Yeah that’s what I thought, when I’m sick with worry I get squeamish and just reading about snipping dead babies up into pieces would add anxiety. To each their own ymmv.
No apology necessary. I’m a big believer in personal responsibility, and my “house rules” are based on it. Kids have freedom to set their own schedules and do whatever they really want, as long as the NECESSARY things are being taken care of (schoolwork, laundry, hygiene). Freedom in exchange for responsibility. But, irresponsibility means reductions in freedom, starting minor up to draconian.
My daughter has thrived on this system. My son not so much. The oldest daughter at home (22 now) has other developmental issues, but still has managed to internalize these rules and does well.
Regarding alternative school, we do have that in our system, and online school (which I can promise will NOT work). Unfortunately, I was actually getting ready to go to parent-teacher conferences to spend half my day listening to teachers gush about the daughter, and try to figure out a plan to maybe lead my son to success… When this whole hospitalization journey began. So that is postponed slightly.
My daughter is out of the ICU, and was wearing street clothes, and will be again once she gets out of the first shower she has had in at LEAST 10 days, possibly more. She has been off oxygen all day long, and today her boyfriend and his dad drove the 350 miles to visit. A great day for her.
And to top it all off, just so we didn’t have to worry about figuring out how to get home/making arrangements/etc the day we find out we get to leave, her boyfriend’s dad left me his car and just rented a car to go back home. Dude’s a saint.
And I’m guessing the son is too. Indeed, that guy is a saint and gets extra, extra points for thinking to do it. A mensch as they say.
Just started reading the thread. Lots of good news here despite the obvious difficulties. Sounds like you’re doing well under the circumstances. Just wanted to send some positive thoughts your way. I hope things continue to improve.
This is a really tough time for him too. Sorry to see this.
Continuous improvement! Plan is to stay the weekend, then make a plan Monday morning.
Daughter sent me out for tacos, which I would say is a good sign!
WOO-HOOooooooo !!
Hurray for feeling well enough to demand different food! Modern medicine can be amazing, I’m so happy your daughter is proof of that.
Another day, we’re still here. So it looks like I will miss getting in my protest vote tomorrow.
You, my revered friend, are forgiven. No way you could have known. [makes the Sign Of Forgiveness on your forehead]
So sorry she needs to stay-find some really good food for both of you. What’s her favorite?
That’s one of the reasons we have to stay, she needs to eat more. So I told her whatever she wants, I’ll get it.
She sent me to Taco Bell!
The other reason is she keeps spiking fevers, so they want us to stay until she goes 24 hours without doing so.
This old mom/nurse agrees with them and you are a sharp dad for staying with the program. Especially since once you leave for home you will be hundreds of miles from those docs and that hospital’s expertise in her.
Taco Bell food that is appetizing to her and that she will eat is twenty times better than an egg white tofu omelet she won’t.
And when you get home, after the laundry is done, pack a ‘go bag’ for each of you and keep them by the door. Underwear and sock included, chargers, maybe a pocket power bank. Maybe a wee nip or two in yours…
BTW, I’m betting the staff bulletin board on her floor has takeout and delivery menus from good, nearby places that are easy deliveries for her next couple of meals and power snacks. Order some cookies or pizza for the nurses while you are at it. It will mean more than you know.
Has she lost her sense of smell as well as her sense of taste? 
You’re doing great. I hope her next 24 hours are fever free and you get to go home with a healthy child.
Day 13: We continue to be prisoners of the medical establishment. 
She had a fever of 104 overnight, just fine this morning. CT scan scheduled for tomorrow, hopefully, to check the status of the infectious fluid in her abdominal cavity. If it is gone, great news, if it has finally formed an abscess, also good news, because it means they can drain it.
I’m sorry the saga continues. I hope they find the trouble spot with the CT. I’m thinking of you both.
I hope I can be momentarily light-hearted … and say … at this point it almost has to be the Taco Bell 
I was a couple hundred yards West of you with my wife, yesterday … normal follow-up stuff.
Just know that I told her what was going on, pointed to Children’s as we made our turn into Anschutz, and we both ‘took a moment’ to think of you and the team taking care of your daughter.
I also told her the story of your “son-in-law’s” dad … and how he left you his car. Just about moved my granite wife to tears.
Good people do things like that … but they tend to do things like that for other good people. Says something about you and yours, too.
All the best !
Thank you so much!
Day 14.
CT is going to be tomorrow. Cracks in my usual cheerful façade. New job contacted me today, asked if I could start. Today. Hopefully they can hold off as long as it takes to get done here.
No fever since 10pm last night. Went for a good walk, trying to get her to do another now.
If they don’t, you dodged a bullet in finding out they weren’t going to be a good employer to work for, anyway. Hopefully they are reasonable and keep things open for you.