John's been discharged

Gee, I'm grateful.  John is home now.  They discharged him yesterday from Hershey.  I am surprised he was released this soon.  They weren't going to let him go, because after finding all of the problems he had, they also found an infected chest port.  They were going to keep him for awhile, to give him IV antibiotics, but they released him, and told me that I had to give him the IVs at home.

Here is what he was diagnosed with at the hospital:

1.  Low platelets (which causes anemia - severe fatigue)
2.  Low sodium (which causes full body muscle spasms)
3.  High potassium (which can cause heart failure)
4.  Acute renal (kidney) failure - due to Tachro medicine
5.  Heart rhythm abnormality
6.  Kidney stone about an inch in diameter
7.  An infected chest port

They sent him home on Sunday telling him that we have to come back for an appointment on Thursday.  Gee, that is day after tomorrow.  And it is a two and a half hour drive.  But it is okay.  He is under excellent medical care at Hershey Medical Center.  I love that hospital.  The appointment is at the Cancer Institute next door. 

They also sent him home telling me I will have to do administer antibiotics through an IV twice a day for at least the next fourteen days at home.  I was so nervous when they told me this.  I have not been confident when asked to do certain nursing duties in the past.  I learned to flush the lines real easily, and have become a pro at it.  But when I was asked by the Critical Care nurses (the home health nurses) to change his bandage for his chest port, and to change the caps on his lumens, I was unable to do it alone.  When I called back Critical Care, and told them I was uncomfortable (this was a week ago), and told them they would have to come back and help me, they acted pretty upset. 

So I was pretty anxious this morning before the nurse came.  I didn't want her to rush through the procedure of showing me how to administer the IV, and have to call her back the next time when Icouldn't remember how to do it.  But she was pretty good, she went slowly and explained things well.  I think giving John the IV is not going to be TOO hard.  I Think, lol.

So I have to give John an IV twice a day for at least 14 days.  Every twelve hours.  And the medicine has to be taken out of the fridge six hours before you use it, to administer it.  I am going to be up around the clock, lol.

There is one nice thing, however. Some of the nursing duties I was uncomfortable with, the nurse is going to do herself!  She is coming daily to check on John, and to draw blood.  So at least there will be someone besides me to keep an eye on John!  Thank God for that.  It makes things less daunting.

So mostly, I am just glad John is home.  He is allowed a normal diet, so today we had our Easter dinner.  We had corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, four grain and two seed bread, strawberry shortcake, bread pudding with vanilla sauce (John's favorite, but I refuse to eat it), and some chocolate.  I even dyed some eggs.  My sissy Val and her friend John came over and ate with us. 

Well, that's about it.  Except I wanted to thank everybody for their support and prayers during this time.  I was very nervous while the hospital was diagnosing and correcting John's problems.  Maybe because I know how precious life is with him, after just coming through the transplant with him.  And you all were here for me, in the form of comments, emails, IMs, and mail.  For that, I cannot tell you how grateful I am.  It even helped me get through Easter when I was alone.  Thank you, thank you!  :)

Bye for now, Krissy  :)