tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87468423234894366662024-03-05T16:55:02.238-08:00From the Sea to the DesertAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-81561565917772632052014-12-02T10:17:00.002-08:002014-12-02T10:17:54.834-08:00Thanksgiving<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's all pretend that I actually posted this on Thanksgiving, as intended.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am THANKFUL for a family who loves me: family who loves me enough to bless me with random calls, texts, emails, cards, pictures, and remembrances. This family has known grief well, so responds in ways that I'm sure must have helped them in the past too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am THANKFUL for friends who love me like family: friends who check on me, include me in their daily lives, and keep asking me to join them even when I say "no thank you, I can't just yet."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am THANKFUL for those who understand that I don't know how to reach out for help and comfort yet, so THEY reach out. It's very hard for me to initiate contact. I don't know why. It just is and I am thankful, very thankful for those who understand that and keep me going.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am THANKFUL for a God who loves me and comforts me through His Word and through His presence as I walk this path. He gave me a beautiful sunrise this morning, just to remind me that <i>"weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning" (Psalm 30:5)</i> He knows me. He knows that I am a "morning person" and that I would need to see this today.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This morning's sunrise as I walked & talked with Jesus.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am THANKFUL for nearly 42 years with my wonderful husband and best friend. I am THANKFUL that he no longer struggles to breathe, or labors just to get up in the morning. I miss Lee sorely, but I know that I will see him again and that he is whole now. </span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Enter His gates with Thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name." Psalm 100:4</span></b></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-1165000043071980042014-07-03T19:27:00.003-07:002014-07-03T19:27:37.306-07:00Lee's Washington Memorial Service Info<br />
Lee's memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 12th at 11am at LifeWay Church - 5015 SW Dash Point Road, Federal Way, WA. The service will be officiated by Pastor Don Turner and our brother-in-law, Pastor Lonnie Arnold.<br />
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We would be honored to have you join us in remembering Lee's life.<br />
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From his cousin, Shannon:<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>The adorable man with the mischievous, smiling Irish eyes is my cousin Lee Hendricks. We lost him on Saturday afternoon after a long battle with heart related conditions; he had been at the Mayo Clinic waiting for a heart. The tenacity and faith was humbling, but he was so much more.</i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>He was a man of epic dreams who made you imagine the impossible. The testament to his role as a father is seen in his fabulous kids Seth, Sarah and Katie, and his role as a husband to his wonderful wife, Peg Hendricks. </i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>I feel privileged and thankful for the time that he was in my circle. Time to spill some fine Irish whiskey for my sweet cousin.</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-12145362520666743802014-07-01T17:54:00.000-07:002014-07-01T18:39:04.742-07:00Lee is with Jesus<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">2 Timothy 4:7 </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">I have fought <b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">the</b> good fight, I have finished <b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">the</b> <b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">race</b>, I have kept <b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">the</b> faith.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After fighting the good fight, Lee went to be with Jesus on June 28th at 2:45pm. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tonight we experience utter heartbreak and simultaneous joy for we know that while we grieve his death he is already with Jesus and could say "I have foug<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">ht the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." and heard in return "Well done, good and faithful servant...Enter into the joy of your master" Amen and amen. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His passing was peaceful, and we know that he finally received his much-anticipated new heart! And we have great joy in knowing that this heart will never wear out. He's rejoicing with Jesus, hugging on Lonnie Jr. and Gabbie and those that got there before him. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">There will be a memorial service in Buckeye, AZ this Wednesday, July 2nd at 2:00pm. It will be held at Grace Fellowship Church, 1300 N Miller Rd, Buckeye. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">A memorial service in the Pacific Northwest is in the works, and will likely be scheduled for mid-July. Details to follow. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1ZFiYD4o-QZpMfnlpsSHYj81DBmjOaQ68ecNb2Te8Ri630V8khBEXzgsaE49maikBYcUpOgfPd-b7NqViVtnDITGvfLz0rooeaIcgyuk1lG-KxPZ5wyvubkQyEq6XcJFVxHh508exg_V/s1600/10521760_10152255162561896_5258341268399399202_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1ZFiYD4o-QZpMfnlpsSHYj81DBmjOaQ68ecNb2Te8Ri630V8khBEXzgsaE49maikBYcUpOgfPd-b7NqViVtnDITGvfLz0rooeaIcgyuk1lG-KxPZ5wyvubkQyEq6XcJFVxHh508exg_V/s1600/10521760_10152255162561896_5258341268399399202_n.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit: Mark Hendricks</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">The doctor told his nurse (who told Seth) that they were to pull out <i>every </i>possible treatment because this man is special. It is healing to our family to know that they exhausted all options in treating Lee. The nurses were so attentive, constantly adjusting his medications and equipment, never leaving his side (literally -- they left the room to use the restroom -- and were never gone more than 5 minutes), and called his doctor if there was more than a minor fluctuation. His doctors did everything they could to restore his health to the point that he could return to The List. Ultimately, God saw fit, in His goodness, to take him home, and we know that Lee was ready. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">We credit this attention above and beyond attention to Lee's unwavering faith. He shared his "win-win" philosophy with anyone who would listen. As he would say...if I get a new heart, I win. If I'm with Jesus, I win. He truly lived out his faith and we know that he planted and watered many seeds for the Gospel.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1W3bCtL4AYPep8oZ1_KAW9ys9ukFdN48oS26i6mn19h9i96VDOgishe02cT87Fl8oCTOD8lLN8wd5hFl_5z58cTr0ILjHK2_ye2drGr8ZlQ3j4Sj-zmTlO3_FVyVvAxWg5y-xltUDq30a/s1600/Final+Sail+04+Papa+Working+the+Lines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1W3bCtL4AYPep8oZ1_KAW9ys9ukFdN48oS26i6mn19h9i96VDOgishe02cT87Fl8oCTOD8lLN8wd5hFl_5z58cTr0ILjHK2_ye2drGr8ZlQ3j4Sj-zmTlO3_FVyVvAxWg5y-xltUDq30a/s1600/Final+Sail+04+Papa+Working+the+Lines.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing what he loved</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">He was always upbeat. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">He rarely let his condition keep him down, despite being unable to do so much that he loved. I don't believe many fully realized how sick he was, and how he longed for heaven and complete healing. Still, like Paul, he fought on for us. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Phil-1-21" id="en-ESV-29366" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Phil-1-21" id="en-ESV-29366" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: 24px;">For to me <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29366AM" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29366AM" title="See cross-reference AM">AM</a>)"></sup>to live is Christ, and to die is gain.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Phil-1-22" id="en-ESV-29367" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: 24px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Phil-1-23" id="en-ESV-29368" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: 24px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29368AN" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29368AN" title="See cross-reference AN">AN</a>)"></sup>I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29368AO" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29368AO" title="See cross-reference AO">AO</a>)"></sup>to depart and <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29368AP" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29368AP" title="See cross-reference AP">AP</a>)"></sup>be with Christ, for that is far better.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Phil-1-24" id="en-ESV-29369" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b> </b></span></span><span class="text Phil-1-25" id="en-ESV-29370" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: 24px;">Convinced of this, <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29370AR" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29370AR" title="See cross-reference AR">AR</a>)"></sup>I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29370AS" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29370AS" title="See cross-reference AS">AS</a>)"></sup>progress and <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29370AT" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29370AT" title="See cross-reference AT">AT</a>)"></sup>joy in the faith,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Phil-1-26" id="en-ESV-29371" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;"><i>so that in me <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29371AU" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29371AU" title="See cross-reference AU">AU</a>)"></sup>you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus...</i>(Philippians 1:21-26)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">His doctors, until the end, commented on how well he looked and they would have to read his chart and vitals to recognize how sick he was. Unless you were with him daily, and knew the man he used to be, the active, helpful, craftsman, sports-loving guy he wanted to be, you wouldn't have seen how sick he really was. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />We love him and will miss him dearly.<br /><br />Thank you to all of you who have prayed with us -- we've truly experienced the comfort and peace that comes only from God and is communicated through His body.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">This comes from his brother-in-law, Lonnie Arnold on Lee's passing: </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lee lived a life of a humble Christian man. He was a devoted follower of Christ, a loving husband and father. He was affectionately known as Papa Lee by all the Arnold children, and he was a second father to them all. My life has been incredibly blessed by the Lord to have Lee alongside me in my Christian journey. He provided endless encouragement as a Brother in the Lord, and a true fellow father in parenting our children. His godly wisdom was always was filled with spiritual insight and genuine love for me and my family. He walked and talked with me through both difficult and delightful days. I will miss my dear brother, brother-in-law, and irreplaceable friend. I rejoice that Lee is with Jesus. He has arrived at the goal of the Christian life. His hope has been fulfilled, and the joy of being in the presence of the Lord infinitely exceeds any joy of this fallen world. Oh yes, we miss you Lee. The temporary separation produces deep grief because of the depth of love we experienced with you for years. Yet at the same time, I bless the Lord for the gift of your life in Jesus, which based on the unbreakable promise of God, we will share many more conversations in eternity, filled with praise and glory. I will miss you my brother. You have been one of the richest gifts of God in my life!!!