Wednesday, November 19th

Cindy and her "Master Earthdog", Frank in Turner, Oregon (note the "M.E." on his bandana)

Hello Everyone,

I arrived in the ICU this morning at 9:30 to find Cindy's parents already there.  They informed me that this morning's CAT scan had revealed the shunt put in yesterday was not draining the cerebrospinal fluid to the doctor's satisfaction.  His assistant had come by earlier to open a valve in it with a magnet (without success).  That's the programmable aspect the doctor had mentioned yesterday (the antibiotic action comes from a coating on the shunt).  The assistant came by later in the day with a stronger magnet and opened it successfully.  

Cindy was awake all morning and seemed to feel pretty good despite the ordeal she had endured on Tuesday.  She ate some breakfast and was pretty talkative, although she complained of a headache (for which the nurse promptly gave her something).  An evaluator from Providence Portland's rehab center came by to ask her some questions (to see what kind of rehabilitation she might need) and didn't seem to think Cindy would have to be in rehab very long.  Later in the day, she was moved out of the ICU and back up to the ninth floor.  

I left about noon to go home and take care of some things and when I got back at about seven, Cindy seemed to feel much worse.  Colleen and Ernie had arrived just before I did and they agreed that she seemed to be rather uncomfortable.  She said she didn't have a headache, but I suspect the soreness from having that tube reamed down through her neck into her chest was really beginning to take hold. She had complained about it a little in the morning, but I think it had turned into a generalized ache that was making her miserable.  She just laid there with her eyes closed and a scowl on her face and said very little the whole time we were there.  We only stayed about an hour, then left so she could get some rest.  She'll be getting another CAT scan first thing in the morning to see if the shunt is draining to their satisfaction.

She's in room 945 but I don't suspect she's going to feel well enough to have visitors quite yet.  A phone call might cheer her up and take her mind off the discomfort, though.  Her number is: (503) 216-3945.  She can have flowers again, too.

Thanks once again for keeping her in your thoughts and prayers.  Let's hope she's over the hump and set to start feeling much better.