Lisa Today
March 10, 2006
Richard received some excellent news this morning from Jessica Mills the Blue Cross-Blue Shield manager in charge of Lisa’s case. While staying to true company policy, Jessica listened to Lisa’s story, and the humanity of it moved her. The difficulty was that Blue Cross did not have a contract with the long-term critical care hospital Lisa needed. To make this fly, Blue Cross and Kindred Hospital needed to compromise in order to allow Lisa to be transferred without devastating co-pay. Devastating? You will find the definition of devastating in the dictionary under $16,200 a month. Kindred Hospital agreed to require less money, Blue Cross agreed to pay more money, and they met in the middle. Both Blue Cross and Kindred Hospital stepped up and did what was best for the patient, and the right thing. Richard said, “They are both heroes.”
This morning Lisa looked well, rested, and comfortable. She was bathed and positioned turned to her side. Two nurses turn Lisa every two hours to prevent bedsores. At 1:00 PM a pulmonologist, arrived, and reviewed Lisa’s chart. The physician thought it was time for her to breathe just the room air; so he ordered the ventilator removed. It placed in a spot near her beside. The ventilator remained in her room in the event she should become fatigued, and need assistance getting enough oxygen. Lisa retained the“trac. The trac helps her breath easier, and provides a ready access point for respiratory therapy. One of the things they do is supplement the room air for her with humidity. You see, when one breathes through the mouth and nose, humidity is created naturally. Since Lisa is breathing through the trac, she is unable to humidify herself. After the ventilator was removed, Lisa continued to breathe very well on her own. Her heart rate, oxygen level and breath rate continued to remain normal. How’s that for some encouraging news? But wait, it gets better.
During the day Lisa received small doses of morphine to neutralize some discomfort related to the surgical implant of the defibrillator yesterday. Laura, who is Richard’s sister, gave Lisa some passive range of motion therapy, and by all indications, it went well.
At the scheduled change of shift assessment, the nurse and Richard observed her to respond to slight stimulation of the hands and feet. Then, when the nurse asked her, she moved her eyes to the left, and then to the right. She did it immediately. Next the nurse said, “Lisa, move your eyes up.” She did it! Her nurse then said, “Lisa move your eyes down.” She did that too! Lisa did something new, something not asked of her before this evening… to move her eyes vertically. Yessss! It’s been a pretty good day for Lisa and for us. About this time, our thoughts turn to your prayers, and the prayers of the others you inspire and we recognize who’s doing the work here.
Michael is 1 month old today. He spent most of the day chugging milk, and sleeping. He definitely got his extra quarter ounce of milk.
Michael – wintory@galesburg.net
