July 5, 2010

From Great Falls, MT, ID N47°29.386’ W111°19.942’

Day 32

We had a lot of rain during the night and off and on all day.

We got a phone call from the surgeon that will do Glenna’s operation, Dr. Pike. He explained how serious this operation is for someone her age and the alternative. The alternative is to do nothing to repair the break. That would result in her being both in bed and in pain for the rest of her life. A life filled with trying to cope with pain and immobility doesn’t seem like much of a life. Her life expectancy would be shortened to months without the repair. Glenna and I have discussed this in the past and she has a health care directive as part of her will. We will proceed with the operation, even considering the risks attached. It is the best alternative.

After taking care of some other business I went to see Glenna at the hospital. She hadn’t eaten anything and it was after noon. Her nurse, Sherry, ordered a tray with chicken fingers and fries. I managed to get her to eat about 1 and a half of the pieces of chicken.

Before leaving the hospital at about 3:30 I ask the nurse to ask that her supper tray not be taken away before I got back. When I did get back Glenna hadn’t eaten, the staff warmed up the stew and Glenna ate some of the stew, about a third of a biscuit and about half of an ice cream cup.

At about 9:30 I went back to the coach. It was still daylight.