Day 31

Finally! Adam was released from the sterile prison today at around 430pm. We were only slightly delayed waiting for the wound vac to be delivered and with which he had to take home with us. Oh what's one more piece of equipment for our huge home! Not to mention the box it came in including the 25 million dressings and canisters for the machine. I wish someone had told me I needed a moving truck to leave the hospital. It's amazing what you accumulate in one room during a month.

Sequoia was very happy to see his other person. He was so happy he had to rest his head on Adam's knee. That's love!

We are here probably for a good month given all the followup visits he has scheduled. Luckily we have found a spot in our RV park that will allow for enough power. Now I have to move one more time, but that's better than blowing the circuit. We can be found at the following address should you want to reach us:
Santa Fe park
5707 Santa Fe St
San Diego, CA. 92109

We can't thank the doctors and nurses at Scripps La Jolla enough. They gave stellar care and we feel so fortunate to have had this unforeseen event happen here. Looking forward to healthier days to come!

Adam's home!

Leaving the hospital

Day 27 - T-5

A revised estimate of Adam's return home is Monday night or Tuesday morning. He's still improving every day and getting very anxious to come home.

My mom came in town last night and we had a lovely walk at Seaport Village. Even Sequoia loved chasing the pigeons. We ate a seafood dinner on the water and picked up fudge for desert and as a treat for Adam.

This morning we brought Sequoia to say hi to Adam and then made our way to LA to visit my mom's cousin. It was a longer drive than planned at 3 hours but worth it. Always known as the California cousins, I didn't know them that well so it's nice to catch up. I was sorry Adam had to miss the reunion but he really didn't mind.

Well, I am gearing up for the drive back down to San Diego and hopefully missing some of the traffic, though I doubt it. Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Day 23 T - 7

We have an expected discharge date finally and Adam lost no time at posting the day countdown on his whiteboard. Expected discharge is Sunday or Monday... T - 7 days.

After putting out some feelers I was connected with a few people in town who have been kind enough to entertain me. Earlier this week I went on a dog walk with a glass artist who worked with me at ajp. She happens to live around the corner from the hospital. Yesterday, Adam's college friends Ben and Colin came to visit from LA. It is always nice to have visitors. They made us both laugh. Tonight, I had dinner with the Levine kids and their cousins, aunt and uncle. I only knew two of them from our Denver childhood. Between everyone there we all live in four different states yet it was strangely familiar. It was good homemade food, lots of laughs, and four children under the age of four. Kids are endless bundles of energy. I'm looking forward to another visit from my mom at the end of the week for a little more TLC.

With these new friends I'm starting to feel connected to this town and can see us staying around a few more weeks of recovery. Adam may not be up to socializing but so far it has really been nice for me to have other people to talk to. Sequoia is good company but not a great conversationalist. Thanks everyone! I just hope I will feel as comfortable back in MD when we settle there as I do here. I'll soon find out!

Day 20

It turns out the longer someone is in the hospital the more new services appear. Adam had a special treatment yesterday. A nurse came by who offered healing touch therapy. She basically played soothing music and had a calm demeanor and talked to him about healing from the inside out. She then touched his arms and head lightly and followed down to his feet. It put me to sleep! He seemed a little less anxious after that. It is very stressful being in the hospital. For a place of recovery it is difficult to get good rest. Too bad she can't come by more than once a week.

Because he is starting to learn the hospital ropes during this lengthy stay Adam has also managed to get some good food from the kitchen. The nurses have been shocked by what is sent to him on his trays. They say in all the years they have worked here they have never seen half this food on this floor before. Does that surprise any if you that Adam has found good food?

Every two days he gets special treatment because the nurses have to change the wound dressing. I was proud of myself today because I looked right at it and didn't pass out. We are still struggling with accepting that he is sick and confined here for the short term as well as trying to come to terms with the fact that we may have to give up on our cross country trip. It's all a process. I keep telling myself to take it one day and one thing at a time. We will deal with that decision next.

For now we are looking forward to a walk outside together, maybe tomorrow, and bringing Sequoia to see Adam again soon.

Day 18

It is clear that we are now in a holding pattern and simply waiting for the antibiotics to do their job and for the incision to heal. Both are on track for successfully doing their job.

Adam seems to be settling in for long haul since today he asked for his pillow from home. I'm now looking for a structure for my days that will not entirely center around sitting in the hospital. Adam tends to have active mornings and needs his rest in the afternoons. So I've decided to seek out some service dog groups with whom Sequoia and I can interact. We went on a walk the other day with three Papillions at Seaport Village near the maritime museum which we enjoyed it very much. It just showed me that dogs are great medicine for all people.

