Lana in ICU again

Dear Colleen,

I saw Lana on Sunday the 25th. They put her back in the ICU and inserted a tube into her bronchial tube so she could have an uninterrupted supply of oxygen as well as a vacuum tube in her mouth and inflatable devices in each nostril to put pressure on the nasal passage walls to stop the bleeding. She is literally bleeding to death. She received two units of blood but there was already half a unit in the vacuum tank and she had completely saturated a wash rag as well as a mouth full of 4 inch gauze squares. At 9:00am she had a unit of platelets but they are no longer having any clotting effect. Her white blood cell count is still 0.0 so regeneration has not yet begun even after 20 days. She is also unconscious and not a pretty sight.

I suggested that in her present condition there was nothing more I could do to be of any help and they agreed. In fact they do not encourage caregivers to stay in the ICU but rather to go home. They said they would call if there is any change in her condition. I have been back home now in La Grange since Sunday. The nurses concern was how well I was taking this turn of events. I assured them that I was OK that I have been dealing with the situation now for nearly three years. I told them today about the RN who turned, tore off her gown and ran away at the sight of blood three days ago. "One of our nurses here on the eleventh floor?" "Yes," I replied.

It is very stressful being there and not being able to help. We have to hope for a miracle now, the doctors and nurses have done everything humanly possible to save her.

Sincerely,
Joe