Current situation

 

 

Friday evening update:

Peter had a very rough night on Thursday.  Late at night, he appeared to be in a very deep sleep, his vital signs were very low, and he was unresponsive.  Pastor Megan joined us before dawn and around 5 am, we woke the kids up to be with him. Macy and Eli and I, with my brother and Pastor Megan, spent a few hours at his side, taking turns putting our hands on his heart.  His heartbeat was slow and irregular.  He was breathing only five times per minute.

You might think you know where this is going, but you’d be wrong.  At about 7 am,  after a few hours of this deep sleep, he rallied.  His vitals returned to normal and he opened his eyes and looked around at all of us and asked if anyone wanted bagels. Then he talked about pastrami for awhile (where CAN you get a good Rueben in Miami?).  When the day nurse arrived and greeted him, he told her that he felt great.  We were flabbergasted. I sent the kids back to bed.

The nurse told us that if he asked for food, we should only give him ice cream, pudding, and other soft food. Peter had other plans. He has had multiple servings of pistachio ice cream, as well as four croquettes, a fried egg sandwich, a few pork rinds, and at least three Oreos.  Shaggy jumped up on the bed and sat on his chest, intent on sharing the croquettes, and Peter obliged. Occasionally during the day when Peter appeared to be fast asleep and oblivious to everything around him, he would suddenly ask a question or make a comment related to our conversation.  He is always listening.

He’s also asked about people and things in the room that only he sees, like “who are those people over there?”   I told him they were his fan club and he seemed satisfied with that explanation.  A few minutes ago he referred to pie charts and calculations and gestured toward the wall.  I changed the subject because I hate math, especially invisible math. There is a handle that has been hanging over his bed for the past several  months that he could grab and help pull himself upright.  Suddenly, he is fascinated with the handle.  Over and over today, he has been twisting it like a fidget toy and then letting it unwind, enjoying the nurses.

The hospice nurses have been fantastic.  Skilled, compassionate, and kind.   Peter has teased them and flirted and charmed all of them.   I really don’t know what they see in him.