The Year in Review 2012

Happy New Year!

Last year was no picnic - probably more difficult than 2011 when Ron received his liver; or perhaps it's like childbirth and I have a huge case of amnesia. 

 

Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for yet another miracle (Ron's open heart surgery in November).  We were plagued with lots of personal issues including Ron being laid off (in February) after being with the company for 28 years....and all the financial issues that come with unemployment.

 

Ron had issues throughout the summer and fall months - becoming light headed and sometimes passing out; he has a banged up nose to prove it.  The cause, come to find out, was an extreme prescribed dose of lopressor (7 times what he needed - TWICE a day); his blood pressure dropped everytime he stood up - and so, his lights went out!

 

In July we took a family vacation - which turned into 7 days of what we call, "The Gulf Shores Plaque" - a tummy bug - at least two people had it every day.  Oh, and Ron passed out while driving from low blood sugar and thank goodness for a couple of local fisherman who had a 'sugar-stash' in their truck.  We did enjoy time with the family at the beach!

 

September our Beau (Boxer) was diagnosed with lymphoma.

 

Ron was hit with depression - what can I say about that - it is what it is.

 

I'm having kidney issues - we are a walking medical dictionary!

 

I'm looking for a brighter and peaceful 2013!



Here's 2012 in review

 

January - Oliver's 3rd Birthday

 

February - Happy Birthday New Liver - 1st Birthday February 3, 2012

 

 

 

 

March - a family photo shoot at the farm

 

 

April - the unveiling - Libby and Anthony surprise us all - it's a girl

 

 

May - hanging out with Beau and Savannah

 

 

July - deep sea fishing off Gulf Shores - Ron caught the largest fish on the boat 16.5 lb Red Snapper and with the help of our son, Tony, Ron was able to land the fish

 

 

 

August - relaxing under the trees

 

 

September - a family picnic at Piedmont Park - Savannah inspects Papa's dog tags

 

 

October - hanging out with Oliver

 

 

November - chest pains and three blockages - Ron gives the traditional 'thumbs up' before heading into surgery

 

 

After surgery - he has his favorite heart pillow to hug during coughing spells (ouch)

 

 

December - resting and hanging out with our newest grandchild, Penelope

 

 

 

 

Depression after bypass surgery

Ron is depressed.  He can admit it, but he really has no idea how depressed he is.  I know it's normal after bypass surgery. I'm not sure it's just the heart surgery.  When you've spent the last 4 years entangled in health issues, sometimes, I just want to say ENOUGH!  I guess I'm depressed as well.  Coming home everyday to someone who spends the day planted on the sofa in the same clothes you saw him in yesterday.........well, is depressing. I do everything for him, and he can't seem to do much of anything for himself.

Bad with the good - or good with the bad - it's all a toss up.

Home again after triple bypass surgery

Modern medicine truly is a marvel - of course - a willing body.....allows the magic to happen. 

Ron spent very little time in the ICU - overnight basically.  The bypass surgery/ICU was Thursday, Friday he was moved to a 'step-down' room, Saturday all of his IVs were removed, and he came home Sunday.  Today he's at home piddling around - made his own breakfast - pain meds = tylenol.  It's amazing.

After his liver transplant in 2011 - the bypass surgery - has been a piece of cake.  I think he's bummed about not being able to drive for 1 month.  Thank goodness we have help - our daughter, Libby, is home on maternity leave until January - so she'll take him to the hospital for appointments and blood work.

During this ordeal - his liver has been perfect - no complications!

We are looking forward to Thanksgiving - all our children and their spouses - and our 6 grandchildren will be here to celebrate.  Much to be thankful for!

The Heart of the matter!

It's been an eventful month - Ron has been unsteady - falling - with a bit of 'dementia' in the evenings.  The liver team has been following him closely......but we now know - after a 'wake-up' call from his old heart - we were barking up the wrong tree.

Tuesday, November 13th

10:00am - a call from Ron - he was having chest pains - I told him to call 911 - and I 'raced' home.  I called and alerted the kids - Brittany loaded the kids and headed to our house.

