Snarkland

From Aunt Gay’s daily email -

Tues 9/29 3PM.  Joe is still in ICU, still on the ventilator, still running a fever of about 102.  The consensus among the docs is that he doesn’t have an infection, he has an inflammation of the pancreas.  As far as I can tell, the plan is to keep all signs stable and wait it out.  This may be a very long wait, one doc told me.  So… one day at a time.  He knew I was there today, but he wasn’t agitated, thank goodness.  I can’t conveniently sit beside him–too much going on.  So my plan is to duck in and call the nurse often and get out and about while I can.

I went to lunch with Steve Leigh, Rusty and Joel Zakem.  Joel is the angel who has loaned me the apartment.  This evening Rusty and I will hang out with Becca Levin and pet the kitties while her hubby is playing darts with friends.

Thanks for all your good wishes.  We need them.  Love, Gay

I waffle between flipping out, and thinking that “no news is good news”. Not so much flipping out today, thanks to both a lovely birthday package from my mom (lots of pictures of giraffes for my birthday! And fresh Key Limes!) and some Valium so that I could handle going to the dentist. Never thought I’d be glad to go to the dentist.

Get well soon, Unca Joe. I lost my dad; I lost Bill; I’m not really in the mood to lose you as well.

I just had a lovely conversation with Aunt Gay, and they’ve finally gotten Unca Joe’s fever down.

This is the email she sent out earlier today -

Joe’s still running a high fever that won’t come down.  They’ve cultured everything but probably won’t have results for several days.  They’re leaving him on the respirator, sedated, for today.  He did respond to some commands, as he has been. He seems to know I’m with him.

But now that they’ve got his fever down, Aunt Gay is definitely feeling a lot better. And if Aunt Gay is happy, I’m happy. She said we won’t know for a day or two why there’s some fluid build-up around his pancreas; they took a culture but it’s going to take a few days to grow so they can figure out what the infection is coming from. I believe if I have the time frame right (bear with me, behold my inability to comprehend the passage of time) that we should get those results tomorrow night or Monday morning.

I’m so very grateful for the wonderful people in Cincinnati who are taking such good care of my family. Places to stay where she feels comfortable, clothing, home-cooked meals, the occasional kitten to play with… you are all wonderful and I thank you from the bottom of what’s left of my bitter and withered heart. I want to make you all Snickerdoodle cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Icing!

Here’s a photo from WorldCon last year in Denver -

I was about to post this:

Joe’s still in ICU, still has a fever, still on the respirator.  The pulmonary doc hasn’t been in yet, but he was hoping to start weaning Joe off the respirator today. They tell me that’s done slowly.

Joe’s going in for a CAT scan at noon to see what’s going on inside. I’ll report  when I know more. His vital signs are holding steady, still critically stable.

I went to the gym with Becca yesterday and did some moving. That improved my  mental state a bit. Becca and Guy fed me dinner again and we had a good kitty fix with their affectionate cats.

More later. Gay

When I also got this:

Just talked to the surgeons. CAT scan showed no infection, but pancreas still inflamed. They took a sample of fluids to send to lab for culture. Otherwise everything is as it should be.

They’re not weaning him from the respirator yet. The nurse said after tomorrow morning’s lab reports they’ll decide.

Dinner with friends tonight. Steve Leigh is playing at a coffee house with good food.

Thanks, everyone. Gay

So. That’s where we are. No real changes.

I’m really sort of glad that Sharon’s on vacation and work is making me so tired; being tired gives me less time to think, less time to worry.