Last Updated on September 30, 2010 by Dave Farquhar
When I was at church this morning, after early service, I turned around and to my surprise, Karin in the row behind me, holding Tommy (Katelyn’s brother). Ever the trooper, Tommy was alert and looking around, taking in his surroundings. Either Karin had come in late or I was being an unusually good Lutheran during the service, not looking at or talking to anybody. I think she came in late.
I asked Karin how Katelyn was. They’ve been having problems finding veins for her IVs, which is frustrating for her. I think I remember her saying, “I just want them to quit poking my baby.” She knows it’s necessary, but the people who come to put in the IVs aren’t always the most proficient at finding (and hitting) veins. On Friday or Saturday an experienced nurse came in and found a vein in her foot and hit it on the first try. She said that vein would be fine until Monday or Tuesday.
Her doctor has stepped up the antibiotics to an aggressive intravenous blend to combat her staph infection. She sounded confident that Katelyn would be coming home within a week, but the infection, if left uncontrolled, could damage the patch they put in her heart so they’re watching it closely and fighting it aggressively. She is sleeping a lot, which is good because she needs it. She’s not eating on her own right now but Karin made it sound like she has at times.
David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He started his career as a part-time computer technician in 1994, worked his way up to system administrator by 1997, and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He invests in real estate on the side and his hobbies include O gauge trains, baseball cards, and retro computers and video games. A University of Missouri graduate, he holds CISSP and Security+ certifications. He lives in St. Louis with his family.
My wife used to be a phlebotemist at a local hospital. I remember how proficient at the job she was. She once drew blood from me, and mind you, a needle to me is the barrel of a gun to the average person, and it was darn near painless. She worked diligently to be as gentle as possible.
I remember how upset she used to get at the nurses who’d become calloused and jaded at the profession. She would have literally droves of people personally request her.
I’m not sure of my point to this whole schpeil, but it has something to do with wishing people would remember that hospitals can be cold and lonely, and some people just need a smile, a gentle touch – the smallest of things to make those visits bearable.
It’s good to hear that the doctor is optimistic about Katelyn coming home soon, because it means that she is responding well to the treatment. Praise God!