Float Your Climb

Cathy Hoey’s mom died a few days back. She was quite the lady, and good friends with William. She’ll be missed.



Woke today feeling really good. Like once a decade good. I don't remember waking feeling that refreshed and ready to go in years. Not sure what happened, I know I was exhausted. Slammed a Coke before I went to bed at 10pm, got up and moved to a different bed at midnight and the next thing I knew it was 10am. The joy is starting to wear off as the day rolls on.



Luke. So, let me tell you about Luke. He's our newest rescue dog, got him a week after we got the trio. Even though we've had him for two years or so he's still the New Guy. Got home on Monday morning and he didn't run to see me like he normally does. That's ok, sometimes he's asleep. So I found him and he was not moving. Like, sick, not moving, giving me the end of the world eyes. Anyone who's had a dog reach the end of their life knows the look. He wouldn't get up. Wouldn't lift his head. Quick check revealed extreme pale gums and tongue. So right away you know something is wrong. Didn't see any injuries of pools of blood, he wasn't struggling to breathe but his heart was beating a little fast, not off the chart. No fever. All these things running through your head and trying to come up with an on the spot Doggie Diagnosis. Figured out either way it wasn't going to be good and got an appointment same day with the vet. New vet on that day, never met Dr. Parham before.



Got him down there (hour drive, mind) and she though it was IMHA - hemolytic anemia. Body attacks red blood cells and destroys them. Not good news. His hematocrit was 13. Srsly low. She wanted to do a transfusion of doggo blood, but felt he would be in better care at the doggie ICU. Her xray machine was down and they have limited equipment at the PCP anyway.



So after tracking the rescue group owner Stephanie down and getting approval I drove him up and across to Vergi, the Doggie ICU/ER. They admit him and run tests, send me home because really, what am I gonna do in the waiting room. Turns out it was not IMHA - a good thing - but he had a mass on his spleen that ruptured and he was bleeding internally. They gave him two blood transfusions and got him to surgery at 9pm. Good thing I stay up late, I was able to call through the night and get updates. He did quite well for having his spleen removed. No spleen = no masses.



The next day they called and said he was being a stinkpot. Refusing to eat and ignoring the assistants. They called me in to see if he would respond to me. Of course the little shit ate a whole bowl of chicken, got up for a walk, and played with his toys when I was there. He just didn't like being alone in the hospital and was pouting. So they did a quick discharge after making sure he was keeping his food down because he was getting nowhere in the hospital.



He's been doing great at home, eating, drinking, using the restroom. A bit stiff and slower than normal, not unusual for a major surgery.



Until today. He’s back to his normal, bouncy, barky self. Wanting to be up my butt every single minute. Mommy play with me. Mommy pet me. Mommy, breakfast? Mommy, bellyrubs. Mommy Mommy Mommy. I love the little Dude, but space man. He’s doing really well, even went up the stairs by himself. Stephanie is very proud of him.



Still waiting on the pathology report. Dr. Sloat his normal primary care dogtor thinks it’s benign. The growth had a hollow center on ultrasound; he says a cancer would be more solid. Well, I’m gonna wait for the official OK before relaxing. Even if it is cancer, Dude’s got some more bonus time that he feels good enough to live his life.



William, on the other hand. So diabetes it is. Runs all up and down both sides of his family, plus with his shit diet it’s not really a surprise. No symptoms except he got dizzy. Can’t walk kind of dizzy. Bought him a walker and everything. Sugar was 575 and A1C is 12.5. Yeah, no bueno. Immediate diet changes so he’s super grumpy on top of being sick. Got his metformin pill which makes him even dizzier. So it’s been about two weeks and he’s bedridden again. Can’t even get to the toilet to piss. Sugar is ok when he stays away from the Coke and beer. Goes up to 300 and then back down. He stopped taking the metformin. Sugars are higher but he can get to the toilet. It’s a trade off. He was depressed before, but now he’s really in a dark place. Nothing I can do so I let him sit in his room. I sit with him some times, but I can’t fix him. I cook and he says he’s too dizzy to eat so I put his serving into a tupperware and into the fridge. He usually has toast in the morning so at least he’s getting something, but it’s not much. He doesn’t want to do insulin injections and honestly I don’t want to give them. He’s got no abdominal fat so finding someplace to stab him at the right angle would be neigh on impossible. Doctor keeps testing me for metabolic panels and William is the one who needs it. No diabetes in my family. Heart trouble, yes. Suicide, oh yeah, but not diabetes. Probably why my numbers are always good.



Didn’t even get to talk to Billy for his birthday. He’s got better things to do these days, if you know what I mean. She sounds like a lovely girl and I’m really happy for him. Seventy five though. 75! And still looks as good as ever.



Work has gotten itself into trouble with Jacho. Seems like they’ve been doing things wrong systemically, which we in Registration have been trying to tell the C Suite for years, but because we’re cheaper than nurses, they make us do things. Well, Jacho gave the hospital a lot of fines last week for trying to take some $$ shortcuts. Guess that wasn’t so cost effective in the long run, was it? Blithering idiots. CPA’s trying to dispense medical care. Between the CPAs, MBAs, and lawyers I’m really surprised any health care gets done at a hospital.



Ok. Now I’m starting to feel it. Now I’m getting tired. Might close my eyes for a bit, the last report is finally done and sent out. Shouldn’t have any more patient until about 0530 or 0600.