Wednesday, Feb. 16th

This is Arlene: Kris was with Bill when I arrived (again via Metrolink and the Red Line) about 10:45. Bill was mostly thinking clearly and even wrote a note when it was too difficult to talk.  The tube was still in his nose, where it was supposed to remain until 24 hours after insertion of the stomach tube, which occurred yesterday.

The back-up rheumatologist showed up around noon. Bill asked about his blackened fingertips and in response the doc explained that the blood vessels had gotten so stiff and narrow, and his heart was pumping so inefficiently, that the tissue at the ends of his fingers (left hand) could not be supplied with adequate blood.  Bill asked what will happen, can they be fixed; the doc said he'll have a hand surgeon examine the fingers.  It's still important for him to be kept warm, particularly his hands and feet. The toes had been bluish but have recovered.

I'd arranged for Bill to take a call at noon on my cellphone from his former brother-in-law, Mac Ryland, whom Bill likes a lot.  I held the phone to his ear; Bill's voice was soft but he was clearly very engaged in the conversation, nodding and smiling and occasionally commenting.  He was happy to have connected with Mac.

We looked at cards and notes that had been sent by former students, colleagues, friends, and although he'd seen them before, I think he was really understanding them for the first time.  I'd brought a newspaper and he brightened up to see it but he didn't spend more than a minute looking at it.  He wanted to listen to KPCC, 89.3 FM; I was able to find a place on a table where the static wasn't too bad but every time I sat down the static got worse, so I ended up standing in a certain spot for a while.
 
Results of the kidney biopsy were not yet recorded on the computer so the doc was unable to say why Bill's kidney function continues to be a problem, -- although the indicator number is going in the right direction: - down (post dialysis).  And today's procedure, a heart scan using a radioactive liquid, will tell them lot more about the leaky aortic valve and other possible heart problems.  His heart is pumping at 60% efficiency as opposed to less than 20% when he entered the hospital.

I left after he was taken down to the nuclear medicine department for the heart scan; was told he will be moved today to Rm. 7796 some time today. Same floor, other side of building.  Kris planned to be there when he returned from the heart scan.