Dear Friends and Family,
Yesterday was a very busy, long, exhausting day. The good news -- it was a visit to the clinic and he's still at home. He is still fighting dehydration, so they did end up hooking him up to an IV for an hour in the clinic and we need to come back again on Friday and they are already saying they will probably need to give him another IV. They told us that he needs to drink at least 3 liters of fluid a day. For those who are metric challenged like I am, 3 liters = 12.68 cups, or 0.79 gallons, or 101.44 oz or 6.34 pints, or 3.17 quarts (all taken to the nearest 100th) -- you get the idea http://www.asknumbers.com/VolumeConversion.aspx is my source for these numbers. So, we are coming up with "creative" ways to get Gary to drink that much. One of the biggest goals right now is trying to keep him hydrated enough and home. The doctors seem to feel that a lot of his blood pressure issues (big drop between sitting and standing), lightheadedness, low grade temp at times, tiredness, and weakness are related to him being dehydrated. We're still dealing with the C-diff so we are very thankful for the convenience of Clorox wipes and gloves, although I'm sure there are times that Gary must feel like a leper when we are after him to "don't touch that" since we all know that the best defense for us not to catch it and the best defense for him not to keep it is to wipe everything he touches with Clorox wipes. We also were told at one point to wash his laundry separately in hot water along with bleach to kill the germs. Tomorrow we will again go down to UIC to spend the day.
Pray that we can keep Gary hydrated and out of the hospital. Also pray that the C-Diff will get out of his system and that he doesn't catch it again.
Thank you all for your continued thoughts, prayers, and other acts of kindness. We appreciate all of you very much and thank the Lord for you.
Love,
Nelly and family
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you invited me in.
~ ~ Matthew 25:35 NIV
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
It'a Monday, and............We're at Home
Dear Family and Friends,
We're so excited -- It's Monday night and we're still at home!!! Gary's had a great day overall. He's drank lots of fluids, ate some food, blown in his spirometer, and taken two walks -- both good distances since the surgery. It was such a beautiful sunny day to go walking. He's tired and asleep for the night, but I just couldn't resist posting that it's Monday and we've managed to stay home! :)
I've also added a separate blog page with pictures from the beginning till now for those who want to see any of them. I made sure it was ok with Gary that I posted pictures and he was fine with it.
Thank you all again for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Nelly and family
Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
~ ~ Ephesians 5:20
We're so excited -- It's Monday night and we're still at home!!! Gary's had a great day overall. He's drank lots of fluids, ate some food, blown in his spirometer, and taken two walks -- both good distances since the surgery. It was such a beautiful sunny day to go walking. He's tired and asleep for the night, but I just couldn't resist posting that it's Monday and we've managed to stay home! :)
I've also added a separate blog page with pictures from the beginning till now for those who want to see any of them. I made sure it was ok with Gary that I posted pictures and he was fine with it.
Thank you all again for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Nelly and family
Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
~ ~ Ephesians 5:20
Some pictures of Gary's Transplant Journey
 |
| 4/13/13 all hooked up including CPap |
 |
| 4/12/13 after surgery |
 |
| 4/13/12 in recliner for first time |
 |
| 4/14 or 15/13 taking 1st walk outside of ICU room |
 |
| 4/17/13 |
 |
| 4/21/13 at home between hospital stays 1 and 2 |
 |
| 4/25/13 |
 |
| Room Gary ended 1st visit and started 2nd visit in looking east towards Chicago Skyline |
 |
| Some of Gary's wonderful nurses |
 |
| 4/26/13 Have IV pole -- will travel |
 |
| 4/26/13 Gary with one of his great nurse techs |
 |
| 4/26/13 all tired out from moving rooms |
 |
| view looking West from one of the rooms during 2nd visit |
 |
| view looking NW from room facing West |
 |
| 4/28/13 Finishing final IV before going home 2nd time (4/22-4/28/13) |
 |
| One of Gary's many wonderful nurses helping get him ready to leave after his 3rd and shortest visit (4/29 - 5/1/13 |
 |
| 5/1/13 Ready to go home again! |
 |
| 5/1/13 with one of the many wonderful transport people as we leave the 3rd time |
 |
| 5/7/13 Our college friend who had a liver transplant about 9 months ago |
 |
| came to surprise Gary with a visit |
 |
| Looking South from room he was first placed in on 4th visit on the 8th Floor |
 |
| Room we spent the most time in on Gary's 4th Stay (5/6-5/11/13) in ICU Step Down looking North |
