The latest from Andy - again, the news is not good.

I spoke to Mom’s nurse, Christian, twice today, the second time just a few minutes ago.  

She’s still in the ER but there is a bed available for her (7 North, bed 12) and she will be moved as soon as Christian and a respiratory therapist can free up to move her.  He noted that she doesn’t seem “that with it” cognitively—whether that’s a symptom of her generalized weakness or her hearing impairment or a combination he wasn’t sure, noting that the challenge of treating a patient with whom you don’t have any previous experience.

She got some IV fluids but they’re somewhat constrained b/c of her congestive heart failure.  She is on “bypass” oxygen which he described as midway on a continuum of a nasal canula on the one end and a ventilator on the other--the patient is still able to breath on her own but with an increased pressure assist (he compared it to a C-PAP mask). Unfortunately, she can’t eat or drink with a bypass mask on. 

He didn’t put it in quite these terms, but it sounds like she’s pretty sick and her 93-year-old body may be losing the battle—he said “she’s doing better than when she came in” and “she’s doing ok considering how many health issues she’s got.”  So  we’ll just have to stay tuned.

FWIW, I must say, I’ve been impressed with the care she’s gotten, at least as much as it’s possible to judge by telephone.  Christian seemed genuinely happy to talk to me and talk about Mom’s care; he didn’t make me feel like he was too busy to talk and was doing me a favor.  It reminded me of her hospitalist last week, Ian Walsh, who had a great telephone “bedside” manner as well.