Okay, just spoke with Karen. The good news is his white blood cell count has gone down, so the antibiotics must be helping. She reiterates she has seen him a lot worse, but it does not seem good, just yet.

He has been "upgraded" to ICU (Intensive Care Unit) because they couldn't keep his O2 up with just a mask. He is on BiPap for now, which he hates when he is awake, but which is keeping his O2 sat rate at around 97 which is good. They drew blood gases three times last night. I don't know if any of you have had that done, but it hurts like hell. Karen said his PH levels are all messed up. With the BiPap, that should improve. He has a little bit of infiltration in his left lung.It is some sort of virus which he probably picked up from her or the kids and just hasn't been able to to kick like they did or like he did a few years ago.

She figures he will still be in there through Monday, at least, which is when she will have to go back to work. She's been able to take a couple of days off, plus he is in the same hospital where she works, so she can sneak off to see him on a break now and then AND, at least she doesn't have a long drive between work, home, and caregivers for Tris and Michael.

She said cards would be welcome and i just checked the hospital site for an addy. This is pretty neat, the hospital has a thing set up where you can send an e-card direct from Their Site. Not a lot of variety, but it's free and easy for those who may not be able to get out to the post office, etc. To make sure it goes to the right person, fill in the blanks with the following:

Patient's Name: Pat Patterson
Hospital: Mt. Carmel East
Room Number: ICU

Karen was nesting this morning when she got home. Did a bunch of laundry etc. She was glad we talked, said she'd be able to sleep once she'd caught us up on the latest. I asked her frankly if she was being optimistic for everyone else's sake and was really concerned this might go south and she told me no, that she really has seen him worse. She is a scientist and has such a laid-back, calm manner. She told me of course she *thinks* about his possible passing all the time, but this just isn't the time. I believe her instincts are spot on.

Here's the snail mail addy:

Mount Carmel East
6001 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43213