Paramedics were in place when I arrived home - Ron was having chest pain with pain and tingling down his left arm.

He was transported to 'our' hospital, Piedmont (Atlanta) - the same hospital where he received his liver transplant in February 2011.

After a couple of nitroglycerin tabs - the chest pain disappeared - he was evaluated by the cardiologist (Dr. Taylor).........it was decided he would be observed overnight -  stress test ordered for Wednesday (with a back-up plan for a heart catherization, if needed on Thursday).

Tuesday evening he had another cardiac episode at 10:00pm. The plan changed - nix the stress test and straight to cath lab Wednesday morning.

Wednesday, November 14th

The heart cath presented with 3 blockages -  in the front top left main artery (90%), bottom front left main artery (70%) and a smaller one on the right side.

Because Ron's kidneys are a bit sluggish - it was decided he would be hydrated overnight to flush out the dye given during the heart catherization -  bypass surgery scheduled for first thing Thursday morning.

With a nitroglycerin IV drip - he had an uneventful Wednesday night.

Thursday, November 15th - Heart Surgery Day!

7:30am - Taken to operating room
9:45am - Vein harvesting (yuck)
10:12am - Chest incision
10:45am - Placed on heart/lung bypass machine
12:00pm - Surgery over - triple bypass - heart is good - watching the kidneys
2:00pm - Visited Ron in ICU - he looks good - looks better than after liver transplant - he opened his eyes a couple of times - nodded yes to a question from the nurse - breathing tube in place - Ron is calm.  If all goes well - the breathing tube should be removed in 4-6 hours.

I have to thank everyone (family and friends) for all their support - we've got a long road ahead - but with all the support - we're going to make it.

More updates soon.

Falling Down

THIS IS A POST I NEGLECTED TO PUBLISH

September 9, 2012:

Last week someone asked how Ron was doing, and I made the mistake of saying everything was going great..........

Mid week Ron began having problems with his balance, he became weak and began vomiting; at first I thought he had a bug.  Thursday evening he was following me into the kitchen, he became dizzy, leaned over the kitchen island for just a few seconds, and fell to the floor - hitting his head on the cabinet on his way down. 

I turned and saw Ron lying on the floor and all I could think of - was to get him flat on the floor (CPR) and over and over in my mind - questioning where was the phone.  I feel like I'm good in a crisis (I've had some practice over the years).  (He was okay).

October 2012

When Ron stands up, he feels so dizzy that he has to immediately sit down.  One evening while we were working side by side in the kitchen - I looked over and he was laying on the floor......we were afraid he had broken his arm. (He was okay).

November 2012

In the early morning hours I heard a horrible clunk and thud; Ron had fallen in the bathroom, hitting his head on the toliet seat (busting the top of his nose - with a full nose bleed as well)....he hit his ribs on the way down.

I suggested physical therapy thinking, perhaps, the issue had to do with 'strenghtening his core' - that he had become weak after surgery and was unable to gather his strength.

He was evaluated by physical therapy - was told they can't help him (he passed all their tests) - so they suggest neurological testing.

More good news - and smoother sailing!

Ron met with his ENT today - to go over the results of the CAT scan of Ron's sinuses.  Everyone has been concerned the Mucormycosis had set up residence in his sinuses on the way to his lungs.

Dr. Dockery gave Ron the great news - no Mucormycosis in his nasal passages.

He followed up by saying he has treated Mucormycosis - and said - that if Ron had Mucormycosis - he'd be seing Ron in the hospital - not in his office.  Mucormycosis eats tissue and ravages the body.

So now we're wondering - what's going on in Ron's lungs?  Mucormycosis grew from a culture taken from Ron's lungs in June - Ron is being treated for the disease - and thank goodness not showing any symptoms of the disease; we'll find out - in approximately 5 months with another CAT scan of his chest.

Ron is feeling great - better than he has in months.........so we're sailing smoother seas and heading for open water!

TGIF

It's a good Friday.  Ron hasn't had any hallucinations today - hopefully he'll make it through the night without the 'little men' staring at him through the windows!