Day 87.

Pauline here.  It seems if I'm the one posting, things are not peachy keen at all.

Memorial Day weekend has not been a good one for Boone.   It started out with maybe getting on clear liquids, but that was stopped.  On day 86 when Dr. S. was in the room on regular rounds, Boone's O2 level dropped into the low 80's.  Doc had him breathe heavily for several breaths but there was no rise in his oxygen level.  I guess since it was a holiday weekend and the ward is no where near full there was no entourage with the doc, just the two nurses.

Before Doc S. ordered it, one of the nurses was hooking Boone up to the oxygen feed in the head wall.  Doc ordered it set on 6 and to be hydrated.   After a bit, the best Boone could do was hold his O2 in the low 90's.  The other nurse began showing Doc Boone's morning heart rate and BP history.

"You see his BP has been dropping all morning, and his heart rate has been fluctuating a bit".  Doc studied the history report on the vitals contraption.  You could clearly see that the muscles in his face were tensing up.   Doc asked Boone to sit up.

I was sitting behind Boone as he sat up I could see he was shaking.  Had he suddenly gotten cold?  He hadn't been cold in days.   Boone looked up at Doc and said "You look worried".  

Doc said "I am worried.  I'm not sure what's causing this."   I think it was then he really noticed Boone was shaking.  Doc put one hand on Boone's shoulder, and rubbed Boone's bald head with the other for several seconds, all the while making eye contact with me.   He said " I'm going to take of you Buddy, don't worry, I've got your back".   He looked worried to me.

Boone was sent to have a chest scan.  We never heard any results from it.  When Doc came in this morning he wasn't lingering at all, more tests.  I can't recall him ever leaving without asking if we had any questions before.

Boone was supposed to have returned from Radiology to the room within the hour.  It's a holiday, no backlog, in and out.   I waited for almost 3 hours then had to go.  The dogs can only cross their legs for so long.   When I called Boone later, there was no answer. Second call, he answered.  He was crying.  He hasn't eaten in over a week; he's so hungry, so tired, and afraid.  Even so, with the IV food he has gained up to 132 pounds.

Boone's blood counts are fluctuating up and down.  He had a transfusion several days ago.  I didn't see the bump in the numbers that I had expected.

Boone is very depressed.  Can't say that I'm any better.  Got home from the hospital with a long to do list, and instead decided to take a nap that lasted until about 7:30 when a good friend called to check in.   I thought it was 4:30.  Got up to get some chores done, realized how late it was, thought I'd post instead and go back to bed.