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Roger, Day 4

To get up to speed (haha, like 35 mph), see this post.

When we last saw our hero, Roger, the trauma surgeon was focused on staving off pneumonia in his “really banged up” lung. The pain meds are not giving enough relief from the chest tube (bigger than my thumb in diameter) for Roger to breathe deeply into his lungs. His breathing remains shallow, and the xray shows he is using only the top half of his lungs.

An epidural would solve the pain problem, allowing deeper breathing to take place. But his blood is not clotting perfectly, and anesthesiologists will only poke holes in the spines of people who have perfect scores on clotting factors. Picky, picky.

The best we can do, then, is to have Roger walk around a lot, sit up a lot, and work on his breathing exercises. He can now inhale 1750 ml of air. Today’s target is 3000.

Tessa and Reed visited today on their way to our family’s 50th anniversary celebration for my parents. The whole fam-damily (except for Roger and me) is heading to Park City for a week of recreation and togetherness.

The kids enjoyed hanging out with their Daddy, and they even helped get him up and walk him around the ward. Unfortunately, there was quite a bit of wailing when it was time for Grandma and Grandpa to get them in the van for the trip. But Mom tells me that stopped as soon as the DVD player came on. God Bless Tolkien.

Roger’s had visits from friends and neighbors. People are bringing me meals. Food shows up in my fridge, still bare from our trip last week to Boston/NY State. Offers to help and words of love are pouring in.

This kindness makes me cry more even than the situation does. I don’t know why. I am exhausted, having trouble sleeping, and raw. The idea that people have so much goodness in them just brings me to that core place where I am all tears.

0 Responses

  1. My thoughts and cheers are with you! Breath deep “GO ROG GO” know it is hard but you can do it, I have seen you dance sweat and breath heavy like a champ. Maybe if they play ya some good music to inspire you. I am sending you good vibes and if you need anything just ask love yall Camille

  2. My thoughts and cheers are with you! Breath deep “GO ROG GO” know it is hard but you can do it, I have seen you dance sweat and breath heavy like a champ. Maybe if they play ya some good music to inspire you. I am sending you good vibes and if you need anything just ask love yall Camille

  3. You’ve hardly had a chance to catch your breath. You just get off a flight from the east coast, then you’re in Estes looking forward to enjoying a wedding and then your world is upended. And you have to miss your parent’s 50th anniversary on top of it.

    Go ahead and cry, Sweetie. It’ll nourish your soul.

    I wish I was there to bring you some food and hugs.

    (Gentle, very gentle) hugs to Rob, too.

    Love

  4. Lots of prayers an love to you both! Way to go Rob, keep up the good work with your breaths!
    *HUGS*

  5. You are getting all these beautiful blessings now because of the goodness you have put out into the world. 🙂 I’m glad Rob’s improving, even if it’s a tough journey for all of you.

    Prayers!!

  6. I’ve been thinking about you and Rob and hoping for an update!

    Here’s to deep breaths and reaching his goal!

    (((((((HUGS)))))))

  7. You’ve hardly had a chance to catch your breath. You just get off a flight from the east coast, then you’re in Estes looking forward to enjoying a wedding and then your world is upended. And you have to miss your parent’s 50th anniversary on top of it.

    Go ahead and cry, Sweetie. It’ll nourish your soul.

    I wish I was there to bring you some food and hugs.

    (Gentle, very gentle) hugs to Rob, too.

    Love

  8. Lots of prayers an love to you both! Way to go Rob, keep up the good work with your breaths!
    *HUGS*

  9. You are getting all these beautiful blessings now because of the goodness you have put out into the world. 🙂 I’m glad Rob’s improving, even if it’s a tough journey for all of you.

    Prayers!!

  10. I’ve been thinking about you and Rob and hoping for an update!

    Here’s to deep breaths and reaching his goal!

    (((((((HUGS)))))))

  11. Lori — I have been thinking of you and Rob all day. The love you are receiving and the good you are feeling is what you put out to the world all of the time. It comes back to you when you need it.

    We are missing you terribly. It’s not the same without you!

  12. I echo everyone’s thoughts, wishes, prayers and cheers at the progress Rob’s making. All that biking and running are bound to pay off soon.

    Lori, please take a moment, no matter how small, to take care of yourself during all of this. I’m cheering for you, too.

    LisaK

  13. You are in my thoughts…It is going to be quite the road…Hoping tomorrow he can breathe 2000.

    Thanks for the updates and good luck!!!

    Amie

  14. He’s improving and that is the key. I wish I lived close enough to come and sit with you. {{{Hugs}}} and prayers my friend.

  15. Wishing I could do something more than write internet words.

    You are vulnerable in a core place. It makes sense that you would be so sensitive there now, even to kindness.

    Refuah shlemah, Rob.
    Peace and rest to you both.

  16. Sunny is exactly right – you are experiencing being a part of the chain of goodness from a different perspective than you are used to, perhaps, but you are being held as you have held so many others through so many different life experiences. I love that you are seeing this with your whole heart and your whole being, even in the midst of the rawness and the exhaustion and the questions.

