From haldeman at earthlink.net  Tue Sep 22 15:53:10 2009
From: haldeman at earthlink.net (Joe Haldeman)
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:53:10 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
Subject: Joe Haldeman is in the hospital
Message-ID: <368294.1253649190167.JavaMail.root@elwamui-little.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

As many of you already know, Joe had emergency abdominal surgery Saturday night, Sept. 19.  It's now Tuesday and he's recovering slowly.  He's still in Intensive Care.

 They scared me pretty badly this morning when they called to tell me they had to put in a breathing tube.  I just talked to the respiratory physician and the surgeon and they both reassure me that it's only to let him rest and heal.  There's some expected fluid buildup around his lungs that was making it hard for him to breath.  All his vital signs are normal now, the pancreatitis appears to be getting better from the lab tests, and the surgeon tells me he hasn't lost any ground at all.

This is all taking place in Cincinnati.  Our friends are taking excellent care of us here.  One has loaned me an apartment for the duration, others work at the hospital and keep tabs on things, others are feeding us.  It's as good a situation as it can possibly be away from home.

Gay


From juliejvj at yahoo.com  Wed Sep 23 08:46:59 2009
From: juliejvj at yahoo.com (Julie Jones)
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:46:59 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [2009] Joe Haldeman is in the hospital
In-Reply-To: <368294.1253649190167.JavaMail.root@elwamui-little.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
Message-ID: <169657.93683.qm@web58803.mail.re1.yahoo.com>

Dear Gay,
You and Joe are in my thoughts.?
Wishing you lots of good things.julie

--- On Tue, 9/22/09, Joe Haldeman <haldeman at earthlink.net> wrote:

From: Joe Haldeman <haldeman at earthlink.net>
Subject: [2009] Joe Haldeman is in the hospital
To: haldeman-announce at mit.edu
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 3:53 PM

As many of you already know, Joe had emergency abdominal surgery Saturday night, Sept. 19.? It's now Tuesday and he's recovering slowly.? He's still in Intensive Care.

 They scared me pretty badly this morning when they called to tell me they had to put in a breathing tube.? I just talked to the respiratory physician and the surgeon and they both reassure me that it's only to let him rest and heal.? There's some expected fluid buildup around his lungs that was making it hard for him to breath.? All his vital signs are normal now, the pancreatitis appears to be getting better from the lab tests, and the surgeon tells me he hasn't lost any ground at all.

This is all taking place in Cincinnati.? Our friends are taking excellent care of us here.? One has loaned me an apartment for the duration, others work at the hospital and keep tabs on things, others are feeding us.? It's as good a situation as it can possibly be away from home.

Gay
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From haldeman at earthlink.net  Wed Sep 23 16:00:05 2009
From: haldeman at earthlink.net (Joe Haldeman)
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:00:05 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Joe's doing all right
Message-ID: <5802931.1253736005117.JavaMail.root@elwamui-little.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

Wednesday, Sept. 23, noon.  Joe's still "critically stable,"  still in the ICU, still on the respirator.  I just talked to the surgeon, whom I like very much.  He says Joe's where he should be, all things considered.

I don't remember whether I was specific or not, so forgive me if I'm repeating myself.  They operated on him Saturday night for a twisted bowel.  When they went in, they found severe pancreatitis that had not shown up on the scans.

The surgeon just told me that Joe's blood count was coming down and the pancreatic enzymes were better than yesterday.  Lab stuff looks better.  He's still running a fever of about 102 that doesn't want to come down.  He'll probably be on the respirator for a few more days to rest and recover.  His bowel has begun working, one of the serious hurdles for this kind of surgery.    He's getting IV nutrition and they're keeping him sedated (yay).

I'm shook but okay.  It's one day at a time.  Right now I even hesitate to let him know I'm here because I don't want to wake him up with all the tubes and stuff down his throat.  Please sleep through it all, Joe.

I went out to dinner with good friends Steve Leigh, Rusty, and Becca Levin and Guy Allen last night.  Then collapsed early and let myself sleep late.  I'll continue to do that until he's conscious again.  I think he'll need me around more, then.

