Update from the hospital

Gary is still admitted to hospital at Columbia-Presbyterian.  The pneumonia is largely gone, which is great.  However, Gary is still needing blood or platelet transfusions nearly every day.  Dr. Lamanna told us to expect that because his bone marrow was suppressed by the radiation treatments he received last month to shrink the nodes in the lower abdomen.  As Gary wrote earlier, it's a month of healing and recuperation.

Being in hospital for so long can be isolating and depressing.  Moreover, it is near impossible to obtain even a single night's regular sleep.  Blood pressure is taken every few hours, along with various interruptions for antibiotics, transfusions, and other pills.  Doctors and nurses pop in and out, in addition to food trays being delivered and picked up, housekeeping, nutritionists, residents, interns, etc.  The care and attention are greatly desired and appreciated, but at a certain point (such as this week), it frankly becomes a serious form of sleep deprivation.  I affixed a "Do Not Disturb" sign to his door!

Last Friday evening, one of the hospital chaplains came by.  He is a lovely man, a Budhist, who offered a fifteen minute bedside meditation with Gary, complete with Tibetan singing bowl.   It was a beautiful and welcome ritual at a time of day for us that was both beautiful, as the sunset's colours filled Gary's room, and also difficult, as Gary's doctor had just visited a few hours before.

As always, VISITORS are very welcome, and Gary is coördinating his own schedule to space them out.

Speaking of which...

DEANNA, Gary's piano teacher of many decades, visited a few days ago!

For many years, Gary & Deanna had weekly piano lessons.  When Gary is in hospital, I look at his silent piano in the apartment and think so fondly of Deanna and the inspiration and joy she gives him, and I wish extra hard for his speedy return to the music bench!

I'll upload more photos in the coming days of other recent friends and visitors.  Bit of a backlog on my part!