Day 40 Admission
Dear friends and family,
Sorry, but I'm having trouble getting the large text tonight.
Well, I thought Bob would be coming home after his Biblical 40 days and nights at HUP, but alas, it looks like discharge will be Tuesday. There has been a problem trying to find the sensitivity report on the culture of Bobs' mouth wound, taken over 5 weeks ago. This must be tracked down so the Drs. know what oral antibiotic to put Bob on, and Dr. Luger wants him to be on the oral versions for 24 hours before discharge. So, we are alright with that, b/c we want everything to be ironed out, as best it can be before he comes home. This also gives Patty(d/c coordinator) more time to get everything set up w/ Dr. Zipins' office, regarding Bobs' blood transfusions.
Bob had a great weekend....no temps and a WBC today of 4.2. He walked both Sat. and Sun., 2-3 laps at a time and went a few more rounds today than yesterday. Yesterday his knee locked up on him, probably b/c it'd been so long since he actually was working those muscles, but today went better.
He also had lots of company, and really enjoyed all his visitors. Yesterday, in addition to Tom and Anna, Bill and Emilie T. from TVP visited, as well as Santa and Sam. Thank you everyone for the gifts also. Bob had a huge helping of lasagna for lunch today. Santa brought that down last night, just about 24 hours after Bob mentioned he had a hankering for it. He really enjoyed it, needless to say. And I really enjoyed watching him eat that as opposed to that tan/gray Salisbury steak.
Today, Kate and I arrived by 11am, bearing Distelfink(local bakery) pastry. We had almond danish for Bob, and in true "Mazzola on-call for the weekend" fashion...2 dozen sticky buns for the nurses. It's also the start of nurses week, so we couldn't forget all the wonderful nursing staff of Rhoads 7. They are a skilled, caring and dedicated group of men and women, and very, very special. Of course I had to tell them the tale of Bobs' bringing in sticky buns whenever he was on call, which elicited many oohs and aahs. I know... I'm bragging again...just can't help myself. Anyway today seemed to be cousins' visiting day as Bobs' cousins Rick and Joan, and my cousins John and Connie, were all in to see Bob. We thank you all for coming down. We also took the DVD of Chicken Little and Bob was loading that up when I spoke to him a litle bit ago. A little more lighthearted than his usual fare, but Bob loves a good cartoon.
I think that's everything for now. Oh, May Day, Bob said he didn't want to watch TV when he was in the hospital, b/c you end up watching the clock, waiting for some program or other to come on, and it makes the day seem long. I don't know...I think the fact that there's no ESPN or Food Network on HUPs cable may have had a little bit to do w/ that. Also, what do you have against people flying through bamboo trees?
I know I'm forgetting something, but I've gone on way too long already. Thank you all for everything, including the huge number of blogs. Bob had 2 days worth, and he read and reread them today.Please keep the prayers(fervent and otherwise) and good vibes coming. Hopefully we will float home on them this Tuesday.
All our love,
Bob and Mo
posted by mo @ 5/07/2006 08:39:00 PM
13 Comments:
Dear Dr. Mazzola, I am so glad to hear you are up and walking. I am also glad you could have lasagna today. That really beats hospital food. -Linda Vince
Dear Mo and Dr. Bob,
I'm sorry to hear they've misplaced the lab workup from several weeks ago - hope they can recover that and get you fixed up for your discharge on Tuesday! It is going to be such a relief for us all to have you home again. Way to go on those counts! Keep up that hearty appetite and those faithful laps - your regimen is keeping you strong! Glad to hear you had lots of company this weekend to keep you busy - I can't believe you've been at HUP for 40 days. It must seem like an eternity for you both. The good news for you Dr. Bob is that you've missed a lot of allergy season (the pollen is very bad in Virginia here this year) and summer is just around the corner! Hope you can make it down to the beach, it seems to be the best place to recover. The salt air has a healing quality to it. Lots of love and prayers your way for a quick and efficient discharge home this Tuesday.
Bob,
I am so glad to hear you may be going home soon. I have been trying to follow along and it sounds like it has not exactly been a "fun" adventure. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be a patient and be on "the other side". i am sure you have charmed all the nurses however. Sometimes it is hard to know what to say when i read the blogs, but i guess the best thing is just to say Deb and I are with you in spirit and keeping you in our thoughts. And i assume "our" blood pressure and kidneys are ok and hanging in there
Continue to hang tough...
Rich Friedman
MO..it's time to get him out of there!!if he's watching chicken little .. the next thing he'll want is the Power Ranger movie.. get him out , quick!!!
Glad the dr. are being careful and making sure they have everything in order before you leave..should hopefully make for a smooth departure,and give the "ol body time to recover some more..