</span></i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><span class="text Phil-3-20" id="en-ESV-29425" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">But <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29425AT" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29425AT" title="See cross-reference AT">AT</a>)"></sup>our citizenship is in heaven, and <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29425AU" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29425AU" title="See cross-reference AU">AU</a>)"></sup>from it we <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29425AV" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29425AV" title="See cross-reference AV">AV</a>)"></sup>await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,</span> </i><span class="text Phil-3-21" id="en-ESV-29426" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">21 </sup>who will transform <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29426AW" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29426AW" title="See cross-reference AW">AW</a>)"></sup>our lowly body <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29426AX" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29426AX" title="See cross-reference AX">AX</a>)"></sup>to be like his glorious body, <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29426AY" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29426AY" title="See cross-reference AY">AY</a>)"></sup>by the power that enables him even <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-29426AZ" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29426AZ" title="See cross-reference AZ">AZ</a>)"></sup>to subject all things to himself</i>. Philippians 3:20-21</span></b></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-35941955993254383352014-06-27T07:04:00.003-07:002014-06-27T07:04:32.807-07:00Lee in the ICU -- an update<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">We feel SO very blessed having our names lifted up in prayer by so many loving, caring people. Our church family, friends and neighbors here in Buckeye are supporting us, loving on us and are at the ready to do whatever is needed to help. Family and friends across the nation are letting me know they are sending love, prayers and offers to help in any way. I am grateful and humbled beyond expres</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">sion. I am thankful to a loving God who is with us every step of the way.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />LEE ... Yesterday afternoon doctors did CT scans from head to toe, trying to locate the source of the infection that has caused his sepsis. They have also performed other tests & procedures throughout the day, including intubation (putting him on a ventilator). They found pneumonia in the lower left lobe of his lungs, a pulmonary embolism in his right lung, and the echocardiogram showed an extreme deterioration of his left ventricle. His fever & chills continue. His white blood count continues to climb, regardless of "all the antibiotics known to man" (per Dr Steidley). The team at The Mayo Clinic is amazing and are 100% dedicated to caring for Lee and are doing everything possible to get him well enough to get back on the transplant list.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />As of 4am, Lee is sedated, on the ventilator, and resting calmly. His vitals are steady and he remains in critical condition. As we prepare for the worst (for US, not for him <i class="_4-k1 img sp_u44ATfPafO7 sx_cc3256" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yK/r/q6EkjImnA-O.png); background-position: -119px -866px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></i> ) we continue to hope for the best (infection conquered and returned to The List) and pray to be granted a miracle. Our faith is strong, our God is mighty!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />We humbly ask you to continue to pray for us.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-28833137494739003172014-06-12T20:41:00.004-07:002014-06-12T20:41:45.097-07:00Lee is listed as 1-A on the heart transplant list ...Things are pretty crazy for us right now, so the most recent information is on our daughter, Katie's blog. I'll update here soon, but in the meantime, please go to: <a href="http://mcpheeandme.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://mcpheeandme.blogspot.com/</a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-41467864094743311172014-05-22T08:37:00.000-07:002014-05-22T08:37:39.653-07:00Mayo Clinic May 21 and more ...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Mayo Clinic appointment this day was pretty unremarkable. Lee is stable (a very good thing) and infection free. His labs are good in that they are unchanged (they won't get any better, but it's good that they are not worse.) Fatigue is the number 1 issue as far as symptoms go & we look forward to a new heart for Lee and the day when Lee can be worn out from activity such as playing with grandkids, golfing, hiking, or something strenuous. Fatigue from severe heart failure comes from getting out of bed or walking to the mailbox or from nothing discernible. The Mayo has done 9 heart transplants so far this year. Our prayers are for both the recipients and the donor families.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">SO ... while we wait: </span></h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lest you think we are just sitting around, looking at the clock and/or calendar, we decided to post some pictures of some of the things we've been doing. Most of the projects have been done between the late Fall to the present and were finished over long periods of time as health and stamina permit. We try to keep busy!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This old oak chest has been around the family for many, many years. My sister, Lorna, took pity on my lack of furniture and gave it to me. It was in pretty bad shape, but it was old (which I loved) and oak (which is very forgiving.) There's not a before picture, but here is the finished product.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">A while back, we bought an old (100 yrs+) oak table and chair set from The ReStore (Habitat for Humanity's thrift store.) The chairs were in pretty bad shape, as all the glue had dried up and every joint was loose. Lee painstakingly took apart each chair, cleaned up the wood with a hand-scraper, then re-glued every joint. It took him 8 - 10 hours per chair. They came out beautifully though & now I just need to oil and polish them.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BEFORE<br /></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another great thrift store find (Stardust Industries, a non-profit that encourages reuse) was an old kitchen cabinet. I was excited to find one that was solid wood and set about sanding and repairing it. Lee made a sturdy frame to sit the cabinet on and installed casters to wheel my "outdoor kitchen" around. We salvaged and painted the handles, painted the cabinets and drawers inside and out with outdoor house paint. With a little help from our friends, we finished the countertop with the left over tile from the floor in the house. I LOVE having an outdoor kitchen counter.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">In March, we had a wonderful visit from our daughter, Katie and her husband, Isaac AND baby Lucy. It was hard to let them go back home without us!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nana Heaven!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Date night for the McPhees, sans baby. We HAD to babysit!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKu2uWIAiZFu07u5mu0ylEu1vKUdoDoM18yXGXEPkxged8Iqhda3pC_8zMzjC-8B3St4qbsOa2epHOTUG8bkzSHXIfuFopVe1FlzrY8xZf0eUEydS0NFgcB7BTFI9mJpxr_3jpO3GnceJV/s1600/Mark+and+Seth+March+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKu2uWIAiZFu07u5mu0ylEu1vKUdoDoM18yXGXEPkxged8Iqhda3pC_8zMzjC-8B3St4qbsOa2epHOTUG8bkzSHXIfuFopVe1FlzrY8xZf0eUEydS0NFgcB7BTFI9mJpxr_3jpO3GnceJV/s1600/Mark+and+Seth+March+2014.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brother Mark with Seth.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousin Carole with Peg</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8vEpQH8c5qWivXDDOITIsilx9sQRhdZyMKKN3xc7R1gGGKV3FNM_ooJbNxXl3wTrtboXkHmere6UmDmyIxnmMLp3XctDO4QvZejprlO3kgGyAJBn7vw7Ggvj4UgpOnX5Re2ThA07CH5R/s1600/Paul+%2526+Lu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8vEpQH8c5qWivXDDOITIsilx9sQRhdZyMKKN3xc7R1gGGKV3FNM_ooJbNxXl3wTrtboXkHmere6UmDmyIxnmMLp3XctDO4QvZejprlO3kgGyAJBn7vw7Ggvj4UgpOnX5Re2ThA07CH5R/s1600/Paul+%2526+Lu.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brother Paul & sis-in-law Lu with Lee (and Guido)<br /></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lee built this awesome lattice for our yard. We planted a sweet smelling jasmine vine to grow up on it. It smells heavenly. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We enjoy filling our tiny backyard with colorful plants <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8zJjh3zYiiWCNipTIxHqhsG0AvDooaOvGX81b_K8VK3KABar4yk3GDWj2iRvvVfVBIi7zh-Z0HtX1ZUnrLsd-Up9s8qHXyfDbLTNwMBrkTRpbjwmzEhdOyBG0T1m1JD4fLBfs1EVa3z2/s1600/DSC05507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8zJjh3zYiiWCNipTIxHqhsG0AvDooaOvGX81b_K8VK3KABar4yk3GDWj2iRvvVfVBIi7zh-Z0HtX1ZUnrLsd-Up9s8qHXyfDbLTNwMBrkTRpbjwmzEhdOyBG0T1m1JD4fLBfs1EVa3z2/s1600/DSC05507.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
and watching a caterpillar <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82P4LQtkNoFL_RKBIvvK3ZdEo-jT3GYXE8P0LHDp9oQmktisx5ZE4og8QDrXsAHEwoOl-uyRLyBf5Nkxv5J-uiMDkLEQXV_mg0j-Ja0Txt4R0WubqWgtmOefNfNtA4Lm-OUvKUQk6X9Af/s1600/cocoon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82P4LQtkNoFL_RKBIvvK3ZdEo-jT3GYXE8P0LHDp9oQmktisx5ZE4og8QDrXsAHEwoOl-uyRLyBf5Nkxv5J-uiMDkLEQXV_mg0j-Ja0Txt4R0WubqWgtmOefNfNtA4Lm-OUvKUQk6X9Af/s1600/cocoon.JPG" height="215" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caterpillar turning into cocoon.</td></tr>
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(put into a mason jar & stored behind the coffee maker) turn into a butterfly.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QGiXKSep3VXD_ZJ4NYQTY2VbRqSoMoZiFtsBeU0ResEYqbQbhWyTtEpOKt-Y-wMW3MFBVFahwThB3Cm8fDjvmWnotLY1y_VKjIkDw1dsnpoz93LXKFl68pkoDp4Emd4_TiOL_WPtCxuC/s1600/Swallowtail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QGiXKSep3VXD_ZJ4NYQTY2VbRqSoMoZiFtsBeU0ResEYqbQbhWyTtEpOKt-Y-wMW3MFBVFahwThB3Cm8fDjvmWnotLY1y_VKjIkDw1dsnpoz93LXKFl68pkoDp4Emd4_TiOL_WPtCxuC/s1600/Swallowtail.JPG" height="320" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I heard a fluttering noise one morning ...</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sewing has been blessed release for me. We have many nieces and nephews and now grand nieces and nephews (thanks mostly to my sister, Lorna!) I sewed up an apron/bib for each of the grand nieces & nephews to have at Grammie's house. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">For Noah & Ava's (our grands) birthdays in May, they requested costumes. Noah chose Robin Hood & Ava chose Elsa from the movie, Frozen. SUCH fun to sew them up for them and I think they liked them! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPgUcGOFWMLy0hnh-dQsygJ3RqteAbjjLzlqhVToMF3-iQE4mgq7nJQ5HIE8ZO6RgT0atioXzQA8_guQ9v-Dsuf6-KjKksvnWzJo7Z91wxM1-O8-lXiARASApG10OFWu0FEuex5aSxisK/s1600/Elsa+and+Robin+Hood+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPgUcGOFWMLy0hnh-dQsygJ3RqteAbjjLzlqhVToMF3-iQE4mgq7nJQ5HIE8ZO6RgT0atioXzQA8_guQ9v-Dsuf6-KjKksvnWzJo7Z91wxM1-O8-lXiARASApG10OFWu0FEuex5aSxisK/s1600/Elsa+and+Robin+Hood+2014.jpg" height="320" width="268" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Everyday, I am thankful for modern technology that allows us to keep in touch with family and friends so far away. Baby Lucy is growing SO fast, but her mama is so good to keep us feeling close with nearly daily pictures and videos. Ava and Noah are getting so grown up but FaceTiming with them is an AWESOME way for us to keep in touch with them. It helps keep us sane. We love them so. This last picture is just a glimpse of part of our big family. This was a gathering back home for some May birthdays and one of the grand nieces requested the family do the Hokey Pokey. I LOVE MY FAMILY ... each and every one of them.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 107:1</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-75539197672767281142014-05-09T07:58:00.001-07:002014-05-09T07:58:32.599-07:00PLEASE take a few minutes to go to the link below and read the article. I could never express the process, feelings, stress, gratitude as well as is done in this read. There is much good information here and I encourage you to pass along the information to others. It is another good reminder also to please consider being an organ donor and encourage others to do the same. A heart donor must be 45 years of age or LESS.