I had a nice dinner with Adam's friend Meral and her husband and 1 1/2 year old tonight. Babies are the other good medicine during crisis times. They make you realize that life still goes on and help find laughter and happiness in the littlest things...like Cheerios or a ball. Watching her interact with Sequoia and see the tenderness that exchanged both ways warmed my heart.

Day 17

We had a nice quiet day today. Adam was not bothered every five minutes and we had a chance to sit together and watch TV. The doctors have taken to rounding on Adam later in the evening so at 10pm tonight he got news that he should expect to remain in the hospital for another 2 1/2 weeks of iv antibiotic therapy. This is a shock but something we will deal with in stride.

Day 15

Having a little break from staring at the hospital walls was nice this weekend. Adam was in good hands and needed rest so he was not missing the company. My parents helped me move the RV to a place down the road that is more of a community and more importantly somewhere we can receive mail. The major thing it is lacking is a path to really walk the dog but I can drive to the nearby bay. We are now set until July 1 should we need to be here that long.

Adam seems better rested and more alert today than in days past. He is still having some incisional pain but he's not a complainer. We are shooting for a discharge at the end of the week. Sequoia will be happy about that. We continue to take it day by day. I can't believe he's been here over two weeks
already. He does seem to be improving which is the most important thing.

Sent from my iPhone

Day 13

Thirteen does not usually have much of a superstitious hold over me, but today I should have expected this to be a bad day. It's Friday the 13th and the 13th day in the hospital. My day started with the dog throwing up the neck and more of the chicken carcass he ate more than two weeks ago. That was when we were worried about him and not Adam. Now I wonder what other bones are stuck in his gut. I can't handle two patients right now.

From there it was just nonstop chaos at the hospital. I think both of our patience are wearing thin. It was at the point when Adam had the nurse talking to him, nutritionists on the phone and the guy trying to ultrasound his legs all at the same time that we had to yell stop! They are used to running at a marathon pace but when you or someone you love is ill, hurting and exhausted it is helpful to have a second to process what is going on one thing at a time. On top of the overstimulation the doctors had to bust open his incision because part of it was not healing properly. Sorry to be so blunt, but you are lucky you only had to hear about it. I had to see it open and breathing waiting for him to tape gauze over it. A little warning next time would be nice! I'm not the doctor in he family and for a reason. Adam says his modeling days are over given the scar he expects to have left.

We are hoping for a little peace and quiet for Adam he next few days while he sits and starts feeling better. The next 2-4 days will be the test. Glad my parents are coming in for the weekend. We have some plans to make regarding where to park the RV for the next month or more and they will help with some of the hard stuff. Thanks again for all your notes. Keep them coming. They mean a lot to us.

Yellow wardrobe

Hospital stay day 12

After a short procedure yesterday the doctors have now identified what they believe is the source of the infection in Adam. The good news is it is treatable with iv antibiotics. The bad news is he is now in isolation which requires anyone who walks through his door to don a hideous yellow paper gown and purple gloves. I, for one, look awful in yellow and have you ever tried knitting in gloves? Not easy. As far as we know Adam will be staying in the hospital for this course of treatment which is another 10 days minimum. Right now we are waiting for them to start the treatment so we can sit back and wait for it to work. Fingers crossed!

Happy Reunion

I'm not sure who is more excited to see one another.

Hospital stay day 10

The patient ate the head off a turtle cookie and was very happy about it. Don't know about the turtle.

Happy trees

Hospital Stay Day 9

We have had a change in scenery today. Adam was finally downgraded from the ICU to Post Critical Care unit where they actually found him a bed and a private room. He's still fighting some unknown infection but seems to be on the upward health trend. Overall, we are in a wait and see period so if you don't hear any updates from me think of it as no news is good news.

Today he had a nice visit with one of his college roommates who came down from LA. It seemed to lift his spirits though he was pretty tired all day. I'm hoping to bring Sequoia for a visit tomorrow now that he is in a private room. I think it will be good for both of them.

Right now I'm on a walk with the dog in cloudy 60 degree weather. The exercise keeps us both sane. I saw these palm trees with faces on their trunks. I just had to laugh.

