Out of ICU

Dear All,

Another day of healing; we all know this process can't be hurried but it can try anyone's patience. When I got to Bernice this morning she was sitting in a recliner chair but still connected to her array of tubes. She had eaten a yogurt but had no stomach for more. Along with other things she is evidently obtaining some nourishment through her IV but, I suppose, as she regains strength she will be weaned from that. She is tired and not happy with this prolonged hospital confinement. I missed the early morning visit of her surgeon who said things were on course and that Bernice looks good. I did get to see our favorite Dr Mascarenhas, her hematologist who admitted her and has overseen her whole hospital. He is adjusting some of her meds to keep her blood values on an even keel. When he also declared that Bernice looks very good Bernice replied that she is blessed and cursed: she has the appearance of looking good even when she is feeling rotten. In the late afternoon she was transferred out of ICU to the 8th floor of the west tower to the neuroscience and neurosurgery unit. A bit of a mixup now occurred for which I have no present explanation. I had her new room assignment and was pleased that she was at a window in a double room and I was told to await her transport there. Before she arrived I was told that she would be in another room, near the door and the room bathroom. Something about a recommendation by the nurse in ICU. I complained and was told not to worry for she would be transferred soon to a window spot. This is important to Bernice. When I left the unit tonight I was told the transfer tonight may not occur because they had a flood of admissions. Such are the added things one is drawn into worrying about. Shortly before I left Bernice was visited by a lively PT woman who cajoled and convinced Bernice to get on her feet and take a few steps. There is a long way to go to strengthen Bernice after all this down time.



Hurricane Earl continues to churn towards the east coast having covered more than 350 miles since last night. Again,, if you are uninterested in the fascinating topic of Hurricanes, skip to the end. Earl has picked up speed over the day from 14 to 18 mph and now is pointing to the NW. One may think of a hurricane as a fighter striding forward and possessing a powerful right punch and a weaker left punch. Last night the maximum wind speed was 135 mph (same tonight) and Earl was advancing at about 15 mph. With these numbers I stated that the ground speed to the right (east) would be 150 mph and to the left(west) 120 mph. The ratio of these two speed is 150/120 = 5/4 = 1.25. 25% more wind speed at the right. Now, it turns out that the force exerted by a particular wind speed goes up as the square of the speed. If the speed doubles the force increases by 4; if the speed triples the force increases by 9. In our case the force would be 56% more at the right. That is a lot more wallop. It still appears that Earl's path will have its weak side skim along the coast while the really powerful winds will be pummeling the Atlantic water well off shore. But, as my son Harvey reminds me, even 100 mph winds can be terribly destructive. (This writing diversion relaxes me)

love to all,

Merwin