The ICU adventure

Roland went to the hospital on Friday January 5 for some blood tests. They indicated that there was something unusual cardiovascularly and he went to the hospital again on Jan 8 for more blood tests an EKG and an ultra sound on his legs. (He had been in pain for several weeks with what we thought was sever calf cramps) He had just begun a new teaching job at Southern Utah University part time, but no insurance benefits. The EKG was normal, but the ultra sound showed clots in both legs. He was immediately taken to ER. Now they wondered why a young healthy (and I might add handsome) man would have clots in his legs. Well, they wanted another EKG, but I handed the copy of the one he had just had and they had to have a chest x-ray to make sure those clots hadn't gone to his lungs as they are prone to do. We hoped they hadn't but, alas, they had. Now, they wanted a CT scan to see his lungs more clearly. This revealed a mass over 1 centimeter in diameter that looked like cancer. (They need to biopsy this mass to be certain, but the doctors are pretty sure it is cancer). He was put on Heparin (to thin his blood) and then taken to ICU. He is happy and thankful for a lot of things. 1) The clots because that made it so he could know about the cancer. 2) That he is in the right place for care 3) Warm fuzzy socks (His feet tend to be cold) 4) A nice room with a new TV 5) Cheerful and helpful caretakers. I think I am part of that group. 6) Prayerful friends and family We are waiting for the clots to absorb and then they can do the biopsy. He is at peace about this situation. Of course he is. :)