Zen and the Art of Speedskating

Posted on 09 Mar 11:56 pm

Jessica Update

I am thankful I did not have to explain the concept of the Intensive Care Unit to RZ. I am thankful that at 4 months old she does not understand what is happening.

Although Jessica said she would sometimes catch her baby looking over at her in the hospital bed, with a sad expression.

I don’t want the terrible memories of the last few days to stay in my mind with any clarity. I want them to all go away, so I will not write them down.

But in the most general narrative, the story is this: for 4 days Jessica was not able to eat or drink anything; she was in terrible pain or completely out of it on heavy pain meds. Finally today her system got back on track.

She was able to eat & drink a little, and has improved measurably.

Jess could even walk… We had feared that she would end up with severe nerve damage in her feet from the arthritis, one of her feet has been completely numb for weeks, but that also seems to be slowly getting better.

The ICU is an awfully depressing place, and I am so thankful the Doctors are discharging her tomorrow.

Filed under: from home

13 Responses to “Jessica Update”

Jules, on March 10th, 2009 at 2:57 am Said:

thanks heavens - this sounds like the tiny delicate beginning of a new spring. well done jessica and everybody around you -
take care
every little step counts
keep stepping
Alice, on March 10th, 2009 at 6:19 am Said:

Glad to hear Jess is on the upswing. I hope her improvement continues! Sending lots of well-wishes!
Peter Doucet, on March 10th, 2009 at 6:28 am Said:

Thank goodness things are getting better- all the best and lots of love-
Linda V., on March 10th, 2009 at 1:23 pm Said:

Hooray!
Sue and Tony, on March 10th, 2009 at 2:13 pm Said:

A nurse i know said her friend had the same thing and it did go away completely. They seemed to think it had something to do with having the baby. I hope she recovers quickly.
Susan, on March 10th, 2009 at 3:41 pm Said:

Our thought and prayers are with you all — wish we could do more!
Casey Darby, on March 10th, 2009 at 6:29 pm Said:

Andrew, my thoughts and prayers are with you my friend. I’m not sure that we have met formaly but I enjoy your blog and we have a very similar path in life. I’ve been speed skating since I was 10 and just slightly younger than you and keep competetive by both inline and ice speed skating - long track, short track, indoor outdoor. It pains me to hear you and your family going through hardships and i know the balance between skating, family and life. In fact, i just emerged from the hospital after spending 6 days there with my wife and I’s first. I almost lost my wife in the process of brith and only after emergency surgery were we out of the woods. Following that, we faced possibly amputating her left arm from the rapid blood infusions. A very long story and a emotional roller coaster that i was certain would never end. Hang in there, things will get better, and your blogs are symbolic of a lot of us out here. Very best to the family!

Casey
Pete D, on March 11th, 2009 at 3:51 pm Said:

Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow great news finally

We will keep Jess in our Prayers Andrew.
Michelle, on March 11th, 2009 at 6:49 pm Said:

I’m so glad to hear that Jess is getting better and is to be released from the hospital, and hopefully she is home now, safe and sound. Here’s to better days ahead for all of you!
Kate, on March 11th, 2009 at 11:52 pm Said:

May this have been the bottom point, and all up and better from here.
jessica, on March 12th, 2009 at 6:56 am Said:

Thanks for all the love from afar, and I think I can safely say that yes, things are getting better. I’m home and eating like a horse, but I’m very weak.

Doctors still have no definite answers for me, though some tests are still pending. I am so grateful for my medical background so that I can understand what’s happening to me and speak intelligently with my doctors.

Just as importantly, I can accept that there may never be an answer. I’m often faced with that in my own job as a veterinarian. My case is so bizarre, and so many great minds have put their best efforts to figuring me out. That they haven’t come up with an answer yet makes me think they won’t, but that’s OK.

Most importantly I’m back home and starting to feel like a mom again. There were weeks when I couldn’t stand to look at RZ because I was so frustrated. Various parts of my body would hurt too much to hold her, and thank heaven between Andrew and my parents and Andrew’s parents she never went without.

So things are better! I hope for no more backslides, and I hope to get off the prednisone!!!!!!!!!!!!
Linda V., on March 13th, 2009 at 6:03 am Said:

So great to hear from the horse’s mouth! Onward and upward,Jess!
Liz, on March 21st, 2009 at 5:45 am Said:

Thats awesome!! Now we can all go out for some Hatch! That will make her instantly better.