Saint Mary’s Hospital

This was taken inside, looking out...said tubes connect various building through this hospital...it is truly amazing and a fantastic medical facility.


Saint Mary’s hospital opened on Sep 30, 1889. Its history however began six years earlier when, in 1883, the Sisters of Saint Francis were called upon to care for the sick and injured after Rochester, Mn. Suffered a devastating tornado. The Sisters opened their teaching academy to house the critical patients. Dr. William Worrall Mayo directed the medical care.

Today, Saint Mary’s Hospital is one of the largest private hospitals in the world. I gotta tell ya, this sucker is HUGE. Inside the building are 5 other buildings: Mary Brigh Building, Francis Building; Joseph Building; Domitilla Building and Generose Building and each of these have various floors, rooms and patient services. It’s just amazing and a maze of long corridors but well mapped out and although you walk a lot folks are there to assist if needed.

My son began his Rochester adventure at the Mayo Clinic in a clinical trail for follicular lymphoma and he and his wife left home on Oct 25th and figured to be back Nov 2nd. Well, it was during these trials and a leaky heart value was discovered and then, it was more tests and finally the decision to have heart surgery.

That took place on Monday, November 9th and here we are Wednesday, Nov 11th and he is slowly having tubes removed, sitting up, getting nourishment and with any luck, a few steps this afternoon. He is strong but this is gonna be a long healing process and at the moment, he has all ready been informed, for awhile, he can lift nothing heavier than 5 pounds. This will be his hardest test to mind the doctor’s and follow orders – he will just need to relearn to take things slower and give his body a chance to heal completely.

Yes, Mama was with him and glad she was because he wanted his Mommy too. He loves his wife and she has been there the entire time and attentive, supporting, caring and loving but no matter how old you get, if possible you still want Mommy! Mama got pretty tired tho – sorry but a long drive to Rochester (8 hours) and then a lot of sitting and waiting, and that just wears you out. So I am using today to rest and doing damn little.

I am anxious to see the grandkids and although this is “deer week,” and limited school days, they did attend yesterday and today, but it will be a 4-day weekend from this day on. BUT next week to make up for this time off, get this crap, they will go all FIVE days and the same hours – ouch!

Sun is shining, it’s 47 degrees and if the energy level ups just a little, I think a walk would be wonderful – I’m gonna talk myself into a walk, you can see that happening, can’t ya?

Take care, keep smiling and again, thanks for all your prayers and good thoughts.