Ben’s Final Hospital Days

Mr. Chuckles & London

Here we are, three days later, and Ben is finally out of the hospital.  On Monday, after an email conversation with my sister Joanna, she rallied my family and those who were able pitched in and bought him a balloon bouquet and a bear.  Ben has received several balloon bouquets and one other bear during his stay.  This gift came at just the right time for Ben as he had been feeling down and frustrated on Monday.  When this gift was brought into his room, his spirits were lifted and he was very thankful, once again, at the thoughtfulness of family and friends.  He has now received two bears during his stay.  The one that arrived on Monday he named London because it reminds him of the city's skyline that he has seen in pictures.  The other he named Mr. Chuckles because of the smile on its face. J

 

On Tuesday, the surgeon removed the “drain” from Ben’s stomach.  He said he wasn’t too terribly concerned about the fact that Ben’s white blood cell count was still high (according to Jen, he said he’s sent patients home who were as high as 21).  While the surgeon was happy with Ben’s progress, in order for him to leave the hospital, Ben also needed to be signed off by the infectious disease doctor because of the quarantine aspect.  We’ve had to put on gloves and wear gowns when we’ve visited Ben for the last few days.  It’s been a pain, but if we don’t the staff would do a freak out dance.  The last thing the surgeon mentioned was to smuggle a pizza into the hospital for dinner that evening.  Jen said Ben’s eyes got really wide when the doctor said that.  Jen called in the order and I picked up Isaac and a bottle of Sprite and a bottle of lemonade when I came home from work.  Isaac and I then went to Costco to collect the pepperoni pizza.  A lot of people coveted the pizza as Isaac and I walked through the halls of the hospital on the way to Ben’s room.  We partied at Ben’s bed.

 

This morning, Jennifer called me at around 8:30 and said that Ben would be discharged later in the morning or early afternoon.  I guess the surgeon and two other doctors who have been monitoring him need to all sign off on it.  At some time between noon and 1 o’clock, the signature had been secured, the quarantine lifted, and Ben was on his way home.

 

I am very much relived.  When Jennifer started giving me reports that showed positive progress, I felt as though a huge weight had been taken off my shoulders.  There have been so many people (family, ward members, people at work) who have told me they are praying for Ben and others who have visited him during his hospital stay.  All of these thoughts and gestures have helped me to keep moving forward in the midst of this latest of Ben’s health problems.  I am grateful for both earthly and heavenly assistance to lift up Ben’s hands when they have hung down and to strengthen his feeble knees and to do the same for me and Jennifer and Isaac.  Now that he is home, we can focus on helping Ben recover from the surgery and to prepare him for the pain management program.