We Have An Exit Plan!

We have had a very productive day today and finally have our 'Exit Plan'. That is the good news...that it may not be exactly what Mom had hoped for is the 'not so good' news. Please notice, that I didn't say 'bad news'. We are too pleased with her progress to say that. I am going to tell you about our day and then the plan. Now, don't jump to the end of the story kids, like you did in school, stay with me. Yesterday Dad came back to the hotel around 4:00 on the shuttle as Jim and I exchanged places with him. As we stepped off of the shuttle and dad gave us our customary hug and passing of the baton, he said to me with his teasing grin (in earshot of the driver of course),"We have got to stop meeting like this.." I suppose he just can't help himself. Jim stayed and visited until 8:00 and went back to the hotel. After he left, Mom and I took a stroll around the nurses station, chatted for a while and actually got a decent nights sleep with only about 5 nurse/attendant visits. I'm curious, why does the hospital day start at 5:30am? Seriously. There has to be some sort of ghoulish desire to see patients and their families when they look and sound the least attractive they will all day. If you know the answer to this mystery, by all means please tell me. Ok, you decide to maybe nod back off,hit the snooze button so to speak, for ... just.. a ... few... more... minutes. Bright Lights!!  Wow-seriously? Doc, if you are bringing your group of Residents on rounds with you and startle us into the wide-eyed awakened state, at least have a cup of coffee for us. I take mine with cream thanks. By 11:00 we had visits from more doctors than usual. "This is so good" we had just discussed as another group of three doctors enter the room. I had stepped out into the hallway to take a cell call and Mom was on the phone so when they entered, so naturally she asked  one of them, "could you hang up the phone for me?" Uh Oh, this is the big dog, the top cheese, the head honcho, the one that is going to spring us out of here and she starts off the conversation with requests..oops. Not to worry, he laughed it off and then introduced himself. "Everything is looking great, Mrs Millican." ok, here it comes..."Your bloodwork is great, your echocardiogram was clear (heart is doing great), your chest xray is clear... but..." oh, man, don't say "but"... "We are still concerned about your pulse oxygen levels." Rats. He then asked a series of questions regarding her health prior to surgery, how she is feeling now ("Great"), her level of exercise in the hospital, etc. "We are ready to release you except for this one problem with your oxygen absorption. You can leave now with an oxygen tank..." Mom interrupted,"I would really prefer not to do that. Give me another option" She is so shy isn't she? I really admire her. Here is the problem, give me options, a decision will be made based on the information given and we will act on it. I suppose that is what made her a good manager. Back to the conversation... "or we can give you one more day to work off some of the extra fluid that may be causing your lungs to work harder and you can move around more. You have no limitations." Needless to say, Mom chose to stay another day, has walked a lot, used her breathing peak flow exerciser and basically doing everything within her power to leave the hospital without an oxygen tank. We will know in the morning. Mom will definitely be discharged tomorrow. That is fabulous news. Before her discharge they will perform a study on her heart and lungs. Basically, that means they have her take a walk without oxygen or assistance. Immediately after they will take an EKG, check her oxygen exchange levels and determine her medications to take with her as well as the portable oxygen. Here is what we need prayers for... specifically... we need her pulse-oxygen to be 92 without oxygen. This morning she was at 81-84 after about a minute. I don't honestly know how low it would have gone because at that point we would put the oxygen back on. This was Mom and I testing the system so to speak. If she has to come home with oxygen, then so be it. Perhaps it will be temporary. But I will tell you one thing, she is aggravated. Aggravated at herself for too many years of smoking. She told me to be sure and mention again on her blog, "If you are smoking now- Quit! I know that is why I can't get off of the oxygen." My apologies for an especially long post, thanks for hanging in there with me. By the way, after Mom is released we will go back to the hotel for a few days just to be sure she is good to travel and then fly back to Memphis. She will need at least six weeks to heal before becoming social again. It isn't so much her heart, but her broken sternum that needs time. Just like any other broken bone it takes 6-8 weeks. Now remember, her pulse-ox needs to be 92. That is our new lucky number. 
Your prayers have helped so much I just know that you prayer warriers can get on that hotline to God and ask for this one more little thing. After all, it is only air!
Love from Shirley & Bill to you all,
Cheryl