She is once again impassioned about the political scene - a good sign!
We shall be returning to Portland on Saturday.
Once again, than you for all your notes, comments, and well wishes. . . .
19 March 2008
15 March 2008
Saturday
Tashie continues to get better and better and stronger and stronger. She keeps trying to strike a bargain to discontinue her antibiotics, but so far she has been persuaded to persist and prevail.
13 March 2008
The last few days have been a flurry of attendants: occupational therapy, physical therapy, visiting nurses, etc. Tashie is stronger every day, although she is still tired from the ordeal, and needs a lot of rest. She has to rouse herself at midnight and again at 6 am to take her antibiotics, which is surely a disruption to her REM sleep, but she's a sport.
She saw the surgeon this morning, Dr. Hansman. He is pleased with her progress, and removed the JP drain, which has been a huge relief.
Her major daily activities that are not directly connected with recovering are: chatting with brother Lal, and doing the NY Times crossword puzzle. She feels badly that she has not herself responded to messages, notes, calls, etc, but I have reminded her that she needs to conserve her energy for healing - she has a job to do!
11 March 2008
Monday
The road to recovery is absolutely going in the right direction now.
Last night, Matthew answered a lot of questions we have had about the surgery, and clarified some misunderstandings.
Tashie has been sleeping alot still, but when she is awake, she is more energetic (relatively) and steady on her feet.
Speaking on the telephone requires a lot of energy she doesn't have, and tonight she got plum tuckered out before she was able to return calls. She sends love and thanks to everyone, but hasn't yet the energy to chat or even email.
She saw the surgeon today, and he plans to take out the drain on Thursday, after which she'll probably be a lot more comfortable. He spent a lot of time talking with her and answering questions, repeating much of what Matthew had said earlier.
Amey brought a fabulous vegan dinner, and Musty brought Lal over to join us. Tashie was lively and animated throughout dinner, discussing politics and describing scenes from the Big Lebowski. It tired her though, and she went to bed and sleep shortly thereafter.
Cheers!
09 March 2008
Sunday
Tashie is settling in at Sara's, and the roller coaster of events is slowing down. She is sleeping on Sara's daughter Lisa's heaven-sent bed which has her comfortable in dreamland the minute her head hits the pillow. She has Laura's little silver bell to ring when she needs help, and Sara hooked up an intercom device so that we can hear her as well.
It has been a bit of a puzzle figuring out the last few days, but the important thing is that Tashie is home, and is beginning to get some rest after the exhausting hospital routines, where she was never allowed to indulge in her late morning sleep-ins. Today she sat out in the sun, enjoying the garden with Lal and Philip, chatting and eating tangerines. She still has limited stamina, but is steadier on her feet than yesterday.
We again got distracted from the root beer float routine; just as Laura and I were ready to begin assembling the oldster's treats, Lal was ready for a mid-day nap, and we didn't get back on track after that. We'll be owing several floats and chocolate malts in the days to come.
08 March 2008
Discharge!
After a very difficult night with nurses short-staffed and stretched too far, Tashie has been discharged "home" to cousin Sara's house on Van Ness Avenue. It was an all-day discharge by the time we actually left the hospital - too late to get the root-beer float for her and the chocolate malt for Lal - drinks that have become an afternoon's special event!
It is soooo much more peaceful here - it is a relief to be in Sara's nest, sitting in front of the fire.
07 March 2008
Visits
Mabsie arrived mid-morning for a visit, and shortly thereafter we were joined by Jaleh and Ziba, bearing delicious healthy healing helim for Tashie, plus yummy polou and khoresh, plus pistachios and ghaz. After short visits with Tashie, we left her to sleep and doze while we went to the Healing Garden/Courtyard for a wonderful lunch. Lucky us!
PPS
Some friends have been asking for an address to which cards can be sent.
So here it is:
c/o AK Smith
118 Anthony Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
So here it is:
c/o AK Smith
118 Anthony Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
PS
You can now post those wonderful messages onto the blog - at the end of each posting, there is a comment option.
Select that, and add your "posting." This will be much easier for her to read than scanning through individual emails.
Thanks!!