<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/A%20good%20heart:%20An%20organ%20transplant%20and%20a%20hidden%20message%20www.azcentral.com" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> A good heart: An organ transplant and a hidden message www.azcentral.com </span></b></a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-76835616164828367152014-04-29T14:18:00.004-07:002014-04-29T14:18:56.999-07:00Prayers are answered. PTL!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is life on the Heart Transplant Waiting List. We have our ups, our downs, our winding paths of uncertainties. Today, Lee was scheduled for a right heart catheterization to measure the pressures inside his heart. The procedure is not without risk and we were told to expect to spend at least one night in the hospital & very possibly much longer.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because of the prayers of many, the procedure went flawlessly, and with the best result we could ask for. The doctor said his pressures are "not good," have worsened since the last cath (in December) but are still in the "ok to go home" range. Lee and Guido (see 12/04/2013 post) are still together and will stay on milrinone for now. Lee is feeling fairly well, just very tired. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you all so much for your thoughts, texts, emails, cards, calls, visits, love, and most all, prayers. They mean so very much to us. Please continue to pray for us, and for a new heart for Lee soon.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Praise the name of the Lord; for His name alone is excellent. Psalm 148:13</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-2576741995127167172014-04-23T17:46:00.002-07:002014-04-28T16:12:16.139-07:00April 22, 2014 - another side trip on the journey<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the past month or so, Lee has not been feeling very well. It's subtle at first. A little less energy in the afternoon, sleeping longer in the morning, trouble focussing. My radar goes up & I begin to check his blood pressure more often, ask him more questions about how he's feeling, watching his appetite, listening when he's sleeping, waiting for him to wake up. Two weeks ago, at the Mayo appointment, we mention that he seems to be more lethargic but at that point, we weren't sure if this is the "new normal" ("normal" changes for us on a regular basis) or perhaps just residual weakness from the bacterial infection & treatment in March. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shortly after the last Mayo appointment, the symptoms became a little less subtle and the routine for Lee has fallen into: getting up from bed between 9am - 10am, eating some breakfast & reading, back to bed before noon to sleep for an hour or 2, back up and around for a few hours, another 2 hour nap in the late afternoon, then dinner and off and on dozing until bedtime. Pretty exciting, eh? His blood pressure has been coming down as well; averaging around 90/60. Medication changes back in September and again in December, had brought his bp up from 82/58 to the high 90's/mid 60's. This has been a good bp for Lee. Yesterday, at the appointment, his bp was 82/60. There are also subtle changes in the labs done yesterday. It's tricky business determining when it's time for more tests and procedures. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's possible that the milrinone (which Lee calls "rocket fuel", quoting Dick Cheney from his book "Heart") is losing its effectiveness. Lee says the rocket (his heart) is now re-entering the atmosphere and decay has begun. We have to use analogies that make sense to us and have a little fun with it too.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The doctor had Lee reduce the dose of one of his heart medications (Carvedilol aka Coreg) to see if that would help reduce some of the extreme fatigue. He had already reduced the dose earlier this year as his heart failure symptoms increased. It's odd how the same drugs that have prolonged his life and quality of life are now contributing to his extreme fatigue. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On Tuesday morning, Lee will have another procedure done at the Mayo. The procedure the doctor will be doing is a "Swan-Ganz right heart cath." </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 22px;">Swan-Ganz catheterization is the passing of a thin tube
(catheter) from the vein in the neck, into the right side of the heart and the
arteries leading to the lungs to monitor the heart's function, pressures, and
blood flow. We were told to expect to stay at least one night in the
hospital after the procedure.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626;">Depending on the findings, the doctors will determine which of the following will be best for Lee: </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;">
<span style="color: #262626;">1) increase the milrinone doseage ( we can increase it one more
level)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;">
<span style="color: #262626;">2) swap out milrinone for another inotrope, dobutamine (this med
is sometimes better at keeping blood pressure up a little)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;">
<span style="color: #262626;">3) keep the "Swan" (neck catheter) in place, give both
inotropes, milrinone AND dobutamine intravenously. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;">
<span style="color: #262626;">The third option, will require staying in the hospital until a
heart is available for Lee. It will put him on the transplant list as 1a.
1a is the status for the most urgently needed hearts. It's good, in
that it means Lee will get a heart sooner than later. It's hard because
it means staying in the hospital until that time. That's no fun.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;">
<span style="color: #262626;"> *** an update on how Lee is feeling. He is actually
feeling better this afternoon (with no nap!!) He normally takes
Carvedilol twice per day, so last night he took the lowered dose and this
morning as well. Perhaps we will be able to delay the heart cath
procedure?? We know that this IS the path we will be going down, whether it is
next Tuesday or next month or ... ... ...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;">
<span style="color: #262626;">We are steadfast in our faith in the Lord and His plan for us. It
is still a difficult journey. Your prayers and support are coveted more
than you can imagine.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">Jeremiah 29:11 </span>For I know the plans<sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> I have for you,” declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, “plans to prosper <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.</i></span><br />
<div class="passage version-NIV result-text-style-normal text-html">
<div class="left-1 child-first-line-1 top-05" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-top: -0.5em; position: relative;">
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span class="text Jer-29-11" id="en-NIV-19647"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup></i></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-8844432664647276412014-04-08T18:23:00.002-07:002014-04-08T18:23:55.019-07:00Lee is back on The List!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lee is back on the Heart Transplant Waiting List, as a 1b.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Friday, we made a run up to the Mayo Clinic to have blood drawn to be cultured for infection. That's a little different from the normal labs Lee has drawn. The blood is drawn from both arms (2 vials each) very slowly. Lee says the bottles they put the blood into look like tabasco bottles. As of this afternoon (96 hours later) there is NO sign of any bacteria/infection in his blood. Praise the Lord!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lee is feeling much better and is even getting out to walk a little. For now, we will be going to the Mayo every 2 weeks, as he has been on the Milrinone 4 months now and needs close monitoring. Our prayer is that a heart for Lee will come soon. Waiting is hard, but we are continually thankful for family and friends who encourages us, check in on us, call, text, and email us. It does help to keep the spirits up.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had a nice visit from Lee's brother, Mark last week. The visit had been planned for a couple of months and we were really glad Lee had gotten out of the hospital so he was able to really enjoy the time with Mark. The timing was perfect, as Lee had just infused his last dose of the IV antibiotic when Mark arrived. They had a "guys day" and drove down to Casa Grande to hang out with Seth. It was too short a visit, but we'll take it and cherish it and look forward to the next visit.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Sunday, my cousin Carole and her husband, Stan stopped by for brunch. They had wintered over in Mesa (about an hour east from us) and were heading north to British Columbia. We jammed a lot of fun & laughter into that short visit!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This week's task is to get some bids on new air conditioning units. What FUN that will be, eh? The days are heating up and our a/c unit is winding down, so we'll be looking to replace it soon.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-38293485870114728502014-03-25T15:30:00.000-07:002014-03-25T15:30:45.919-07:00Home From the Hospital<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well! That was exciting. Not the kind of excitement I'd like to repeat anytime soon though. Most of the details are covered in the previous posts, and on Katie's blog: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://mcpheeandme.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://mcpheeandme.blogspot.com/ </a> </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">As long as Lee is on an antibiotic or there is any chance of him being infected, he will be off the active Heart Transplant Wait List and be placed as a Status 7 (inactive/not eligible for transplantation.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The staph infection was identified as the hominis strain. While still dangerous to have in the bloodstream, it is a relatively "wimpy" (this is the term used by the infectious disease doctor) bacteria, which generally can be treated with the antibiotic, Vancomycin. After Lee had been on Vancomycin for 2 days, blood cultures were done again. When the cultures were still negative for bacteria after 48 hours, a new PICC line was placed. This then allowed us to switch back over to "Guido," Lee's backpack that carries his continuous pump IV medication, Milrinone. When the nurse put the PICC line in, she also included an extra port for drawing labs or for administering another IV medication. This extra port is where we are able to give the IV Vancomycin at home.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The plan is to stay on the IV Vancomycin for 2 weeks at home. When that is completed, we will go to the Mayo for more blood cultures. If the cultures are negative after 5 days, Lee will once again be listed on the Heart Transplant Waiting List as a 1b patient.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today, Tuesday March 25, our home healthcare nurse came to instruct us on how to administer the Vanco (most of the nurses use this nickname.) </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMimyA7XRkFAG7TEQcgo0EOswT6wXRehQKAqFuGKADvBCcbjwcJ9Gf_opz9-N1EZNBhFKLoAenBnQH4DyQrPn59kROlKDgxI2Ccy3Elc8Va2XQ8MtuqqvOsmspr-wKTzEd34PY5OKBwD3/s1600/DSC05524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMimyA7XRkFAG7TEQcgo0EOswT6wXRehQKAqFuGKADvBCcbjwcJ9Gf_opz9-N1EZNBhFKLoAenBnQH4DyQrPn59kROlKDgxI2Ccy3Elc8Va2XQ8MtuqqvOsmspr-wKTzEd34PY5OKBwD3/s1600/DSC05524.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Part of the supplies for our new daily routine.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
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</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the photo above, you can see a device (upper left) that looks like a globe with tubing coming out of it. That container holds the Vancomycin. The globe holds the medicine and there is a small pressurized pump in the center that delivers the medication through the tubing and into the port in Lee's upper arm. Our very dear friend, Bert, who lives in North Carolina, has also been in the hospital with a bacterial infection & was released on the same day as Lee. He will be doing the same IV medication routine as Lee, so we had a little fun with them. It's Spring Training time here in Arizona, so PLAAAAAY ball!! </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A7gkyU9Jr_AKFnza4PRJLeSTcKH0-M1wl0_yeF2ufuVhUpWDll8zRPynqDbhj4vIGRuHr6Fbsj5l6Q5XmMyIUue2jPk2AK9IJLq7f7Z_-1rUmFMrUlukfIUJne6td_7SBYiAMp2wOeD7/s1600/Lee+and+Vanco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A7gkyU9Jr_AKFnza4PRJLeSTcKH0-M1wl0_yeF2ufuVhUpWDll8zRPynqDbhj4vIGRuHr6Fbsj5l6Q5XmMyIUue2jPk2AK9IJLq7f7Z_-1rUmFMrUlukfIUJne6td_7SBYiAMp2wOeD7/s1600/Lee+and+Vanco.jpg" height="400" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">VANCO-ball!! Comin' at ya, Bert!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v6lh3dym1V_wjMqkJyfeoLPCuulnzwRf8KvQ6dwqWLmxRJqF-JDM9dT6jq4UQCj-6ue-RSg-R_nFRQaxhR4vS9731d5ZEmTpJfNa-CxED6auEq9Bv_IdCDEwbZp95n0Ul5bTdSgdYNv-/s1600/Bert+and+Vanco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v6lh3dym1V_wjMqkJyfeoLPCuulnzwRf8KvQ6dwqWLmxRJqF-JDM9dT6jq4UQCj-6ue-RSg-R_nFRQaxhR4vS9731d5ZEmTpJfNa-CxED6auEq9Bv_IdCDEwbZp95n0Ul5bTdSgdYNv-/s1600/Bert+and+Vanco.jpg" height="400" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Got it! Now back to you, Lee!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We want to thank all who have been praying for us and for the many texts, emails, phone calls and words of encouragement. Your support is SO very important to us. We are truly grateful and humbled.</span><br />
