A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WIFE IN THE ICU WAITING ROOM

Dr. Drucker just came in, he said that Jan’s heart rhythms went from a flutter to a fibrillation both are arrhythmias of the heart. The latter I think is more serious. He said that Jan would have to take his blood thinning meds for a month. I hope he gets off all those medications. That was the carrot for me when I even considered going into this. Dr. Drucker also said that Jan might have to go through another procedure with additional risks if his heart fibrillation deteriorates, just what you don’t want to hear after surviving this cardiac surgery. I’m told that Jan will be in room 3211 for the next four hours recuperating but he will not be there for approximately 15 minutes. I guess he’s in-transit.

Went and had lunch in the café. I ordered chicken livers with rice and green beans. Sat with the elderly woman and her daughter who I had met earlier this morning in the ICU. The both were from Stuart, VA. I offered them a bed in my house. They had been in the waiting room for four days. The daughter declined the offer. Saying that Mom would not leave the waiting room. As I got up to empty my tray I noticed my friend Irene sitting by herself behind me. I play bridge with Irene on Friday’s. She was here to see her sister in law who had broken her leg and to get her ventilation therapy. We chatted for a couple of minutes. Then I was off to Room 3211.