Friday, November 21, 2008
While Dave continues to struggle with some very nasty pneumonia, with a higher temperature today and a switch to a stronger antibiotic, we feel more hopeful about the possibility that he may not have suffered brain damage, after talking with his neurologist. However, it is still very much a slow watch and wait, with little we can do to influence the course. We continue to be very impressed, satisfied, and grateful for the good care he is receiving at St. Vincents.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
While the circumstances are very different from Dave's case, I can't help but draw parallels with what happened with my cousin Marcia a year and a half ago.
After major emergency surgery, she was in intensive care in the Prince William County Hospital for SIX weeks, unable to communicate with friends or family for most of that period. She did reach the point where she would open her eyes in response to voices, but "no one was home"; or she might give a slight squeeze to your hand to indicate she was listening. Her recovery was a long slow process (from hospital ward, to nursing home, to at home with 24-hour care, to an assisted living facility), but in July she returned to her isolated rural Virginia home to live alone (except for her dog, who had boarded with friends). She now is enjoying her new independent life, making daily decisions about house and car maintenance, managing her own finances and many other tasks no one would have thought possible a year ago. In some ways whe is better than before her medical emergency!
The only reason I bore all of you with this marginally relevant case study is that yes, Virginia, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
This has indeed been a dreadful week (in all senses of the word)for all of us who know and love Dave, but I am confident that with the good medical care he is receiving and the boundless support of family and friends near and far, he will show steady improvement.
Kathryn Scott
That is a scenario that we believe could play out for Dave, assuming we get through pneumonia. It a comfort to know there is precedent.
We are holding up ok and Dave is hanging in there. More news as it occurs right here on WDAV, your all-Dave station.
Love,
Peter
Post a Comment