# Mr. Shoe is in the hospital **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 12, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279 "2012-08-12T16:58:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/301 "2012-09-03T01:17:07Z")
This is so gooood! ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/302 "2012-09-03T01:27:37Z")
Hooray!!! ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/303 "2012-09-03T01:55:05Z")
It seems quite bizarre to me to give a shit about, not just a random person on the internet that I don’t know, but a person that’s important to some random person on the internet. But I do, so there you are. **Purplehorseshoe** , it’s really great to hear that your guy is improving, and whereas I first started reading this thread with trepidation, now I’m reading it to get a little vicarious happiness. So thanks for that. And the good thoughts and best wishes are still being sent your way. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/304 "2012-09-03T06:58:58Z")
Same here. I started following the thread early on, out of mild interest, and never would’ve expected to find myself _caring_ so much. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/305 "2012-09-03T10:18:14Z")
Oh, what a relief. So good to hear. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/306 "2012-09-03T17:21:34Z")
Yay Mr. Shoe! Purplehorseshoes, I am so happy for you. Now, take a deep, relaxing breath, eat properly yourself, and get plenty of sleep. ---
**Author:** ![KinkiNipponTourist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@KinkiNipponTourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinkiNipponTourist)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/307 "2012-09-03T19:18:36Z")
Homeboy is SITTING UP?! This is fantastic. And I remember when ice chips were verboten. Ahh, this is wonderful news indeed! Please let him know that a bunch of people he’s never met are rooting hard for both him and for you. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/308 "2012-09-03T19:55:27Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Y’all are great. 🙂 And, since I have no Pop-Tarts in the house, it was easy to obey the wise **flatlined.** > _ **CAUTION** _: the remainder of this post contains nothing but good news. If you need an excuse to feel shitty and gray and cranky, go somewhere else … > > For starters, his chest X-rays show much clearer lungs over yesterday and today. Even better, when we came back at noon, he was in a chair, with a belt around his waist but otherwise sitting up under his own strength. Best of all, the nurse brought a cup of ice chips and water with a spoon, and he ate probably 3/4 to a full cup of them, crunching and crunching and indicating, “more, please.” No gurgling, no choking. I asked the nurse if this counted as a swallow evaluation, and he said it wasn’t an official one, but if it was, he’d have passed, and that he’d note it on his chart for the physical therapist. > > And, now: :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D OK - now you need to tell us where he’s at so we can FLOOD his room with get well cards addressed to “Shmoopy”! ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/309 "2012-09-03T20:00:56Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > OK - now you need to tell us where he’s at so we can FLOOD his room with get well cards addressed to “Shmoopy”! Uh YEAH??? Come on - give us an addy - PM me!!! I’ve already bought the card!!! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/310 "2012-09-03T22:08:43Z")
> [@Missy2U](#): > > Uh YEAH??? Come on - give us an addy - PM me!!! I’ve already bought the card!!! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D Waves hand in the air! Me too!!! Well, I don’t have a card yet, but I have stamps and a working pen and I know where I can aquire a card or 2. Opening cards might help with his dexterity, so maybe that number should be 3 or 4. This is such wonderful news. I’m glad that the exciting stuff in this thread has moved to happy stuff 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/311 "2012-09-03T22:21:04Z")
Awesome! (hugs for both Shoes) ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/312 "2012-09-04T02:50:01Z")
**zoid, Missy2U, flatlined** , check your PMs. Everyone else: please, I beg, forgive my paranoid ass for not posting our address publicly, but I’ll send it to anyone who sends a PM. I can’t tell you what it means to me that random strangers care. Really. REALLY. Let’s see: _Good news:_ he’s brushing his own teeth! His right (non-dominant) hand isn’t doing much, but his left (dominant) hand is gaining strength and dexterity every time I see him. Technical / not-so-good Rx news: his pulmonologist is keeping his PEEP level damn high. His oxygen has been dialed down to 35%, but his PEEP pressure is still at 12% to keep his alveoli open so his lungs don’t collapse down and refill with the aforementioned crud. He’s in isolation - we have to wear gloves, gown, mask, and booties, just to walk into his room - from a bacterial positive in his lungs. Otherwise, he’s relatively strong, and in fairly good spirits. Just … bored and frustrated, and YES we’ve brought him the local paper and whatever else we can think of to keep him occupied. He has a book of crosswords in his room with a Post-It wishing him the best from all the night nurses. 