(An ICU) Room with a View

The thumbnail photo attached to this post shows the current view from Shawna’s ICU bed. From there, she’s able to look out over the Three Sisters Mountains while waiting to be transferred to a new room on the main floor once one opens up.

I hadn’t heard of the Three Sisters before today, so I looked them up. While there’s no official record of who named these gorgeous Cascade peaks, one popular story is that they were called Mount Faith, Mount Hope, and Mount Charity— and collectively called Three Sisters by members of a Methodist mission in Salem in the 1840s.

I can’t think of three more fitting words to describe Shawna’s journey since her diagnosis.

Let’s start with FAITH.

Some of you may have heard that Shawna found herself needing to call Robie back after her surgery at 3 am, as she was not in a great place. There was some bleeding that they were keeping an eye on, which might have required them to perform additional surgery. This meant that things like water and pain medication were no-nos from midnight (post surgery) until they determined that the bleeding stopped—or that more surgery was required.

That can make for a frustrated, sad, and very thirsty patient.

Thankfully, despite her nurse advising otherwise, Shawna had faith that calling Robie was the thing to do. He gladly came to lend his support. He had a very calming effect and clarified a lot for her as well as made her feel more secure despite the discomfort and thirst. By morning, the bleeding finally resolved without surgery, and the much-needed pain meds and water were finally allowed.

So let’s get to the HOPEful news.

Shawna finally had her first solid-ish night of sleep last night! It turns out that the complexity of this surgery requires visits every hour throughout the night to make sure things are stable and progressing. That hasn’t allowed Shawna much real rest. Last night, the nurses slowed their visits to every 4 hours, allowing her to finally get some uninterrupted sleep. That was helpful and welcomed.

She is also now off oxygen and was able to get in her first shower today with help from Kim (and Robie)!

(There were also lots of vein pokes and ultrasounds—all part of the grand scheme to ensure things are healing as they should.)

Robie is visiting at least three times a day and notes that Shawna looks better each time he visits. He’s learned how to take over all of the highly detailed health care that’s required once they transition home. I am sure it’s hard not to worry about assuming such complicated caretaking responsibilities, even when you’re a pro like Robie. I think we all know he’s going to be amazing, but please keep those good thoughts and love pointed in his direction.

Let’s end on the third sister mountain in Shawna’s ICU room view: Charity. Shawna and Robie are SO grateful for the outpouring of love and support received since her diagnosis. All of the wonderful messages, thoughtful gifts, generous GoFundMe donations, and love and prayers have helped more than you all know.

If you’re so inclined, please keep things going. Maybe post the GoFundMe - https://bit.ly/GFMShawna with an update on your social media page to inspire others to give and help them reach their funding goal. Keep those flower pictures and words of encouragement coming! Finally, please know that your charity and kindness have helped give Shawna and Robie fewer things to worry about during this very challenging and uncertain time.

They are so deeply grateful.