 |
| 5/8/13 I decorated Gary's whiteboard for his birthday along with a little added help from Stephanie. |
 |
| 5/8/13 -- Gary's Birthday balloons -- for those who know him they each have significance. |
 |
| The old Timothy Christian Grade School I got to see on one of my rides to the hospital. He also pointed out where the old Timothy Christian High School was as well as other places when this area was home to many people that I know. |
 |
| the old Warren Park CRC I got to see on one of my rides to the hospital |
 |
| Entrance to 7th floor (elevator on your right with one of many hand sanitizers on the floor and in the hospital) -- Family waiting room and Transplant ICU and Transplant rooms to the right at end of hallway by picture of Walter Payton |
 |
| Wall in hallway of 7th floor by elevator and Family waiting room |
 |
| Showcase in 7th floor Family Waiting room |
 |
| From trophy case in family waiting room |
 |
| Walter Payton Trophy from Showcase |
 |
| From Showcase in Family waiting room |
 |
| "Tree of Life" by elevators at 1st floor -- people who have donated organs when they died |
 |
| Plaque about "Tree of Life" Organ Donations |
 |
| Plaque about young person who's organs were donated |
Sunday, May 12, 2013
One Month Transplant Anniversary, Profession of Faith, Mother's Day
Dear Family and Friends,
Today was 1 month ago that Gary had the Kidney and Pancreas transplant. Overall it was a "quiet" day today for Gary. He seems to be getting better each day with his eating and drinking, we checked his vital signs several times today (standing/sitting blood pressures, pulse, temperature, blood glucose, and weight), he used his spirometer several times, took a long walk for him (around the block), rested in his recliner, took his many pills at the various times that he scheduled for them -- you get the picture.
Today was also the Profession of Faith of our two youngest children. Gary would have really liked to have been there and we had tried to figure out ways of possibly getting him there with as little exposure to others as possible, but in the end, he realized himself that it would not be a good thing especially since he does experience some dizziness and lightheadedness and had some at home, so, all of us went and left Gary at home by himself with strict instructions as well as one of his favorite TV shows (M*A*S*H) on in the DVD player. Our church services are video taped, so we ordered one for him. We, along with several of the other families, served cake to the congregation after the service in honor of kids who made Profession of Faith.
Our Children's Church children also sang in church this morning which they do every Mother's Day. I play piano for them which I really enjoy. It's always so fun to see their joy and excitement as well as to hear what they have to say. They are a good group of prayer warriors when they know that someone is ill or is having surgery and they have such genuine faith. I often think of the the Bible verse Matthew 19:14.
My children and husband surprised me with flowers today -- I had no idea how they did it, but this morning, they appeared on my kitchen counter with a card signed by all of them as well as Gary. It was fun to hear what they had done without me even being aware of it happening -- I know it helped that I was busy and tired. This afternoon, Laura's parents invited those of us who could come (Stephanie, Andrew, and I were able to go) to join them and Bradley and Laura along with Laura's Grandma and Grandpa, for lunch at their home for Mother's Day and Andrew and Stephanie's Profession of Faith. We had a nice time there too.
We have so much to be thankful for over this past month and we feel so blessed. Here are a few things that come to mind:
1) The Family that gave us the wonderful gift of their loved one's organs -- their loss was our gain.
2) The doctors, nurses, nurse techs, housekeeping, transport people, meal makers and passers, security guards, people who greet us and give us our name tags when we enter the hospital and so many others we've encountered at UIC -- each of them plays an important part in Gary's care and healing and each part is important.
3) Our immediate and extended families, friends, our "family" at Faith CRC and also at Timothy Christian School, and neighbors -- we appreciate all of your prayers and support in so many ways.
This only names a few things, but we are so thankful to God for all He has done for us and for the people who have and continue to walk with us on our "journey" as well as the people we have encountered a long the way (and we have met some "interesting" people!). I've also realized that we are "witnesses" to each of these people.
God has truly blessed us and we say "thank you" for your continuing walk with us on this journey. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and support for us.