Keep the good thoughts coming!  Gay




From haldeman at earthlink.net  Thu Sep 24 12:39:02 2009
From: haldeman at earthlink.net (Joe Haldeman)
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:39:02 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
Subject: Thursday update
Message-ID: <23321316.1253810342737.JavaMail.root@elwamui-little.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

Thursday, Sept. 24, 12:30

I'm sitting in Joe's room in the ICU and he's about the same.  They're not planning to wean him off the respirator today.  His numbers are still good, but he still has a fever.  As far as I can tell he's completely sedated.  I'm checking in periodically, instead of staying full time at the hospital, to save my own sanity.  When he's conscious, I'll be able to be there more.

Thanks for all the good wishes.  Gay




From haldeman at earthlink.net  Fri Sep 25 15:03:58 2009
From: haldeman at earthlink.net (Joe Haldeman)
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:03:58 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
Subject: Friday
Message-ID: <14725019.1253905438509.JavaMail.root@elwamui-rustique.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

Fri, Sept. 25, 10AM.  Joe's still in ICU, still has a fever, still on the respirator.  The pulmonary doc hasn't been in yet, but he was hoping to start weaning Joe off the respirator today.  They tell me that's done slowly.

Joe's going in for a CAT scan at noon to see what's going on inside.  I'll report when I know more.  His vital signs are holding steady, still critically stable.

I went to the gym with Becca yesterday and did some moving.  That improved my mental state a bit.  Becca and Guy fed me dinner again and we had a good kitty fix with their affectionate cats.

More later.  Gay




From haldeman at earthlink.net  Fri Sep 25 15:55:37 2009
From: haldeman at earthlink.net (Joe Haldeman)
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:55:37 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
Subject: Friday, part 2
Message-ID: <8106079.1253908537571.JavaMail.root@elwamui-rustique.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

Fri, Sept. 25,  3:30PM.  Just talked to the surgeons.  CAT scan showed no infection, but pancreas still inflamed.  They took a sample of fluids to send to lab for culture.  Otherwise everything is as it should be.  They're not weaning him from the respirator yet.  The nurse said after tomorrow morning's lab reports they'll decide.

Dinner with friends tonight for me. Steve Leigh is playing at a coffee house with good food.

When the gym people heard my sob story yesterday, they gave me a 10-day pass.  I plan to use it.

Thanks, everyone.  Gay




From haldeman at earthlink.net  Sat Sep 26 13:37:29 2009
From: haldeman at earthlink.net (Joe Haldeman)
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:37:29 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
Subject: Saturday
Message-ID: <23007090.1253986649609.JavaMail.root@elwamui-rustique.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

Joe's still running a high fever that won't come down.  They've cultured everything but probably won't have results for several days.  They're leaving him on the respirator, sedated, for today.  He did respond to some commands, as he has been. He seems to know I'm with him.

Last night I went to hear the Davis Leigh Duo at the College Hill Coffee House and ate dinner there with a group of friends.  Good food, good music.  A nice break. Gay




From jag at MIT.EDU  Sat Sep 26 22:08:26 2009
From: jag at MIT.EDU (Jagruti S. Patel)
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:08:26 -0400
Subject: Saturday, part 2
Message-ID: <4ABEC91A.1000305@mit.edu>

Gay wanted me to pass on that Joe's fever came down to about normal earlier this evening.

Go Joe! (and Gay!)

--Jag.



-- 
Jagruti S. Patel
Housemaster, Senior Haus
Senior Project Manager, Office of the Provost
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Phone 617.253.8167
Email jag at mit.edu


From haldeman at earthlink.net  Sun Sep 27 12:54:42 2009
From: haldeman at earthlink.net (Joe Haldeman)
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:54:42 -0400
Subject: Sunday update
Message-ID: <16AF3BDD-06F2-4606-97BD-CD97BCB4C62A@earthlink.net>

Sun 9/27  12:45.  Last night Joe's fever went down, with the help of a  
cooling mattress.  A doctor thought he should be running a fever,  
though, since that helps fight infection.  So now his fever is  
extremely high.  They've changed some meds, but it's still high.   
Other signs are still okay.  One day at a time.  Gay
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From haldeman at earthlink.net  Sun Sep 27 13:41:29 2009
From: haldeman at earthlink.net (Joe Haldeman)
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:41:29 -0400
Subject: Sunday, part 2
Message-ID: <F88933F6-6BA0-4DA9-B109-DD6C2135411C@earthlink.net>

