Kayla Quote: "The simple act of being one's friend can change their brain chemistry and improve their functioning in the world." - The Soloist, as written down in one of Kayla's notebooks
Short Synopsis: Mike and I were here in the evening and at 8 p.m. the nurse practitioner gave us a very complete report on Kayla's overall status. She went system by system to update us. She was thorough and good. I wondered why Kayla's heart rate was so high, in the 120-130 range. She explained that the heart was weak, but that the more important number was how the blood was flowing through the ventricles and total heart. These were good with everything being completely perfused. Good blood flow was being accomplished and all organs were getting what they needed. They were setting up a meeting for the next day with the doctors.
She was extremely positive and hopeful that Kayla had a great chance to move forward, get stronger, and be in a position to receive a heart. She outlined different scenarios with the easiest being getting a heart soon, as she is near the top of the list and still in the ICU with intravenous drips. Other paths include getting off the respirator and going upstairs to the 7th floor where the VAD patients are. There is more room up there to get your legs back. Then she could go home with a portable luggage size device attached to the tubes which lead into her body to keep her heart going. She would wait at home for a heart. This scenario has the longest wait for a heart as you drop down on the list. There is always this up and down movement on the heart candidate waiting list.
Kayla is extending her time on the trach collar - today it was 10 hours, her record. She is proud of her accomplishment. She can breathe pretty well but needs to get air deeper into her lungs, all part of the process. When her tubes are accidentally yanked, it can cause pain in her belly, always a problem.
Mike and I feel more and more confident that Kayla has a great chance...we just need a heart, a good one!
Long Story: David is a great teacher and uses his story telling ability to mesmerize everyone around him. I ask about how the women dress in his religion and he explains. Most importantly, they are supposed to dress modestly. They are allowed to wear 3/4 quarter length sleeves and their skirts must be just below the knee. They wear wigs after they are married as their hair is only for their husbands to see. They can wear t-shirts and shorts when they exercise but everything goes back to modesty. They never wear pants. Even in Phoenix, his hometown, they are not allowed to wear cool clothing.
I tell him I am glad I can wear clothing that is cool on a hot day, but it is nice how solid the rules are for a good moral way of life.
He tells me the "button story." A woman was going on a date and she wasn't sure how she was supposed to dress. She wondered if she should unbutton the top button to show a little bit of moxie or button it up completely. She wore the long skirt. When her date picked her up, she had decided to open up the top button of her shirt. Then she got into the car and he said, "Close that button!" She was embarrassed as she thought she had made the wrong decision. What he meant though was for her to lock the door!
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"I've rescinded the DNR order," exclaims David, as he clutches a bunch of messy papers in his hands.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
David explains that since his mother is really responding, his family feels strongly that they should give her a chance to live. Judith is not giving up and she is defying the odds. She has had two cardiac arrests so if she has a third one, they want them to resuscitate her again. When I see this woman and hear all about her progress, I begin to believe anything is possible. At least, every day is beautiful with daily interaction with her.
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A nice young man named George called from one of the fraternities regarding Kayla. They raised $400 from a car wash for Kayla and he wants to know where and how to send it. Contemplation for a moment. Write out a check in her name and send it to our address. I will bring it to the hospital and she can sign it and then we can put it in her bank account.
I tell Kayla and it's the love that she is basking in. She smiles...
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What's this?
Mama hawk is in trouble? "Over the weekend a new threat to Violet emerged - a metal wildlife band constricting blood flow to her leg and making it swell to at least twice its usual size...Wildlife bands usually dangle around birds' ankles, but somehow this band, placed by a researcher, has been forced higher, to a wider part of Violet's leg: it must be removed to allow blood to flow properly...They plan to return in the coming days to execute a rescue mission, which may lack the intricacies and danger of a covert Navy Seals operations, but will require more than a little physical prowess and dexterity. The window that looks out on the nest opens out, and so it cannot be opened without dislodging the nest...the adjacent window shares the same ledge and can be opened safely...Mr. Horvath would lean out, wearing a harness, and try to net Violet...When Violet stands, she knuckles, meaning that her toes curl under...the Hawk cam installed to monitor the bird showed Violet in a state of avian contemplation, seemingly comfortable, if a bit fidgety...She scratched her feathers and nudged a piece of paper in the nest with her beak...so as mothers nationwide were given evidence of appreciation from children and husbands alike..." (New York Times, Monday, 5/9/11)
Ok, it's 6:30 - time to check up on the hawks. Sure enough...there is Mom. She gets up off the nest and goes to the side and fetches the latest meat dinner, delivered by the male. He hunts and supplies them even as he perches from various sentry points to keep an eye on all other hawk intruders. It's another rat. Her baby is tentative again. He seems very frail. He is only 3 days old. Guess this is hawk fare.
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I wanted to drive all the way to Ridgefield, but I was exhausted so I only made it to Tarrytown. I get there at 10 p.m., quite early. Deirdre is on one part of the couch. Ty is on the other. There is one more section for me. You can imagine how large this sectional couch is - it's huge, and at the ready for a pajama party! We watch a little TV together and they go off to bed.
I only sleep for 5 hours and am wide awake. At 4 a.m. I drive up to Ridgefield in my pajamas. Finally made it home...it took two small excursions to get there...
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