I'm Ready To Go Home

Tuesday December 3, 1991

Bad night! Evelyn and I both made several trips to the bathroom. Lots of visits from the nurse. By 5 a.m. I give up. They are here to weigh me at 6 and then take my blood. I have now lost 18 pounds. I feel alot thinner in my nightgown. I guess my slacks will really feel different.

I'm ready to go home! I can't stand this place another 24 hours. Dr. Russack doesn't want me to go home yet. The dietician agrees with him. He does agree to disconnect the IV. They bring me some liquids at 10 a.m, 12:30 and 6:00.

I have showered and washed my hair by 7:30 a.m. Sure feels good. I'm very restless. Up and down and alot of walking. About 3:30 I get a new roommate, a 40-year-old black.

I wait all day for Dr. Bix. The nurse calls her twice for me. Dr. Russack comes again at 5 p.m. He calls Dr. Bix twice. She's too busy to come see me. I offer to go to her office. I'm very upset about not seeing her.

Larry, Bernice and Frank come. No diarrhea all day. I feel full of energy. I go home about 7 p.m.

Thank goodness after waiting all day Mom finally got to go home. I wonder if Dr. Bix finally showed up? I know how she hated hospitals and for her to admit herself meant she was really desperate. But once she is feeling better, she is determined to get out of there.

74 Year Old Rebel

Monday December 2, 1991

Well, I'm not going home today. I ate some scrambled egg and toast. Then Dr. Russack came in and decided no food or water for another day or so. Dr. Bix is not here today. I hope she'll be back tomorrow.

Just another day in paradise. Evelyn got her tubes out. We went for a walk. She stopped at the restroom and smoked a cigarette. She's a 74-year-old rebel. She knows it's against the law.

My stomach feels fine all day. I feel good. Kathy calls and may come to visit again. Frank visits from 3 to 5 p.m. I'm sure he's tired of driving over here every day.

Evelyn has trouble with controlling her bladder in the evening and dribbles from her bed to the bathroom. I can't get someone to clean it up for 2 hours. After one hour I clean it up with a towel. I'm angry. They're very busy with new patients coming in tonight.

Mom was not too patient and never did like messes.