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<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">... so that the tested genuineness of your faith -- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire -- may not be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:7</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-67778679340225992402014-03-22T12:31:00.001-07:002014-03-22T12:31:43.008-07:00Update at the Mayo HospitalFirst of all, Lee & I want to thank all of you for your prayers. We have prayers and are on prayer chains from Canada to Mexico, from the West Coast to the East Coast and from the states of: WA, OR, CA, ID, NV, AZ, MT, VT, NY, NC, GA, PA ... and I'm certain there are more. Truly, it is humbling and amazing. The Lord heard them and as of now, Lee does not have any signs of bacteria in his heart. PRAISE OUR LORD. Thank you all so much for the texts, email, cards and encouragement. Each and every one is very very much appreciated. <br />
<br />
On Thursday, a T.E.E. (Transesophageal Echocardiogram) was performed on Lee. The procedure uses a scope inserted into the throat to look at the heart valve and surrounding tissue. Lee has a mechanical valve (graphite) and also an ICD with pacemaker, including 3 leads (wires), which makes it easy for bacteria to stick and grow on the non-organic materials. Endocarditis (inflammation /infection of heart lining) is a grave concern with the bacterial infection in the bloodstream. It is difficult to treat and requires longer courses of antibiotics to treat.<br />
<br />
His PICC line was pulled and that was cultured and checked for bacteria also. It tested positive which was not surprising but also led to greater possibility of the heart being infected.<br />
<br />
By Friday afternoon we were told that the heart looks clear of infection. More blood was drawn to be cultured every 24 hours for the next 5 days. We need to have 48 hours of negative results for bacteria and then the new PICC line can be placed. The Infectious Disease doctor is monitoring the process and comes to see us once or twice each day. He said the staph bug was one of the wimpy strains so that is even better news. They identified a couple more strains of bacteria and all can be effectively treated with the Vancomycin that is currently being administered.<br />
<br />
If all goes perfectly well (continued prayers for this please), Lee will be released from the Mayo Hospital on Monday. We will be giving Lee iv antibiotics at home for 2 weeks, then back for another T.E.E. and more blood cultures. When all is clear, he can then be placed back on the heart transplant list. <br />
<br />
Last evening, Lee was feeling less tired and had less aching in his muscles so the antibiotics seemed to be clearing the bacterial infection. Today he is feeling better still. He is glad to have March Madness to keep him occupied somewhat.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-8166306596772355182014-03-21T07:28:00.001-07:002014-03-21T07:28:45.504-07:00A Bump in the RoadLee is in the Mayo Clinic Hospital, but NOT for a transplant. This is the life of waiting for a new heart. Lee has a bacterial infection in his bloodstream (sepsis.) The most likely cause is that bacteria entered through his PICC line. Even with all the precautions we take (very sterile conditions when changing the dressing once/week, hand washing to extreme ...) it is not uncommon for this to happen. <br />
<br />
PLEASE GO TO: <a href="http://mcpheeandme.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://mcpheeandme.blogspot.com/</a> for more information. My brain is a little fuzzy this morning and our daughter, Katie posted all the details and prayer requests on her blog. THANK YOU, Katie!!<br />
<br />
.... and now, back to the hospital.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-67832133647630268912014-02-07T10:24:00.001-08:002014-04-29T14:03:14.850-07:00WAITING ...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">What's it like to be on The Heart Transplant Waiting List?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">WAIT "verb: <span class="synGroup"><span class="syn" core="true" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: normal;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">stay</span> (put)<span class="gp" style="font-variant: normal;" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">remain<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">rest<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">stop<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="synGroup"><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">halt<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">pause</span><span class="gp" tag="synGroup">; </span></span><span class="synGroup"><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">linger<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">loiter<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">dally</span></span></span><span class="synGroup"><span class="gp" tag="synGroup">."</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="synGroup"><span class="gp" tag="synGroup">WAIT "noun: </span></span><span class="eg"><span class="gp" d:priority="2" tag="eg"> </span></span><span class="synList"><span class="synGroup"><span class="syn" core="true" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: normal;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">delay</span><span class="gp" style="font-variant: normal;" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">holdup<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">interval<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">interlude<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">intermission</span><span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">pause<span class="gp" tag="syn">,</span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">break<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">stay</span><span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">cessation</span><span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">suspension<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">stoppage<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">halt</span><span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">interruption</span><span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">lull<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">respite<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">recess</span><span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">moratorium</span><span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">hiatus<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;">gap<span class="gp" tag="syn">, </span></span><span class="syn" style="font-weight: normal;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">rest</span></span><span class="gp" tag="synGroup">."</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="synList"><span class="synGroup"><span class="gp" tag="synGroup"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="synList"><span class="synGroup"><span class="gp" tag="synGroup">It's a funny word, wait. I've read the meaning of the word several times over now and while the words are accurate, they seem a little lacking in intensity. For us, the waiting is not passive. We have things to do, places to be, people to see. Our team (transplant nurses, doctors, social workers, etc.) tell us to "live your lives" while we wait. We are doing our best to do that, albeit with some restrictions. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="synList"><span class="synGroup"><span class="gp" tag="synGroup">We are limited in our travels, to a 2.5 hour radius of the Mayo Clinic. That's a pretty generous radius, actually. Last week, we drove down to Casa Grande (about 1 1/4 hour away) to see our son, Seth. From Casa Grande, to the Mayo, is about an hour. On the way home, we took the scenic route; a leisurely drive between The Sierra Estrella (mountain range) and The South Mountains. We were enjoying the drive very much when I realized that we probably wouldn't have good cell phone service on parts of this drive. Oops! We will try not to make that mistake again. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="synList"><span class="synGroup"><span class="gp" tag="synGroup">Lee & I are both pretty independent people, but we're learning to adapt to a "short leash" as Lee calls it. Short trips to the grocery or hardware store seem innocuous enough, but when you are on "The List," knowing exactly where the other person is at all times becomes a very big deal. Each of us carrying our cell phones at ALL times is mandatory. It sounds easy enough, but really ... think about it. Every minute of every day, we need to have our cell phones within reach. In church, we sit with our phones in our hands because we can't feel the vibration of the silent mode in our pockets. I often wonder what people think about seeing a mature woman sitting with cell phone in hand ALL. the. TIME. It's a good thing we can't read minds, eh? We try to stay within 15 minutes of each other all the time. If Lee wants to go to the grocery store, 8 miles away, I need to go with him or stay at home. If I want to go further away than 15 minutes, I make a back up plan for someone to pick up Lee and bring him to me or take him to the Mayo Clinic. As long as he's feeling well enough, he COULD drive himself to the Mayo Clinic, but I'd really rather he didn't ... and so, we make plans. We wait and we make plans. We know that "The Call" will probably come when we least expect it & are least prepared but we try.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="synList"><span class="synGroup"><span class="gp" tag="synGroup">Our teams. We have our Mayo Clinic transplant team and then we have our support team(s). Our support team is a small number of people who have volunteered to be our contact people in case the Mayo Clinic can't reach us immediately when we get an offer for a heart. The protocol is that our transplant coordinator/nurse will first call my cell phone, then Lee's. She will leave messages, then try us again, then begin calling our list of people nearby. Those people will either know where we are (and why we weren't answering our phones) or they will come to our house and come in (they have keys). What do you suppose the chances are of getting "The Call" and me being, say ... in the shower and not hearing my phone which I left on the counter (or forgot to bring into the bathroom with me) and Lee wandering outside to pick up the newspaper (while leaving his phone inside??) These are the things I think about. These are the things I pray about not thinking about. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="synList"><span class="synGroup"><span class="gp" tag="synGroup">Back to our support team. When we get The Call, I have a very short list (3, immediately then 5 more if time permits or as we're on the way) of people to call or text. Each of these people have a list of people they will notify for me: family, friends, and prayer chains. Knowing that people are praying for us daily now is a tremendous comfort and source of strength for us. Knowing that within minutes of getting The Call, we will have dozens (and then dozens of dozens) of people praying for us is humbling, exciting, powerful and so, SO calming. We know that we are covered in prayer and bathed in the Peace that passes understanding. (Philippians 4:7).