Sent from my iPhone

Hospital stay day 8

Adam continues to improve though he is starting to feel more belly pain now that they have removed the epidural. Naturally we worry about new onset of infection especially in the abdominal area but that is mainly just our fear.

I spent most of today sitting outside the RV while it was getting a deep clean. It took two people almost six hours! Too bad I picked the cloudy day that decided to rain to evacuate myself from the home. I ended up sitting in the car some of the time just to keep dry. Sequoia kept wanting to go back inside too which was a bit surprising. I would think after spending so much time confined within those walls that he would not want to go back inside. I think he missed his bed. He's very attached to that plushy thing.

I was grateful to have Adam's parents here to keep him company while I got things cleaned up at home anticipating his eventual release. Realistically he won't leave the hospital for another week but just in case, I'm ready for him.

Sent from my iPhone

Hospital stay day 6

Adam continues to improve each day. He is tired from fevers but got out of bed today on his own. We are still waiting for a bed in the step down unit but they are currently full. At this point we still expect him to remain in the hospital for another week though he could possibly go "home" as soon as a few days.

I have had the time to move the RV back down to San Diego and am only 5 miles from the hospital. I've arranged to have an interior detail done which will make me feel like it is a clean place for him to come back to when he is ready. Besides it will make me feel better to get rid of all the Southwest dust we accumulated.

Sequoia misses Adam terribly. It's so sad that when I walk in the door he says hello to me and then keeps looking back at the door waiting for Adam to walk in. The first night we were able to collect the dog from our friends' house he ran into the RV and made a beeline for the bedroom. He knew he hadn't seen Adam for a few days and that was the place he usually finds him. He even ran to his side of the bed. It is amazing how much our furry friends really understand and how easy it is for them to show love. Once Adam moves out of the ICU I am planning to bring Sequoia to visit. It will make them both happy.

Thank you for all your thoughts. It makes us feel closer to home and surrounded by your love even though we are far away. I continue to pass them along to Adam. Having my new phone has been great because I can easily keep up with my email and surf the web. We were even able to Skype our nieces and nephews that made us all laugh. Technology is so useful!

Stephanie
Sent from my iPhone

Adam update

Quick update to let you know the doctors hope to move Adam out of the ICU today and over to the step down unit. They still have a 2:1 nursing ratio but they tell me the main difference is the number of IV bags the patient uses. Guess he is down to a manageable number for them. I see 6 hanging on the pole. He has eaten real food in small amounts and actually got out of bed. Its going as well as can be expected.

Thank you for all your thoughts. I do pass them along to him.
Steph

Sent from my iPhone

Adam

I know I haven't posted our whereabouts in a while and I am working on that, but something more pressing has come up that warrants an immediate post. To catch you up quickly, since Texas we stopped in NM and high-tailed it to San Diego to meet up with my family for a short vacation. We then moved the RV up to LA area to visit with friends but there was one more college friend of Adam's named Meral left to see in San Diego so we just made plans to drive back down here on Saturday to have dinner.

That afternoon while at her house Adam had severe abdominal pain that led to an urgent hospital visit. He hadn't visited one since Carlsbad, NM so I think he missed it. To make things exciting he wanted to take an ambulance this time. All kidding aside he had emergent abdominal surgery on Sunday afternoon to attempt to resolve the increasing belly pain. It looks like the surgery was a success and he is improving every day though he still remains in the ICU for now.

We are very grateful for many factors in this situation. First and foremost Adam looks 1000 times better and is back to his normal self challenging the doctors and nurses. He had an awesome trauma surgeon. Thank goodness this happened in a populated area instead of in the middle of he desert. Thank goodness Adam had made such an amazing friend in college who even after a 15 year communication hiatus she is still as caring about him and had the compassion and graciousness to house me and keep me company during the most trying hours. Fortunately she is an Internist and could act as my doctor liaison when Adam or one of my family would normally have plays this role. Thank goodness I had Sequoia with us instead of leaving him 2 hours away back in the RV in LA. Thank goodness Meral's family loved him enough to care for him while I stayed at the hospital and until I could retrieve the RV. Thank goodness my family was available by phone for moral support and medical advice.

Adam's parents were able to get out here Monday night and helped me retrieve the RV and move it closer to the hospital. Hopefully having my house and dog back will give me a sense of normalcy and keep me from getting sick myself. We expect him to stay in the hospital a week or more. We expect to be in the San Diego area 1-2 months. Adam can be reached here on this blog or at the hospital: Scripps La Jolla. 9888 Genesee Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037. Please dont send flowers