Getting hooked up at USC University Hospital

The ride to the new hospital went well. They let me go along (a rarity, apparently) and let Denise listen to some music through headphones on the way. She kept pulling one of the speakers out of her ear. We reached the hospital during the shift change and were not allowed into the ICU. They immediately began changing out all the tubes, hoses, needles, catheters, etc. to be compatible with their equipment, which was still going on at almost 11pm tonight. Denise's dad & I met the doctor that will be continuing Denise's care. We came away encouraged by some of the things he had to say... they only work on the sickest of the sick, Denise's age & previous good health is a plus, and they'll keep trying even if her heart stops again & again. He also reminded us that we can anticipate a long haul with progress and setbacks. He also said that he wouldn't anticipate anything earth-shaking until tomorrow, and we couldn't visit with her for several more hours, so we went home.

At this point, let me back up 24 hours to late last night. I was tipped off that a parent from the school I work at is a cardiothorasic surgeon at the USC hospital (I had no idea... all I knew was that he & his wife had great kids). Sensing that I was feeling discouraged, he felt lead to talk to me. He told me about a very sick patient with horrible stats that is probably going home soon. It sounded like it could have been Denise... same conditions, same failures, same meds, etc. He also said that Denise needs me to be a cheerleader. So I put on a skirt. Just kidding. She needed someone to rally for her, keep the fight up in her, and make her know that there's still hope. According to reading the blog, he thought that Denise's doctors from Methodist were right-on with their treatment, but perhaps the USC hospital might have some resources that might help Denise, even beyond what Methodist had already done. So I left a note for Denise's doctor late at night. First thing this morning, Denise's doctor said that the USC move would give her a better chance, USC had accepted Denise, and there was only insurance & red tape to work through on our end. Turns out that the parent, while working at USC, became critically ill and became a patient there (I know now what it's like to have coworkers taking care of me). Denise's doctor was at USC at the time and remembered the parent. Small world sometimes.

As far as stats & procedures today, the numbers looked about the same to me, and heart is very weak. There was a gallium scan on deck, and the need to change the p/a catheter in the heart. The gallium was injected (it's supposed to cluster at the site of an infection). But Denise was transported before any scan could be done. The doctor said that since everything would be changed out when Denise got to USC anyway, the p/a catheter would wait. Today was such a whirlwind, I can't remember much else (maybe because I haven't slept and I'm still sick). But I do recall that even though they were planning on moving Denise out, care was still going full bore, as if she were staying put.

Thank You
Somebody left a gift for Denise, with no card attached (gee... maybe it wasn't for Denise). Thank you to whoever left the little sculpture of the mommy angel holding hands with the little boy & girl. I'm not a knickknack guy, but that little thing was a tear-jerker, considering what we're going through. Definitely a hit.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
I'm nowhere near eloquent enough to properly express my gratitude to Denise's doctors, nurses, and other staff in the Methodist Hospital CCU. I said it before and I'll say it again: You are the conduits through which God's been blessing us. Reading this blog, you may have noticed that I keep using "they" or "the doctor" or "a nurse." All along, I've wanted to name names and give credit where due. But I figure that there's probably a liability issue, privacy clause, or some other thing that might get someone into trouble if I got specific. I still don't know where all this is going. The doctor has made calls that have gotten Denise through some very scary situations. He's been at the hosptial on his "days off" after his wife had a baby to personally check in on Denise (Mrs. Doctor, thank you for letting us borrow your hubby so much). That hospital is incredibly lucky to have him. If I ever get into a scrape, I'd like this guy in my corner. Same goes for his colleagues. There's another doctor that got Denise's kidneys working early on when things looked bleak. I appreciate another doctor that put up with my frequent stupid questions about infectious diseases.
And don't even get me started on the nurses! I can't imagine a batch of nurses that could be any more caring. Toenail painting, hair styling, massaging, joking, encouraging... I feel like they took a personal interest in my wife, and for that I'm ever so grateful. I'm conviced that we would've lost Denise a few times during the last 2 1/2 months if it weren't for the nurses being so attentive and competent. Total pros.
I've probably had someone from every branch of hospital operations checking on Denise... payroll department, environmental services, floor managers, security, the brute squad (the ones that the nurses always call in to help turn Denise), food service, physical & occupational therapy, cashier... Sometimes I feel like just about the whole hospital cares about this struggle.

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