Back in the Blog Seat

Happy Sunday! It has been a couple of days since I blogged because Skye came to visit Friday. Her morning started a little hectic. She texted me at 7:00 and said the taxi hadn't picked her up yet to take her to the train station. She missed the train but luckily was able to get on a later one. Then Jim called and said they were moving him to another floor.


I arrived at the hospital just in time to see Dr. van den Brink (see picture) and the NP enter Jim's room. Because he is doing so well they have decided to transfer him to another floor to make room for new patients coming in. We knew this would likely happen but the only other floor we are comfortable moving to is the 14th, the "overflow" floor. There are nurses there that deal with transplant patient but it won't be the quality of care he is getting now. There was a chance he would be sent to another type of floor because 14 was at capacity. We voiced our concern to Dr. van den Brink and he said unfortunately he has no control over where patients are placed. We found out later that jokingly van den Brink took out his wallet when talking to the charge nurse and said what do I have to do to get Riddle moved to 14? Friday was van den Brink's last day on duty. It has been a pleasure having him as a doctor. He has followed Jim during his most critical time and has made us confident that we are in the best hands.

Skye arrived mid afternoon so I took the subway down to Penn Station to help her get out of the maze of confusion there. We went to see Jim and luckily they hadn't moved him to the other floor. His room looked so different without all the cheerful cards and decorations. He looked great though. That night Skye and I had dinner in the apartment and talked and talked.

On Saturday we took a cab to the High Line. I've mentioned that area before in a previous blog. It is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan's West Side. Being Saturday it was crowded but the sun was shining, there was a chill in the air and the sky was blue. We took our time and stopped to appreciate the different flowers and art sculptures along the path. The fake Monks were out soliciting money after they approach with a peace offering and handing you a gold tin coin. Skye had fun taking the coin and walking onwards. The "Monk" kept harassing her to write her name in their tablet because then he would tell her about the monastery they are building and how they need money. She kept walking and finally gave the coin back to him. According to an article I read in the New York Post the masquerading monks are largely Chinese nationals who return to Flushing flophouses with their day's earnings, sometimes changing out of their robes on the subway. They have been seen gathering at a local restaurant for a meal that includes alcohol and have also been seen smoking.

One of the sculptures was a hyper-realistic painted bronze sculpture of a man sleepwalking. The sculpture was SO realistic.

After walking the High Line Skye and I went to the Chelsea Market, a fantastic indoor food hall with over 35 vendors along with crafts and boutiques. Later in the afternoon we went to see Jim in his new room. It is small and crowded but hopefully he will not have to remain in it for much longer. His counts continue to rise (slowly) and he continues to stay in the chair and eat well. His medications are being switched to pill form and they are slowly discontinuing the IV form. Luckily since the room is on the 14th floor he has a fairly decent view of buildings in the distance and he can see the sky. Jim picked a restaurant out for Skye and I to go to and they allowed patrons to bring in their own wine. Skye and I took a cab to the fantastic wine store and got a recommendation on a rose then went to Poke Restaurant and sat at the bar eating sushi. Everything about it was delicious.

This morning it was raining. Skye had a little time before her train left so we went to the hospital after breakfast. Jim was looking good sitting up in the chair. We stayed and visited until it was time for Skye to leave for the train. I went with her to Penn Station and she headed back to Charlottesville. When I got back to the hospital Jimmy was able to go outside of his room for the first time in 18 days. His white blood counts have to be at a certain level before they allow him to leave the room. He had to put on a mask and gloves but he walked a mile in his shoes. 14 laps around the entire floor is equivalent to 1 mile. We took it slow but he felt pretty good doing it. He never ceases to amaze me.