip a nice walk and I wouldn’t need a bus at all.

I don’t know if I feel any safer for it, but theere is a large police station right next door to the hotel! You have to walk in the street because all the sidewalk is full of police cars!

My lunch today. Chicken stir-fry, peas, carrots, and a salad. Nothing to write home about, but I’d like to strangle the tree-hugger who decided the folding cardboard box was a good idea. It’s so weak and floppy, with only one thing in it, you need two hands to hold it. there isn’t room for anything else in it. I put a bottle of pop in the corner, but then it felt like it was going to fold up and rip in half. Give me a good old cafeteria tray