Update Sunday Oct 30

The Vishnevetskys visited today. The following are notes from a call after the visit (power and internet was out at the Vishnevetsky residence):
Linda is looking very "Linda". She does get tired and has pain, but other times very normal.
She liked the "get well soon" balloon, and enjoyed the news from home (snow storm).
She talked on the phone to family, and seemed to enjoy it.
She is continuing the clear liquid diet, although they let her have some cereal (I don't know how that worked since she can't have milk).
Anyway, another positive report.
PS Donna Anthony drove down Saturday ahead of the storm and also was happy to see Linda so much better.
- Lee

Friday Oct. 28 update

Written by Paula and Barbara (mom), typed by Paula. This will take me forever on my mom's iPad, but here goes......

We (Paula and Barbara) arrived about 11 am. Her appearance was much improved, and she was chatty and more coherent than the last time we had seen her- 2 weeks ago for Paula, and 3 days ago for Barbara.

She demanded food and something to drink throughout the morning, saying she was starving and wanted Hagen Daz. The nurse said she would have to wait until she talked to the doctor. Fortunately, they were making their rounds and came in. The attending doctor said she was responding nicely to the treatment, and therefore they don't feel the need to change her drug therapy to a stronger steroid (they had planned to do so if she didn't improve by today. The doctor didn't agree to the ice cream request, so she settled for the clear, liquid diet plan. She had a few spoonfuls of jello, broth, cranberry juice and lemon ice. I think the anticipation was more exciting than the actual consumption. oh well....it was still the highlight of the day!

The doctor said she really needs to sit up - a chair would be best. But,she wasn't allowed do it without a physical therapist being there. Apparently her heart rate, etc needs to be monitored while she is up since she hasn't,t been out of bed for almost three weeks. We left around 3pm. Physical Therapy hadn't come yet. But Linda was napping when we left. All in all, it was a better visit than either of us was expecting.

When we called the nurses station tonight, they told me that PT didn't come today, but will be there tomorrow. We hope so.

Picture from Thursday Oct 27

Thursday Oct 27 update

I arrived at U Penn Hospital about 9:30. Linda was awake and alert, talking and listening the whole morning. I was curious to hear the normal Linda, while seeing that she was still in bed with tubes run in and out. Her memory of the last 3 weeks is weak to nonexistent, which is another peculiar aspect of the situation.
Dr. Stadtmauer (sp?) came in with 5 residents late in the morning. He said her numbers were good, and she looks great. He noted that her stool liquids were slowing down (good sign), and that they would be adjusting the IV liquids to match that. She has had some swelling in her arms from water retention due to the IV vs stool mismatch, so this should help that. He thought (but did not promise) that she would be able to start eating and drinking early next week. He was generally very happy with her progress. Side note: it was fun watching the verbal sparing between the doctor (from NJ) and the patient (from Brooklyn).
She has been lobbying for the removal of her biopsy stitches, and they did that this afternoon. They also gave her some sugar water IV to counter a low blood sugar.
The afternoon was rougher, with more pain and drowsiness. The PT person came and got Linda on her feet, but the movement seemed to increase her stomach pain. The afternoon was filled with sleeping and discomfort, on and off clarity, and general crankiness. She insisted that I leave around 4 pm.
Visitors should ask the nurses about cleaning/rinsing Linda's mouth, since it gets dry and "cottony" very easily. The foam rubber swabs dipped in ice water help when she is uncomfortable.
- Lee

Directions from Allentown to Linda at U Penn

For anyone interested in visiting Linda at the U Penn Hospital... 

>  The thruway extension becomes simply I 476 at the I 276 connection.  Toll Plaza there, stay far left if you have Easy Pass. 
> Continue on I 476 going south until you get to I-76 exit.  Stay in the left lane of the exit to get on I 76 going East  (about 42 miles total from Allentown)
> I 76 east takes you straight into Philly.  The left lane exits to I 676  (12 or 13 miles from start of I 76)
> Stay on I 76, and about one mile past the I 676 exit be in the left lane and take the exit for South St.  At the top of the exit turn right onto South St.
> At the next light turn left onto Convention Blvd.  About 50 yards on is another traffic light.  Immediately after the traffic light turn right into the Penn Towers Parking Ramp.
> (they may have that entrance closed.  if so, continue forward and around the corner to enter the parking ramp. there will be signs).
> Take the elevators to the Bridge Level.  that will lead you straight on over a pedestrian bridge into the hospital.
> There is a security point and info desk not far past the pedestrian bridge, but you can simply continue to walk along the corridor to the end, which will have the Rhoads Pavilion elevators.
> Go to the 6th floor.  Linda is second room on the left (room 6002).

They don't allow fresh fruit or flowers, and if you have a cold they have masks.  Otherwise no restrictions.

Linda is very happy to have visitors, so don't be shy.

Wednesday Oct. 26 update

I visited Linda from 9am to 2pm today.  Initially,

she was disoriented and down, but by about 10am 

she became perky and tuned in.  She asked many questions

and wanted me to keep talking (I wish I had a more interesting

life to discuss!). She even laughed a bit and

teased the nurses.  She brushed her own teeth, which made her

feel fresher.  The self-administered IV pain meds are now allowed 

every 10 minutes instead of every 30 minutes and the doctor is 

considering a new medicine (along with her 9 IV bags), which will target the intestinal inflammation. We propped up her swollen left arm on pillows, which helped her edema and arm pain.  We did foot massages

and ankle rotation exercises to bring down her puffy feet and 

get her circulation going. At 1:30, she thanked me and expressed how

deeply she appreciates EVERYONE'S support, and told me in no uncertain

terms to go home.  She wanted to sleep.

Although she still has a long road ahead, she was worlds better

today than she was last Wednesday. Onward and upward!

- Heather Dubov

Update Oct 25

Carla and Barbara visited today:
Linda is looking better, and is sounding more coherent.
She is still occasionally talking in a depressed way ("I'll never get better"), but this will pass as she improves.
The liquid of her diarrhea seems to be slowing down, and is less colored. A good sign.
Pain is still a problem which the doctors are working on.
If her gut does not improve by the end of the week, they intend on changing the med approach.
Generally an optimistic visit.