Select that, and add your "posting." This will be much easier for her to read than scanning through individual emails.
Thanks!!
Post op day 1
The 2 surgeries in a span of two weeks seems to be catching up with Tashie. She is really really tired, and dozing on and off.
She is being encouraged to breathe deeply, use the incentive spirometer, use her pain meds earlier rather than later, etc. She has not yet been up to walk, but the physical therapist will return this afternoon to get her going.
Sara, Laura, Bruce and I continue to tend her - usually just one of us at a time, being there when she needs this or that. Lal comes every day, which she loves. They just sit there quietly enjoying each other's company, and once in a while reminisce about the root beer floats they used to get in Hopland, the house on Lake Street, the "bar" that they organized as teenagers in the house on Mission Street, complete with a little slot through which one whispered a password to gain admission, etc.
Tashie has a full dance card for the next few days, so further visiting is probably best postponed until Monday, when she'll have more energy for a chin wag. The business of healing is labour-intensive, and seems to require a lot of energy and focus.
She loves hearing from all of you - we read your notes, and sometimes reread them. A note requires less energy than does a phone conversation, and can be repeated, and thus re-enjoyed, again and again.
She is being encouraged to breathe deeply, use the incentive spirometer, use her pain meds earlier rather than later, etc. She has not yet been up to walk, but the physical therapist will return this afternoon to get her going.
Sara, Laura, Bruce and I continue to tend her - usually just one of us at a time, being there when she needs this or that. Lal comes every day, which she loves. They just sit there quietly enjoying each other's company, and once in a while reminisce about the root beer floats they used to get in Hopland, the house on Lake Street, the "bar" that they organized as teenagers in the house on Mission Street, complete with a little slot through which one whispered a password to gain admission, etc.
Tashie has a full dance card for the next few days, so further visiting is probably best postponed until Monday, when she'll have more energy for a chin wag. The business of healing is labour-intensive, and seems to require a lot of energy and focus.
She loves hearing from all of you - we read your notes, and sometimes reread them. A note requires less energy than does a phone conversation, and can be repeated, and thus re-enjoyed, again and again.
06 March 2008
March 6th
I couldn't get online yesterday, so have a bit of catching up to do.
On Tuesday, the breast surgeon drained some fluid off, 130 ccs.
It provided very some relief in that the pressure was reduced.
Her temp remained stable, thanks to the Christmas tree of antibiotics rotating first place at the IV hub.
But she still was in a lot of pain, and getting really discouraged.
At the same time she was worrying about all of us - are we getting enough sleep? are we eating enough? is Lal OK?
Wednesday morning, we learned that the fluid was cultured positive for staph.
Dr. Deetz, our fabulous infectious disease guy, had already added vancomycin to her tree.
Yesterday, the surgeon, Dr. Fabry, decided that he would take her this morning to the OR for an "incision and drainage."
Bruce arrived yesterday afternoon, chauffeured from SJC by Oliver, who is waiting to resume Tashie's training for the next championship.
Tashie was thrilled to see him, and laughed and chuckled listening to his running (and risqué) commentary.
Jen came up for a brief visit, as did Amey, hours off the plane from China!
After a quiet morning visit, Lal and Sally returned later in the day, and Tashie seemed markedly better, possibly upon the news that a proactive plan for surgery was in place, possibly upon the news that the infection was staph but NOT MRSA.
Amey came by, hours off the plane from China, and Jen came up from admitting.
Cynthia and Bill apparently left their suitcases unpacked, and came for an evening chin wag.
So those hours before surgery, Tashie was surrounded by loving, laughing, and tender family - she was a real trooper, commenting occasionally on how she would do things if she were boss: wider beds, softer sheets, squishier pillows, trees and garden out the window, and especially, she would like to be roused at a later time!
When the night nurse said, Is it OK if we wake you up at 6:30 for your shower?
Tashie responded drily, No, it is not OK.
I suppose they don't hear that very often.
So she was allowed to sleep until 7, which made that hour before transport a bit rushed.
So right now she is in the recovery room, and Sara and Bruce and I are waiting to see her emerge.
The surgeon said that everything went well, and that he expects she'll feel better quickly.
