Monday, April 30, 2012

Betsy is home to the RV about 2:15p today.   Walked right in.  Breathing...    Looking great, acting even better.   Will get her to write sometime this week.

Saturday, April 28

Bets is doing great.   Walking, eating, but most important is the breathing, breathing, breathing....  So cool for her to have new (recycled) lungs.   She is learning how to breath deep, talk in more than one word breaths, dressing, stairs, etc...  Eating good and building strength is key to this recovery.  

Because of the blood clots, they are thinning her blood with heperin and they might pull that this afternoon.  Coumadin was started yesterday, and when that stabilizes, the hep will be slowly reduced, then removed.   They had talked a little about kicking her out on Sunday (tomorrow) but most likely Monday late morning. 

Bob wants her home because he has created an extensive 'honey do' list...   ;-)   Gotta get her back at the chores. 

Lung Transplants...  Betsy was #10 for 2012....  last night they transplanted #14.  Just shy of one a week.   Still lots of people waiting.   # 12 is just across the hall.  Nice guy from near Seattle area.  He and Bets have talked a little about this new lease on life.   #13 was from Montana...  We wish them all well.   Looking forward to hearing about #15, 16, 17, 33, 45, 56,......  Right now there are about 55 on the waiting list.

Tuesday, April 24

Betsy update.

Tubes are out, pain relieving some, and walking.  Much easier to walk with out all the appendages connected to her body.  Tomorrow the last two IV’s will be replaced by oral meds.   Not sure when they will kick her out of the hospital.  Still needs to learn how to get in/out of bed, chairs, toilet, steps into rv, dressing, talking and other relevant stuff.  We have been learning about some of the meds, what they look like, and what they do.   I think Thursday will be pharmacy day where they really hand all the stuff to her and from then on, she is responsible for all medications.   Initially, probably close to 45 pills per day.  Morning, noon, eve, night.   For the rest of her new life. 

Betsy was the 10^th transplant of 2012.   Two more this week. 

Organ donation.  We do not know where the lungs came from, but are grateful to the donor and donor family.  Betsy will eventually write a letter to them.  It will be their choice to open conversation with us.  We hope they do. 

Once we make our formal escape from Seattle, I plan to work with Life Center NW and get on the road to promote organ donation.  Betsy will probably be with me, but is shy about public speaking.  Organ donation, or the gift of life is important.  Sometimes one donor, can save or enhance the lives of 20+ people.  Amazing program.  We now have first hand experience. 

Saturday April 21

On Friday afternoon, they stopped her heart for a few moments and did a reboot.   It worked.  Heart rate went from 135 to a normal 73. 

Everything seems to be back on track.  Sitting in a chair eating.  Another good friend Terri, is with her this morning, son Jim and Libby’s daughter Lisa took the next shift.  Lisa will be there all night.  Bob goes back at 5am.  He is getting a much needed break and some sleep.  Housekeeping chores. 

Around 4pm, they moved her out of ICU and down the hall to a another care unit.  Took one of 4 tubes out of her chest.  Great progress.   Another tube is due out on Sunday and then the rest on Monday.   Monday is pharmacy day where they load up her suitcase with lots and lots of pills, educate us on what pill does what, and the impact of each.   Some of these meds will eventually be eliminated as her health improves. 

Thursday April 19, Speed bump # 2

ok.....  things went a little south today.   Just before noon, Code Blue....  For those non medic types, that is a heart issue.   I think 25 people stormed into the room.  She went into A-Fib.... ultra fast heart rate, due to a med issue.   She is now stableized and back into ICU.  Might be there for a couple of days until all the med issues are resolved. 

This scared the crap out me.   I was impressed with the medical staff and their response to an emergency.   I didn't realize so many professionals would respond, and that quickly.   The pain staff are in the room with her now and putting an epi back in.   They really need to control the pain so that she can move forward with rehab.   Surgeons said the xrays are good and show the lungs beginning to adhere to this strange new body.  

Thanks to all who have sent a text or email.  It may be a few days before she can read them, but I have tried to read a few for her as appropriate. 

