a tale of tails, tenacity, and tedium, as told by me, usually barefoot and bellowing

Thursday, August 23, 2012

We Met Dick Trachie...

I wish I had thought to take a picture of our training dummy...not the person but the head.  Known as Dick Trachie he endured our rough ignorant handling without a change of expression.  Our Dick, instead of like Larry above that was borrowed from the web, had a shocked open mouth expression.  Ugly chap he was but was quite patient with our bumbling. The lady who pulled him around in a wagon kept him covered so he would not frighten children.

So I have retired to be a nurse after one hour training, I was announced capable.  I wanted two more hours training so I could be a doctor.  Hubby is comfortable with this even with his heart condition.  With all of his years involved in emergency care, rescue, recovery and emergency management, this is a cake walk for him.  He trained too.

Marcy has a laryngectomy stoma so that is not as scary at a Trach. They removed that. Doc is confident he got all the cancer.

The sad thing is all this is sounding simple and I can ALMOST spell it now.  God help me!

I promise not to keep entering the gross details but Marcy is doing fine.  We are trained to bring her home when they release her.  Only good news from now on.

UPDATE:  GOT A CALL THAT SHE WAS BEING RELEASED.  I AM THREE HOURS AWAY!  COULD THEY NOT HAVE TOLD ME THAT YESTERDAY???  SO ONE PM HEADED TO LITTLE ROCK AT A DEAD RUN.  WAS INFORMED SHE WAS COMING HOME WITH FEEDING TUBES.  I THREW A ROYAL SHIT FIT...PARDON ME.  NOTHING HAS BEEN THE WAY THEY HAVE SAID.  NO HOME HEALTH WOULD BE PROVIDED AFTER ANOTHER FIT, HOME HEALTH IS BEING PROVIDED.  NOT A LOT BUT SOME TO HELP US AND MARCY TO BECOME MORE COMFORTABLE WITH HER CARE AND NUTRITION.

I ARRIVED SAFELY AND THEN WAS TOLD, OH, WE CHANGED OUR MINDS, NO FEEDING TUBES...JUST IF SHE FEELS SHE IS NOT TAKING ENOUGH ORALLY, SHE CAN HOOK UP A TUBE.

AFTER SIX HOURS DRIVING SHE IS HOME EATING JELLO WITH ANDREW AND HUBBY TRYING TO CONNECT A WALKIE TALKIE SYSTEM SO SHE CAN CALL US IF SHE NEEDS US. DEAR SWEET HUBBY HELPED HER DO HER NIGHT CLEANING OF THE EQUIPMENT.

I GOT LOST IN THE PARKING LOT, COULD NOT FIND MY CAR.  WENT TO THE TICKET BOOTH AND THE LADY CLOSED IT DOWN TO HELP ME FIND MY CAR.  I WAS SO STRESSED,  I WAS CRYING.  WHAT IDIOT CANNOT FIND THEIR CAR IN A FOUR LEVEL PARKING GARAGE???  I DID NOTICE AFTER I FOUND IT, MY LICENSE PLATE SAYS XXX LCO AS IN LOCO...HOW FITTING.

CHECK UP IN A WEEK AND THEN TRYING TO TRANSFER ALL CARE TO THE ORIGIANL ENT MAN WHO BEGAN ALL THIS.  THERAPY WILL ALSO BE ARRANGED AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE.

YEP, LOVING RETIREMENT.

15 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

getting her home and getting her settled is the first step. one thing at a time. you're going to be okay.

Irene said...

I hope you all manage to settle down to a dull roar and that life will become a little bit routine. No doubt you've been under a great deal of stress. All those tears about your lost car were just a way to let it all out. Good luck, Gail. Don't forget to also take care of yourself. xox

Lynne said...

whew! hope all goes well . . . and marcy heals, feels good and snaps some pictures too.

LilliStJohn said...

Gail, you have been on a whirlwind since your retirement. No wonder you couldn't find yer car. I would'nt have even found the parking lot. And now, a nurse to boot after only 2 hrs training - do you get a certificate and stethescope with that :)
Marcy is one lucky gal and hubby is so sweet to be cleaning all equipment first night home. You are a great caring lot. Take care kiddo, and catch your breath every now and then. Give my best to your family n Marcy. Cheers

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Seriously- I lose my car every time I go to the grocery store...and the parking lot is not that big! You'll do find with Marcy- so glad she is coming home!

MadSnapper said...

daddy lost his car once in the dollar general parking lot, he was 88 at the time and was wandering with tears in his eyes. a lady with her 8 year old son stopped to help him. she handed him daddy's keys and got him to run up and down the lanes pushing the remote keyless thingy until the car started honking. if you have one of those remember that for next time.
happy she is home and glad your hubby has some training. it will take a few days to get into your routine. wish i had been there to go with you. can she speak?

the canned quilter said...

I have never lost mt car (YET). I did one time lock my keys in my car trying to beat a Jehovas Witness into the local A & P. LOL God was punishing me...Will Marcy have to have chemo or radiation now?

Sandy Livesay said...

Gail

I'm sending you a hug (((((Gail))))). Realize you're under alot of stress right now. So it's okay to lose the car. Besides that damn car changed parking places on you, how were you suppose to find it anyway? LOL.....
Sometimes, you just need to take a deep breath and laugh off not being able to find the car.
I'm happy to hear you gave the staff holly hell about the feeding tubes and getting help. I had no idea your hubby was experienced in emergency care stuff. This experience comes in handy. Everything will come together and things will get easier.
Try to have a good afternoon.
Your Friend,
Sandy

Susan Anderson said...

Anyone would be stressed, and amazingly you seem to keep your sense of humor. I laughed out loud at this:

"So I have retired to be a nurse after one hour training, I was announced capable. I wanted two more hours training so I could be a doctor."

And Dick Trachie?

=D

PS. Sending hugs and wish I lived closer so I could come and lend some in-person support!

Farm Girl said...

Wow, I am so sorry all of that happened. I am glad Marcy is home now.
Here is a hug O That is a harrowing story. I know you are so brave and you know what, I would loose my car too. I will continue to pray for you all.

carolina nana said...

Haha, you better calm down girl or you are going to be the one everyone is taking care of !!
So glad Marci is home and all this will be history before you know it. I remember thinking "would this ever end" when my son was in such shape and had tubes that we had to clean daily. But it does end and now it doesn't even feel like a bad memory any more. We take life as it comes and somehow muddle our way though it to find the good days always out weigh the bad.
Blessings for you and all your family
Marilyn

Rudee said...

After 30 years of nursing and continuing education, the only words of advice I can give when you feel you are in the middle of a crisis are these:

STOP what you are doing. Just STOP!

BREATHE. Deeply. Just BREATHE.

Once you've settled yourself, all will be well. I promise you. I'm not wrong. I've trained many a new ICU nurse and STOP and BREATHE are where we begin.

Don't let panic put you in a tailspin. In two weeks, it'll all be old hat and by then, I think your sister will be likely self sufficient and need little, if any, help.

LindaG said...

*hugs*
Praying Marcy heals quickly and things calm down to normal. ♥

Empty Nester said...

Nothing EVER goes like they say. Which is one reason I avoid docs and hospitals like the plague. I'm so glad she's home- though you probably should have asked for some Valium or something for yourself. :)

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Wow that is a lot of stuff. Don't go loco, just take it one day at a time.

Still praying!!

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