Heidi Mills

Friday, December 7, 2012
6:50 AM
One more thought.  Out of order.  When we were waiting to be wheeled back to our room, there was a little old lady in the MRI area who was also waiting.  It was chilly down there.  While the little woman had on a blanket, sitting in a wheelchair, she was cold.  And she was alone.  No husband, sister, or adult child on board.  Just sitting there all by herself.

I left for a few moments.  Heidi had been talking to the woman in the wheelchair in the little curtained waiting area.  The older woman was nauseous and not feeling well at all.  There was a guy sort of trying to figure out who he was supposed to take back (our orderly was nowhere to be seen).  Heidi insisted that the other woman go first.  After all we had each other.

After she was wheeled away we sat there rhinking about how lucky we are.  There are a lot of people who don't have someone to love.  There are so many people who must go through adversity alone.  We didn't really know this old gal's story - but it gave us pause to remember the lonely ones among us.

Friday, December 7, 2012
6:40 AM

Back to the room after the MRI.  Heidi not feeling too great.  She is sleeping now.  One of the young docs came in and removed the bandage.  After he left I took a picture and showed her because she wanted to see.  Not pretty.  She said something like, "Well, that'll scare the kiddies."  She was disheartened I think, although she didn't say so.  The doc said that we might be discharged today.  We were thinking tomorrow and the chance to get one more day stronger and clearer.  So that is good news/bad news.  Getting up to go to the bathroom and then back into bed is one thing.  That is 15 steps.  Maybe 20.   Getting from the van to a hotel room is quite another.  This could be a rough day.

But she is strong.  Much stronger than I.

Friday, December 7, 2012
5:30 AM

Heidi is in for her final MRI this morning (we hope!).  The nurse came in at 4:30 and asked her how she felt and it was, "SO much better.  Thanks.  I am grateful."   What a way to greet the world less than two days after brain surgery.  She got up a couple of times to use the bathroom last night by herself.  That still makes me a little nervous but I must have been sleeping hard not to hear her.

Heidi is still unsteady but gaining confidence.  She is still in the bed all of the time and not exactly antsy to get out.  We're thinking she might get a shower today.  It's been since Monday - a record for her.  Her spirits are good.  She is still a little dozy, but when she is awake, she is wide awake.

Thursday, December 6, 2012
12:25 PM

Heidi is sleeping well at the moment. She has had 2 of the 3 IVs removed and we are waiting to be moved from ICU "upstairs" to a regular room.  The care has been amazing.  It's not surprising because the nursing ratio is so high.  Many of the patients here are in need of critical care.  When I walk down the hall past some rooms the patients have their entire heads covered in bandages with tubes coming out.  Some are in comas.  Some just haven't "come back" yet from very traumatic surgery.  Some doctors and nurses have to shout at their patients' names to get them to respond - if they respond at all.  "Mr. Chang!  OPEN YOUR EYES!"

Heidi is fully present now.  She can tell the nurses and doctors what they want to hear in the order they want to hear it. "My full name is Heidi Mills.  I am at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.  It is Thursday, December 6th, 2012..."

She's back, you guys - fully back.  While she hasn't tried to read yet, something the surgeon said could take a while, she is sharp-witted, personal, brave.

She is still in pain, it comes and goes with the cocktail of drugs she is taking. Heidi is back.

All she has had to eat in the last 36 hours or so is a handful of crackers.  We've ordered lunch and she seems to have her appetite back (which, for those of you who know her is only slightly more than the appetite of a song sparrow).

The nurse took out the catheter (sp? - no spellcheck here) a couple hours ago and Heidi has gotten up to wash her face (and - yes - to brush her teeth) and to pee (very important because they won't let you out of here until you do).  She is reclined in a regular chair now - out of the hospital bed.  Her color is back and, without a speck of makeup, she is a beauty.

I'd post a picture but she would kill me.

Later - 2:00
Just finished a 90 minute nap. "The best sleep I've had since I've arrived.  I send my love and gratitude to everyone."