Hospital Delirium

Last night the doctor on call for my floor told me that I might have “Hospital Delirium.”

My symptoms:
1. Pensive
2. Cranky
3. Unable to relax
4. Exhausted
5. Insomnia
6. High heart rate

And, of course, things that can cause or accelerate the condition include:
1. Surgery
2. Large quantities of pain meds
3. Pain
4. Lack of sleep
5. Extended hospitization

Oh yeah, those were my symptoms too. Considering the week I’ve had seen and endured, both physically and mentally, he thought I was holding it together surprisingly well. I agreed. My family might not. I was red-lining yesterday.

We have some of the craziest pictures and stories the Chronicles have ever seen. Today is my first coherent day since surgery, Monday. I’ll start getting them out ASAP. Let’s stick to “Cliff’s Notes” tonight.

Let’s talk about the good stuff. I have 2 books, at least one movie, and a mini-series worth of material that could be based precisely on this week, with a couple of coffee table books that would be titled something like “Grossest, Most Interesting Pictures You Can Take Of Yourself,” and “Squeeze Loved Ones Who’ve Been Though Cancer As Tight as You Can, They’ve Been Through Hell.” Of course the second one would have to have a section solely dedicated to Clark’s creative works that were inspired by this whole experience, primarily poems i assume.

THE SURGERIES WENT GREAT!! The first surgery was the removal of the tumor with wide margins. It all came out and the margins were 2 to 3 times larger than the last removal surgery. Our goal of being aggressive was accomplished. The second “rebuild and repair” which lasted close to 8 hours was also very successful or at least will provide the most success possible down the road after rigorous PT. Muscles were moved from my back, tendons were transferred, nerves were spliced, a LARGE amount of skin was grafted (about 4 times as much as last time recovering over half of the area between my elbow and wrist). I can already wiggle the fingers that were useless when the nerve was removed Monday. So far the initial, toughest part of recovery has gone well. Everything is taking and the varyous sites and recovery look great (great according to doctors). That last sentence should probably read more like: So far everyone is recovering well from taking a lookn at the various sites. Both sentenses are thr truth.

We are all super positive, super happy to get these massive surgeries, large margins, and initial recoveries behind us. And I want to thank my family (Harris and Vermillion) for being there for me every single day through the past two weeks. Everyone excelled in his or her own special part. They’ve helped me through the night, through the fear, through the pain, and have seen and done things in the process that no one should ever have to experience, referring primarily to the sponge bathes I’ve received (Nate, you still owe me one) JK. All joking aside, the teamwork over past two weeks is one of the many reasons that the family gets so emotional whenever they attempt to verbalize their love for this family, whether it be a room of 300 or a table of seven.

I’ll get back to everyone soon. Love to you all.

CP

PS Mom has demanded, rightfully so, that I make an official comment about playing "Carwash" on my computer's stereo while she was she was busy sponge bathing her baby boy (all 240 lbs). She also wants me to make note that I thought Shrek was in my ICU room for at least one entire day after surgery. It still is unknown whether he was recovering himself or just volunteering to cheer peple up. (Probably just doing communty service imposed by a Judge for indecent exposure)