Sunday: Season 2, Episodes 1 & 2 Back in hospital

Was thinking that I would have nothing to say on this posting, but alas:

Feels like we are part of a TV-like serial and a new season has begun:

Episode 1 of New Season:

Last week Redjeb's nose began to bother him, sort of sore.  He went to the doctor on Tuesday and was given antibiotics.  They didn't seem to help.  I will spare you the awful details, but he developed a very serious infection.  We were urged by a retired doctor-friend that he go to an ER and get a culture done.  NYU Medical Center Hospital is our hospital of choice and all Redjeb's doctor's are affiliated there.  So late Saturday afternoon we made our way down there.

Redjeb is now getting intravenous infusions of antibiotics and also had some very uncomfortable procedures none to drain the infection.  When they told him he would be admitted to the hospital he said no way.  I thought he was going to get up and run out of there.  He, as you can well imagine, has had his fill of hospitals etc.  But the nurse and I coaxed and there he is.  They will probably keep him at least 2 nights or maybe more.  Depends how he responds to the antibiotics.    They did cultures and that will help clarify what kinds of bacteria he has, and then they can pinpoint the proper antibiotic.  Not sure how long it will take to get that information.

I know he doesn't want to be there, but as hospitals go, it is of the best, probably in the US and maybe the world.  The staff have been wonderful and all kinds of specialists have come in to examine him etc.  It is a teaching hospital, so one expects some of that.  They ask him the same questions over and over, and of course everyone looks at his name and hears his accent, and asks him:  Where are you from?  He told the last person he wasn't going to answer, but then I encouraged him just to say France.  Usually they also get curious about his name.  I think after so many many decades of dealing with his name and accent he gets a bit tired of it.  But I confess I ask people where they are from.

But he is basically a very good pleasant patient.  And of course they are all utterly surprised when they notice his age in the chart.  Even with his infected face and his loss of weight he doesn't look or act anywhere near his age.  Maybe someone made a mistake on his birth certificate.

Given that this is a new "season" on this reality show, I will start doing some postings each evening.  I realize that now that I went to once a week some of you won't even realize this right away and Redjeb may be out of the hospital by the time you read my posts.

He has his new Kindle with him, but I'm not sure how good he is with it, but he should be able to get emails.

He's feeling well except for his sore uncomfortable nose.  But the infection is quite serious and they don't want it to spread.  And by the way, probably has nothing to do with his recent problems (except that he may have picked up some new germs).

Will do a posting each day for a while to keep you up to date.   ....and just when everything was going so well....

Sunday eve, Episode 2:
Redjeb's spirits are up but he'd like to get out tomorrow, but I am not sure that will happen.  He has been in there over the weekend and the real staff comes in on Monday.  So it is my thinking that they'd like to have a day to watch him.  Also I noted on their computer that the analysis of the cultures re which bugs he has and which antibiotics to give does not seem to be finished (or they have just not entered it).

He is able to walk around when he is not hooked up to the IV, which they do twice a day for 2 hours each time.  So this afternoon, first we went to the visitors lounge on the 16th floor (his floor).  It has windows looking out at the river and lots of light.  We hung out there for a while and then went up to the 17th floor.  That was fun cause their was an Hasidic family there and the young man, maybe 18 years old had a violin.  I had heard him playing a little earlier, so Redjeb asked him to play.  The family--even the younger ones--was very old world, and they didn't seem to want to interact with us.  I wasn't sure they even spoke English.  But the boy insisted that Redjeb take his seat and he took out his violin and stood right in front of Redjeb.  He played two Jewish pieces.  Really nice.  Could have stayed there and listened to more, but he shyly put his instrument away.  Redjeb even had to ask for the second piece.  That was one of the few times I did not have my phone (and camera) with me, as what a picture:  this young man with his two long curls framing his face, dressed in black, wearing a black top hat...and Redjeb with his nose all bandaged up!  Would have made a neat photo or video.

Afterwards, we really went AWOL.  Redjeb is doing very well, so there is no reason he should be in bed.  So we went down to the lobby, and then before long were sitting outside in front of the hospital trying to get a little of what was left of the sun.  Then Redjeb, who has not been eating much of the hospital food wanted to go down First Avenue to a deli for lox and cream cheese on a bialy.   I convinced him to stay put, and I went to get it for him.  He said it felt like he had gone on a vacation, just sitting outside.

So I shall try to get there early tomorrow, just in case they let him go.  But I think they will try to really knock this bug out of him before doing that.  We shall see.

PS.  Give a try on writing me a comment, if you are one of the people who was unable to do so before. I changed the settings, as I mentioned earlier, as wonder if it works now.