</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="synList"><span class="synGroup"><span class="gp" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" tag="synGroup">When the Mayo makes The Call, the first thing we will hear is, "We have a heart." Oh MY ... what will I say? How will I react? To be perfectly honest ... I don't know. I hope to be able to stay calm and focused on what we have to do. Heather, our transplant coordinator, tells us that in most cases, they will want us in our car and on the way within about 15 minutes. The drive to the Mayo takes a little more than an hour in GOOD traffic conditions. For me, having a plan is calming; being as prepared as possible is essential to calmness. I have a mini-clipboard that I now carry with me at all times. The clipboard contains 4 lists. On the top is my list of immediate action (pictured below.) The second list is things to gather if I'm home (my packed carry-on bag, backpack, Lee's shave kit, etc.) or to ask someone else to bring to the hospital for us later. This list also has things that need attention such as: take the garbage out, toss the bananas in the freezer, have Hilda clean perishables out of refrigerator, turn off lights, etc. The third list is my contact team and their lists of people to contact for me. The fourth is a reminder to email friends and family during the long hours ahead at the hospital.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="synList"><span class="synGroup"><span class="gp" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" tag="synGroup">Are we ready? Yes. I think so.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We will live our lives as best we can while we wait. In addition to everyday life: grocery shopping, bill paying, dental appointments, etc, we have many projects listed on our "to do" board. We've decided it would be best to keep our projects small and somewhat contained. It keeps us busy but not too tired out.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Waiting during cold, flu, and virus season seems particularly difficult. Do I really NEED to go to the grocery store? Will people be offended if we decline to shake hands in church? Are they even MORE offended when we whip out the hand sanitizer after shaking hands? We do our best to remain low key and yet vigilant about exposing ourselves to people who are or may be getting sick. If Lee gets any illness, he will be temporarily removed from the transplant list while he is ill and until he is cleared by a doctor. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So ... there you have it; our view of the waiting period. Now, back to waiting: cell phone batteries good? cell phone charger with me at all times? gas tank at least half full at all times? laundry done? lists at the ready? change of clothes in the car?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! Psalm 27:14</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="synList"><span class="synGroup"><span class="gp" tag="synGroup"><br /></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-16547853564212682882014-01-31T06:05:00.001-08:002014-01-31T06:05:58.786-08:00Checking In<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is not much to report these days, but thought I should update anyway just to let you know that! These days, Lee goes to the Mayo Clinic every 2 weeks. First there's the blood draw, then the appointment. The appointments include a weight check (keeping Lee's weight at a constant level means less chance of fluid build up), bp check, medications review, a listen to the heart, and discussion of changes in health, etc.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday's discussion focussed on the fact that the Milrinone IV is not providing the same effects as it has been. About 10 days ago, Lee began to feel less energetic, a bit more fatigued when walking, and started needing to nap more. We feel like he's "peaked" on the Milrinone and is leveling off. All of the labs done yesterday show that his liver and kidney functions are still the best they've been in many months, so that is a good thing. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">So ... we keep doing what we're doing: trying to stay as healthy as possible, working on some small projects around the house, looking at pictures of grandchildren, grand nieces and nephews, and staying ever ready to make the dash up to the Mayo Clinic when just the right heart becomes available to Lee.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a refuge in time of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.</b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-60678838251159509732013-12-24T05:44:00.001-08:002014-02-07T08:35:19.373-08:00Merry Christmas!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a break from all the medical jargon and the stress of living on the heart transplant list, let me introduce you to Lucy, our very own Christmas grandbaby. Lucy is the first child of our daughter Katie & husband Isaac. She weighed in at 9 pounds, 14oz, after a long, hard labor. What a blessing. Our Christmas is made so very special by her arrival. I can hardly wait to meet her in person.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Take a few moments to enjoy the writings of Lucy's daddy, as he shares some wonderful insights on Christmas: <a href="http://godandthemodernmind.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Christmas in Utero</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last, but not least (cliche', but true ...) Happy 41st anniversary to my wonderful husband, Lee. It's been quite a journey and I look forward to many more anniversaries to come.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Matthew 2:10</span> <em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.</em></b></span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-41896940347742956332013-12-20T07:54:00.000-08:002013-12-20T07:54:19.634-08:00Book Review<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">There's not much to update or report. That's not a bad thing in our world! Lee is doing very well on the Milrinone therapy. Dick Cheney (the former vice president) called Milrinone "Rocket Fuel," and Lee agrees. It makes him FEEL like he's better. He has more energy and can walk a little farther without being out of breath. He feels more mentally alert as well. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm inserting a "thank you" here to whoever sent us the book "Heart: An American Medical Odyssey." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's authored by Dick Cheney and his cardiologist, Dr. Jonathan Reiner. It's not only a story of the former vice president's personal 35 year journey (from the first heart attack to a heart transplant last year) with heart disease, but a chronicle of the amazing advances made in the treatment of heart disease. The book arrived at the perfect time, with no indication of who sent it to us, so we're thanking you, whoever you are. The book is a valuable resource into understanding treatment and informative for getting a realistic view of what lies ahead for us (both the hard and the GOOD stuff.) We highly recommend the book. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the Mayo Clinic appointment on Wednesday, the doctor told us we could stretch out the appointments to once every 2 weeks, instead of once a week. YES! That extra 115 mile round trip will not be missed.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are settling into a routine of daily flushing of the IV port. We had the home health nurse put an extension on the port that needs daily flushing, so Lee can do that himself now. We have a weekly delivery of supplies for the Milrinone IV: heparin syringes (for the daily flushing of the extra port), saline syringes (for the weekly flushing of the port being used for the Milrinone), 9-volt batteries (replaced 3 times/week on the CADD pump), alcohol wipes, sterile packs (for the nurse who changes the dressing once/week), gloves and masks, AND the all important bag of Milrinone that goes into the refrigerator until needed (we always have a backup bag on hand.) We received more training last week so now we can switch out the CADD pump and the IV bag on our own too. We will still have a nurse come once per week to do the dressing change and inspect the port to watch for infection or any other problems.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">All in all, a good week. Our church, Grace Fellowship Church, gave a Christmas concert last Sunday. I was blessed to be able to sing with the choir & Lee felt well enough to gather some neighbors and friends and bring them with him to the concert. It was a beautiful evening to take our minds off of our current struggles, to rejoice and remember The Reason for the Season: Jesus.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Merry Christmas, everyone.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Isaiah 9:6 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."</b></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-44786870156797523842013-12-11T07:07:00.000-08:002014-02-07T07:17:48.294-08:00Holding Steady ...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We got home from the Mayo Clinic Hospital at around 9:30pm last Tuesday. We were both pretty well exhausted. We had a bag FULL of new stuff (syringes, tubes, CADD pumps, batteries, sterile wipes, and some things for which I have no name or purpose) and our heads full of new information. Bed and sleep were the primary goals for both of us. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next afternoon, our home health nurse came by to review all the paraphernalia (who knew there was an "R" in that word??) uses & to ensure that we were comfortable with operation of the CADD* pump that delivers the heart medication (Milrinone) through the PICC** line, the error messages and how to reset the pump, as well as flushing the PICC line daily and how to watch for signs of trouble. She spent a good deal of time with us that first day and by the time she left, we felt much more comfortable with our new devices and tasks.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The rest of the week was spent trying to figure out what our new routine will be. Good, constant (7 or 8 hour) sleep continues to evade Lee. He is sleeping 3 or 4 hours in the night, getting up between 3am and 4am, most days. A little later in the morning, he will usually go back to bed for another 2 or 3 hours. It's pretty variable, so we are trying to just go with the flow and Lee will sleep when he needs to and is able. I'm trying to plan my noisy activities around his sleeps. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">With heart failure, sodium is greatly restricted (under 2000mg per day.) Sodium causes the body to hold onto fluids, making it harder for the already sick heart to pump. You would be surprised (and shocked) to find out the sodium content in some of the foods we eat. We have always eaten whole wheat, multi-grain breads. We really like the Costco 21 grain bread but hadn't been to Costco for awhile so we picked up a loaf of another well known brand. A couple of days later, I checked the label and found each slice contained 290mg of sodium. Costso's 21 grain has only 90mg per slice. That kind of difference adds up fast. Costco chicken caesar salad? 1831-2600mg of sodium, depending on which website you believe. Check your labels.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Because fluid retention is now a life threatening issue for Lee, he is to weigh himself every day, first thing in the morning. If his weight is up 3 pounds or more, we need to call the doctor. At our appointment yesterday, Lee's weight was up 3.5 pounds. Even with all the work we do to limit sodium in Lee's diet (as well as restricting the amount of fluid intake,) his heart simply cannot eliminate all the fluid on its own. The Milrinone is helping with that but sometimes more help is needed. Lee takes a diuretic each day also. The doctor had him double his dose for the next 2 days to see if that will drain off the excesses. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On a brighter note, the Milrinone is helping make Lee feel a bit better. He has a little more energy and feels like walking more. A few nights ago, I woke up around 3:30am, positive I was hearing a drill. When I got up to check, I found Lee putting up a curtain rod ... ... ... 3:30AM! What a life we live! ha! Lee says he just has to get it done when he has the energy, no matter what time it is. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">Living with Guido:</span></u></b> in the previous post, I introduced Guido. He's the little backpack that carries the CADD pump (that delivers the Milrinone) and the IV bag full of the medicine. The home health nurse insisted that we name the backpack, since Lee cannot go anywhere (as in, no more than one step) without it. So ... Guido, it is. When Lee is walking around, the backpack (aka Guido) is on his back or shoulder but when he sits, he slides it off and onto the seat beside him. Lee and Guido have been at odds a few times this week. Several times, I've heard Lee from the other room saying something like, "oops, sorry Guido" or "DANG ... I forgot Guido again!" Yesterday, when he got out of the car, Guido got left on the seat for a half a step. Guido doesn't like that and generally falls to the floor, tugging on the IV port. While Lee showers (after wrapping the PICC port in saran wrap & taping it up), Guido hangs on a hook on the curtain rod. It's a little creepy sometimes ... </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5k0NDB39NGudhHdB6NOjUojn86-NjaZJ8qn8CdxjS8jAM14FkjVmpo6jqU0W4g-Rcx9R2MN8Dg8ZP3mB-H1REbvdoxUTd9NXf_MSa3lGf9o4nRTdWuVHH506ae8avgjjpU1xZEQ2wKOx/s1600/999917_10202431700104649_331878744_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5k0NDB39NGudhHdB6NOjUojn86-NjaZJ8qn8CdxjS8jAM14FkjVmpo6jqU0W4g-Rcx9R2MN8Dg8ZP3mB-H1REbvdoxUTd9NXf_MSa3lGf9o4nRTdWuVHH506ae8avgjjpU1xZEQ2wKOx/s320/999917_10202431700104649_331878744_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lee & Guido putting the doors on the outdoor cabinets.