1:30 Sun--The same doc who took him off the cold mattress is putting  
him back on it.  I'm relieved.  Gay
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From haldeman at earthlink.net  Mon Sep 28 10:54:14 2009
From: haldeman at earthlink.net (Joe Haldeman)
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:54:14 -0400
Subject: Monday, 9-28
Message-ID: <027E9E0E-5555-4217-B130-D8FCFEBDE920@earthlink.net>

Mon.  9/28 Joe still has a high fever, though not as high as  
yesterday.  He's off the cold bed again.  Still in ICU, still on the  
ventilator.  I hope to talk to some doctors today.  All other signs  
seem to be holding stable. He is responding to the nurses  
commands--"Squeeze my hand.  Open your eyes."  I think they bring him  
up to almost consciousness, then let him go back down.

I may go to the zoo or a museum today to keep my head on straight.   
Love, Gay


From haldeman at earthlink.net  Mon Sep 28 16:30:58 2009
From: haldeman at earthlink.net (Joe Haldeman)
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:30:58 -0400
Subject: Monday 9/28 part 2
Message-ID: <02EEFD36-0625-4673-A549-FA6E8B12F41D@earthlink.net>

Mon 9/28 4PM  None of the cultures that have come back so far show  
anything.  The infectious disease doc says it's probably in his  
abdomen.  The surgeon agrees.  Meanwhile his temp is hovering at 102,  
lower than it has been, without the cold bed.  The surgeon will do  
another cat scan tomorrow.  He does not want to operate again if he  
can help it.  He says every day away from the original surgery is a  
good day.  Maybe Joe'll fight it off with the antibiotics he has and  
his own tough self.

He was more alert today, knew my voice, closed his eyes when I asked  
him to.  I worry this means he's not getting enough of the fun drugs.   
They've reassured me that he is.

Because he clearly knew I was there, I've stuck close today instead of  
going off somewhere, though we did go to an ice cream parlor after  
lunch. Gay 
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From haldeman at earthlink.net  Tue Sep 29 15:11:00 2009
From: haldeman at earthlink.net (Joe Haldeman)
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:11:00 -0400
Subject: Tues Update
Message-ID: <326AE8EE-2EB5-4474-ABFE-8FBE7EF08825@earthlink.net>

Tues 9/29 3PM.  Joe is still in ICU, still on the ventilator, still  
running a fever of about 102.  The consensus among the docs is that he  
doesn't have an infection, he has an inflammation of the pancreas.  As  
far as I can tell, the plan is to keep all signs stable and wait it  
out.  This may be a very long wait, one doc told me.  So... one day at  
a time.  He knew I was there today, but he wasn't agitated, thank  
goodness.  I can't conveniently sit beside him--too much going on.  So  
my plan is to duck in and call the nurse often and get out and about  
while I can.

I went to lunch with Steve Leigh, Rusty and Joel Zakem.  Joel is the  
angel who has loaned me the apartment.  This evening Rusty and I will  
hang out with Becca Levin and pet the kitties while her hubby is  
playing darts with friends.

Thanks for all your good wishes.  We need them.  Love, Gay
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From haldeman at earthlink.net  Wed Sep 30 11:50:12 2009
From: haldeman at earthlink.net (Joe Haldeman)
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:50:12 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
Subject: Wednesday update 9/30
Message-ID: <1240568.1254325812916.JavaMail.root@elwamui-rustique.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

Wed. update

Joe's still about the same.  However I just found out they're trying to wean him off the respirator today.  It's a long process and may not work yet?that's the way it usually goes.  Not fun for him, but he'll feel much better when it's over.  He'll be able to complain.

I spent yesterday afternoon pulling fresh veggies from Becca's wonderful garden.  We made a huge pot of sauce with fresh tomatoes, eggplant parmesan with fresh eggplants, roasted fresh beets, fresh string beans, fresh herbs, mostly basil, and I learned to dig sweet potatoes.  A very satisfying and centering evening.  And cats to pet, too.  Love, Gay