Iceberg

Saturday 14 April evening

Today one hundred years ago the Titanic hit the famous iceberg. Lara wouldn't have minded hewing a chip off the cool colossus and putting it on her forehead, sizzling. She was burning up with fever - this morning and again late afternoon. For the sixth day in succession, her temperature spiralled twice in one day, to over 39C, and it wipes her out. Cold packs bring short relief and paracetamol more long lasting but intermittent. She slept for an hour and a half, not noticing that a nurse changed her drip bags, and while I read the news paper and ate a salad. Out cold.

Bouke and Merel were supposed to come and visit her, but after speaking to Lara this morning, she and I agreed that would not be a great idea. So Bouke spoke to Lara about 8:00PM, after she had perked up a bit.

Turns out she is a little hyperglycemic. Yesterday she clocked at 145 mg/dl, and this afternoon at no less than 224 - the standard is 126. The reason is she is being fed a pack of nutrients intravenously and the body doesn't know anymore how to deal with the sugar and spills it over. A shot of insulin balances out the equation. No problem. This may last for a couple of days.

This morning I went on my hosiery mission and came back with a charming front button night shirt,black with small while dots, which I washed and ironed before taking it in. Felt quite proud of myself.