The “U” District

So here we are in the Emerald City – Nyel to consult with the Wizards and Dr. Trusted at the UW Medical Center while I try to figure out the complexities of Life In The Big City.  To say we are not in Oysterville anymore is an understatement of the first order.

We were just about to put a late lunch (tostados) on the table – it was 1:30 Wednesday – when Dr. Trusted’s assistant called and said there was a place for him in Seattle; be there by 6:00.  Between bites I packed for “an indefinite time – at least five days” – not much for Nyel, the “usual” (blue jeans) for me plus toiletries, reading material, my laptop.  By 2:30 we were on the  road – kitchen tidy (mostly) gassed up, ATM’ed for good measure, and even an open-ended reservation for me at the Residence Inn in the U District.

Light traffic, for a wonder.   Checked in at my “home away from home” at 5:50, mostly so I could see the route to the Medical Center while it was still a bit light.  Got Nyel admitted and into his room by 6:30.  “You’re late!” was his greeting from Nurse Nancy.  And welcome to Oz.

UW Medical Center

Since then, Nyel has had about a gazillion Echocardiograms, IV drips, and infusions until they are having to do his blood draws from veins in his hands.  Several different teams of doctors have weighed in and last evening it was decided that his heart was stable and he would not need an ablation or another  cardioversion for now.  Hallelujah!   They are concentrating on finding the magic formula (it is  Oz, after all) to get the excess fluid out of his system – the  “congestive” element in Congestive Heart Failure.  The trick is to find a way to do that without further compromising his kidneys.  And so… the beats go on.

On the distaff side of things, I right away discovered that there is a shuttle that runs every half hour from my “Residence” to the Medical Center, nine minutes away.  And it’s free!  (There are some things about the Big City that are really wonderful!!!)  The first one in the morning leaves at 6:39 a.m. and the last one from the hospital leaves at 6:23 p.m.  So far, I’m a nine-ish to four-ish visitor.  Nyel mostly sleeps.

My New Sox

We both are feeling totally beholden and grateful to Carol and Tucker for keeping an eye on things at home and reassuring the chickens…  And to all of our friends and relatives who are keeping tabs on the situation through email and FaceBook and blogposts, oh my!  Thank you all.  You have no idea how your good wishes help.

(Oh.  And did I say that I forgot to pack sox?  Remedied at the hospital’s gift shop.)