"L A M P"

There was a sign with "LAMP" and an Aladdin's lamp on Woody's door this visit. I noticed that several doors had this sign on them...but not all the doors. I finally asked a nurse what the sign meant. She said that it stood for "Look At Me Please." And that it was on doors of those who were at risk of falling. It reminds the nursing staff and the care partners to look in on these patients to make sure that they are okay. I looked at her puzzled as Woody wasn't having any trouble getting up and down out of bed and hadn't been light-headed. She asked me if he hadn't fallen on some stairs. I again looked puzzled and then had an "aha" moment. I remembered the fall that he had had when he returned home from the hospital after his first stay--when he fell going up our outside front steps. But I couldn't figure out how they knew this, as we hadn't mentioned it (that I remembered) to anyone upon entering the hospital this time. The nurse said that if we had mentioned it to anyone at Vanderbilt at any time that it gets put into his records. I do think that we (probably can be chalked up to me!) told the story at Dr. Sosman's office on his return check-up the week after being released from his first hospital stay. Anyway...Woody got labeled! And the sign stayed on his door the whole time we were there, despite one nurse saying that she was going to try to get it removed as she couldn't see any reason for it being there. We were also told that we got in just under the wire of a new "rule:" that all who are subject to falls are going to have to wear neon socks that have traction on the bottom starting next week!

Woody has had a pretty low-keyed day. He has done a lot of resting/sleeping which is expected after these treatments. He is once again peeling, but at this point isn't itching as much as he did the last time. We are both very glad to be home! Adrenalin has stopped flowing for me once again--so I haven't accomplished much today--didn't even get unpacked--maybe tomorrow? It is a good feeling to realize that we don't have any immediate plans for Woody to go back into the hospital. We are home for a while, except for doctor appointments. He has two Vandy appointments in the next two weeks--one with Dr. Sosman next week and then one with Dr. Holt, his orthopedist, the next week. The car wheels keep turning towards Vandy--much to our dismay!