Love,
Nelly and family
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,
for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these."
~ ~ Matthew 19:14
Today was 1 month ago that Gary had the Kidney and Pancreas transplant. Overall it was a "quiet" day today for Gary. He seems to be getting better each day with his eating and drinking, we checked his vital signs several times today (standing/sitting blood pressures, pulse, temperature, blood glucose, and weight), he used his spirometer several times, took a long walk for him (around the block), rested in his recliner, took his many pills at the various times that he scheduled for them -- you get the picture.
Today was also the Profession of Faith of our two youngest children. Gary would have really liked to have been there and we had tried to figure out ways of possibly getting him there with as little exposure to others as possible, but in the end, he realized himself that it would not be a good thing especially since he does experience some dizziness and lightheadedness and had some at home, so, all of us went and left Gary at home by himself with strict instructions as well as one of his favorite TV shows (M*A*S*H) on in the DVD player. Our church services are video taped, so we ordered one for him. We, along with several of the other families, served cake to the congregation after the service in honor of kids who made Profession of Faith.
Our Children's Church children also sang in church this morning which they do every Mother's Day. I play piano for them which I really enjoy. It's always so fun to see their joy and excitement as well as to hear what they have to say. They are a good group of prayer warriors when they know that someone is ill or is having surgery and they have such genuine faith. I often think of the the Bible verse Matthew 19:14.
My children and husband surprised me with flowers today -- I had no idea how they did it, but this morning, they appeared on my kitchen counter with a card signed by all of them as well as Gary. It was fun to hear what they had done without me even being aware of it happening -- I know it helped that I was busy and tired. This afternoon, Laura's parents invited those of us who could come (Stephanie, Andrew, and I were able to go) to join them and Bradley and Laura along with Laura's Grandma and Grandpa, for lunch at their home for Mother's Day and Andrew and Stephanie's Profession of Faith. We had a nice time there too.
We have so much to be thankful for over this past month and we feel so blessed. Here are a few things that come to mind:
1) The Family that gave us the wonderful gift of their loved one's organs -- their loss was our gain.
2) The doctors, nurses, nurse techs, housekeeping, transport people, meal makers and passers, security guards, people who greet us and give us our name tags when we enter the hospital and so many others we've encountered at UIC -- each of them plays an important part in Gary's care and healing and each part is important.
3) Our immediate and extended families, friends, our "family" at Faith CRC and also at Timothy Christian School, and neighbors -- we appreciate all of your prayers and support in so many ways.
This only names a few things, but we are so thankful to God for all He has done for us and for the people who have and continue to walk with us on our "journey" as well as the people we have encountered a long the way (and we have met some "interesting" people!). I've also realized that we are "witnesses" to each of these people.
God has truly blessed us and we say "thank you" for your continuing walk with us on this journey. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and support for us.
Love,
Nelly and family
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,
for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these."
~ ~ Matthew 19:14
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Home Sweet Home :)
Dear Family and Friends,
Gary is home again. He came home this afternoon -- we left the hospital around the time that a month ago we got the telephone call that started changing our lives. Right now we're all tired and tomorrow is a big day for us with Andrew and Stephanie making Profession of Faith at church, so I will write more another time.
Hopefully, this time he'll be home to stay......
Thank you again for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Nelly and family
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
~ ~ Psalm 9:1
Gary is home again. He came home this afternoon -- we left the hospital around the time that a month ago we got the telephone call that started changing our lives. Right now we're all tired and tomorrow is a big day for us with Andrew and Stephanie making Profession of Faith at church, so I will write more another time.
Hopefully, this time he'll be home to stay......
Thank you again for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Nelly and family
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
~ ~ Psalm 9:1
Friday, May 10, 2013
Two steps forward, 1/2 a step back
Dear Family and Friends,
This morning when I got to Gary's room, I wondered what had happened. The door was wide open and the curtain quite wide open, both of which usually were closed and pulled when I had come this week. He was laying there sleeping in a disheveled bed with leg "pumpers" on his legs (not quite sure on the correct name) that had been on his legs after surgery, but only for a short time, and a package of white stockings that had been opened but just laying there as if forgotten as someone left in a hurry, no C-Pap machine on, and no breakfast tray (wasn't sure at the moment if it had come and gone already and he hadn't even had a chance to eat or if it still was coming). I thought to myself, what happened during the night and what were we in for today.
