Ron had such a great day - milestones include: walked up and down the hall 4 times, walked up 4 steps (he'll be able to walk up the stairs to his very own bed once he comes home), had clear liquids, telemetry removed, 1 tummy drain removed.
The doctor said he's doing great, blood tests - FABULOUS - tomorrow we're scheduled to attend a discharge class - he'll be going home in 3 to 5 days - tomorrow he goes on a regular diet - YAY!
Sorry for the poor quality of the video!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
SUNDAY - DAY 3
The doctor was in this morning - said Ron looked really good for someone who just had a liver transplant. They still aren't terribly happy with his blood test results - and hopefully the liver will begin to participate fully within the next few days. They plan to put him on a liquid diet tommorow - YAY! Ron's coloring is great - pink as can be!
Last night was rough for him - lots of pain - they gave him oxycodone which totally wiped him out - this morning they changed his pain meds to morphine. He slept most of the morning - a cup of ice every two hours - he much less thirsty today.
They haven't gotten him up on his feet yet - that was supposed to happen yesterday....hopefully PT will get on the ball tomorrow.
He's feeling pretty good (in spurts) - talked on the phone a couple of times today for just a few minutes.
Last night was rough for him - lots of pain - they gave him oxycodone which totally wiped him out - this morning they changed his pain meds to morphine. He slept most of the morning - a cup of ice every two hours - he much less thirsty today.
They haven't gotten him up on his feet yet - that was supposed to happen yesterday....hopefully PT will get on the ball tomorrow.
He's feeling pretty good (in spurts) - talked on the phone a couple of times today for just a few minutes.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Papa's Chopper
Oliver has this little toy helicopter at our house - we call it Papa's Chopper.
I was sitting in the ICU waiting room yesterday talking with a pastor who was there to visit another patient - someone who was being taken off life support - so sad........
The pastor asked when my husband received his new liver, and I told him Thursday at 5:00pm - he said Thursday afternoon he heard some doctors saying the liver was on it's way - then heard a chopper land - white coats were hurrying down the hallway - the LIVER IS HERE!
Funny thing - we heard that same chopper at 3:00pm and remarked - wouldn't that be something if it was Ron's new liver.
As you may know, Ron was a helicopter gunner in the Vietnam War - that's how he picked up HEP C - flying through Agent Orange everyday......how ironic.....his new liver arrived via chopper - bringing him a new life - a life that could very well have been taken.......if the new liver had never arrived.
I was sitting in the ICU waiting room yesterday talking with a pastor who was there to visit another patient - someone who was being taken off life support - so sad........
The pastor asked when my husband received his new liver, and I told him Thursday at 5:00pm - he said Thursday afternoon he heard some doctors saying the liver was on it's way - then heard a chopper land - white coats were hurrying down the hallway - the LIVER IS HERE!
Funny thing - we heard that same chopper at 3:00pm and remarked - wouldn't that be something if it was Ron's new liver.
As you may know, Ron was a helicopter gunner in the Vietnam War - that's how he picked up HEP C - flying through Agent Orange everyday......how ironic.....his new liver arrived via chopper - bringing him a new life - a life that could very well have been taken.......if the new liver had never arrived.
Ron and Friend
Ron resting comfortably with his friend - his guard dog - thank you Christi, Amy and Julie!
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Surgery ended Thursday evening around 10:00pm - Ron was stable.
FRIDAY EARLY MORNING: 1:00am Ron had a terrible bout - actually - we came very close to losing him. His belly was hard, blood pressure dropped 42/25, his pulse rate soared to over 130; a large group of people came running. Nurses were shouting orders, "CALL THE DOCTOR NOW!!!!" - I heard someone say they thought is was a bleed - and I was hustled back to the waiting room. My family had gone home - it had been a long day - and we were sure things were going as they should. After a few calls, Libby was on her way back to the hospital, Michael was trying to get out the door - approximately 1 hour later the ICU nurse found me - she told me she's knows I was scared and so was she. Ended up, after blood tests, no bleed; combination of pain medication, general anethesia and dehydration - Ron was holding his own. Libby slept in the waiting room after making me a 'college made sleeping crib' - I couldn't sleep - so I spent the night in Ron's room.
FRIDAY MORNING: Ron was still heavily sedated and fighting the breathing tube; he was restless, both arms strapped to keep him from pulling out the endless tubes and wires. He had a large IV in his neck, left hand an arterial line, two stomach drains, right hand 2 IVs, catheter, heart monitor, NG tube in his nose, a skinny line that ran in and down through his heart to measure pressure......10 bags of IV medications.
The charge nurse talked me into going home for a nap; Michael came and sat with Ron, and I know it was good for both of them.
Finally the breathing tube was removed and Ron could communicate; sleepy, dazed and confused, but he was able to hold a short conversation with Michael. They sat Ron up in a chair for a few minutes; he was beginning to wake up enough to know he was in pain.
WARNING - GRAPHIC PHOTO
Libby and Anthony came by to visit and by the afternoon, he joked a little; introduing Libby to the nurses as his husband.........then said, "No, this is my sweetheart daughter."
Early evening Ron slept for a couple of hours - it was good to see him sleeping and quiet after a day of struggling with the restraints and the breathing tube.
