Hospital Horrors
(The Cliff Notes version of the worst week for the Weidenfelds)
On Monday, June 30th, Rob was taken to the ER at St. Rose Sienna (about 10 mins. from their home) in the morning for severe stomach pains. Late the night before, he had fallen down the stairs. While he and Patti initially thought he had injured something internally from the fall, the doctors suspected it was his appendix.
By 2p.m. it was confirmed. His appendix had to go. Although he was in a beautiful room for one by dinner time, the surgery didn't happen until well after midnight. Afterwards, the surgeon told Patti that Rob's appendix was actually gangrene, and one of the "worst" he had ever seen. He said that the fall had nothing to do with it.
Patti spent the night with him at the hospital, although neither of them really slept. The next day was very touch and go for Rob. He had several complications develop after the surgery; one of them relating to low blood pressure.
By Wednesday, Rob seemed to be improving. His vitals were finally stabilizing and he was up and moving about, although he ran a fever off and on all day. Somehow, through some poor judgement call, he was released late Wed. night. That evening at home, however, was a nightmare! Rob couldn't sleep. He ran a high fever all through the night. He couldn't breathe. It was awful!!!
The next day Patti called the surgeon to express her concerns and was told to take Rob in for a chest x-ray. Around 5p.m. they found out that Rob had bi-lateral pneumonia. There was also a scare about a possible blood clot in one of his legs at that point. He was admitted later that night to St. Rose San Martin (about 30 mins. from their house---the Sienna campus was apparently lacking any open beds).
Rob's pneumonia was pretty bad; he was given several breathing treatments and put in isolation when he was first admitted. Thankfully, the blood clot did not pan out.
By Friday afternoon, he underwent thoracentesis, also known as a "lung tapping." This painful and invasive procedure allowed the doctors to drain one of Rob's lungs. However, the decision was made to let the antibiotics work on the other lung. Since he was responding well to his meds, he was moved to a normal room again.
Saturday and Sunday brought hope for everyone. Rob was walking often, eating well, and showing overall signs of improvement. When there was talk of releasing him again on Sunday, he and Patti had obvious concerns. They had just gone through this a few days before. But the doctors were reassuring and Rob was anxious to recover in his own home.
So by Sunday evening, July 6th, Rob began the slow process of regaining his strength at home. That second week was not easy, but with each new day, Rob was able to do a little more. By the 18th of July, he was given the a-okay from his doctors for the family's first cruise the follwing week.
(The Weidenfelds would like to thank their family and friends who visited Rob or who helped out in numerous ways while they went through this horrible ordeal. You know who you are and we love you all very much!)
On Monday, June 30th, Rob was taken to the ER at St. Rose Sienna (about 10 mins. from their home) in the morning for severe stomach pains. Late the night before, he had fallen down the stairs. While he and Patti initially thought he had injured something internally from the fall, the doctors suspected it was his appendix.
By 2p.m. it was confirmed. His appendix had to go. Although he was in a beautiful room for one by dinner time, the surgery didn't happen until well after midnight. Afterwards, the surgeon told Patti that Rob's appendix was actually gangrene, and one of the "worst" he had ever seen. He said that the fall had nothing to do with it.
Patti spent the night with him at the hospital, although neither of them really slept. The next day was very touch and go for Rob. He had several complications develop after the surgery; one of them relating to low blood pressure.
By Wednesday, Rob seemed to be improving. His vitals were finally stabilizing and he was up and moving about, although he ran a fever off and on all day. Somehow, through some poor judgement call, he was released late Wed. night. That evening at home, however, was a nightmare! Rob couldn't sleep. He ran a high fever all through the night. He couldn't breathe. It was awful!!!
The next day Patti called the surgeon to express her concerns and was told to take Rob in for a chest x-ray. Around 5p.m. they found out that Rob had bi-lateral pneumonia. There was also a scare about a possible blood clot in one of his legs at that point. He was admitted later that night to St. Rose San Martin (about 30 mins. from their house---the Sienna campus was apparently lacking any open beds).
Rob's pneumonia was pretty bad; he was given several breathing treatments and put in isolation when he was first admitted. Thankfully, the blood clot did not pan out.
By Friday afternoon, he underwent thoracentesis, also known as a "lung tapping." This painful and invasive procedure allowed the doctors to drain one of Rob's lungs. However, the decision was made to let the antibiotics work on the other lung. Since he was responding well to his meds, he was moved to a normal room again.
Saturday and Sunday brought hope for everyone. Rob was walking often, eating well, and showing overall signs of improvement. When there was talk of releasing him again on Sunday, he and Patti had obvious concerns. They had just gone through this a few days before. But the doctors were reassuring and Rob was anxious to recover in his own home.
So by Sunday evening, July 6th, Rob began the slow process of regaining his strength at home. That second week was not easy, but with each new day, Rob was able to do a little more. By the 18th of July, he was given the a-okay from his doctors for the family's first cruise the follwing week.
(The Weidenfelds would like to thank their family and friends who visited Rob or who helped out in numerous ways while they went through this horrible ordeal. You know who you are and we love you all very much!)
posted by Patti W. at 1:31 PM
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