The Saga of Sam

The Saga of Sam

The hospital bed arrived today.  We put it in the room off of our bedroom.  You never really rested comfortably on it.  Once again, the cramps returned in the evening.  Once again, the quinine worked.  You woke up at 1:00 A.M. and stayed awake until morning.  No problem, you just weren't tired.  Tuesday was an easy day; you were in a great mood.

You have occupied yourself well throughout.  You have kept your schoolwork up-to-date and we have applied for the Home and Hospital Program so you can complete the year at home.  You've built an intricate model that continuously circulates steel balls.  It is really neat and took a lot of patience.  You cook every Tuesday afternoon with our neighbor Fee and often cook on other days.  Aunt Bev brought a chef's hat up for you.  We've had a lot of fun with that hat.

This is one of your more frustrated weeks.  No calamities, just the impending admission on Thursday for sclerotherapy.  On admission, your ammonia levels are high (83).  Lactalose is given to lower the levels, and thus becomes another staple in your growing medicinal diet.  You are given a unit of blood, a unit of FFP, and IV lasix.  Your hematocrit has become problematic, now at 25 before transfusion.  I've recently given blood in care you need it.  My hematocrit is 40.