Friday, April 23, 2004 8:30pm

 

Stevie remains in ICU not for any problem but for the monitors as she is on blood pressure reducing morphine in ICU.  The morning started rough with pain through the roof but has gotten better even as they have cut back on the morphine.  She is resting well – interrupted by occasional wakeful fits of “OW! OW! OW!

 

We are observing ICU visiting hours though the nurses have suggested we could stay.  Last night we both got a good nights rest knowing that the ICU nurses would be attentive.

 

Dr. Moore Stevie’s surgeon was by but we missed him having gone to Targets to do a little shopping.  We kicked ourselves.  The nurse relayed that Dr. Moore was upbeat.  He said he wanted her right leg to be stretched out as often as possible – which reminds me of something he said after surgery yesterday.  He had straightened her right leg out without difficulty while she was under.  This suggests her tendons were not tightening as her constantly flexed knee would have suggested. 

 

On the way up to the 3rd floor ICU we got off on 2nd by accident – all the floors look the same.  Susan went to the bathroom while I oblivious headed down the hall.  Turning past the nurses’ station I recognized a familiar face.  Coming out of the fog I realized I was on 2nd and headed back by the nurses’ station toward the elevator.  When Susan came out of the bathroom, I said, I think I just saw Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, the guy on “ED”.  Typically she turned and walked down to the nurses’ station and said ‘You look familiar, you’re on ED’ at which he said yes.  Susan gave him a hug and called me over.  Our short conversation revealed a character not unlike the one he plays, humorous with a great spirit. He had been in rehab here and made it clear how he felt about the place “this is the best place, period”. 

 

We are headed back to the apartment for our second good night of rest in a row.  This could get addicting…