    Still saying lovingkindness for you…

  17. Lori — I have been thinking of you and Rob all day. The love you are receiving and the good you are feeling is what you put out to the world all of the time. It comes back to you when you need it.

    We are missing you terribly. It’s not the same without you!

  18. I echo everyone’s thoughts, wishes, prayers and cheers at the progress Rob’s making. All that biking and running are bound to pay off soon.

    Lori, please take a moment, no matter how small, to take care of yourself during all of this. I’m cheering for you, too.

    LisaK

  19. You are in my thoughts…It is going to be quite the road…Hoping tomorrow he can breathe 2000.

    Thanks for the updates and good luck!!!

    Amie

  20. He’s improving and that is the key. I wish I lived close enough to come and sit with you. {{{Hugs}}} and prayers my friend.

  21. Wishing I could do something more than write internet words.

    You are vulnerable in a core place. It makes sense that you would be so sensitive there now, even to kindness.

    Refuah shlemah, Rob.
    Peace and rest to you both.

  22. Sunny is exactly right – you are experiencing being a part of the chain of goodness from a different perspective than you are used to, perhaps, but you are being held as you have held so many others through so many different life experiences. I love that you are seeing this with your whole heart and your whole being, even in the midst of the rawness and the exhaustion and the questions.

    Still saying lovingkindness for you…

  23. Loz. You have been in my thoughts every day …. maaaaate. Reading that …. wow. Pretty freaky, huh? Seems like he got a lucky escape …. but still, out of action for a while.

    Speaking of action –

    Dear Rob, (aka Action Man)

    Well mate, you have no clue who I am, but I’m a friend of Lori’s. I am wishing you a speedy recovery. I have seen a pic of you and you are HOT, so I hope your face is unharmed.

    Love Eden
    PS Your wife is a total legend.

    XOXOX

  24. Hang in there, my friend. I can only imagine what you’re going through. Sending you love, light and prayers.

  25. OMG you’re HOME? i was under the impression you were still away on vaca? what can i do to help??????
    please call me…

  26. Loz. You have been in my thoughts every day …. maaaaate. Reading that …. wow. Pretty freaky, huh? Seems like he got a lucky escape …. but still, out of action for a while.

    Speaking of action –

    Dear Rob, (aka Action Man)

    Well mate, you have no clue who I am, but I’m a friend of Lori’s. I am wishing you a speedy recovery. I have seen a pic of you and you are HOT, so I hope your face is unharmed.

    Love Eden
    PS Your wife is a total legend.

    XOXOX

  27. Hang in there, my friend. I can only imagine what you’re going through. Sending you love, light and prayers.

  28. OMG you’re HOME? i was under the impression you were still away on vaca? what can i do to help??????
    please call me…

  29. That’s a bummer that you have to miss the party 🙁 But yay to the resilience of children and good luck reaching 3000! I hope he starts feeling more comfortable soon.

  30. I’m thinking about you both and hoping for some deep breaths and good clotting factors soon. Take care.

  31. Oh Lori! I’m so sorry for what you are going through. I will be keeping you all in my prayers. So good to hear you are receiving help. I hope you are able to bring your husband home where he belongs soon.

    God Bless!

  32. That’s a bummer that you have to miss the party 🙁 But yay to the resilience of children and good luck reaching 3000! I hope he starts feeling more comfortable soon.

  33. I’m thinking about you both and hoping for some deep breaths and good clotting factors soon. Take care.

  34. Oh Lori! I’m so sorry for what you are going through. I will be keeping you all in my prayers. So good to hear you are receiving help. I hope you are able to bring your husband home where he belongs soon.

    God Bless!

  35. Big ((HUGS)), Lots of Love, here for the long haul. I’m so glad Rob is making good progress and he got to see the children, the best medicine of all.

  36. Yes – don’t forget to have a little bit of Lori time as well. Even though Rob is the one with the chest tube, it is still physically and emotionally exhausting to be the one at the bedside.

    You receive much love because you have given so much . . . thinking of you both.

  37. Yo dudette, mix yourself up some mojitos and read for a little. Just a little. I know you want to and need to and should be with Rob, but take a little time for yourself too – this is a lot to take in and deal with. So get even a teensy bit of “you” time, or try to.

  38. Big ((HUGS)), Lots of Love, here for the long haul. I’m so glad Rob is making good progress and he got to see the children, the best medicine of all.

  39. Yes – don’t forget to have a little bit of Lori time as well. Even though Rob is the one with the chest tube, it is still physically and emotionally exhausting to be the one at the bedside.

    You receive much love because you have given so much . . . thinking of you both.

  40. Yo dudette, mix yourself up some mojitos and read for a little. Just a little. I know you want to and need to and should be with Rob, but take a little time for yourself too – this is a lot to take in and deal with. So get even a teensy bit of “you” time, or try to.

  41. Oh, Lori I feel like an idiot.Hello, talk about my head in the clouds. I had no idea this was going on. I am so sorry this happened but thank goodness he is alright. Sending hugs your way.

  42. Oh, Lori I feel like an idiot.Hello, talk about my head in the clouds. I had no idea this was going on. I am so sorry this happened but thank goodness he is alright. Sending hugs your way.

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