I was able to reserve a room in the guest suite area - small little 'hotel' rooms offered to family members. So with Ron resting so well - at 10:00pm we said our goodnights - up to the suite; I set the alarm clock, enjoyed a piece of coconut cake and milk saved from lunch........and I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
FRIDAY EARLY MORNING: 1:00am Ron had a terrible bout - actually - we came very close to losing him. His belly was hard, blood pressure dropped 42/25, his pulse rate soared to over 130; a large group of people came running. Nurses were shouting orders, "CALL THE DOCTOR NOW!!!!" - I heard someone say they thought is was a bleed - and I was hustled back to the waiting room. My family had gone home - it had been a long day - and we were sure things were going as they should. After a few calls, Libby was on her way back to the hospital, Michael was trying to get out the door - approximately 1 hour later the ICU nurse found me - she told me she's knows I was scared and so was she. Ended up, after blood tests, no bleed; combination of pain medication, general anethesia and dehydration - Ron was holding his own. Libby slept in the waiting room after making me a 'college made sleeping crib' - I couldn't sleep - so I spent the night in Ron's room.
FRIDAY MORNING: Ron was still heavily sedated and fighting the breathing tube; he was restless, both arms strapped to keep him from pulling out the endless tubes and wires. He had a large IV in his neck, left hand an arterial line, two stomach drains, right hand 2 IVs, catheter, heart monitor, NG tube in his nose, a skinny line that ran in and down through his heart to measure pressure......10 bags of IV medications.
The charge nurse talked me into going home for a nap; Michael came and sat with Ron, and I know it was good for both of them.
Finally the breathing tube was removed and Ron could communicate; sleepy, dazed and confused, but he was able to hold a short conversation with Michael. They sat Ron up in a chair for a few minutes; he was beginning to wake up enough to know he was in pain.
Libby and Anthony came by to visit and by the afternoon, he joked a little; introduing Libby to the nurses as his husband.........then said, "No, this is my sweetheart daughter."
Early evening Ron slept for a couple of hours - it was good to see him sleeping and quiet after a day of struggling with the restraints and the breathing tube.
I was able to reserve a room in the guest suite area - small little 'hotel' rooms offered to family members. So with Ron resting so well - at 10:00pm we said our goodnights - up to the suite; I set the alarm clock, enjoyed a piece of coconut cake and milk saved from lunch........and I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
SATURDAY MORNING
What is that grumpy Sesame Street character's name? Ron had a good night, but is grumpy about EVERYTHING. Every person who comes in the room - he asks them for water. No liquids - if he were to drink and become nauseous he could tear those delicate sutures. Ron is on huge doses of steroids - the cause of his short nerves and grouchy demeanor. As the days progress, the steroids will be reduced.
He sat in a chair for 30 minutes, had a breathing treatment, the large arterial IVs were removed....AND we were just moved to the transplant floor - 6th floor - room 11.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
LIVER DAY!!!!
4:02am - "Mr. Cook, we have an offer for a liver." Ron - "I'll take it!"
5:00am - arrived at the hospital - and the waiting began.
First of all, today is an exciting day for us; but a sorrowful day for the donor's family. Organ donation is a selfless act - a gift that can only be minutely repaid by living a good life and passing on the gift of life to others - that is our plan. We are prayful and grateful. Ron's donor (and family) will be forever in our hearts.
It is 5:38pm and Ron has been in surgery since 5:11pm. We received our first update at 5:25 - the surgery is going well. The surgery takes approximately 5-7 hours and if all goes as planned (again, that's our plan), we'll see him sometime between 11:00-12:00pm. He'll be in ICU for a couple of days, then placed on the transplant floor for several more days.
Okay, now that I have all the practical things down............I have to say: I feel brave and vunerable and scared and relieved and fortunate and loved and overwhelmed and prayful and sick to my stomach and time is standing still. I feel like everything is going to be okay - I always have since the beginning.
So today is liver day - Ron's official '2nd' birthday! Say a prayer please.
5:00am - arrived at the hospital - and the waiting began.
First of all, today is an exciting day for us; but a sorrowful day for the donor's family. Organ donation is a selfless act - a gift that can only be minutely repaid by living a good life and passing on the gift of life to others - that is our plan. We are prayful and grateful. Ron's donor (and family) will be forever in our hearts.
It is 5:38pm and Ron has been in surgery since 5:11pm. We received our first update at 5:25 - the surgery is going well. The surgery takes approximately 5-7 hours and if all goes as planned (again, that's our plan), we'll see him sometime between 11:00-12:00pm. He'll be in ICU for a couple of days, then placed on the transplant floor for several more days.
Okay, now that I have all the practical things down............I have to say: I feel brave and vunerable and scared and relieved and fortunate and loved and overwhelmed and prayful and sick to my stomach and time is standing still. I feel like everything is going to be okay - I always have since the beginning.
So today is liver day - Ron's official '2nd' birthday! Say a prayer please.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Pears, Probiotics and Liver Drops....Oh YUM!
Ron's feeling better - I think he has a little more energy - so cross your fingers. This week he has three appointments (3 days) at the hospital: MRI, ultrasound, and doctor appointment (transplant team tomorrow). They should be raising his MELD score sometime this month.......but in meantime, we'll continue to wait for the illusive liver.
Some VA news; Ron received a call from his VA counselor today. Ron was told the VA is continuing to consider compensation changes.....(add additional medical conditions to his original rating). Just in case things don't go our way, we have an appointment with an attorney Tuesday.
I'll have more news tomorrow after his appointment..........maybe we'll get a call tonight!.......at this point, it feels like he's only getting a liver, in my dreams.
Some VA news; Ron received a call from his VA counselor today. Ron was told the VA is continuing to consider compensation changes.....(add additional medical conditions to his original rating). Just in case things don't go our way, we have an appointment with an attorney Tuesday.
I'll have more news tomorrow after his appointment..........maybe we'll get a call tonight!.......at this point, it feels like he's only getting a liver, in my dreams.
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