The ICU

I had a very sobering night tonight.  I went to see Jenica at the hospital because her husband, Jon, is in ICU with pneumonia.  He is pretty much unresponsive, hooked up to a respirator, and was near death just a day or two ago.  They believe he is on the up side now, his fever finally broke after they drained so much pus from his body that was between his lungs and back.  It was heartbreaking to watch Jenica talk to him and take care of him, crying when they told her he would be in there at least 2 weeks more and then moved to another floor in the hospital, and then rehab after that.  He is a very sick man.  And today is his birthday, 39 years old.  Even with all she is going through herself she is always thinking of others.  We heard a baby crying in a room in the hall and she peeks her head in and asks if they need help.  An uncle is in their holding his nephew who is crying and screaming so the baby's mom can be in the room with her sister who is dying.  Only 31 years old and had some infection they just couldn't do anything about.  We ended up watching two babies so they could all be in there together.  Of course the baby stopped crying immediately with Jenica and loved to play with her hair, it is all braided with yarn and colorful and everyone loves it.  It is so sad.  Jon is addicted to pain pills, Oxycontin, and they said that is the main reason his pneumonia got to this point that it is so bad.  And he has no insurance and he and Jenica have been separated for 4 months and in that time he has done nothing, hardly worked, just been doped up on drugs, and now she is by his bedside caring for him hoping they can have a life together still after this is over.

I will be holding Rob tighter and kissing and squeezing my babies, grateful for every day I get to spend with them.