Crossover Event

I remember the excitement in my TV-addled childhood when characters from one of the shows I watched would unexpectedly appear on another one of my favorite shows. 

The first time I remember this was when the folks from “Green Acres” landed in Hooterville and appeared on several episodes of “Petticoat Junction.” Another classic was a bizarre storyline that had the space age Jetsons going back in time and interacting with the Flintstones. Remember when an animated Samantha Stevens of “Bewitched” appeared on “The Flintstones?” Too cool. Often this device was used to test the waters of a spin-off such as when Mayberry’s Gomer Pyle joined the marines and became “Gomer Pyle, USMC” or later when Edith Bunker’s liberal cousin Maude got her own show that began on an episode of “All in the Family.” Ditto “The Jeffersons.” And then Maude’s maid Florida moved to a Chicago housing project with her family and “Good Times” was born. Occasionally these crossovers would even jump genres such as when the doctors of “St. Elsewhere” showed up drinking at Sam Malone’s bar on “Cheers.” This phenomenon is very prevalent today with many crime show casts hopscotching from one show to the next. Last year, ABC heralded “a very special crossover event” when a story arc on “Private Practice” sent the cast all the way from their Los Angeles clinic to “Grey’s Anatomy’s” Seattle Grace Hospital for a highly touted sweeps week stunt.

This week feels like Kendall and I are living a crossover event. Being in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Cedars, it’s a brand new environment with all new people, procedures, and rituals. But just when we think we’re getting used to all the changes, characters from our previous drama, “Charlie in the NICU,” breeze into view. Oh, look, there’s Rolley, our old respiratory therapist. What’s he doing up here on the sixth floor hooking up those toddlers to oxygen? Hey, check out the cameo appearances today by NICU nurses LaQuel, Jana, and Christine, how odd to see them in this different setting! And there are our familiar surgeons, too. Hey, guys! Wow, get a load of this brand new set. Very glitzy. Oh, but wait, I recognize these old props—they must be recycled from our old show.

So Charlie did have his entire VP shunt taken out today. His third brain surgery lasted over two hours and they discovered that the source of the problem was that the end of the shunt’s catheter was blocked by scar tissue from his two abdominal surgeries. They’re still not certain whether he has an infection but he’s being treated with antibiotics until they know for sure. Charlie now has an external ventricular drain (EVD) that is draining his excess cerebrospinal fluid out of his head and into a bag. The position of the bag to his head is very important so he can’t be moved at all without the nurse’s assistance. They use a leveler to make sure everything is positioned properly. This means we won’t be able to take Charlie out of his crib very much for the next week to ten days which is a major drag. The good news is that he came back from surgery already extubated (yay!!) and already awake. But then he had to be sedated again so a doctor could insert a new central PICC line into his arm. Oy. Been there, done that. But our son is such a trooper. He’s doing well and winning new fans among the PICU staff. After the next surgery to put in a new VP shunt we’ll be moved down to the regular pediatric floor before we’re discharged. Yet another crossover event.

Two people that were important characters in my childhood died this week. Like many people my age, I had the hots for beautiful Mary Travers from Peter, Paul, and Mary. Oh, how I loved her. In her honor, I sang this Bob Dylan song to Charlie after his surgery, remembering Mary’s haunting rendition:.

Actor Henry Gibson also died. Talk about a crossover star! Gibson recited an old poem from the 1920s called “Keep a Goin” on an episode of my all-time favorite sitcom, “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” He performed the same piece several years later on the ground-breaking show “Laugh-In.” Finally, he turned the poem into a country song and sang it in my all-time favorite film, “Nashville.” Way to go, Henry! And though the poem was always a little tongue-in-cheek, I find the words inspirational and extremely applicable to my current life:

If you strike a thorn or rose
Keep a-goin'!

If it hails or if it snows

Keep a-goin'!


'Taint no use to sit an' whine

When the fish ain't on your line
Bait your hook an' keep a-tryin'
Keep a-goin'! 

When the weather kills your crop


Keep a-goin'!

Though 'tis work to reach the top

Keep a-goin'!


S'pose you're out o' ev'ry dime

Gittin' broke ain't any crime
Tell the world you're feelin' prime
Keep a-goin'! 

When it looks like all is up


Keep a-goin'!

Drain the sweetness from the cup

Keep a-goin'!


See the wild birds on the wing

Hear the bells that sweetly ring

When you feel like sighin', sing

KEEP A-GOIN'!

Shana Tova, y'all!

Comments

[sweetsalty kate]

That poem's making me teary. Neat 'n tidy, Charlie. Keep it neat.
xo

[Margie]

Hope the day has sweetness for you all to keep you a-goin.