His nurse for the day walked in right behind me. She had not been his nurse during this hospitalization, although she had been one of his nurses before, for which I was thankful. She asked me what I knew of how he was so I told her how things had been when I left last night but wondered what had happened since. We together cleaned things up as Gary was waking up and told us that he had been awake already and the C-Pap had been taken off him. He also commented that the Doctors had already been in. Never did find out why the leg "pumpers" (for lack of a better name) were on or why there were stockings for him, but at least things were beginning to look much more "normal" as we cleaned up and the breakfast tray was delivered.
The day went better from there. Although he was still needing the oxygen and the IVs, by afternoon, the IVs were off and he hasn't been needing to wear the oxygen. As the day has progressed, he's also eating and drinking more. He also has taken several walks, each time a little longer -- by the time the last one was over, his nurse said now it's time to slow it down, not overdue it, and start again tomorrow. He's also been sitting up more, which yesterday was a battle -- we kept trying to encourage it and he kept telling us it was too painful. Thankfully his pain level has gone down considerably. Although most things have been getting better, his temp started climbing again tonight so that now he again has a low grade temperature.
There has been some talk by his transplant surgeon that he might again go home tomorrow, but we'll have to wait and see -- this morning I thought it was crazy, and this afternoon I was getting more comfortable with the possibility, but tonight, with his low grade temp, I'm a little more hesitant again. Yes, I would love for him to go home and not have to come down here every day, and I definitely won't miss these very warm yellow gowns, but yet I don't want him to come home too soon that we end up having to come right back, but then we don't know from day to day what will happen in any of our lives.
Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Nelly and family
Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
~ ~ Psalm 100:3 NIV
This morning when I got to Gary's room, I wondered what had happened. The door was wide open and the curtain quite wide open, both of which usually were closed and pulled when I had come this week. He was laying there sleeping in a disheveled bed with leg "pumpers" on his legs (not quite sure on the correct name) that had been on his legs after surgery, but only for a short time, and a package of white stockings that had been opened but just laying there as if forgotten as someone left in a hurry, no C-Pap machine on, and no breakfast tray (wasn't sure at the moment if it had come and gone already and he hadn't even had a chance to eat or if it still was coming). I thought to myself, what happened during the night and what were we in for today.
His nurse for the day walked in right behind me. She had not been his nurse during this hospitalization, although she had been one of his nurses before, for which I was thankful. She asked me what I knew of how he was so I told her how things had been when I left last night but wondered what had happened since. We together cleaned things up as Gary was waking up and told us that he had been awake already and the C-Pap had been taken off him. He also commented that the Doctors had already been in. Never did find out why the leg "pumpers" (for lack of a better name) were on or why there were stockings for him, but at least things were beginning to look much more "normal" as we cleaned up and the breakfast tray was delivered.
The day went better from there. Although he was still needing the oxygen and the IVs, by afternoon, the IVs were off and he hasn't been needing to wear the oxygen. As the day has progressed, he's also eating and drinking more. He also has taken several walks, each time a little longer -- by the time the last one was over, his nurse said now it's time to slow it down, not overdue it, and start again tomorrow. He's also been sitting up more, which yesterday was a battle -- we kept trying to encourage it and he kept telling us it was too painful. Thankfully his pain level has gone down considerably. Although most things have been getting better, his temp started climbing again tonight so that now he again has a low grade temperature.
There has been some talk by his transplant surgeon that he might again go home tomorrow, but we'll have to wait and see -- this morning I thought it was crazy, and this afternoon I was getting more comfortable with the possibility, but tonight, with his low grade temp, I'm a little more hesitant again. Yes, I would love for him to go home and not have to come down here every day, and I definitely won't miss these very warm yellow gowns, but yet I don't want him to come home too soon that we end up having to come right back, but then we don't know from day to day what will happen in any of our lives.
Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Nelly and family
Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
~ ~ Psalm 100:3 NIV
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Yellow is the "IN" color -- :(
Dear family and friends,
As you might have figured out from the title, we're back to wearing yellow gowns when we are in Gary's room as well as gloves when we do anything for him. Although the C-Diff is back (or possibly never totally left), at least it's something treatable. The doctors feel that his body has become "resistant" to the antibiotic that they were treating him with so have changed to a different one.
