Another hospital layover
This post was originally published on Corrina’s Caringbridge site:
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/corrina
I've been reluctant, hesitant, in disbelief, and very much wanting to tell a much different story about how Corrina's week has been since being discharged from Mt. Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital last Friday, December 7th.
I'm a firm believer in beginning with everything that good has happened since December 7 be documented first. All of us, Corrina on the top of this list, was excited to finally be going home after a 13 day stay at St. Francis battling an infection at the biopsy site including major surgery 7 days later followed by moving onto Mt. Sinai Rehab for a 10 day stay to build strength and regain her mobility. She did amazingly well at Mt. Sinai with her 3-hour daily sessions with PT, OT and ST and came home Friday, December 7 at noon with her heart filled with hope and happiness to finally be in her own home with David by her side.
David and Corrina enjoyed a normal weekend hanging out doing what couples do best - loving being together. There was a trip to Sub Edge Farm on Saturday and Bohemian Rhapsody at New Park Ave movies later in the day. I was invited for David's homemade vegan waffles Sunday morning and the remainder of the day was devoted to holiday house decorating inside and out with Corrina as our maestro. Yvonne, our resident master gardener and my best friend for the past 30 years, helped me with the outdoor pots and decorating her tall grasses and trellises. Steve, our go-to guy and my husband, put up the lights in the trees and trimmed the front of the house. David and Corrina decorated their indoor tree that arrived magically at their back patio from three elves - Marissa, Emily, and Kate. Garra dropped off a couple wreaths for the front and back doors.
Monday at 8:30 a.m. I picked up Corrina for her first day at Mt. Sinai outpatient day treatment program. There she was assessed by P.T. and O.T. who specialize in neurology rehab. Towards the end of the morning, I caught a glimpse of Corrina out of the corner my eye doing forearm planks with the OC therapist. She always continues to amaze me everyday in every way possible. Monday afternoon, with David at home, Corrina took a very long late afternoon nap and woke up somewhat lethargic with her speech and mobility slightly impaired. David and I felt the she was most likely fatigued from a busy weekend and her new morning routine at Mt. Sinai.
Corrina at Mt. Sinai Rehab
Tuesday at 4:00 a.m. I got up from my own bed at home to go to Corrina's since David was leaving at 4:30 a.m. to travel to Los Angeles for business for the entire week. I quietly crawled into bed with Corrina waiting for 6:00 a.m. to administer her IV antibiotics which take about an hour to drip through her picc line which David and I manage to do every 8 hours since Corrina's homecoming. [P.S. We were trained by a professional nurse ;-0 ] About 7:30 a.m. after having some tea and almond butter, Corrina complained about a headache which she labeled as a possible 4-5. She took her prescribed ibuprofen which minimized the headache within the hour. I made Corrina a hearty breakfast of homemade oatmeal w/ lots of add-ins: pepitas, sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, chopped walnuts & pecans, MTC oil, almond butter, topped with fresh blackberries. I also prepared a hard-boiled egg from the carton of fresh eggs they had picked up at Sub Edge Farm on Saturday. Even though Corrina seemed alert, there was still something a bit off that I wasn't liking. Around 10:00 a.m., I felt her forehead which was warm and took her temp. It was 100.4 - not high but elevated. I contacted Joy, Dr. Vredenburgh's APRN at St. Francis, and she told me to bring Corrina in immediately. I then contacted our 24-hour Uber driver and my rock, Steve, to take us to St. Francis.
Tuesday afternoon a CT Scan revealed the tumor had bled and there was a clot applying pressure and creating right side mobility and speech impairments. Lots of blood samples taken to see if there was any new infection, which there wasn't. Corrina was admitted to the ICU at 5:00 p.m for observation and we were waiting for her neurosurgeon, Dr. Bruce Chozick, to let us know how he planned to address this new situation. Dr. Chozick after consulting with other surgeons on his team prescribed no surgery and closely watch the blood clot w/ daily CT Scans to see if it changes in size over the next few days. Steroids were boosted to 24 mg from the 6 mg she was on prior to being admitted to the hospital. The increased steroids was to address the impact the swelling has on Corrina's mobility and speech. Corrina is now down to 16 mg steroids which is still high for her strong little body but the drug is working.
Wednesday and Thursday Corrina has been in a step-down unit, which still requires neuro checks every 2 hours. It's not easy sleeping through someone coming in every two hours asking your name, date, date of birth, where you are, wiggle your toes, and let me shine a bright light in your eyes. We know it's all for Corrina's well-being and the clinicians here are the most compassionate human beings I am honored to know and feel comforted that they are taking the best care of Corrina during this time.
Late yesterday afternoon, CT Scan #3, revealed uplifting news that the blood clot is reducing in size and hardening around the edges which is an indicator that it's not an active bleed and her body will do what it needs to do to dissolve the clot.
It's Friday morning, we are waiting for doctors to make their rounds to inquire about Corrina moving to a regular medical floor which will have 4 hour check-ins and not so many wires attached to her body. We both had a restful sleep and now we patiently wait. The plan is that she will only be here for a few more days at the most. PT and OT are assessing her ability to be discharged to home. She already has a full schedule on her calendar next week at Mt. Sinai day program Monday/Wednesday/Friday. Let's hope that that's where Corrina will be starting Monday, December 17.
Sending all of you our love for all you do in supporting Corrina and us on this journey back to her strong and independent self.
xo,
Claudia, Corrina's mom