Hi Pauline here.  T+16 and counting.

I apologize for not blogging the last several days.  I was confused about my ability to get into the blog editor without Boone's computer.  Yes, I have his computer but it requires a fingerprint swipe to get in.  I must say, the cut off his finger idea did cross my mind.  I decided it was probably not a good idea.

Anyway, several days ago Boone was moved from the transplant unit to the ICU here in the same medical complex.  The nursing quality here is absolutely top notch.  In the ICU each nurse has two patients to take care of.  These are seriously hard working caring nurses.  I cannot say enough good things about them.  With that said, Boone got to be so much trouble for them they were not able to properly care for the other patient in their charge.

They called Boone's brother, after trying to get me twice, to ask if the family could be there as much as possible to help.  I started going in around 4 AM, and leaving about 2 PM.  Boone's brother would come in at 7 PM and stay until 1-2 in the morning.  Several people have commented to me that the hospital should have called in more staff.  I'm not sure that's fair.  Boone was so much to handle.  When he was barely lucid there was all the stuff he needed: help peeing, water, some food, bathing, sheet changing, it just went on and on.  The nursing staff did not expect me to bathe or change sheets, but since I know how to change the bed sheets with someone in the bed, and how to lift them, I saw no need in getting another nurse in when I could help.

The rest of the time, when Boone was not lucid, he was a screaming maniac.  At one point it took me and two nurses to hold him down so they could put restraints on him.  He was ready to go.  I'm not sure where, but he was going come Hell or high water.  Obviously in the ICU the patient is hooked up to every machine that came beep, whir, or blink.  Boone spent his time pulling out every cord, taking off his oxygen, twisting and turning and tangling.  That was the constant problem, just fighting him to not do himself harm.  They really did need the help.  There was never a dull moment.

Boone was constantly talking to someone.  Working on various hospitals, getting on airplanes, and a few good moments in Costa Rica visiting our friends there.  All the while he's pulling and tugging and trying to escape.  They started out by putting the boxing gloves on him to stop him pulling on his IV lines and oxygen hose.