Thursday +8 (2:00 PM)

Just a quick update. Jackie's temperature continues to be about normal. Her last reading was about 100 degrees. She is having problems with breathing due to fluid retention. A few minutes ago they placed her on oxygen to get her blood/oxygen levels back to normal. They are also giving her drugs (Lasix) to help with the fluid retention. This morning she received a unit of platelets. This afternoon and this evening she will receive two units of red blood. She has developed a rash. It is likely due to some of the antibiotics. The one believed responsible has been discontinued and another substituted. All-in-all she is doing better. I think if we can whip the fluid retention problem she will feel much better. I did the calculations this morning and she has gained 17 pounds in 3 days. All the while eating about 500-800 calories (at best) per day. The gain isn't surprising since they've had 2-3 bags of some fluid hanging since her arrival.

Yesterday I complained about the food at the Mayo Clinic. The noon meal was disgusting! Since each meal receives a nutrition ticket that is used to track food and fluid intake by the nutrition department I left them an equally disgusting note. The note didn't start well and it didn't end well. The last sentence suggested the head of nutrition at the Mayo Clinic be fired-TODAY!

The nurses read the note and cheered us on. It seems they get many complaints and they all agree the food is horrible. A couple have gone so far as to plead with me to write a letter, etc. My note got passed up the chain and we had visits from a bunch of official looking people. This morning we were let into the "secret nutrition club". It seems that the docs and nurses have their own special cafeteria and their own special menu. Some lady showed up this morning and said that since we were now members of the "Mayo Clinic Frequent Flyer Club" we could order from this special menu. So I ordered lunch today. It still isn't lunch at the Ritz, but it is much better. I knew that the employees couldn't be eating the slop they were passing off for food.

And, I just returned to the apartment and found my brother and his wife Janees had sent an entire ice chest of gourmet food! I received an ice chest full of frozen gourmet bistro meals. There were so many they nearly wouldn't fit in the freezer! I'll save them for when Jackie gets back to the apartment. They look great! Thanks!

Bruce and Jackie
from Rochester, MN