Discharged At Last

Rod's Stats:

Platelets: 81,6000

WBC: 4.61 (Low Normal)
Temperature: 97.7 degrees (Has been normal for several days)
BP: Normal

BIG EVENT ONE:

Today was a very GREAT day. The most wonderful event was Rod was discharged from the hospital and got to go “home” to the apartment. He has been miserably sick with an infection since Monday night, but medication and his own “new” white blood cells have conquered it. He is feeling much better!

BIG EVENT TWO:

The second wonderful event

was a surprise visit by two of Rod’s business associates shown in the photo. At left is Matsuta-San, on the right is Richard Newton, and the guy in the middle, with the big smile is our dear brother Rod. He was VERY pleased to have these gentlemen visit him. Rod is such a super guy even business associates make an effort to visit him.

PATIENT DISCHARGED:

As anyone who has been hospitalized knows, the time between when the doc says you will be discharged and when you actually get out of the building is a long, long waiting period.

Dr. Shelton told us about 1:00 pm that Rod was ready to go home. About 1:10 pm we were packed up and sitting on our suitcases in the hall. Well not quite, but it was almost like that. Well about 4:00 pm one of the staff saw us and said, “Are you still here? I thought Mr. Clark was discharged.” Upon hearing that we said there hadn’t been any action. So she made some calls and within a half hour we were ready to go. Joan was to go get the car, the hospital would provide a luggage carrier and wheelchair and Rod and Sue would be escorted to the Patient Discharge Door where Joan would pick them up.

If anything can go wrong, IT WILL!

So all was going well... Until…Joan got to the car and found that the battery was dead. Oh great!!!! Fortunately there was a UAB security officer nearby who gave Joan a number to call a UAB service for patients and families, who discover dead batteries, flat tires, etc. Joan called the number with great relief and then waited after alerting Sue and Rod what the hold-up was.

RESCUED:

While Joan was waiting for the service, a lady who came to retrieve her own car, kindly offered to provide a “jump.” I thanked her profusely and said that help was on the way. Shortly a man arrived on a motorcycle. He had a device with jumper cables, which worked wonderfully and the car started on the first try. Joan then VERY happily then drove to pick up Rod and Sue and we arrived at the apartment with no other mishaps. Thank Goodness!

(We have since determined that an interior light was left on for about 24 hours and that is probably what drained the battery.)

HOME SWEET HOME ALABAMA:

Though it was very cozy with the three of us living in Rod’s hospital “suite,” we are glad to have room to spread out again. The apartment now seems HUGE.

CHORES:

Sue spent much of the evening doing loads and loads of laundry. Rod has to have clean clothes and sheets every day and they have to be washed and dried on HOT. Laundry is a big and very important task. Sue also got Rod’s medicine regimen organized. Joan made a spaghetti, butter, salt and pepper supper for Rod and he ate a big helping plus some Becky Cowboy Cookies. Joan also did some major cleaning in the kitchen.

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY:

We have been so impressed with Southern hospitality. All the citizens are so friendly and helpful. We feel well taken care of by the Alabamians, during many issues, including emergency room and dead battery problems. The medical staff and support staff caring for Rod was super caring and respectful to him and also to Sue and Joan in spite of the fact that they let no question or concern go un-addressed. Hmmm! Maybe they discharged Rod just to get rid of Joan and Sue.