The Wheelchair Has Landed!

Trini said earlier that she wouldn't believe she was leaving the hospital until the wheelchair came to get her.

Thursday afternoon, 5/29 at 4 p.m. the wheelchair arrived and Trini was discharged from Martin Memorial Medical Center after 24 days. It was a tearful send off from Room 303.

She is home now trying to rest and recuperate. It is still very important to protect her from germs and to limit visitors.

She gets a visit each day from her home health nurse, Bennett, and has lots of doctors appointments, pills and treatments to keep track of. If you would like to visit, please call her to arrange a time.

Your thoughts and prayers are very encouraging to her. Thank you for all of them and keep them coming.

3 Down

Since our last post Trini has made some significant improvements. The drainage of fluid from her lungs has decreased and they have been able to remove 3 of the 4 drains. This is an answer to prayer. Thanks to all of you who have faithfully upheld Trini in prayer. People are praying for her in states she has never even been to. She wants you to know how thankful she is.

We also have good news to report in the area of eating. She doesn't eat much, but she has been able to keep a few bites down the last couple days.

Trini sleeps alot and is looking forward to getting home where she can actually sleep for more than 45 minutes at a stretch without some kind of interruption. In all seriousness, it is worse than you can imagine trying to sleep in a hospital.

Danger of infection continues to be a major concern. Therefore when she gets home she will have to limit visitors to protect herself.

We appreciate your patience and concern and we will keep you posted.

21 Days

As of today Trini has been in the hospital 21 days. We wheeled her outside this afternoon to get some fresh air. It really seemed to boost her spirits.

She continues to have difficulty keeping food down but with some changes in medication we are hoping that we will have some good news to report in this area soon.

With mixed emotion we have to report that one lung has shown significant improvement but the other has not. We all continue to take one day at a time and to be thankful for each improvement.

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, flowers, gifts, visits, e-mails, phone calls, meals, taking care of Luke and more.

Back to ICU

Trini has spent the last 24 hours in ICU. She had another procedure done on her lungs to reduce fluid build up. She is uncomfortable, but as always willing to do anything to get headed home.

It will take 2 -3 days before we will know if the procedure had the desired results. Likewise, the chemo that was earlier this week will take as long as 10 days to do its stuff. If all goes as scheduled she could have another chemo infusion early next week.

Today is Luke's last day of school. He reports that he has passed 3rd grade and will be moving on to 4th grade in the fall. He seems to be doing well.

Trini has received e-mails from many friends here in Florida as well as friends she hasn't seen since high school days in Burnt Hills. We enjoy reading them and are all encouraged by your thoughts and prayers. Keep them coming and please keep checking the blog for updates.

We've also added a "Subscribe by e-mail" option in the left column. Enter your e-mail address and then click on the link in the confirmation message that you receive. You will then get new posts in your inbox. We've also included a RSS feed for those sophisticated types who prefer to use a news reader (that's what the funny orange icon is).

Martin Memorial Hospital E-Mail Queen

"E-mail Queen" may not be Trini's first choice for a pageant title, but the volunteers here at Martin Memorial Hospital all know who she is because you have all been great at sending kind words and encouragement. She looks forward to mail call every day.

Trini continues to tolerate the chest tubes which are quite painful. She still tries to walk a little everyday and tires easily. For now email is the best way to let Trini know you are thinking of her.

They started chemo therapy on Tuesday. Our hope is that the chemo will decrease the drainage of fluid and eventually she will be able to get the tubes out and go home.

Traci and Tami are here now. Terri is coming Saturday.

To write Trini you may use the E-mail a Patient link on the Martin Memorial Medical Center Web page. Select the north hospital and Room 303.

Still in the Hospital

It has been a long and eventful week for Trini.

Trini had surgery on Tuesday. The surgeon inserted tubes in both lungs to drain fluid and did a procedure to hopefully reduce the fluid production. She was in ICU for one day and is now back in a private room and breathing easier. No one ever brags about hospital food being delicious but her current struggle is that everything makes her nauseous.

After 12 days in the hospital Trini still has a great sense of humor. When the nurses told us she walked around the room a bit her reply was, “It was more like shuffling.” When people tell her she looks skinny she says, “I like the sound of that.” She is really looking forward to going home but she says, “I’ll believe it when the wheelchair comes to get me!” We all are looking forward to that day too!

In the mean time please continue sending her emails in lieu of visits. They have been very encouraging to her. You may use the E-mail a Patient link on the Martin Memorial Medical Center Web page. Select the north hospital and Room 303.

Hospital Update for May 10

Good News! Trini is feeling a bit better. She had a good day Friday 5/9. Luke was able to visit. She got out of bed and walked a couple laps around the room.

She had a procedure done on one of her lungs. It's purpose is to reduce future fluid build up. It seems to be working. The doctors are presently debating treatment options for her other lung.

She is very much enjoying all the emails you have sent. They are an encouragement to her since it is difficult for her to have visitors. Keep them coming. At this point we do not know how much longer she will be hospitalized. We will keep you posted.

Trini in Hospital

Trini was admitted today to Martin Memorial Medical Center in Stuart to again have fluid drained off her lungs. We expect her to be there several days. This was much more difficult and painful procedure than when she was in overnight on April 25 for the same reason.

You may send Trini an e-mail that will be delivered by hospital volunteers by using the "E-mail a patient" link on the left navigation bar of the Martin Memorial Web site. When filling out the online form select "Martin Memorial Medical Center" (the North Hospital) and Rm 312. Moved to Room 303.