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| 4 helicopters - 3 dark and 1 white speck on this picture. We were @ Damen & Ogden |
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| "Sea of Red" (it looked more red then shows here) and airplane with banner by Damen & Eisenhower (I-290) with United Center to right in the trees |
Dear friends and family,
A few of you have asked how Gary is doing and I had been thinking I would write an update but hadn't yet, so decided to do so today.
He has been having an "up and down" sort of couple weeks or maybe a "2 step forward, 1 step back" sort of couple weeks. On our last clinic visit, they felt it was time to take him off of some of his medications that were helping his blood pressure come up since he had been having problems of lightheadedness from his blood pressure being too low especially when he would stand up as well as the dehydration he had been fighting causing the blood pressure to also be lower. Since his hydration had improved considerably -- most days getting down his 3+ liters of water/crystal light type fluid, and his blood pressure seeming to improve between eating more salty food and the medication, it was time to start taking him off the extra medication and see if his body was ready to handle it without the added medication (one to raise his blood pressure, one to counter the side effects of this blood pressure raising medication).
As the days went by, his blood pressure started dropping and the dizziness and lightheadness started returning so by last Thursday, June 20, I called the transplant clinic nurse to see what we should be doing. She asked about his fluid and salt intake and I told him what we had been doing. She said to keep doing the fluids and try to up his salt intake and that and she would double check with the doctor although we probably wouldn't hear back that night. On Friday I figured we'd hear something, but as the day went on, no phone call so, wouldn't you know it, around 9PM, I decided to head to the shower figuring we weren't going to hear anything. Before I made it to the basement, the telephone rang. The kids were all gone so I told Gary I would get it. It was the transplant nurse basically reiterating what she had told me the evening before, and also said that if he didn't improve over the weekend, to call again.
He wasn't up to going to church on Sunday because of lightheadedness and dizziness so we left him home to nap and strict instructions of not leaving the house or showering without us home. He had started taking walks on his own as long as he had his cell phone along before the medication change, but as he became more lightheaded and dizzy, we told him that one of us needed to be with him again for his safety. Thankfully as the week has gone on, he has slowly started feeling better and he now takes walks again at times with the kids or I and at times on his own with his cell phone, depending on how he is feeling.
Today (Friday, June 28) was not a clinic day for us, but it was time for scheduled blood work. With the Chicago Black Hawks having won the Stanley Cup earlier this week, and hearing that a lot of the "hoopla" would be happening on Friday, I started becoming rather nervous of what this would mean for us because the exit we would be taking to UIC was the same exit that goes to the United Center. For those who know me well, I am not a "city" person although once in awhile I don't mind visiting the city, I am not a "big crowds" person, and "big city" driving is not my favorite thing although I've gotten much, much more comfortable with it over the years since both Gary and I have had or continue to have doctors in the city, so.....
I haven't been sleeping well this week again either -- too many things on my mind as well as being in pain myself, and then other times, not quite sure why I couldn't sleep. Anyhow, I know I shouldn't worry, but, for me that is easier said then done. I've mentioned my favorite devotional book before, "Starting Your Day Right" and "Ending Your Day Right" by Joyce Meyer, and how so often the devotions fit for me at that particular moment. I know it may not be the "deepest" devotional, but right now, I can't always handle "deep" but I also feel the Lord understands my mind and all that is going on right now. It happened again this week several times where the devotions were hitting me right where I was at, and one in particular was last night (therefore the title of this post). One of the things it said was "So many Christians are headed somewhere, but not many of us are enjoying the trip.....Whatever your present station in life, whatever you are called to do, wherever you are called to go, enjoy the journey. Don't waste one day of the precious life God has given you."
Overall, I slept well last night, at least much better then I had all week. I had our bag pretty well packed last night for our trip to UIC including Gary's medications (don't ever want to forget those again) and medication lists, as well as things to do while waiting. I even woke up when my alarms went off and wasn't really nervous about the drive anymore figuring I'd just take the traffic and headaches that come with it as it came, and "enjoy the ride".
We made our usual stop to pick up breakfast for both of us and coffee (I have to have my coffee) for me from McDonalds and started on our way. For those of you familiar with Chicago traffic and the area with the Hillside Strangler now moved to Westchester Strangler, we had decided that we should not get on the Eisenhower by Elmhurst, but instead take Roosevelt to Harlem and get on the Eisenhower there since we figured traffic might be heavier then usual. It appeared that there were others with the same idea, since Roosevelt was busier then usual. When we got on the Eisenhower, surprisingly, traffic going towards the city was moving the same if not better then usual but the traffic going away from the city was completely stopped and we have no idea why. I think most of the Black Hawk fans must have taken advantage of the $5 train special that we kept hearing about on the radio and traffic reports rather then drive to the city. We also kept hearing about all the people waiting to get into Grant Park where the rally was going to be later in the morning and that some people had been waiting already since last night with many more having arrived really early in the morning. As we got closer towards our exit, it seemed at first as if there was going to be a line of traffic getting off, but instead, very few got off there which was nice for us, so our ride in wasn't nearly as bad as we thought it would be.
After doing what we needed to in getting the blood work done at UIC -- registration on the 2nd floor and blood work on the 4th floor and of course the various waiting that comes at each location, we headed back to our van to head home. By then we had been there around 1 1/2 hours and it was close to the time that we had heard that the Black Hawk team would be leaving the United Center so I wondered if we would encounter much traffic, but again, it wasn't too bad although when we were crossing the Eisenhower, we could see there were a lot of people close to the United Center, but not nearly as much traffic as I thought there might be. (see pictures above)
Gary and I decided we like driving home on the Eisenhower at around 10:30am -- much less traffic then when we usually come home from our appointments when we usually hit the afternoon traffic. I think the slowest I had to go the whole way home until we reached Rt. 83 was 62 MPH -- Amazing!
We received a call from the nurse at the transplant clinic this evening with results from his blood work as well as questions about Gary's vitals from this week. I happened to be at the grocery store with Stephanie so Peter called me while Gary was talking to her. In the end, they had her call me and Peter stayed on the other cell phone so that he could look at the vital sheet (I told him where it was) in case I needed some of that information. I'm sure I looked rather comical with a cell phone against each ear, but it worked out well. I could answer her questions from information Peter could give me and Peter could write down information and changes that needed to be made in his medication as well as when he needs to have an added blood work drawn because of the change in medication and waiting for the next appointment would be to long of a wait.
Next week we will be trying some "new" adventures with Gary, new, that is, since his transplant. I'm a bit nervous, but I know like every time you try "firsts", apprehensions arise. I know a lot involves using common sense and mostly I need to keep praying for patience and peace of mind.
It's time to stop and get some sleep. Thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers. We really appreciate them and thank you for "walking with us" on this journey.
Love,
Nelly
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Psalm 100: 1&2 KJV