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><u>Mayo Clinic appointment:</u></span></b> this week and apparently, at all of the appointments going forward, there WILL be a test. We are tasked with memorizing the post transplant medications, post transplant diet regimen, health protocols, etc. Discussions will revolve around support teams and plans for getting to the Mayo when we get the call for a heart. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Questions seem to come to my mind many times during the day. We are formulating a "phone tree" for notifying people when we get "THE" call. I guess that now days, it's more of a text, Facebook, email tree. Our next door neighbors are on alert for us too. What a huge blessing to have neighbors who love us and are willing to take care of the little things that come up when we have to suddenly leave. The heart transplant team at the Mayo says, "live your lives as normally as you can." HA! I'm not sure what "normal" means anymore, but we trust in the Lord with all our hearts and He will get us through this. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lee's mom sent us this verse in a card she recently sent. We love it: </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Jeremiah 30:17 "For I will restore health to you ... declares the Lord."</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>*CADD - Computerized Ambulatory Drug Delivery</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>**PICC - Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-64791028822309915142013-12-04T16:39:00.000-08:002013-12-04T16:39:26.349-08:00Entering a New Era<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.'" Lamentations 3:22 - 24</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are back home. Home is a beautiful thing! We arrived a little after 9pm last night; exhausted but thankful and happy to be together and home. Lee was longing for his own bed and the relief from being roused at all hours of the day and night from an already fitful sleep to be weighed, have his vitals checked, PICC line flushed, and more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>MONDAY: </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This morning, Dr. S (one of 3 of our transplant doctors) was doing rounds in the hospital with his entourage that included a Fellow (a physician who enters a training program in a medical specialty after completing residency), a visiting doctor from another state, his P.A. (who manages patients while in hospital), our hospital RN, and our transplant coordinator (also an RN.) Dr. S is our favorite transplant doctor: young, energetic, fully vested in the health and well-being of his patients and their caregivers. He entered the room saying, "You could've just sent a postcard, you know. Did you really need to come to the hospital?" That got a smile out of both of us. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He told us that we could be released today, that Lee's vitals were stable and the IV drug, Milrinone was working. Milrinone works by making the heart beat stronger and by relaxing certain blood vessels so that the amount of blood that is pumped from the heart is increased. This may help with symptoms of heart failure. It is a short term solution to allow Lee to stay at home instead of in the hospital while waiting for a transplant. The hope and prayer is that Lee can stay on this drug until a donor heart becomes available. Eventually the Milrinone loses its efficacy. At that point, if a heart is not available, the next step would be major (open heart) surgery to implant an </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device.) The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">LVAD is a mechanical pump that is implanted inside a person's chest to help the weakened heart ventricle pump blood. In Lee's case, the LVAD surgery is more complicated because the doctors would first have to remove his mechanical aortic heart valve, replace it with a porcine (pig) valve, and THEN implant the LVAD. The doctors at the Mayo would really like to avoid that extra surgery. We would too, obviously!</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Status 1B </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;">Dr. S went on to explain that Lee would now be a Status 1B (see previous post: THE LIST) on the heart transplant list. He said, "Don't leave town" and "tell your kids to come down here for Christmas." This was the point when all the emotions and stress of the past few days (months/years?) decided to show up in the form of tears ... and a little sobbing. I cried to the doctor (and all the other people in the room) that I had a "plane ticket for Christmas Day to fly to Seattle to be with MY baby girl who is having her first baby." I can't even begin to describe how many ways my heart was being pulled at that moment. Of COURSE I didn't want to leave Lee but I also did not want to miss experiencing those first precious moments of new life and the miracle of my child becoming a mother.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dr. S was immediately by my side, patting my shoulder (while the Fellow doctor hurried over with a box of kleenex) and saying, "Oh, you must go for the birth of your grandchild. Babies bring JOY and are a blessing. You need some joy in your life right now. It will be a wonderful thing for you. You must go and not only that, you have my permission to feel NO GUILT. Do you need that stamped on your forehead?" Well, of course, that led to even MORE blubbering and I believe I said that I probably WOULD need it stamped on my forehead.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">When the room finally cleared, my dear, sweet husband looked at me and said, "It never even crossed my mind that you wouldn't go to Seattle to be with Katie and the baby." Oh MY ... I AM blessed.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">Being a Status 1B will require us to be "transport ready" at all times. Phones on, backup plan in place, people who will know where we are at all times, staying within a 2 hour range of the Mayo Clinic. When we receive "the call" we will need to be on our way to the Mayo Clinic (which is about 80 minutes away during perfect traffic conditions) within 15 minutes (Mayo protocol.) So many things to think about: a "go bag" always in the car, a full tank of gas at all times, a SHORT list of people to notify who will in turn, notify others, keeping Lee well and free from colds, flu, etc, trying not to worry about the financial impact, keep the Lord at the center of ALL of it.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>How long? </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Amazingly, here in our area, an approximated, average wait time as a Status 1B is 3 to 6 months. It could be only weeks or it could be many more months. That is both wonderful and frightening. As we joyfully anticipate renewed vitality and health for Lee, we have the humbling, grateful, terrible knowledge that some other family will be making a sacrificial offering of their loved one's heart to that end. Knowing that it will be a young person (40 years old or younger) is especially poignant. We do not take lightly, the gift, the giver, or the responsibility of living a life honoring to the giver. A friend recently said, <i>"</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>I've been shedding tears for all those like Lee who are waiting... for another to die so they may live. Such an amazing analogy to the lost sheep and the Good Shepard!"</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, next on the agenda will be to recruit a group of people who would be willing to help us. We will need a support system, not only for the time I'm gone to Seattle but to be available to be "on call" for us. There will be times when I need to be more than 10 or 15 minutes from home (and Lee). We will need people who live close by to be willing to potentially drop everything and pick Lee up and head to the Mayo Clinic in north Phoenix where I will meet them. We will need people willing to perhaps stay with Lee or take him somewhere and to be willing to just go to the Mayo at, truly, a moment's notice. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We will need support after transplantation. The first few months at home, after transplantation, Lee cannot be left alone in the home for even a few minutes. We will need someone to stay with him while I take a walk (they tell me, I must remain healthy to be of best help to Lee) or go to the grocery store. So many things are swimming around in my head at this moment. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">TUESDAY: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Lee was supposed to be released from the hospital on Monday, but coordinating insurance with home healthcare is harder than getting a heart transplant, it seems! One of the nurses told me that their job included training us to be patient. ha! Believe me, we've had lots and lots of training in that area. </span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After several false starts and many, many phone calls and discussions with case workers, social workers, home healthcare staff, hospital staff ... the home healthcare nurse finally arrived at the hospital at 5pm. There was a mound of paperwork to go over and sign, then the training on the newest addition to our life: The CADD pump & PICC line care and procedures. My nurse friends will know all about this stuff, but for me it is new and somewhat intimidating, but we're up for the task. Lee is so good at the electronics part of this and is such a good, calm patient that is makes my job easy. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Guido: </b> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The nurse from the home healthcare provider, told us that we needed to name our new little on-board buddy: The CADD pump & IV bag & tubing. They provided a bag with shoulder strap. It is to be with Lee at ALL times. The nurse said that naming it, makes it more a part of the family. In honor of our grandson, Noah's love of the CARS movies, we named our pack Guido. Guido got a new carrying pack as soon as we arrived home. My backpacking, "camel" bag is the perfect size and weight and Lee thinks he looks quite charming sporting Guido on his back. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa Lee with Guido, his new, ALWAYS there, pal. Notice the bruising on Lee's neck?</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Home healthcare began this afternoon. Here's just a few of the supplies:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every day for the next week or so, a home healthcare nurse will come out to our house and monitor, instruct, and answer questions as we learn how to operate the new device. I will need to flush the inactive PICC port (it has the monitor in it and is used for blood draws when needed) daily to prevent the port from clotting off. The PICC port carrying the Milrinone, will be flushed and the iv bag and pump changed out once a week. We will be learning to do this task as well. It requires a completely, 100% sterile environment. Once home healthcare feels we are comfortable and proficient with the new device, they will only come once per week. The nurse will inspect all aspects of the port to make sure it's functioning optimally and will clean the PICC site and change the dressing.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Pl3Bs9KPNNOM5QYJI-9yDNtI6NPDzYZqTIehY2gCQGXHWUZklpEOD6zP3mKJPCUEGqzgSkgPoWIKcEuy06WLDznWunMKX8-ir7_7voJoYMWiBe5hOovpW09TiV3RE9xCH-OHVk4PG_l2/s1600/PICC+dressing+change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Pl3Bs9KPNNOM5QYJI-9yDNtI6NPDzYZqTIehY2gCQGXHWUZklpEOD6zP3mKJPCUEGqzgSkgPoWIKcEuy06WLDznWunMKX8-ir7_7voJoYMWiBe5hOovpW09TiV3RE9xCH-OHVk4PG_l2/s320/PICC+dressing+change.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All cleaned up and ready for a new dressing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All secure and ready for action!