The doctors really would like Gary to sit in a chair more and walk more to help with preventing the pneumonia from getting worse, but each time he sits up, the "sharp" pain in his lower abdomen and hips gets worse which makes him feel that he cannot sit up. Being overwhelmed and tired, I was feeling as if he wasn't getting the "attention" to that issue that he needed since this had just begun last night as something new. From listening to rounds this morning and feeling as if they were thinking it was not an issue since between the pain medication they gave him last night and his C-Pap machine he had slept pretty much the whole night and was still sleeping when I got there around the same time they were doing rounds I felt as if they thought the issue was resolved. By 1pm, when he had struggled for awhile and was still really struggling with pain 2 hours after the last pain pill and having taken a nap, I decided it was time to get some more answers and went to find his nurse to talk with her -- it's hard to make someone do something, even though you understand the rational for why the doctors want him to do it, when the person you love is in so much pain. Meanwhile, the infectious doctor came in and Gary started talking to him about it and the nurse went and talked with the residents about it. The resident came in and checked Gary out too. He decided to talk to the Doctor above him and it was decided that they would start with an ultrasound and an x-ray and decide later if they would also need to do a CT scan of his abdomen to try to figure out if they were missing anything which they didn't think they were. They found nothing wrong and feel that the pain has to do with the C-Diff which around the same time they received the results of the culture for that at around the same time.
They also did a chest x-ray this morning and feel that even though his cough was worse last night and this morning, the pneumonia has not gotten worse. This afternoon I haven't heard him cough, so hopefully that is heading in the right direction.
Drinking and eating are getting a little better, but he still has a ways to go on those, but at least that, too, is heading in the right direction.
Thank you all for "walking" this journey with us. It means a lot to us.
Love,
Nelly and family
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
~ ~ Matthew 11:28
Hard thing for me to always remember, but I keep working at it -- God is in control and we can rest in HIM!
As you might have figured out from the title, we're back to wearing yellow gowns when we are in Gary's room as well as gloves when we do anything for him. Although the C-Diff is back (or possibly never totally left), at least it's something treatable. The doctors feel that his body has become "resistant" to the antibiotic that they were treating him with so have changed to a different one.
The doctors really would like Gary to sit in a chair more and walk more to help with preventing the pneumonia from getting worse, but each time he sits up, the "sharp" pain in his lower abdomen and hips gets worse which makes him feel that he cannot sit up. Being overwhelmed and tired, I was feeling as if he wasn't getting the "attention" to that issue that he needed since this had just begun last night as something new. From listening to rounds this morning and feeling as if they were thinking it was not an issue since between the pain medication they gave him last night and his C-Pap machine he had slept pretty much the whole night and was still sleeping when I got there around the same time they were doing rounds I felt as if they thought the issue was resolved. By 1pm, when he had struggled for awhile and was still really struggling with pain 2 hours after the last pain pill and having taken a nap, I decided it was time to get some more answers and went to find his nurse to talk with her -- it's hard to make someone do something, even though you understand the rational for why the doctors want him to do it, when the person you love is in so much pain. Meanwhile, the infectious doctor came in and Gary started talking to him about it and the nurse went and talked with the residents about it. The resident came in and checked Gary out too. He decided to talk to the Doctor above him and it was decided that they would start with an ultrasound and an x-ray and decide later if they would also need to do a CT scan of his abdomen to try to figure out if they were missing anything which they didn't think they were. They found nothing wrong and feel that the pain has to do with the C-Diff which around the same time they received the results of the culture for that at around the same time.
They also did a chest x-ray this morning and feel that even though his cough was worse last night and this morning, the pneumonia has not gotten worse. This afternoon I haven't heard him cough, so hopefully that is heading in the right direction.
Drinking and eating are getting a little better, but he still has a ways to go on those, but at least that, too, is heading in the right direction.
Thank you all for "walking" this journey with us. It means a lot to us.
Love,
Nelly and family
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
~ ~ Matthew 11:28
Hard thing for me to always remember, but I keep working at it -- God is in control and we can rest in HIM!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)