Friend update

I went to the hospital this afternoon - I waited in the ICU waiting area for an hour after having been told by the ICU receptionist that the family was with her. After a little over an hour, I called one of our pastors, "What should I do?" He said to call the unit secretary and ask to have one of the family members come to the waiting room. After about 15 minutes, still no family - I called him again, "What should I do?!" (I laughed later...why didn't I just say, "Todd, will you come up here and hold my hand through this?") Then I said, "Okay, ethical question for you. Someone came out of ICU and did not make sure the unit door closed behind them. Should I just go back there?" He said, "Absolutely! I do it all the time." Yeah, but you're a pastor. "And you're her friend. Go. And call me after you get out."

I followed his directions to her room. As I approached, I could tell there was no family with her. They'd been gone the whole time I was there. Arrrrrrgh! But, there were two nurses (or a nurse and a tech) with her and a ton of equipment -- looked like they'd started her on dialysis. I couldn't have gotten to her bedside, and I know Jo well enough to know she'd have gotten up out of that bed and whipped my hiney for being there if she'd seen me (it's pure humility on her part). Plus, it killed me to see her looking so frail. I skedattled out and called Todd. Todd called Jo's daughter and learned that yes, they'd started dialysis as soon as she came out of surgery and it would take about 10 hours -- so it'll be over at 11:00ish tonight. They're going to start decreasing her oxygen saturation from the vent - and depending on her response to that and to dialysis they will determine when they'll take her off the vent. We're hoping soon - she HATES being on it.

She's still critical but hopefully will begin to improve thanks to surgery and dialysis. She's developed pneumonia, so that is a new concern as well.

Thanks for your notes and prayers. Please keep 'em coming.