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Onward: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Holding onto the promises of God:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><b>"For I know the plans<sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> I have for you,” declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, “plans to prosper <sup class="crossreference" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11</b></span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-17268236274222839832013-12-01T07:20:00.000-08:002013-12-04T09:37:06.617-08:00Quick Update<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This will be just a brief note to update you all. Lee is still in the hospital. He looked much better last night. The Milrinone drip is working to help with heart contractibility, correcting pressures, thereby helping flush the kidneys, liver, etc. The catheters that were put into his neck (and guided down into his heart and chest cavity) were removed late yesterday afternoon. They were replaced by a new PICC line in his upper arm.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cHgSIz7s9kZQQImQEy_uTcLJdlJJMKEJS1T2Lx7s297MMV04nJ6bLf0hh1zI5VTu8zI1JVBF-Q3Yran-2BWhhjcusbh-xjhH_XnYpajvSfRLB_TUgtGYPcttgr30bJfOp1LNbvqiBWzZ/s1600/Mayo+-+Removing+heart+cath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cHgSIz7s9kZQQImQEy_uTcLJdlJJMKEJS1T2Lx7s297MMV04nJ6bLf0hh1zI5VTu8zI1JVBF-Q3Yran-2BWhhjcusbh-xjhH_XnYpajvSfRLB_TUgtGYPcttgr30bJfOp1LNbvqiBWzZ/s320/Mayo+-+Removing+heart+cath.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our wonderful nurses removing the catheter from Lee's neck.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The new PICC line will go home with him. It has two ports. One port will be for a monitor, the other port will be for the medication, Milrinone. Lee will wear some type of a pump to infuse the medication into his system 24/7. We don't have the details on that yet. We will have a lot to learn. A home health nurse will be coming to our home once a week to change the dressing over the ports of the PICC and to check on Lee. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday was exhausting for Lee. He was feeling better once the catheter was out of his neck. It was pretty uncomfortable and made it nearly impossible to sleep. I've been reading all the texts and Facebook posts and emails many of you have been sending. He is amazed at how many people are praying for him. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">THANK YOU ALL.</span><br />
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #08387a;">1 Corinthians 1:3</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #08387a;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #08387a;">Grace and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #08387a;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #08387a;">peace</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #08387a;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #08387a;">to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #08387a;"> </span></u></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #08387a;"><i>OH -- P.S. -- here's a funny story from yesterday. One of the issues we've had since the very first diagnosis over 21 years ago is that Lee does not fit the picture of a person with heart issues. His heart transplant/Heart Failure doctor with the UW Heart Transplant Program always greeted us with, "You are the healthiest LOOKING sick person I've ever known." There's always a triple check of information to be sure the medical staff are looking at a person with a mechanical aortic valve, heart failure, with an ICD.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #08387a;"><i>When we were in the Cath Lab recovery area, I overheard the nurse calling up to the cardiac floor about the new patient (Lee) being sent up to them. She briefly described his diagnosis, history and why he had needed the Right Heart Cath; then said, "the patient walked into the procedure room on his own (many patients at this advanced stage cannot walk that far;) the staff thought he was the "family support person" for the patient because he looks so healthy!" Yep. That's Lee, but when they look at his numbers and readouts it becomes quickly apparent that he's much sicker than he looks. I, for one, am glad he's so darned good looking!</i></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-21590247441443348862013-11-29T09:38:00.000-08:002013-12-04T09:14:06.792-08:00BLACK FRIDAY ... and a Right Heart Catheterization<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">At 9:30am, this morning, the day after Thanksgiving, BLACK FRIDAY, the Mayo Clinic called us. The insurance approval had finally come in (2 weeks!) We were scheduled for check in and labs at 1pm and the procedure at 2pm. Carol, one of our transplant nurses, said to come prepared to stay the night ...just in case. Our reaction: really? OK. We really didn't think we would need to but we took along the necessary items and left them in the trunk of the car.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Right Heart Cath: a lead is inserted into a vein in the neck that sits right above the artery. It's threaded down into the right heart chamber to measure pressures and fluid and I'm sure some other things as well.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the procedure, the doctor came to tell us that Lee would be staying several nights in the hospital. There was fluid on his heart and his pressures were not good. This, along with Lee's increasing fatigue, cough, and changing blood chemistry was enough for the transplant doctors to order the IV Milrinone protocol (see previous post for further details). </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too MANY tubes & wire!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpW-WCy9ONUeuFGxjpHK24qG96lxK4FqRfu3IA5ute61faxVfPDfP_lc9hCILa4sPDPSB8uxshB7tKvQxPgyIWXOtVj820Ak8RAa51sv24Pqk36ad2JFrAfObmNSktWU5Nn4aWFhRfcYOa/s1600/Mayo+-+Rt+heart+cath+and+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpW-WCy9ONUeuFGxjpHK24qG96lxK4FqRfu3IA5ute61faxVfPDfP_lc9hCILa4sPDPSB8uxshB7tKvQxPgyIWXOtVj820Ak8RAa51sv24Pqk36ad2JFrAfObmNSktWU5Nn4aWFhRfcYOa/s200/Mayo+-+Rt+heart+cath+and+.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That big yellow curved thing is the catheter in his neck to his heart.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometime in the next day or two, a PICC line will be placed in Lee's arm from which he will receive a constant infusion of Milrinone. At this point in time, we're not exactly sure what that looks like but we do know that he will come home with it. It will be an on-going, semi-permanent (until he gets a new heart or another invasive therapy) therapy. Because of his health deterioration and the PICC line being placed, Lee is being moved to status 1B (see post "The List" for what this means). We'll update with more information as we get and understand it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">For now, we ask for your prayers for peace, calmness, and for this therapy to work until a donor heart is available. We also ask that you pray for the future donor and that donor's family. It is a hard, difficult, heart wrenching thing to wait in anticipation of a heart and new life for Lee, knowing the grief that it will bring to others. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;"><b>Colossians 3:15 (NAS)</b> And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.</span></i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-54592359194255461792013-11-18T08:39:00.000-08:002013-11-30T10:03:48.124-08:00VA Appointment & Mayo Clinic <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last Friday, we had an appointment with Cardiology at the VA. Besides an EKG and blood work, he also had his ICD "interrogated". That always sounds scary to me, but it simply means that a technician specializing in reading pacemakers and defibrillators places a device over Lee's ICD unit, runs some testing, and reads the results. The ICD unit keeps track of everything that's been happening to Lee's heart since the last interrogation. It's pretty cool! It can read when there was a fluid overload, if there have been any arrhythmia, tachycardia, or incidents of the defibrillator charging up. It noted the extreme fluid build up in August and September.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The rest of the appointment involved reviewing what had happened over the summer, the hospitalization at the Mayo Clinic, reviewing Lee's medications, the current labs, a physical exam, and finally a discussion about how Lee is feeling. We left with a copy of labs and reports to send to the Mayo Clinic for their review and input.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first couple of weeks after the September hospitalization, Lee was feeling pretty good and was walking for exercise with a fair amount of ease. His goal is to walk about a mile round trip, which he can increase as his body allows. With CHF (congestive heart failure), breathing can become labored, making it difficult to exert oneself. Part of Lee's daily (doctor ordered) routine is to weigh himself every day. If he is up more than two pounds, he needs to increase his diuretic (Lasix) that day. This is extremely important to keep his heart from holding onto excess fluid. A low sodium diet is also par for the course. Lee has been very, very faithful to this regimen (Praise the Lord!). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Mayo:</span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today, Monday, November 18th, one of our Heart Transplant Team nurses called to review everything with us. Some of Lee's labs indicate some changes and she wanted to know how Lee was feeling. Here's what we told her: he has not been feeling well; his coughing has increased; he is becoming more and more easily fatigued; each time he eats a meal, whether large or small, he must lay down and sleep for an hour or two (Lee calls this "processing the food"). Medically this is another symptom of advancing heart failure. With CHF, blood flow is weak. Digestion takes a lot of blood. When the blood is diverted to digestion, the other organs (heart, brain, kidneys, etc) are shorted, causing fatigue.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Heather (our transplant nurse) reviewed the labs, tests and physical symptoms with the Mayo Clinic doctor. The decision was made that a "Right Heart Catheterization" needed to be performed. Our Medicare Advantage insurance required pre-authorization for this procedure, so we wait ... AND wait .... aaaaand wait ...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Romans 5:3 "... but we also exhult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulations bring about perseverance."</b></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-39251562419875124032013-09-20T08:15:00.000-07:002013-11-30T09:37:01.832-08:00A Few Weeks of Calm; Then the Storm<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">In July, our heart transplant team at the Mayo Clinic agreed that this was a good time for us to travel from our home in Arizona, to our "home" in the Pacific Northwest. Most of our family lives in the Puget Sound area of Washington State. Our home away from home is a 25 year old motorhome, parked on some good friends' property where we have lived for 5 or 6 months of the year for the past several years. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This required Lee to be moved to inactive (Status 7) on the Transplant List. Lee's health was stable enough for the car trip, and we wanted to see family and take care of some tasks while Lee was still able.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This trip north would be to sell our beloved Safari. The maintenance was getting to be way too much for Lee and traveling was much too difficult for the foreseeable future. We needed to sort through all the tools, belongings, and memorabilia still stored in the motorhome and our small storage trailer. It was six weeks of exhausting work for Lee. Getting the 36 foot beast cleaned (inside and out) was my job, but Lee needed to examine the rig for any mechanical, electrical, or plumbing issues before we listed her for sale. Thankfully we found no major issues, but lots of tweaking to be done. In the end, The Good Lord sold her to an amazing young man with a dream (that's for another story.) We were delighted to sell her to someone with energy to spare and pray that the motorhome provides him years of service, as it did for us and her previous owner.