She will have a drain for up to a week, and will probably be here for another few days.
We are reading your emails and messages to her . . . she is touched by all the love coming her way.
She is eager to respond to them herself, but the Percoset makes that difficult, and unlikely in the near future.
Thank you for your prayers, your sweet notes, your cheer-leading -
Eliza
On Tuesday, the breast surgeon drained some fluid off, 130 ccs.
It provided very some relief in that the pressure was reduced.
Her temp remained stable, thanks to the Christmas tree of antibiotics rotating first place at the IV hub.
But she still was in a lot of pain, and getting really discouraged.
At the same time she was worrying about all of us - are we getting enough sleep? are we eating enough? is Lal OK?
Wednesday morning, we learned that the fluid was cultured positive for staph.
Dr. Deetz, our fabulous infectious disease guy, had already added vancomycin to her tree.
Yesterday, the surgeon, Dr. Fabry, decided that he would take her this morning to the OR for an "incision and drainage."
Bruce arrived yesterday afternoon, chauffeured from SJC by Oliver, who is waiting to resume Tashie's training for the next championship.
Tashie was thrilled to see him, and laughed and chuckled listening to his running (and risqué) commentary.
Jen came up for a brief visit, as did Amey, hours off the plane from China!
After a quiet morning visit, Lal and Sally returned later in the day, and Tashie seemed markedly better, possibly upon the news that a proactive plan for surgery was in place, possibly upon the news that the infection was staph but NOT MRSA.
Amey came by, hours off the plane from China, and Jen came up from admitting.
Cynthia and Bill apparently left their suitcases unpacked, and came for an evening chin wag.
So those hours before surgery, Tashie was surrounded by loving, laughing, and tender family - she was a real trooper, commenting occasionally on how she would do things if she were boss: wider beds, softer sheets, squishier pillows, trees and garden out the window, and especially, she would like to be roused at a later time!
When the night nurse said, Is it OK if we wake you up at 6:30 for your shower?
Tashie responded drily, No, it is not OK.
I suppose they don't hear that very often.
So she was allowed to sleep until 7, which made that hour before transport a bit rushed.
So right now she is in the recovery room, and Sara and Bruce and I are waiting to see her emerge.
The surgeon said that everything went well, and that he expects she'll feel better quickly.
She will have a drain for up to a week, and will probably be here for another few days.
We are reading your emails and messages to her . . . she is touched by all the love coming her way.
She is eager to respond to them herself, but the Percoset makes that difficult, and unlikely in the near future.
Thank you for your prayers, your sweet notes, your cheer-leading -
Eliza
04 March 2008
March 4
Eureka!
A day that started out "worrisomely" has unfolded very positively.
The infectious disease specialist came in this morning, took a detailed history, examined Tashie, and added Vancomycin to her tree of fluid filled plastic bags that intermittently are replaced with full ones.
By mid-afternoon, she was ready to eat a bit - bites here and there of garden burger, chamomile tea, a few grapes and a cube or two of melon.
We started watching politics later, and her spirits lifted when the Vermont results were flashed on the screen.
At four, the surgeon came in to drain fluid from an apparent hematoma; a sample was sent out for culture.
She is vastly better than this morning, sitting up and providing intermittent commentary on the CNN election results.
Her temp is 36.8 - 97 something?
So I am feeling optimistic and relieved.
Thank you thank you -
A day that started out "worrisomely" has unfolded very positively.
The infectious disease specialist came in this morning, took a detailed history, examined Tashie, and added Vancomycin to her tree of fluid filled plastic bags that intermittently are replaced with full ones.
By mid-afternoon, she was ready to eat a bit - bites here and there of garden burger, chamomile tea, a few grapes and a cube or two of melon.
We started watching politics later, and her spirits lifted when the Vermont results were flashed on the screen.
At four, the surgeon came in to drain fluid from an apparent hematoma; a sample was sent out for culture.
She is vastly better than this morning, sitting up and providing intermittent commentary on the CNN election results.
Her temp is 36.8 - 97 something?
So I am feeling optimistic and relieved.
Thank you thank you -
03 March 2008
March 3rd, 11:40 pm
I have just come from the hospital, leaving Tashie snoozing as Laura set up a cot right next to her.
