It's been a difficult evening

Mom looked like she had a rough day today. When I arrived she was talking with Mitchell, her PSA. She loves Mitchell. The two of them talked and talked about balance, spirit and bible verse. Mitchell is tall and thin and has a quiet, compassionate way about him.

"As good as yesterday was, today wasn't. Complete opposite," says Mom.

She waited all day for the right lung to be drained, but it never happened. Dr. Patell and Dr. Jane Lighty, "a classy woman who's filling in for Dr. Granger," both expected the right lung draw, but it never happened.

It wasn't until Lisa, her new nurse, arrived did Mom get answers. She was particularly concerned because the Doctors wanted her to begin taking the Cumadin (sp?) again and that would conflict with a thoracsantesis (try that word you little spelling bee genius 5th graders) on the right lung. (Damn! I bet I spelled that wrong and spell check isn't fixing it.) So, Mom was worried about taking the medicine if they were going to do a draw.

Lisa stepped up big time. She called the big, bad Doctor at home and asked him all Mom's questions. It turns out they decided they aren't going to drain the right lung because they are afraid the right lung might collapse. The left lung may have collapsed a bit after it was drained. Mom was bummed about the news, but doesn't want her lung to collapse, so she was ok with the explanation. The Doctor said he would see Mom in the morning to answer all her questions. She feels much, much better knowing that she can now take the blood thinner pill.

Lisa is in the room explaining the negative effects of IV Lasex. Immediate release of, um.... having to go to the bathroom. Mom was glad that Lisa explained sudden loss of control is not her doing. All is good now though. Mom is back in bed with her favorite webkin, Marshmallow, wanting to sleep.

Lisa is giving mom her injection and will be giving her the pain medicine for the night.

Mom asks, "What causes blood clots, Lisa?"

"Spaces in your vessels and sometimes the cancer can....." Lisa has to leave to attend to a matter downstairs.

"This is how it's been all day," Mom says. "Best not to be in the hospital during a holiday. Skeleton crews."

Lisa returns quickly. Two tech's are moving a couch from the room directly across the hall. They bang the couch on both sides of the door and giggle to each other. The blonde cringes when she sees me sitting in Mom's room and gestures an apology with a quick hand flip and suddenness in her eyes. Then they're off with the couch.

Mom's coughing more. She's tired. But she's still talking. She's telling Lisa her story. Mom's been talking most the day. You'd think she'd want to relax and pace herself, but her experience is important. They're talking about the medicinal benefits of honey and how natural "things" are vital to the healing process.

I'm eating gummy bears.

Mom was elated by Uncle Dick and Aunt Susan's presence and conversation. Someone brought her a mylar flag balloon that is tied to her IV cart. Lisa says "you can watch Red, White and Boom on the television." Mom saus maybe I will. It's 10:12pm and still no TV. Mom's never been the T.V. type.

Mom feels great that Carrie the day nurse, whom Mom really likes, thanked her for teaching the positive effects of monuka honey when treating sores. Carrie was blown away at how clean the area was. (that's about all the detail needed there!) "I need to tell Carolen this. She'll be pleased," Mom says.