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Besides tending to the monumental task of selling the motorhome, we were busy enjoying our children, grandchildren, grandchild-to-be, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and a wonderful assortment of grand nieces and nephews. All of this wonderful activity took it's toll on Lee's health. He had been suffering from insomnia and not eating as healthfully as he does in Arizona in our quieter lifestyle. I began to worry about how much more easily he tired. He coughed a bit more, his color was off. As soon as the motorhome sold (which it did so quickly, praise God!) we cut our time short, said our emotional goodbyes to friends and family, and headed south to Arizona. We had our Ford Explorer loaded to the gills and were pulling a U-Haul trailer stuffed to capacity with the rest of our treasures. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">As we traveled, Lee began to get more and more uncomfortable. He had no appetite and when he did eat, he felt very bloated and had pressure in his belly. We were attributing all of this to sitting for long periods in the car and tried to help with more frequent stops, mild foods and some ginger ale. Our last stop was in St. George, UT. Lee was restlessly sleeping/resting throughout the day, but always in the sitting position. I asked him to go lie down in the bedroom, in a comfortable bed, so he could get better rest. It was then that he was able to articulate, "when I lay down, I feel like I'm drowning." WELL! The alarm just went off in my head and I realized that this was a heart failure symptom. He needed to take more diuretic (Lasix) to take the fluid off his heart, and we needed to get home and to the Mayo Clinic ASAP!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next morning we made a beeline for home. Lee had gotten to the point of being terribly uncomfortable and it was pretty scary. The thought of going to a hospital somewhere far from home was overwhelming for both of us. We decided the best course of action would be for Lee to take more Lasix (which would mean frequent stopping, if you know what I mean) and we would pray our way home. Drive and pray. Pray and drive. My plan was to go to a hospital in Las Vegas if Lee did not improve in that 90 minute drive. By the time we hit Las Vegas, Lee was visibly more comfortable, so I prayed the Lord would get us to Kingman, AZ next. When we reached Kingman, Lee was even better ... not GOOD, but definitely<i> better</i>. This is how we traveled all the way home that last day. The Lord calmed my fears as the miles were put behind us. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We arrived home on a Thursday night. The next morning, Friday, September 13th, we called the Mayo Clinic and were told to come in right away. After checking Lee out, they admitted him to the Mayo Hospital with heart failure and near kidney failure. The plan was to put him on an IV medication, Milrinone. This medication helps the heart to contract a little harder (Lee's heart doesn't contract well at all now), thereby forcing blood through his system, helping flush his kidneys and get him back to his baseline. It can only be given intravenously. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">While in the hospital, Lee was placed as a Status 1B (see previous post, THE LIST.) After three days in the hospital, the Milrinone (along with large doses of the diuretic) worked and nine... NINE pounds of fluid was drained from Lee. He felt MUCH better. The pressure was relieved and Lee was back to a Status 2 on the Heart Transplant List.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The doctors at the Mayo released Lee from the hospital but let us know that if Lee's system was to become overloaded with fluid again, it would be time to have a semi-permanent PICC line placed in his arm. The Milrinone would then be administered intravenously all the time. It would also mean that Lee would be listed as a Status 1B.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><b>Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths."</b></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-3498350447319409312013-04-05T18:36:00.001-07:002013-04-06T08:00:45.518-07:00Lee is LISTED!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is a GOOD day. Lee has been officially placed on the Heart Transplant List with the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today we met with one of our transplant coordinators (an RN who specializes in heart and kidney transplantation.) We reviewed the procedures, requirements and expectations. Lee will be listed as STATUS 2. Please see the previous post, "THE LIST" for an explanation of what that means.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We will be followed at the Mayo Clinic and the Phoenix VA Cardiologist. For the most part, we will alternate between the two and be seen approximately every 6 weeks. It is a long road and we will be keeping close to home in Buckeye, AZ. We have amazing next door neighbors who keep an eye on us both. We have a new church home & have found some new, supportive friends there too. We are blessed.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Please keep us in your prayers. We appreciate them more than we can say.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">2 Corinthians 1:11 "and you are helping us by praying for us."</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><u>ORGAN DONATION</u></b></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We hope all of you reading this will consider organ donation. In the previous post, THE LIST, there is quite a bit of information on how the procedure works. Nearly everyone can be an organ donor. Even LEE, is an organ donor. Of course, he couldn't donate his heart, but his other organs, tissue, etc. can be donated. </span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Of note: heart donation can only come from someone 40 years old or younger (with some exceptions, up to 45 years old) It is important to encourage our younger generation to be organ donors. Other organs do not have the same age restrictions. </span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In Arizona, please register online at: https://www.azdonorregistry.org/</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In Washington and Oregon: http://www.donatelifenw.org/content/donor-registry</span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746842323489436666.post-33243008524205126512013-04-05T17:28:00.000-07:002013-04-05T17:28:03.284-07:00The VA: the good, the bad, and the ugly. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lee served in the US Air Force during the Viet Nam era. He has received his primary health care through the Veteran's Administration since early 2003. For the most part, the care has been very, very good. The worst part of dealing with a big agency like the VA is the maze of paperwork and people to work through to get into see a doctor. As a general rule, once we get into the doctor, the care is excellent. We've been to the VA facilities in Seattle, Loma Linda, Tucson and Phoenix. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On February 15, the Mayo Clinic doctors accepted Lee as a heart transplant patient. We had only 2 requirements to complete prior to officially being listed. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1) <u>Have a dental exam & evaluation</u> confirming there is no infection of the mouth, teeth or gums. (<i>We found a local dentist in Buckeye that we would HIGHLY recommend to anyone needing dental care. They took care of Lee right away and were extremely helpful, caring, AND QUICK to get the required documentation to the Mayo Clinic.)</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2) <u>Get the Shingles vaccine.</u> Once the shingles vaccine was given, we would be required to wait 30 days before Lee could be listed on the transplant list because the vaccine is a live virus.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The BAD: the primary care doctor knew ahead of time that this would be a requirement. As soon as we were accepted, we called and left messages (multiple times) with no call backs. The weekend hit, so we emailed the doctor (a new system with the VA & it works quite well SOME of the time.) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The UGLY: a week later and after a trip down to the VA (35 miles from home) we STILL had not gotten an appointment for the shot. There were more phone calls & FINALLY we had a date set (but only after requesting help from the patient advocate.) It was a full 2 weeks before that little task was completed. A two week delay for being listed. SAD .... and quite frustrating.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The GOOD: In the midst of all of this craziness, Lee's ICD needed to be replaced. There is a battery life on all pacemakers and defibrillators & his was in need of replacement. We want to make sure there's enough "juice" left in the defibrillator to ZAP him if he needs it! We had previously scheduled this day surgery & it was performed on March 25 in the Cath Lab at the VA in Phoenix. The doctor was amazing. He is also a surgeon at St. Luke's Medical Center in Phoenix and highly regarded. He completed the surgery in under an hour and Lee was home by 7pm. We have had no complications or problems (other than the expected post-op pain & recovery) & give high praise to the entire team. From the pre-op nurses, to the anesthesiologist who sang during surgery, to the surgeon, to our wonderful post-op nurse: ALL did an amazing job. THANK YOU!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Surgery notes:</u></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lee is on anti-coagulants because of his mechanical aortic valve. This makes even the simplest of surgeries, more complex. To make matters even MORE exciting, Lee doesn't follow the "norm" when it comes to drawing down or ramping up his anti-coagulant medication. He can't be without an anti-coagulant or his blood could form a clot in the mechanical valve (and that would be very, very bad ... as in deadly.) The prescribed protocol is to stop the oral medication about 4 days before a surgery (or certain medical procedures) The patient then injects himself in the belly, twice daily, with a short acting (12 hours) anti-coagulant (Lovanox) up until the day of surgery. After the surgery, the patient begins the oral medication again along WITH the Lovanox injections in the belly for another 4 or 5 days. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lee is not "normal." Ha! My kids will love that! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">His chemistry requires him to begin his injections 6 or 7 days ahead and continue them for 7 or 8 days post op. He has had to cancel and reschedule 2 surgeries because of problems with getting the correct coagulation combination. It's not a fun process. His poor belly looks like it's been used as a punching bag. He's black and blue and yellow and purple. I am always amazed at how calmly and patiently he goes through this process. He is made of tough stuff, he is!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When the surgeon (let's call him Dr. H) came out after the procedure, he told me that everything went really well, Lee slept through the whole thing, and that there were no surprises. Hallelujah!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When LEE came out of surgery and we went to his room for a little R & R, he told me he was awake during the entire thing. He said his eyes were closed & he was relaxed but he heard the doctor (I think it was the anesthesiologist) singing to the oldies that were playing in the O.R. He heard the nurses talking back and forth and the most interesting thing (to HIM --- I was horrified) was listening to Dr. H as he examined the wires (leads) and plugged in the new device. One of the leads was too short so Dr. H had to put in a new, longer one. Lee could hear the crimping tool being applied. He also felt the pressure and scraping sounds of the scar tissue being removed in the "pocket" in his chest where the new device would be implanted. YOW!! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The very worst part of the recovery was the "pressure bandage" he was required to wear for 48 hours. I just had to put a picture in to show how big this thing was. The purpose was to apply pressure to the "wound" to prevent excessive bleeding or a hematoma. Because of the aforementioned coagulation issues, this was an "ounce of prevention." Just imagine: a freshly scraped up muscle and incision with a 2 inch block of rigid styrofoam being pressed down into that wound ... for 48 hours. Once Lee was free from that, he stopped the pain medications and only had to take Ibuprofen. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He looks pretty happy, but that's only because I was about to peel off that pressure bandage. Then, after a pain pill, he felt MUCH better.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ONWARD ...</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">Psalm 40:1 "I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry."</span></b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00623791643103111406noreply@blogger.com0