[Elaine Soloway]

Will be keeping a goin' thanks to your son's inspirational fight.

Shana Tova to all of you.

xoxo
Fake Grandma

[Sally]

Hi Danny,
Sorry to hear about the setback, but it sounds like Charlie is recovering well. We will be thinking of you and looking forward to when you can blog from home again with Charlie by your side!

[Kurt]

By leaving the NICU, you've stepped off the biggest ride in the park, but there's still a few more rides - smaller ones - that Charlie needs to try out. Soon enough you can return those season tickets for good, but for now you'll need to keep them in your pocket. It's a big park and will take a while to find the funnel cake.

[Pam G]

Shana Tova and hope all continues to go well for Charlie. Mary Travers, whom I saw in concert once many years ago, and Henry Gibson were childhood icons to me as well. Enjoyed the poem, which I didn't remember. Also been thinking of Army Archerd, Larry Gelbart, and Dominick Dunne, all of whom died recently and whose work I enjoyed. Continued good wishes to you and yours.

[Emily Barton]

I seriously do not know how you manage to go through all this and still keep me so thoroughly entertained (I, too, was a HUGE fan of TV crossovers as a child). I'm glad to hear Charlie's surgery went well. He is SUCH a trooper.

[amba]

Keep a-goin', Charlie. Keep a'goin, Danny and family.

I can see both you and Kendall in Charlie's face.

[amba]

P.S. I love the way you see everything through the lens of show biz. Someday when you've reach safe shore (as safe as shore ever is in this life of ours), you have to turn this into a book, Danny.

[Leightongirl]

Don't have the words, but doing all I can for Charlie on the mitzvah end of things.

[Julie R.]

Charlie looks so sweet in those pictures. Thank you for the update and the tributes. Happy new year.

Love,
Julie

[OldOldLady Of The Hills]

Charlie is truly an amazing little person! When I think of all he's gone through...WOW! I pray he continues on the road to recovery and that you and Kendall will gain great strength from his incredible spirit!

It does seem like there have been so very many losses these last few weeks---Larry Gelbart and George Eckstein---George was still married to Annie Guilbert when I first met him; And dear Larry Gelbart's wife Pat Marshall, has done STAGE umpteen times. Larry was always there for each performance and backstage before each performance too---a Testement to their long and wonderful marriage...Both these men were Superb Writers....) I met Mary Travers many years ago at friends, one Thanksgiving...She was quite an amazing talent. And Henry Gibson...So Vety Very talented....It's all too much. And I was saddened to read that Army Archerd had died, too....I have been reading him since the early 1950's....!

And there is that sweet little face of your dear son---looking at us all---a true survivor---Shana Tova to you all, my dear dear Millers!

[K Wild]

Oh - that poor guy's had far more surgeries in his life than I've had in my 40 years. You all are in my thoughts. Like Emily Barton, I too am amazed at your strength to keep a goin' and doing it with such verve. Happy new year!

[Spencer Tweedy]

By golly Danny, you sure grew a cute baby!

love from the fam,
Spencer :)

[Helena, John and Bammie]

A blessing on his head!
Git yuntiv und a git yur!

[jeff]

you have one cute son, wish you happiness, i love maude

[La Framéricaine]

Take good care of yourselves, Danny.

I'm happy that members of your old cast of characters has crossed over to your new set. It must make it a bit more reassuring.

Happy and quick healing to Charlie in all his glory!

[Candi]

Beyond the external shunt, the drowsy face and the new challenges, I think he may have gotten cuter over the weekend. Seriously! Happy New Year and wishes for quick healing in the PICU. Hang in there, Charlie!

[suzanne]

More good wishes and prayers, Charlie seems to be growing strong in spite of all the tweaking required to build him up. Happy New Year and many many more for you and yours.
p.s. Charlie is getting cuter and cuter, the photos are just amazing to watch as his little personality develops. Having never met him, I can still imagine his will and determination, spirit and soul. Thanks for all the stories and photos.

[Judy]

Keep a-goin sounds good to me,
Keep a-goin Chaim Charlie there's lots more to see
Keep a-goin Miller Family
and we'll all keep a-goin
along with thee,
love and prayers
Judy

[churlita]

It sounds like Charlie is doing really well post-surgery. I'm so happy.

[Jane]

I had one of those EVDs at Cedars, but I never knew why they were doing that level thing. Just that it drove me crazy that they were so incredibly fussy about it being level. Who knew?!

[aminosauren]

I think he may have gotten cuter over the weekend. Seriously! Happy New Year and wishes for quick healing in the hospital.