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Going home: déjà vu

It's official: I am being discharged today! It feels like I just did this... Three respiratory therapists came by to do my discharge test. First I had to breathe room air until my oxygen saturation came down to 87. We chatted for several minutes and my oxygen was holding steady. Finally, one of the therapists said it was taking a lot longer than anticipated for my oxygen to drop (we couldn't do the next step of the test until then), so I suggested that I could eat my chocolate chip cookie to see if that would lower my saturation. Sure enough. At that point, they hooked me up to 2L oxygen (with my heparin IV in tow) and I walked very slowly while pushing a wheelchair around the hospital floor. I did one loop and stayed above 90% saturation, so I passed my test! 

When I was admitted on Monday I was on 30L/minute oxygen and my heart rate was over 100. I'm now on 2-3L/minute and my heart is back to normal range. I feel so much better, but I know it will take time to get my strength back.

I am now just waiting for paperwork so I can go home. The various infection tests have all come back negative so far, but others are still pending. I will be taking Prednisone for lung inflammation and Eliquis for blood clots. Now I just have to wait until my oncology appointment on August 30 to determine whether/when I can go back on Tagrisso. That is the big unknown.

~~~~~

Having seen so many Impressionist paintings while we were in Europe, I commented to Lily that if I were an artist I would paint the view from my hospital window at various times of the day. "Like Van Gogh at the mental institution?" she said. Exactly. The view changes dramatically depending on the light and clouds. Here are 2 more shots from yesterday.






Comments

  1. Wonderful news!!! Please take it easy when you get home. Happy with the thought you’ll see Lily off to school Tuesday. Leah

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Leah. Yes, I was wondering about being able to take first day of school pics on Tuesday...

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  2. highly suggest submitting your work to this European curator's site for clouds above the stadium
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/144153015@N07/galleries/72157714031951613/
    -david

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  3. Missing you!!! Thinking about you!!!
    ~Emily

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  4. Hi. Its ALIX. So happy to hear this. Glad you are leaving the hospital!

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  5. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 (Andy)

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  6. So pleased to hear you are headed back home! I don’t post a comment everyday, but we are praying for you every day!

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  7. Beautiful pictures for a beautiful day!! So happy to hear this good news! God continues to take care of you. He has never left you! Please take it easy. 🙏🏽 Be a Queen and don’t exert a lot of energy. Let people dote on you. 😁 wish I was close to be more available. One day at a time you’ll be better. For now relax as you bask in being at home. Hugs 🤗

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  8. Great news. Ready for some fish tacos?

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  9. So glad to hear you are back home again! We hope to see you strolling on the block soon! -M&M&S&A

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  10. That is awesome news Esther! Love the views, but glad you will get some new ones! Henson

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I'll take the views from my house any day.

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  11. We're thanking God with you for your discharge from the hospital to be back home!

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