Mo, you might want to ask dietary for some of the recipes of the food bob enjoyed.. especially that well known salisbury steak..
glad your up and about Dr. Mazz..update you on espn.. bonds hit a huge homerun at the philly game tonight.. one away..
hope tomorrow is good for all of you.. ttyl.. mdf
Hello Dr. Bob & Mo:
Sounds like Tuesday is your return home day. Sorry to hear you have to stay an extra day, a little disappointing for you, but like Mo said, it gives the HUP team a little more time for your home care to be set up (they are great - we've had great care from them in the past). I'm sure you are both very excited. We were pleased to hear you did some laps on Saturday and Sunday. Must have made you feel good to get up and moving. And having lasagna for your meal, you're living large!
Take care of yourself. I can see that you will get some great care while you are home from your wife and the home care team that will assist you. We've been thinking and praying for you both, and looking forward to seeing your progress. This blog site has been so helpful, keeping us informed daily on your care. Mo, you've done a great job. It's hard enough to travel downtown daily, let alone keep us all informed about Dr. Bob's progress. Thanks for all your effort.
We are looking forward to reading about your home progress in the future. Jan put you in the Prayer for Healing book at our church in Hilltown. You both take care as you start your next leg of the journey in Dr. Bob's recovery.
Regards,
Chris & Janice Perry
Hey Dr Bob,
homemade lasagna i am jealous, ill have to make some for us both when you get home. Now that my appetite is back i am craving everything. Sorry you have to wait until Tuesday but better be on the safe side with the oral antibiotic. You'll be so thirilled to be home and that will be the best medicine for you and Mo. We can't wait to see you even if its through a window, see you soon you have been such a trooper, love from all of us Debbie
Dear Dr Bob and Mo_
What is that sound?
Why, I believe that is the sound of the fat lady singing. And what is she singing for?
Bob's MIA mouth culture results???
Yippie, what great news, Bob and Miss Mo! No temps, WBC's a-hoppin' and neutrophils are teeming. SO glad to hear that you are going to be able to head home tomorrow. (I can only imagine how you must feel.) Hope today is a day of continued progress, lots of lap dancing and leftover lasagna. Prayers up!
Now about that fat lady. This is another surprise. Didn't you think this proverbial cliche was older than the hills (groan)? Au contraire, mon ami. Here's what seems to be the common theory as to its origin:
Often mistakenly attributed to N.Y. Yankees Hall of Famer Yogi Berra, this popular quote is not usually written or quoted in its entirety. The actual quote was the following:
"The opera ain't over until the fat lady sings" and is credited to San Antonio sports writer and broadcaster Dan Cook. Cook wrote the phrase in an article in 1976 and then used it again on TV in 1978. Cook, who used the quip during an NBA playoff game, was trying to give San Antonio Spurs fans hope after their team lost a game against the Washington Bullets and was on the brink of elimination.
Alas, The Bullets went on to win the series 4-2.
Opera buffs take heart, I was also able to find this opera lover's take on what the fat lady is singing:
In Wagner's Ring Cycle, the 4th installment ends with Brunhilde singing an apostrophe that signals the end of the world and the end of a 4 opera set of performances, each of which are several hours long.
The women who sing Wagnerian operas have to be quite corpulent because the notes that Wagner wrote require a large build to produce. thus Brunhilde is the fat lady that sings and finally brings the end to a very, very, very long opera.
Is your stint at HUP starting feel Wagnerian, I wonder??
Thinking of you both with love -
K
Hi Bob and Reen ..aah the memory of the sticky buns on Dr. Bob's weekend ...and of everyone screaming at me for eating off all the nuts and raisons..I couldn't help it !!!HONEST!! The good old days( we didn't really know how good) or maybe we did..we always made the best of a bad time..which I'm sure we will all continue to do! I just finished a nine day novena for Bob especially,dedicated to a remission ,if it is God's will,this will be done ..let us all pray for Bob's remission...I will be praying from Puerto Rico for the next few days with no computer access ..so I want you to know that you are in my heart and continue more novenas etc. take care love and safe home xxoo:)Bev
WHile the lasagna was not homemade, I hope you enjoyed it. Was it too salty? I thought you could also share with Mo. I dont know that much about hospitals, but I have heard that getting a lot done over the weekend is unusual. Have some more lasagna and tomorrow will be here before you know it. Love ya both.
Hi Bob and Mo,
Okay it is definitely time to go home. You began this adventure with your cowboy sheets, and now we have progressed to "Chicken little". I am so happy for you both, at this point one more day to be on the safe side is doable. (is that a word? and did I spell it correctly ?
You both have been so strong and resolved during the past forty days, it will be a joy just thinking of you both at home enjoying each other, some good food prepared by chef Mo, some t.v. and your own bed . Mo I hope you have done your homework and come up with a recipe for Salisbury Steak...
Take care guys, and indeed Mo head home on the positive vibes and a ton of prayers.
Love ya,
Anne
Hi Robert and Mo,
You're in all of our thoughts, all the time. Looking towards your coming home. Time for some real home medicine. Hope to see you real soon, when you're up for it. Looking forward to visiting and bowling a few games.
Hurrah for the WBCs! May their tribe increase!
charlie
Have a great trip home
Tad
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