🙂 (Told ya he’s been flirting …) ---
**Author:** ![Mom-of-Andrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@Mom-of-Andrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mom-of-Andrew)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/313 "2012-09-04T05:22:55Z")
So glad to hear the good news! From my recent hospital camp-outs, I do have one tiny piece of advice. When it is time to move him to a new room/ floor/ facility, bring a laundry basket. It is amazing the amount of personal stuff that will have accumulated in his room. A laundry basket seemed more diginifed to me than throwing it all into a clean garbage bag. YMMV, of course. Not everyone has my hang ups. (Side note: thanks to **Lacunae Matata** dubbing you ‘Madame Violet Equine Footwear,’ when I quote something wonderful you’ve said to my RL friends I refer to you as ‘My buddy Violet in Dallas’) ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/314 "2012-09-04T12:31:21Z")
Maybe his new tablet could accommodate some audio books? Regular e-books too. Gotta keep a guy entertained. Go over to Project Gutenberg and go “shopping” for free books for Schmooops. 😃 There’s thousands of freebies over there, everything from Shakespeare to Mark Twain. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/315 "2012-09-04T15:58:10Z")
> [@](#): > > bored and frustrated, and YES we’ve brought him the local paper and whatever else we can think of to keep him occupied. He has a book of crosswords in his room I like a big book of pencil puzzles, myself. The kind where you’ve got crosswords and crisswords and several other kinds of puzzles in one book. I get bored with doing crosswords after a few hours of it, and it’s nice to change up puzzles. Also, a pack of mechanical pencils. The lead’s a bit harder than I like, but far more convenient than constantly sharpening a regular pencil. This might be a good opportunity for him to learn to knit or crochet or do embroidery. I’m serious. I’ve done a lot of cross stitch while I’ve been hospitalized. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/316 "2012-09-04T16:28:57Z")
Netflix has a $7.99/mo unlimited streaming package that is guaranteed to keep him occupied until the 22nd century. I’m currently watching “Frasier” and “Upstairs/Downstairs” series. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/317 "2012-09-04T17:20:59Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Netflix has a $7.99/mo unlimited streaming package that is guaranteed to keep him occupied until the 22nd century. > > I’m currently watching “Frasier” and “Upstairs/Downstairs” series. In fact, I will even spring for 3 months - PM me and I’ll send you a check. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/318 "2012-09-04T20:00:13Z")
Hooray! I’m so happy to hear all the good news. I’ve been telling my husband about you and **Schmoopie** , so you’ve even got non-Doper-type strangers caring about you. We’ve been thinking about you guys a lot this last weekend, actually. We were both feeling feverish and headachy on and off, and then early Monday, husband took a turn for the worse, and we found out he has meningitis, probably viral. Then I started deteriorating, and it turns out I have it, too! Fortunately, the kid seems to be fine so far. But yeah, I’ve only been in the hospital a day or so and I’m already bored out of my gourd. So, one, we both have a renewed appreciation for what all of you are going through, and two, whatever I can do to help, I’m on it as soon as my ass is out of here. Cards, books, jokes that are only funny to me; all this and more is yours for the asking. Keep up the good work! ---
**Author:** ![BTEzra04](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@BTEzra04](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BTEzra04)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/319 "2012-09-05T01:40:23Z")
YAAAAAAY!!! _hugs to both of you_ It’s so awesome to hear he’s doing so well!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279/320 "2012-09-05T01:52:50Z")
Guess who got moved out of the ICU today? **points at Mr. Shoe** THIS GUY!!! No real changes, other than geography. Still on the oxygen vent and all that, but now I think the focus is shifting towards getting him stronger, more mobile… oh, and that whole “breathing for himself” thing, too. Nice room, too: shit, the TV is nicer than the one we have at home! I told him I’ll hang with him more, now. 🙂 Big ol’ window with a nice view; the staff seems nice, and competent. He was sleeping soundly when I came tonight, but earlier, he did seem in good spirits, and at least enjoying having a different wall in front of him. Oh, and I hadn’t mentioned this thread to him before, but I told him today. The look on his face when I told him how many thousands of views it’s gotten was _priceless_. He was really incredulous, that so many random strangers neither of us have ever met care a bit about how he’s doing. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for giving me the ability to tell him that he’s loved by so many. It means a lot. Wishing you and your husband a speedy recovery, **Heart of Dorkness.** Meningitis was one of the very few dangers that passed over my husband, and I’m sorry if the Meningitis Fairy skipped over him and into your home instead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-shoe-is-in-the-hospital/631279.md?page=17)