April 17th, 2006 

April 17th, 2006

Hi everyone. Terry here again.

Wouldn’t you know that Rick would make a liar out of me? Yesterday it seemed, the nursing staff agreed, and I posted to the blog that Rick wasn’t going to be moved to the hospice facility for a few days, at least. But what a difference a day makes! You wouldn’t have thought that the guy we saw today with a smile and a joke was the same guy we left last night not looking or feeling so good.

Rick responded very well to the pre-emptive anti-nausea program and has gained a good deal of strength with a day and night of good sleep. So the doctors decided he had stabilized sufficiently and made the call to move him to the Franciscan Hospice. Regardless of how well Rick has felt his treatment has been at Madigan, he was happy to be getting out of the hospital.

The hospice facility is very comfortable, the staff is upbeat, caring, and dignified. I didn’t know what to expect from a hospice facility, but Sandy and I were very surprised at how comfortable the staff has made the transition feel for everyone involved. Rick and Sharon met with the in-take staff and nurses who took their time explaining everything and answering their questions. Rick has a very nice private room with space for visitors and for Sharon to stay if she wishes. He also has a nice view of the garden. He was happy to hear that they also have a massage therapist on staff. The entire experience was as pleasant and welcoming as can be expected, given the situation.

Besides the move, Rick seemed to be having a good day all around. He was up and walking on his own - the nurses were surprised to see the “new guy” strolling down the hall. For a time he was unhooked from the feeding tube and even took off the oxygen tube while he explored his new digs. After not having solid food for quite a while he felt good enough to take a taste or two of Sharon’s bean soup, a few swigs of her Coke, and was about to send me out for a Subway sandwich. But Sharon wouldn’t hear of it, not after all the trouble he’s had keeping nourishment down and the pain he has suffered due to the damage to his trachea.

We spent a good portion of the afternoon listening to Rick’s anecdotes - one about the doctor who was *uncomfortable* giving him a day pass to play golf between chemo treatments, and the one about his undergraduate professor who needed some friendly persuasion to give Rick a better grade so that he could get into grad school. If you haven’t heard these two, no matter, I am sure you have your own memories of Rick’s stories, his animated language, sharing his experience, strength and hope, and making us all laugh.

Family is rallying. Connie is coming in tomorrow night, Christina later in the week, and Roberta next Monday. Larry stops in daily. Friends are calling day and night. The one thing Sharon and Rick do not seem to feel is alone.

The mailing address for Rick is:

Franciscan Hospice
2901 Bridgeport Way West
University Place, WA 98466

That's all for now. Oh, and Sharon recovered her purse. It hadn’t been stolen, she accidentally left it downstairs at the hospital when she went for coffee. When she retraced her steps to try and find it, the area she had been in was closed and locked up. It being a weekend, nobody was manning the lost-and-found until this morning. One less thing to worry about...