Thankfully dad came through surgery very well! He is already feeling better and my mom says that he looks a lot better, too! The doctor showed a before and after picture of the artery that was blocked. The before picture showed an opening about the size of a needle just barely allowing blood through. The second looked dramatically different with the opening large and blood flowing well. They call this particular artery the "Widow Maker" because if it is blocked, you are done. Oh, we have so much to be thankful for!
Dad will be in the hospital overnight and should be released tomorrow!
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Thursday afternoon!
Thank you for praying!
My dad had the angiogram this morning. They discovered a very large blockage in the main artery in front of the heart. The opening is very narrow for blood flow, so they were not at all surprised that he was not feeling well at all. The doctor talked to my mom and sister about the results and quickly scheduled the placement of the stent at 1:00 today. If this artery had become fully blocked, it would have been fatal so we are so thankful that they are taking care of it right away!
The surgery will last around 1.5 hours and he will be staying in the Heart hospital overnight tonight. There is a second artery that is 40%-50% blocked but it is a more minor artery so they are going to watch that one for now but not take any action with it at this time.
My dad had the angiogram this morning. They discovered a very large blockage in the main artery in front of the heart. The opening is very narrow for blood flow, so they were not at all surprised that he was not feeling well at all. The doctor talked to my mom and sister about the results and quickly scheduled the placement of the stent at 1:00 today. If this artery had become fully blocked, it would have been fatal so we are so thankful that they are taking care of it right away!
The surgery will last around 1.5 hours and he will be staying in the Heart hospital overnight tonight. There is a second artery that is 40%-50% blocked but it is a more minor artery so they are going to watch that one for now but not take any action with it at this time.
Thursday
Please pray for my dad! He has been having chest pain for quite some time--maybe 6 months or so--but didn't tell anyone until last week when the pain became too strong. He has also been experiencing increasing weakness and exhaustion. After seeing a cardiologist this week, they found that he has damage at the bottom of his heart. The doctor isn't sure what it is yet, but they are doing an angiogram this morning at 10:00. It may be necessary to put in a stint or multiple stints or it could result in open heart surgery. At this point we just have to wait and see.
My dad has always been very strong and tough. It is hard to see him like this, although we have been seeing over the last months that he has been slowing down and not being his typical self.
We trust the Lord in this, too, know that His plan is perfect. It isn't easy seeing him struggle physically. My parents have has so very many hardships and difficulties. It is a comfort to be reminded in the passage that I previously quoted, though, that the Lord disciplines those He loves. I am quite sure He loves them very much!
My dad has always been very strong and tough. It is hard to see him like this, although we have been seeing over the last months that he has been slowing down and not being his typical self.
We trust the Lord in this, too, know that His plan is perfect. It isn't easy seeing him struggle physically. My parents have has so very many hardships and difficulties. It is a comfort to be reminded in the passage that I previously quoted, though, that the Lord disciplines those He loves. I am quite sure He loves them very much!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Tuesday
Life continues to take my breath away. I would never have imagined how busy having four kids, going in four different directions, could be. Therefore I haven't had much time to write.
I would say that I am back to where I was with the old medication at this point, but I'm not finding that I am gaining strength. That is quite frustrating to me! My goal is to be able to get through full days without having to rest. Getting to the point that I can tolerate a little more noise would sure be nice as well.
Last week for Thanksgiving we spent time with Kyle's family on Thursday. That went very well and I enjoyed it although I was pretty tired by the time we headed home. Then on Saturday we spent time with my side of the family. It was wonderful to be together with all, but very difficult. I just can't tolerate the noise of many people and the activities of so many kids. By the time I left there I was miserable. So hard to want to spend time with both families but it isn't so easy.
So as I have complained and been a little frustrated with the lack of improvement, we had a sermon on Sunday based on Hebrews 12. I am going to quote a few verses because they are such an encouragement to me!
"And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? . . . . . For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
We leave on Saturday for Baltimore. Kyle is going with me and one of my sisters and her family will be staying at our home with the kids. We are so thankful for her! I visit both the neurologist and the gynecologic oncologist on Monday and have another ultrasound done. We are praying for good answers, more ideas to improve my head and strength. Our tickets are booked to take us back home on Tuesday. Please pray for us!
I would say that I am back to where I was with the old medication at this point, but I'm not finding that I am gaining strength. That is quite frustrating to me! My goal is to be able to get through full days without having to rest. Getting to the point that I can tolerate a little more noise would sure be nice as well.
Last week for Thanksgiving we spent time with Kyle's family on Thursday. That went very well and I enjoyed it although I was pretty tired by the time we headed home. Then on Saturday we spent time with my side of the family. It was wonderful to be together with all, but very difficult. I just can't tolerate the noise of many people and the activities of so many kids. By the time I left there I was miserable. So hard to want to spend time with both families but it isn't so easy.
So as I have complained and been a little frustrated with the lack of improvement, we had a sermon on Sunday based on Hebrews 12. I am going to quote a few verses because they are such an encouragement to me!
"And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? . . . . . For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
We leave on Saturday for Baltimore. Kyle is going with me and one of my sisters and her family will be staying at our home with the kids. We are so thankful for her! I visit both the neurologist and the gynecologic oncologist on Monday and have another ultrasound done. We are praying for good answers, more ideas to improve my head and strength. