Thursday, December 13, 2007

MY VISITS WITH MONTELL - DECEMBER 3RD. THROUGH DECEMBER 13TH..

12/13/07 – Today when I arrived at the hospital Montell was lying on his left side in a fetal position. He was upset; the guard told me that he had been down for a procedure. I felt his forehead and right hand and they were cold. He settled down about 15 minutes later. He had his gown down on his left shoulder so I pulled it back up on him. Montell was trying to talk today, you could understand some things but his words became slurred the more he tried to talk. The nurse came in and took his vitals at 3:30 p.m. His blood pressure was 101/61 temperature 97.8, pulse 84, respiration 16 and oxygen level 100. His output was 350 cc and a light yellow.
Montell kept having me do the ABCs and he kept spelling out his gown was inside. I noticed that he was having spasms frequently. Montell wanted to know what time I was leaving and I told him 8 p.m., he nodded. Montell wanted me to put the edge of the sheet in his mouth. I turned Montell over on his right side at 5 p.m. and he drifted off to sleep. When I saw the nurse I asked her what kind of test did Montell have and she told me that he had a “Lower Extremity Venus Dopler Study” to check the circulation in his legs. Montell woke up and wanted me to put his hand in the hold in the bed railing. I turned Montell to his left side at 7 p.m. and pulled him up in the bed higher. Montell drifted off to sleep. He woke up and I told him I had to leave but I would see him tomorrow.
12/12/07 – Today I arrived at the hospital at 12 p.m. and Montell was lying in a fetal position on his left side. I felt his forehead and right hand and they were a little warm, his complexion was normal and he was having spasms. The guard told me that I only could stay two hours and I had to leave for an hour and come back. I told him that I didn’t do this because I needed to be there to interact with the doctors and nurses. He called Stateville and they told him that he was right. I told him he needed to call Warden Wright and get so that he would know that I was telling him the truth. Montell’s first question for me while I was doing the ABCs was “Why does he have a guard?” Montell wanted me to place his head in the center of the pillow. Montell let me know that he wanted his right shoulder covered up. Montell wanted me to pulled him up in the bed and place him in the center of it after that he drifted off to sleep. Dr. Bryant came in and told me that Montell was a little dehydrated and didn’t seem to have any infection. He asked me if Montell had been coughing and I said “no”. However, later on when Montell woke up he started coughing. The nurse came in at 2:55 p.m. and gave him some Baclofin for his spasms and he drifted back off to sleep.
I turned Montell to his right side at 3:55 p.m. His bed is higher now because they say this would keep him for aspirating because of the feeding tube. Montell drifted back off t sleep. The nurse came in at 3:20 p.m. and took his vitals. His blood pressure was 99/66, pulse, 103, respiration 105 and oxygen level 100. I left Montell to go get something to eat because I realized that I hadn’t eaten very much this morning. When I returned Montell was moaning. He immediately stopped when he noticed that I was back in the room with him and drifted off to sleep. When I started turning Montell over to his left side I noticed that his gown was wet from top to bottom. I had to ring for a nurse. She came in noticed that his IV was out left and came back with another one and left again and told me she was going to get some new bedding and gown. She came back 25 minutes later with another nurse but by this time Montell had started moaning and coughing again. When they finished cleaning Montell up he drifted back off to sleep. I felt his forehead and it was quite warm. Montell woke up at 7:30 p.m. because he was having severe spasms. I noticed that they had put his right leg on top of his left leg without a pillow between his legs. I immediately put a pillow between his legs and the spasms stopped. When it was time for me to leave I told Montell that I would see him tomorrow.

12/11/07 – I called Stateville this morning spoke with Dawn about getting Montell a haircut, shaved and some deodorant. I was told that they couldn’t shave him because it would alter his appearance but they would cut the facial hair down some. As far as the deodorant I was told to notify the hospital because I am not allowed to bring any. I asked Dawn to have the Warden Wright call me.
When I arrived at the hospital Montell was lying on his left side. I felt his forehead and it was warm, his right hand was cold, however, I could tell that he wasn’t feeling well. Montell was upset because they had inserted a rectum tube in him and he immediately let me know that he wanted me to take it out. I tried to explain to him why it was there and that I couldn’t remove it and he began to cry. He kept telling to get it out through the ABCs. I also noticed that he was receiving IV again and was told that was because he was dehydrated again and not urinating as he normally does. His output today was only 350 cc.
I noticed that the blood blister on his left arm seems to have dried up. Montell kept trying to reach the left railing and I offered to help him but he was mad at me because I wouldn’t remove the rectum tube and didn’t want my help. He eventually drifted off to sleep for about 40 minutes. A nurse came in to take his vitals and work him up at 5:25 p.m. His blood pressure was 101/65, his pulse was 112 and his oxygen level was 99. She told me that she was concerned because at 3:30 p.m. his blood pressure was 89/58 and that she might have to call the doctor to report it. After she left Montell drifted off to sleep again. The nurse came back into the room at 6:30 p.m. and turned Montell to his right side. I noticed that the bedsore on the right side of his hip now have a bandage on it. She told me that the wound care specialist had cleaned this area out today. When she left Montell drifted off to sleep again. Later on a lab technician came in to draw some blood from him and he drifted off to sleep again. The nurse came back at 7:45 p.m. and took his vitals again. This time his blood pressure was 88/66 in his left arm so she took it from his right arm and it was 94/70, his temperature was 99.1 his pulse was 108 and his oxygen level was 99. When I got ready to leave for the evening I had to wake him up and let him know that I was leaving. I told him that I would see him tomorrow.

12/10/07 – When I arrived Montell was lying on his left side in a fetal position. I noticed that his complexion was darker and his forehead and right hand felt warm to me. Montell was having spasms frequently. Montell wanted me to put hte edge of his sheet into his mouth and then he started crying about his left hand. He wanted me to reposition it for him. Montell wanted to old the television remote in his right hand when actually its too heavy for him to hold so I held it and pretended that he was doing it by himself. The nurse came in at 3:35 p.m. and took his vitals. His blood pressure was 103/68, his temperature was 99.8, pulse, 04 and oxygen level was 98. I was told that Montell was sleeping quite a bit today. I noticed that he wasn’t very active. I had to leave him in order to attend a meeting so I told him that I would see him tomorrow and kissed him on the forehead and left.

12/9/07 – When I arrived Montell was lying on his right side. He wanted to be placed into he center of the bed. Montell forehead and right hand were cold; however, he let me know that he was feeling well. Montell wanted to be moved to his left side at 3 p.m. The nurse came in and took his vitals at 3:335 p.m. His blood pressure was 90/60, pulse 96, oxygen level was 99. When she left Motell drifted off to sleep for little while. When he woke up he wanted me to turn him to his right side and then Montell drifted off to sleep again. Later on the nurse came in to give him some Baclofin and he drifted off again. Around 7:30 p.m. I woke him up again so that I could turn him left side and make sure he was clean before I left. I told him that I would see him tomorrow.

12/8/07 – When I arrived at Montell was lying on his left side. He was verbal for awhile today, Montell said that he likes laying on his left side. I noticed that he has no IV today. He told me that he was sore and asked me not to touch him. He was having spasms rapidly. I asked him if he had seen the Dr. Falck and Diane, the medical student today and he nodded “yes”. Montell then drifted off to sleep. When he woke up he wanted the call button, which is difficult for him to hold in his right hand but I gave it to him and held it as well. He then wanted me to reposition his body so that he would be in the middle of the bed, I did. He then drifted off to sleep. The nurse came in at 3 p.m. to take his vitals. His blood pressure was 103/69, temperature 96.4, pulse 78, respiration 20 and oxygen level 96. Dianne the medical student came in to check the blood blister on his left arm and said that there shouldn’t have been any gauze put on it and she remove it. The blood blister looks like an upside down “V” or a lopped sided “7”.
After she left Montell wanted me to reposition him and put him in the center of the bed. Montell also let me know that he was cold. When I went to change Montell to his right side at 5:45 p.m. I found out that he was wet. I rung for a nurse because his “Texas Catheter” had came off. The nurse came in and put another one on him. Montell drifted off to sleep. The nurse came back in at 7:45 p.m. to take his vitals. His blood pressure was 86/61, pulse 68, and oxygen level was 97. I’ve got to find out why Montell didn’t get anything to eat by mouth today. I kissed Montell on the forehead and told him I would see him tomorrow.

12/7/07 -- When I arrived at the hospital Montell was lying on his right side. I felt his forehead and right hand and they weren’t warm. Montell’s left hand is not swollen today. I was able to get Montell to eat 4 ounces of the Thicken Easy Orange Juice. He wanted me to remove all his pillows from the bed. Montell wanted me to turn the ceiling lights out. He wanted me to position him so that he could lay directly on his back I told him that I couldn’t because of the bed sore that’s on his back above his rectum. He started crying and moaning because he started having spasms. Montell let me know that he wanted his hair cut and to be shaved. I told him that I would see about getting this done. I noticed that there was something on Montell’s left arm. I thought that it could have been some blood or some of his breakfast on him. So I went into the washroom and wet a towel to wipe it off. I gently rubbed him but nothing came off on the towel. I rung for a nurse. Dianne the medical student told me that it looked like a blood blister. She cleaned it and put a bandage on it and said she would have Dr. Falck look at it. I noticed that Montell wasn’t getting IV any more.
A nurse came in at 5:20 p.m. to take his vitals. His blood pressure was 93/62, pulse 7l, oxygen level 99 and temperature 98.6. After she left Montell started vomiting something yellow. I had to sit him up in the bed. Montell then let me know that he wanted his left hand on his shoulder. He started have severe spasms around 5:30 p.m. Montell then wanted his left hand to go into the hole in the bed railing but it wouldn’t reach the bed railing because his left arm is contracted. He then wanted me to place it on his shoulder. Montell let me feed him four ounces of vanilla ice cream. I was almost time for me to leave so I turned Montell on his left side and told him that I would see him tomorrow.

12/6/07 – When I arrived today, Montell was lying on his back asleep. He woke up and saw me and drifted back off to sleep. His forehead and right hand were cold. Dianne the medical student came in to examine Montell. He told her “no” I told him that she had to do it and he agreed to let her do it. Montell seems to be coming down with a cold; he coughed five time within an hour time. Dr. Falck came in and wanted to examine his lungs, he refused and I told me she had too and he agreed to let her do it. After she left Montell wanted to be covered up. He kept letting me know that he wanted some food. He had me saying the ABCs and he drifted off to sleep. The officers being in the room seem to be upsetting Montell. He constantly watches whoever is in the room. The nurse came in to take Montell’s vitals. His blood pressure was 99/56, his temperature 98.1, pulse 89, oxygen level 100, respiration 20, blood sugar 100 and output 320 cc.

12/5/07 – When I arrived at the hospital Montell was lying on his left side and was asleep. When he woke up he wanted me to move his left and right legs over and cover him up. He later wanted me to put his head in the middle of the pillow. Then he wanted me to wipe his lips with a towel even though he didn’t have anything on his lips. Montell kept letting me know that he wanted some food by opening his mouth and pointing to it. I told him that he was getting fed but he shook his head “no”. He wants it in his mouth. Later Montell wanted me to move his right foot. I noticed that Montell is not getting IV any more however, he is still receiving the three antibodies, I was told that this was because the infection that he has in the bedsores and ulcers have reached his bones. When it was time to go, I told Montell I would see him tomorrow.

12/4/07 – I arrived at 11:45 a.m. and found Montell lying on his left side in a fetal position. Montell keeps letting me know through the ABCs that he wants some food. Montell was having spasms frequently. The nurse came in and took his vitals. His blood pressure was 108/68, temperature 98.0, pulse 101, respiration 22, oxygen level 98. Montell called out “my hands belong under the cover’ and then he drifted off to sleep. When he woke up he wanted his left hand to hold the pillow. He woke up at 4:50 p.m. moaning, he wanted to be raised to the top of the bed. Dr. Vurn came in and told me that the MRI that Montell had on his head show no new lesions. I asked him if Montell could have some food and he said he would check. When he left Montell wanted his left hand to touch the pillow. I noticed that Montell now has a rectum bag on now. Montell told me that when he needs help the guards wouldn’t help him. I told him to push the red button on the remote. This however, seems to be a problem since most of the time when I walk into the room the guards have the remote instead of Montell. Montell then let me know that he wanted a towel. Montell then wanted his left hand to touch the pillow. Most of the day Montell slept. I had to wake him up and tell him I was leaving but would see him tomorrow.

12/3/07 – Today Sonja called me at 9:30 a.m.from Neurology and told me that the MRI of Montell’s feet showed that the ulcers had extended to the bones. I call Warden Wright at 11:50 a.m. to ask her if I could bring some thermal shirts out to Montell at the hospital because he usually wears them. He stays cold all the time and she told me “no”. If she did this for him she would have to do if for all the inmates. I then explained to her about Montell’s condition and told her that at Dixon he always had on a thermal shirt. I then asked her if he could receive cards to help encourage him to keep on fighting for his life. I received the same answer “no”. She then told me that I couldn’t take anything in to him.
When I arrived at the hospital I heard that the IDOC was planning on taking Montell back to Dixon. Even though this seemed a little strange to me, I immediately contacted my attorney and told him. I didn’t wait this time because I remember what happened the last time he was here. I didn’t understand this move because we were scheduled to be in court in the morning for the judge to rule on what was going to happen to Montell. My attorney told me to go to Medical Records and get his records from November 30th through December 3rd. Ms. Spreights told me that she could release records until a patient was discharged. I told her I needed them for court in the morning. She then told me that she would have to call the hospital attorney because it was not legal to release a patient records while they were in the hospital. I then called my attorney and told him what she had said. She also asked me to have him call her. I decided to wait for awhile before returning to Montell’s room since Medical Records is a block away. Ms. Spreights came back out and told me that she hadn’t heard from her attorney, so I left and returned to Montell’s room. When I got back Montell wanted to be turned to his right side. Later he wanted to be turned to his left side. Montell had a very busy day with all the different teams coming and going. Between each team’s visit he would drift off to sleep. His output was 450 cc however, its still a dark yellow. His forehead and right hand felt warm to me. I understand that the head of general medicine had discharged him so that he could be returned to Dixon but Dr. Falck decided to keep him at the hospital tonight pending the hearing in court tomorrow. When I left the hospital tonight I felt a lots better, this has been a very trying day for us.

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