Chris has been in Ridge Meadows Hospital since Sunday. She has a serious illness that resulted in symptoms so severe and agonizing that Super Dyke couldn't ignore then any longer.
The hospital is a small one, totally understaffed and overworked. Maybe because of this, the staff is very open to making the patients as comfortable as possible however that might look to an individual patient. Chris can't (literally) eat the food provided by food services, so I bring her meals from home (with the permission of the doctor, the dietitian, and the Pope. Things that she needs to be comfortable (like bed baths and hair washes) are left for me to do because we want it that way. Best of all, though, is that each evening, I have been permitted to bring one of the dogs in for a visit. First Piper, then Sienna, and last night, Kiefer. Fortunately Chris is in a semi-private room, and her lovely roommate is a dog nut. She was thrilled when Sienna jumped up on her bed and snuggled with her. Her Aussie Shepherd is with her dog walker, and she is missing the dog terribly, so our dogs, love sponges all, are giving her a dose of much needed unconditional adoration, too. The nurses and nursing assistants, the cleaning staff, other patients and visitors are charmed by seeing a dog on the unit. There are a lot of smiles when a dog breezes in....especially Kiefer, who was a big hit, and such a good boy.
Chris is recovering from her flare-up, slowly and surely. She's a fighter, and she will not give in to hopelessness. Fortunately she has had some awesome nurses, very caring and professional people who make her feel safe and help her manage her still-significant pain. She'll be at Ridge Meadows for a while longer....sadly no quick fix for this disease.
Chris doesn't bitch at Mabel. Mabel bitches at Chris, and Chris loves it. :) Mabel is one of those dogs who just doesn't care about the shoulda, coulda , woulda's. She is true to herself and only herself, which one has to admire in a 16 (or so) year old 15 (or so) lb. dog.
Mabes is a little fighter, an independent cuss....typical SAINT.
Carol, Rescue Remedy doesn't come in gallon containers, which is about what I'd need to calm Chris during that evil time between needing pain meds and getting said pain meds. That said, tonight was a much calmer, more relaxed and comfortable night for Chris, and she was in bed, sliding into sleep when I left at 8:30 or so. Her nurse tonight was a lovely lady who made things so much easier for both Chris and her room mate.
Speaking of her room mate, she is due to go home tomorrow. She has been a joy, and we can only hope the next one is as wonderful. MacKenzie came with me tonight, and now they are the best of friends. Mac was so good! Not as relaxed as Kirby and Kiefer, but she's an intense girl, so I expected her to be a little more active. We're five for five! I'm so proud of our Goonies!