Typical Day

Today was pretty typical. No setbacks no major strides forward. I thought I'd give an idea of all of the people involved in Scott's care. Every day Scott has 2 ICU nurses one from 7am-7pm and one from 7pm-7am. Scott is that nurse's only patient. This particular ICU(Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit) has 2 intensivists(doctors) covering the unit at all times. They start Monday morning and work until Sunday night. They are both there all day and rotate working the nights. I think they have a place to sleep in the hospital but need to be close and available at all times. We usually talk to one of these doctors every day after they do their 'rounds' on Scott. The surgeon, Dr.Rebeyka, usually stops by and checks on Scott at least once a day. He will decide when Scott is surgically stable enough to transfer to Calgary. Probably when Scott has the chest tubes out. We usually see Dr.Buchholz, the artificial heart specialist too, when he's in town. Every weekday we see Celine, the transplant coordinator and one of the 5 transplant cardiologists. Also, on the weekdays we see Linda, the physiotherapist and one of many occupational therapists to help Scott get his strength back. There are many doctors and healthcare workers always checking on Scott throughout the week. We have met nephrologists(kindney), infectious disease doctors(infection specialists), psychiatrists(shrinks..haha), speech/language pathologists, social workers, and chaplains. I know all of them by their faces now and most of them by their names. I am very grateful for the training that went into all of these professions! Without it I don't think Scott would still be here. I'm also very grateful to live in Canada where I haven't paid for any of it out of pocket!!! I can only imagine the bill that would be coming without Alberta Health Care. I don't think we'd ever get our heads above water without it! Anyways, I do feel grateful for my blessings. I have met some amazing people. I've met many other family members in the waiting areas and made some friendships and felt support and empathy from many around me here. I don't recommend this experience but I have learned and experienced things that I wouldn't have otherwise.