When Can I Finally Have Water?

Visitation was over at 7:00 PM, it was 6:45 and I was watching the clock thinking I'd have to leave Clark's room pretty soon when the surgeon (Cate) walked in the room dressed in surgery clothing. I thought perhaps she had just gotten out of a surgery but she had come for Clark. Dr. Schwartz, the head surgeon on the transplant team, just doesn't rest. Cate said Dr. Schwartz was looking at Clark's cat scan (the one they did earlier today to view Clark's bowel) from his home. He didn't want to wait until morning so he was coming in for surgery right then. The persistence of these Drs. is incredible. Their day never ends. I placed myself back in the waiting room, wrapped in a warm blanket a nurse had given me because my body keeps acting up by getting cold and shaking when I get nervous. I did the same thing in the waiting room as I was doing in Clark's room, watched the clock. One hour, two hours, and no report. So I called the nurses station for an update, they had just finished. Shortly I was called to Clark's room, again his eyes open and watching TV. Its hard to imagine this kid had just been through surgery again. Reports on his bowel was positive. They flushed the insides again and all looked good. Clark was scheduled for 8:30 AM surgery this morning for that flushing and cleaning but now it is canceled. Sounds like next surgery will be Friday, but as you can see, things change quickly here. A great concern still follows that artery not getting enough blood through it. They explained that they might have to go in with a medication to try to dissolve an acquired blockage or they could try to roto router it, or in worse case another transplant. If the liver doesn't get enough blood, it will die and Clark's life will be at risk too. For now they continue to give the blood pressure medicine and we pray things progress soon. At least the blood flow has not gotten less, and we want more.

In my hours spent with Clark yesterday, we were able to have some happy times. As Kristin had mentioned, he wasn't happy with one of the nurses and I witnessed too the reason he may have felt the way he did. If he was going to complain about nursing care, he was speaking with the right person as he was talking to the head nurse. She told him they would talk with that nurse and Clark immediately began to aggressively shake his head no and his arms were swinging to gesture no. Clark didn't want her in trouble. He just asked that she didn't take care of him again. I laughed with them and told them to send single, young, blond nurses in. You can imagine we had fun with that conversation.

That afternoon, Clark motioned for me to bring him paper and pen. I stood by his side as he scribble words that echoed in my mind so many times before. He wrote, "Ask the nurse when I can finally have water"? Water, such a simple thing to ask for! A mother at her son's side, asking for water, and I couldn't help. I just confirmed to him what a humble boy he has been so far and to give us a little more time, the moisture of a drink of water will be given in due time. I couldn't help observe the dryness of his mouth. Then he generously offered me that nod of agreement that he'd wait.

So after the evening surgery, and during my final visit for the day. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself when I saw his nurse for the evening shift. Don't get me wrong, the staff at the U has been absolutely terrific, but since Clark has been taking notice to their care, I couldn't help but to watch also, and wonder what Clark was thinking. Now remember we had ordered a single, young, blond nurse for him earlier today. Humm, well this nurse wasn't exactly young, she definitely wasn't blond, red or brunette (so that leaves only one other color), we didn't need to find out her marital status, BUT she was a great nurse and that's all we care about. It was good for my mind to linger away and keep a laugh inside to myself. Clark was able to gesture to me that the attending nurse "Wade" was a thumbs up kinda guy and Clark really liked him. He was trying to tell me something more that I just couldn't understand. Finally Clark motioned for me to get a clip board with the alphabet that was nearby. Wow, it was the end of the day and my brain was dragging a bit but I watched Clark point at letters trying to tell me Wade was also his nurse "last night". Clark pointed at those letters so fast that I had to tell my brain to "gitty up". I'm so thankful for all the precious care Clark is receiving from everyone.

In ending our day together, I told Clark he and I could play the game Pictionary when we get home. He again shook his head no, pointed at me, motioned with his hands to say no, and had a slight smile on his face. He was telling me he didn't want me for a partner because I was slow to understand him. We laughed and I took it with a grain of salt. I LOVE YOU CLARK!!!