Thursday, April 26, 2012

Released on his own recognizance

Jake got discharged about 3:30pm today.  They went straight from the hospital to the Lego Store at the Aventura Mall, and picked up some of the new Avengers-themed sets.

He's now moaning and half-asleep in the big bed (with iPad in hand, tuned to "American Dad" reruns on Netflix).  He's got so much steroid in him that he's feeling woozy and groggy.  He looks a little puffy, and I presume that will get worse.  We hope he'll go to school on Monday after a morning doctor visit.

I had the Miami Corporate Run this evening (crowded and humid) so everybody was home and settled in by the time I got home.  I'm looking forward to sleeping in a real bed - with no hourly IV alarms -- and the dogs are looking forward to getting back to their daily 2X walk routine.

Bring on the next challenge...

The hospital's guest internet was down all day yesterday, so I couldn't post.  I wasn't around in the afternoon to field the complaints that the iPad, laptop and Kindle weren't working properly.  I received one call at the office about it, but there was nothing I could do remotely. They fixed it around 3am.  On the other hand, I took a vow this time not to try to fix the IV pumps when they jam or clog.  That shows some self restraint on my part, because one of the reasons that I decided to start my own law firm back in 2008 was that it would give me a chance to try to fix the copy machine myself.

However, I was able to prove my technical mettle as soon as I arrived yesterday.  Jake had taken a trip down to the first floor gift shop (with IV pole in tow) and bought two Hot Wheels track kits - that are designed to be attached directly to the wall.  He decided he wanted them set up in his hospital room - now.  When I got here, the other adults had tried and failed.  However, no mere toy can defeat a motivated nerd-dad.  It's almost as gratifying as when I do house calls to hooks up friends' TVs and stereos.  Almost.

He's in pretty good spirits.  There is talk of him being discharged late today, but we'll see.  The full pathology report won't be done until tomorrow, but they think it's a "1-B" level rejection.  Sounds like his draft status (Too dated a reference?).

They have an afternoon televised game show here. They run the show on the hospital closed circuit channel, and then the kids call a number on their room phones to answer the question.  Jake won the whole thing, and won some Lego prizes.  The trivia force is strong in him.

One bad thing - apparently the current treatment regimen has him completely off refined sugar.  That means no candy right now, and means we can't eat candy in front of him.

A continued thank you to all our friends who drop by and lift our spirits!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

A pretty easy night

It's kind of amazing how comfortable Jake is with the concept of the hospital.  He didn't go to sleep until a little after midnight, but he slept well, and woke up at 6:45 in a very good mood.  That would never happen at home.  He's adept at getting in and out of bed, as well as wheeling his IV around.

He was also able to go right back to sleep after the 4am vital signs checks and the 5am bathroom visit.  I had reasonable success in falling back asleep after the three trips  to the nurse desk (2am, 3am, 5am) to tell the nurse about the various alarm beeps that the IV pumps would make. I think it was just him twisting the IV in his sleep, but the alarm doesn't go off when he untwists.

Jen came to relieve me at 7am.  I have a crazy workweek, so I can't linger during the day. I'm going to go home, walk the dogs, and clean up for work.  I have to admit that I am looking forward to not having the Disney TV channel as background noise at all times.

Three of his teachers stopped by yesterday and brought him schoolwork, so he'll be occupied during the day.  After school, there will probably be another influx of visitors.

One of our friends brought a candy basket, so he - and me - were snacking a bit.  I'd kicked the candy habit a new months ago, so hopefully this won't lead to relapse.  My dealer says that this is why the first order of gummy bears is free.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

I blame Bradgelina

We'll be staying at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital all week.  Jake's kidney blood test results have been elevated the past few weeks.  After trying the usual fixes - (1) making him drink tons of water, (2) yelling at him to drink more water, and (3) repeat; - it was clear that something was amiss.  He had a surgical needle biopsy yesterday, and the docs decided he had some transplant rejection.  Yesterday they said it was acute.  Today they say it's mild.  Full pathology results don't come until Friday.

Based on what we know, they admitted him today to treat him with IV steroid treatments for a few days.  When we get discharged, he'll be on 100mg doses of prednisone.  It may be safer for Mom and Dad here at the hospital.

Many friends stopped by, and he's in good spirits.    The room was packed with good friends (old and young) when I came in after work. Other than the IV installation traumas, the rest of the time he's calm  and watching TV or playing on the laptop or iPad.  This wing of the hospital is brand new, and it's really nice.  The room is huge, and has a couch (which pulls out into a bed) and a lounge chair.  I'll be sleeping here all week.

Since I spent all of last week with my Mom while she had surgery at Sloan-Kettering in NYC, I noticed there seems something going on with family health over the past few weeks.  Jake's elevated kidney levels and my Mom's issues arose at the exact same time that Brad and Angelina announced they're getting married.  Coincidence?  I don't think so.  Let's look at the evidence;

1.  Brad and Angie had the same effect on Jennifer Aniston's sanity.  This fact was confirmed by several issues of US magazine I saw in my dentist's office.

2. She has the sunken eyes of a dialysis patient.  That's evidence of an anti-renal vibe.

3. I tried getting Jake interested in the Tomb Raider video game a year ago, but he didn't seem to like it.  She starred in the movie.

4. Jake's only knowledge and interest in baseball comes from the Nicktoons vs. MLB Stars Wii video game.  Brad's role in Moneyball as Billy Beane was the antithesis of the MLB Stars video game model.