COVID Hospital Stay
Today is a big day. It’s been three days since I’ve seen my father and the results of his blood and other cultures are due today. We will discover what types of infections he has as well as whether he is Covid negative. The results will determine the length of his hospital stay, how quickly he can leave Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and whether I can visit the hospital.
Mid-morning I begin my usual ritual – trying to snag Dad’s ICU nurse for an update. After three attempts, I finally catch his nurse. She provides the usual update - his vitals are good and his glucose level better, but he continues to sleep most of the time. Before they can release him from ICU, he needed to be alert. Only then can the medical team confidently remove the tubes, poles and machines that have been assisting him. Bottom line – we’d made progress but not enough.
Late evening, I checked with the ICU staff again. This time they’d received the culture results. Dad had a bladder infection that explained the sudden, ginormous spike in his glucose level. And…Dad was COVID negative. As the nurse told me this, she casually mentioned that I could visit him since he passed the COVID screening. I exhaled a sigh of relief and silently did a happy dance. I couldn’t wait for morning to break.
Without warning, I dashed up to ICU the next morning to see Dad. I knew he wasn’t alert, but deep down I felt he would sense my presence and yearn to leave the hospital with me. Periodically I talked to him, rubbed his feet and prayed for him. Miraculously, he opened his eyes and looked at me several times during my visit. The nurses and doctors were amazed.
They attributed his alertness to my presence rather than his healing. I was happy either way, and I pushed to have him moved out of ICU. By evening, we were watching movies together and I was describing the import of what we saw on the shows. He listened attentively and nodded knowingly.
The next day I repeated the ritual, showing up mid-morning to see Dad. He opened his eyes earlier today and we watched television together. By late afternoon, I learned Dad was being transferred from ICU. The ICU team still had reservations, but Dad was more alert, his vitals remained solid and his glucose level was well-managed. I’ll take it, I thought! That’s progress. Another happy dance!!!
Dad didn’t leave the ICU until 10:00 p.m. Nevertheless…happy dance!!! Staff removing the PICC line, iv, electrodes and attached machines was a huge relief. We still had a long way to go but we could celebrate his clear improvement thus far. Thank you, Lord.
Lasting Thoughts
As society analyzes the impact of COVID, little attention has been paid to its effect on seniors – physical or emotional.
COVID repercussions begin before any hospital stays and continue throughout. COVID-induced sadness or loneliness can affect the healing process.
Gear up to conger all of your inner strength to monitor hospital activities. Even in ICU settings with low nurse to patient ratios, it can be nearly impossible to get updates from medical staff. Persist. Your loved one deserves a diligent, caring advocate.
Expect and push for improvement – from your loved one and hospital staff.
Talk to, encourage and love your senior into better health.