More as I know it.   Bob

Wednesday, Apr 18

A much different person is in the room today.  Wide awake, seems to be energetic, and ready to get on with her new life.   Hit a minor speed bump yesterday with some clot issues.   Surgeons are concerned, but not in panic mode over it.  Using some blood thinners.  Everyone says she ahead of the recovery game and should be out of here early next week.   Today the will continue to get her off IV meds and to pill form. 

Libby is with her right now and they are playing beauty parlor...  hair was, clean up, girly stuff..  Bob got out of the room.   Violet goes to La Grande today for a temp stay at a different home.  Peggy arrives to assist Bob with care of his parol officer.   Friends are sure great.  

More at the end of the week.  

Sunday eve, Apr 15

Betsy walked today about 150'...  had real food, and is generally in good spirits...  Still some pain, but overall, doing well.  Very tired tonight.  Some discussion about kicking her out of ICU and to the next level down, tomorrow.  Progressing very well.  Lots of well wishers have texted, FB commented or sent email...   No phone calls yet for a while please. 

On Wed morning, Violet leaves us for a while.   Libby is taking her to La Grande for a while.  Betsy needs to recover slowly without a dog jumping on her. 

Unless something major happens, I will hold off until Friday to update again.  This has been an amazing journey, especially the past few days.   I have come to really realize how important she is to me..  it has been both physically and emotionally exhausting.   Now we move on in our lives to the next challenges.  

Saturday eve

Betsy is now breathing on her own..   When we asked how she felt to breath....  "awsome".....  Stood up for a while....   Tomorrow they plan to have her walking.

Friday afternoon, April 13, 2012

Betsy was in the operating room at 3 am.  Two lungs arrived at UW Med Center at 6 am.  Lungs were in place by 8 and the stitch up process was done by 9.  We were told this may be a 6-8 hour process…  Wow… Fast…  

She is doing ok, but not awake yet.  Libby and Jim are with her, and Bob is back at RV going to bed for a few hours, then back to the hosp for the night shift.  I’m tired, and relieved… 

April 12 , Thursday

42 years ago, Betsy and Bob got married on a Friday the 13th.....   Tomorrow is another Fri 13.
Well, we got 'the call' about 8 am, after a bunch of testing and checking, Betsy was admitted at 2pm and is in the ICU.  Two potential lungs available, so if it happens, it will be pretty cool.  

The lungs are out of the area, and the Surgeon is on site to harvest.  That will be the first step in determining if they are ok.   Once they arrive at UW, then a final assessment will be made.  Earliest surgery will be around 3am, but most likely a few hours later.  (Friday 13th) This could still be a dry run, but most folks are hopeful.

Libby is here, and Jim will be here in the morning.  Violet has been cared for, and Bob is a basket case, just not showing it.   Please wish us well.  

More as we know it, but it may be a few more days until next blog. 

April 6

Another week flew by…  Jim and Marci picked up Cassie last Sunday.  They arrived in time to get 5 Guys Burgers and Fries for lunch and stayed for a nice visit.  

Monday was a great day at therapy!  Out of the blue I seemed to do better than I had for quite a while and it felt really good.  Wednesday therapy was not as good and Friday was a bit worse but I figure every day that I can show up there and do something is a good day…. 

I am in better spirits and I’m sure that has an impact on how I cope with moving around. 

We have enjoyed more of Bill and Mary’s wonderful dishes.  One casserole can feed us for 2 or 3 meals and of course we love leftovers! 

Thursday a wheelchair was delivered from Lincare.  It is not the one they ordered but a ‘fill in’ until the new one arrives.  Bob took me for a spin around the RV and I hope to take another spin around the park this week-end since it is supposed to be in the 60’s both Saturday and Sunday!!!  It felt good to get outside without having to struggle to breathe! 

Forgot to mention last week that Libby brought a “prayer shawl” sent by our wonderful neighbors and friends.  It had a poem on a sheet of paper that everyone signed.   Our neighbors, family and friends are just amazing and I don’t know what we would do without them all. 

Hope everyone has a pleasant Easter week-end!