Seeking a Transfer

This is not what I thought I would be doing today. We are at the Emergency Department in room 19, quiet and dim as shifts change outside in the hallway. Roy is under two blankets and a fancy shrimps sweatshirt having his vitals monitored.

This morning we got up super early to get him to the podiatrist. I got him ready and then he couldn’t stand from the recliner. And same on the second attempt. He said his legs just wouldn’t work and he was exhausted. Took his blood pressure and gave him a midodrine, but his breathing was fine, no signs of stroke, completely still Roy just slower to respond and worn out.

Called the on call nurse and she said call oncology. Called oncology and left a message with the service. Got his meds ready and offered him some breakfast and he dozed. Sent a my-chart message as back up and waited. Cancelled lunch plans, cancelled podiatry, made vaccination appointments, and waited. Cathy brought some Cotton Patch for lunch but by then Roy had woken up and wanted to go to bed for a nap. I realized he hadn’t taken his meds and took those in to him to take which he did.

Around 1:30 pm, oncology called and said go to the ER and here we are. We managed to walk to and get in the car. He threw up on the way but we now own our own stash of emetic bags. Nurses helped get him from the car to triage.

His sodium is too low 124 and his ammonia is high but they haven’t given me the number. They did blood, ekg, chest xray, diagnostic paracentesis, ct scan. And there’s something on his lung.

And they conferred with his doctors at Methodist and Methodist is full but he has to be treated at a transplant center for whatever comes next. So they’re calling Dallas. And Fort Worth and we are waiting here for someone to take him. They won’t admit him here. And I don’t have the numbers. And I know this is bad. And I am not sure where we are going next, if he goes anywhere next,

Dana brought me a Coke Zero, and Russ called for an update, and now we wait for someone who can deal with complicated situations to agree to take Roy. Then we will experience a transfer and whatever it brings.

Prayers and well wishes would be most welcome.