Transport Care

It has been less than a week since I last blogged and so much has gone on. Most recently, Sam was sent to the emergency room because she fell and hit her head, trying to get-up out of her wheelchair. Fortunately she is okay, but did suffer a minor concussion. She had also pulled her feeding tube out the same day (yes it is still in!). Sam received a Cat scan at the hospital and everything was fine, although she was throwing-up a bit in the ER. The Dr.'s were not worried about it and said it was a result of the concussion. The following day, the facility needed to send her back to the emergency room because they realized that the hospital had never X-rayed her feeding tube the first time-around, and wanted confirmation that it was in the correct position. Also, Sam had continued to throw-up during the day and they were concerned. When I asked Sam if she pulled out the feeding tube she said "yes". When I asked her why, she said because I don't want any tubes in me". Hard to argue with such common sense. The doctors examined Sam very thoroughly the second night and said that the vomiting was part of her mild concussion and would stop after 24 hrs. - and so it did. The one good thing about spending two nights in a row in the emergency room with Sam is that I can tell that Sam is beginning to speak with much more depth and in full sentences. She is even referencing time-frames which she has never done before. For instance, when the doctor asked her if she remembered when she fell and what time it was, Sam replied - "yes, it was earlier this evening". Wow. - I had never heard her so clearly talk about a distinct time frame and be accurate about it as well. Also, on the second nights' visit to the ER, the transport care worker came over to me and said that his partner had remembered Sam from about 6 weeks ago, and just wanted me to know that he was so pleased to see her progress and that she was both speaking much more clearly and was more aware of what she was saying. He also told me that on the ride over to the hospital (I insisted on them taking her to Mt. Sinai this time, just in case she needed to be admitted), that Sam was talking about me a lot and in the most favorable way. He just wanted to wish us both the best. That alone was worth the visit to the ER. Later the following morning, in talking with the facility about why they were not watching Sam more closely and why her alarmed chair did not prevent her fall.....they told me that Sam is very smart and quick and has figured out the alarm system and she gets up really fast. I suppose I am fortunate to have such a smart girlfriend. The facility has also just moved Sam today out of her room that she has been sharing with three other people and into a room with just one other person. The room is right across from the nursing station, so that they can keep a much closer eye on her. Good.