When I arrived at around four thirty this afternoon, Tashie was having chills and fever.
I believe the fever had been 104 this morning; this evening, it was 37.9 - a vast improvement - and she seemed noticeably more comfortable.
Her white count has dropped to 14,000 from 17,000 - another good sign.
Thanks to Sarah Slaughter's wise counsel, we have nevertheless requested an infectious disease consult.
She doesn't have the energy for conversation, but seems to be reassured by our being there with her.
She has no appetite, but obediently downed a good portion of a chocolate Ensure.
She dozed intermittently through a Pete Seeger special, and then we watched some political news.
I thought she was asleep, but not at all . . . at one point she surprised me by asking me to turn the volume up a bit.
Then after that entertainment interlude, she was tired and ready for sleep.
I will keep you all posted.
Thank yo so much for your encouraging notes, your prayers, and your tender thoughts -
Eliza
When I arrived at around four thirty this afternoon, Tashie was having chills and fever.
I believe the fever had been 104 this morning; this evening, it was 37.9 - a vast improvement - and she seemed noticeably more comfortable.
Her white count has dropped to 14,000 from 17,000 - another good sign.
Thanks to Sarah Slaughter's wise counsel, we have nevertheless requested an infectious disease consult.
She doesn't have the energy for conversation, but seems to be reassured by our being there with her.
She has no appetite, but obediently downed a good portion of a chocolate Ensure.
She dozed intermittently through a Pete Seeger special, and then we watched some political news.
I thought she was asleep, but not at all . . . at one point she surprised me by asking me to turn the volume up a bit.
Then after that entertainment interlude, she was tired and ready for sleep.
I will keep you all posted.
Thank yo so much for your encouraging notes, your prayers, and your tender thoughts -
Eliza
March 3rd, 7:20 am
Well, just when we thought that everything was going so well . . .
Tashie has just been admitted to Dominican Hospital with a wound infection. . . .
Rewind to last Friday:
Tashie flew down to Santa Cruz to spend a few weeks with her adored brother, arriving Friday afternoon.
When she left, she was feeling tired, but attributed her lassitude to a tiring one-night power trip to Camp Sherman.
Yesterday was OK, and she was thrilled to be with Lal.
Today she started feeling really yukky, and Laura took her to urgent care at around five or six this evening.
Miracle of miracles, just when she muttered, "If only I could see Tam Holbert" (her doctor from decades ago) in he walked!
So that was reassuring . . . for the moment.
Her wound site was warm and tender, her white count was 17,000, and her temp was climbing.
He admitted her to Dominican, and turned her care over to a Dr. Rhein
I just spoke to Laura, who said that they were starting IV antibiotics, giving her a perocet for pain, and an ambien for sleep.
Since her temp now is 103, her pleas for more blankets fell on deaf ears!
Laura will stay with her until some time after midnight, after which Sara will come.
I will fly down in the morning (I am in Victoria), and keep you all posted.
Get out those prayer flags!
Love, e
Tashie has just been admitted to Dominican Hospital with a wound infection. . . .
Rewind to last Friday:
Tashie flew down to Santa Cruz to spend a few weeks with her adored brother, arriving Friday afternoon.
When she left, she was feeling tired, but attributed her lassitude to a tiring one-night power trip to Camp Sherman.
Yesterday was OK, and she was thrilled to be with Lal.
Today she started feeling really yukky, and Laura took her to urgent care at around five or six this evening.
Miracle of miracles, just when she muttered, "If only I could see Tam Holbert" (her doctor from decades ago) in he walked!
So that was reassuring . . . for the moment.
Her wound site was warm and tender, her white count was 17,000, and her temp was climbing.
He admitted her to Dominican, and turned her care over to a Dr. Rhein
I just spoke to Laura, who said that they were starting IV antibiotics, giving her a perocet for pain, and an ambien for sleep.
Since her temp now is 103, her pleas for more blankets fell on deaf ears!
Laura will stay with her until some time after midnight, after which Sara will come.
I will fly down in the morning (I am in Victoria), and keep you all posted.
Get out those prayer flags!
Love, e
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