Home Again..

We arrived home yesterday afternoon.    As I drove to the driveway I noticed the swans had returned this week while we were gone.  It was so peaceful to see them gliding across the pond.

On early Tuesday morning, DH was taken into surgery again to have the fluid removed from his chest cavity.  A four inch incision was made between two ribs to insert a scope into the cavity. The surgeon removed 2200 cc ( 2.2 liters or 9.2 cups) of fluid / blood / gunk.  Two chest drainage tubes were inserted between the next set of ribs.  The tubes were removed on Friday.      Hopefully he will be on the long road to recovery.  

Thank you my friends for your prayers.  It is only through prayers we have made it this far. 

I started a Friendship flower garden last year with plants I received from friends at retirement.    I purchased more plants with money I received from the staff at school.

I was excited to see the mums were still blooming when we arrived home.

Hopefully this week I will be able to finish Caleb's baby quilt!!  

Love and Prayers, 

Linda

Next Step:

During the four days when DH was unconscious and on the respirator he did not look like himself.  Several  IV's,  four drainage tubes, respirator, monitors and computers were filling  the ICU where DH was being cared for by the amazing staff.   Every twelve hours the staff would change.  The second day I started showing the nurse on duty this photo of DH and Tatum (Herbal Essence.) It had been taken the day before surgery.

I wanted them to know the man and papa they were caring for so intensely.  I also told each one I was praying for them as they cared for him.   I left them in the unit to do their job.  I told them I would be in the ICU lounge if they needed me.  I would stop in briefly every 15 to 30 minutes just to check.

Tuesday DH will be back in surgery at Allina Abbott Northwestern Heart Hospital.  He will have a Plueathoracoscopy with decortication.  His chest cavity has fluid / blood building up which is causing him to be extremely short of breath and difficulty trying to breathe.  The doctor said this is nothing compared to what he has already been through.  A 3-4 inch incision will be made between ribs.  A scope will be placed into the cavity to remove fluid.  Then a chest tube will be placed to continue to drain for a few days.  I asked how long he will be hospitalized.  She said perhaps 4-6 days.

I am writing this to request your prayers for the medical team, DH (who is becoming very frustrated), and for me as once again I am away from home and trying to keep DH encouraged.

Love and Prayers,

Linda

Challenging Days...

My first request of my blogging friends, please make a phone call to someone you love to tell them how important they are to you.

The past month has been a challenge.  On August 28th my DH went into surgery for replacing the tissue valve he received seven and a half years ago.   What was supposed to be a routine 4 1/2 hour surgery became 8 1/2 hours of surgery on the heart lung bypass machine

.  

When the surgery was complete he had received a mechanical mitral valve, a repaired tricuspid valve, and  the aortic valve was replaced with a tissue valve.  We were told the surgery was complicated and complex. His heart is extremely compromised.  We were told the first 24-48 hours were critical.  Afterwards doctors and nurses told me they didn't know if DH would survive the first night.

Following the surgery he experienced a collapse lung, a chest tube to drain blood/ fluid from the chest cavity. The next day I was told the doctor was "pleased" DH had pneumonia. It meant there was not infection at the site of one valves.  After four days on the respirator and being sedated he was brought out and the respirator was removed.  He recognized me and we began the long road to recovery.

I will try to shorten the story to finish by saying he was released from the hospital after 12 days. 

Life is still full of challenges,  medical difficulties are happening.  I am putting one foot in front of the other and depending on strength from our Lord and Savior. I know without a shadow of a doubt it is only through the power of prayer, and bold prayer requests that I didn't come home alone.

I am so very thankful for the amazing care of the doctors, nurses and staff at the Allina Abbott Northwestern Heart Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. 

No sewing is happening.  My time is filled with being a nurse..

Love and Prayers,
Linda