Lori--Thursday Morning

Good morning, Folks!



Lori is doing much better now than she was last Friday when we took her to Hays. She continues to receive high doses of antibiotics, stomach pain relief and nutritional supplements through her central IV. Every other day, she receives pure FAT. Yes, people, you heard me right. The medical term for it is lipids. You're probably wanting to know why doctors are pumping fat into her, aren't you? Never before have I ever heard of anything like this either.



The answer is simple. The doctors were quite concerned about how quickly she was losing 102 pounds. Giving her fat was the only way to slow her weight loss down to a safer level. It has worked.



The urinary catheter was removed on Tuesday. Since then, she is now able to get herself in and out of bed by herself. She is able to spend more time out of bed but is still too weak to do any major walking.



Her pain never goes completely away but is more manageable now. Since she was admitted, she received additional doses of morphine every 6 hours. By the fourth hour, her pain was climbing again. Yesterday, she asked one of her doctors if he could cut the dose in half but give it to her every three hours instead. He was fine with that.



Lori and all of us are so completely pleased with the medical care that she is receiving at Hays Medical Center. We would recommend HMC to everyone with absolutely no hesitation.



Lori thoroughly enjoys her company! Stan's brother, Ron, and his wife, Pam, and children, Josh and Chelsee, live in the Hays area. Everyone except for Josh have been able to go to the hospital to "entertain" Lori with great reason for laughter! Lori met Chelsee's fiance, Dan, for the first time yesterday. Ron and Pam come to the hospital whenever they have a spare moment in time. We have all enjoyed and appreciated that so very much!!!



Valerie Lobmeyer and three of her kids surprised Lori with a visit yesterday afternoon. We all enjoyed that sooo much! They were enroute to Emporia to transport supplies to Taryn who has just returned to Emporia for her senior year in college. They have promised to return to HMC on their back home sometime today.



I already mentioned that Tammi Buhrle came over on Tuesday to visit with all of us. Oh, we all so enjoyed getting caught up with her!!! She will be coming back over whenever she has the chance. Thank you, Tammi!!!



My mom, Stan, Lars, Leighlyn, Abigayle and I all returned home at midnight last night. I needed to get back to my work today. My bosses have been just outstanding with me needing to be gone. Today is Stan's last day of vacation. He returns to work tomorrow. Depending on Stan's weekend schedule will decide when we return to Lori again. We all HATED to leave Lori all by herself but we felt much better knowing that she FINALLY has doctors and nurses who genuinely care about making her well and the fact that she has people so close to HMC who love Lori lots and lots who will continue to spend time with her! We cannot thank Kathy Bangerter and Dr. Sheila Scheffe from the Greeley County Clinic and Hospital for taking such wonderful care of Lori and making arrangements to get her to the necessary specialists right away!!! Without Dr. Scheffe and Kathy, chances are that Lori would no longer have been here now...



In case you are planning on being in the Hays area and want to drop in on Lori, Lori is in room 248 which is on the surgical floor. The earliest that she will be dismissed to come home will be next Tuesday.



Lori would love to hear from you!!! Here is her address at the hospital:

Hays Medical Center
Lori Elder
2220 Canterbury Drive
Room 248
Hays, Kansas 67601

Lori LOVES flowers and plants, if you want to send something, I would recommend that if you live in Leoti, you call the Ladybug Flower Shop at 620-375-2172. They are more than happy to transfer your order to a florist in Hays. They accept VISA, MASTERCARD, checks and CASH!!!

If you live somewhere else, I would recommend that you call your local florist to make arrangements or please call Frances' Floral Shop in Hays at 785-625-2423.

Please keep praying!!!

VLE-B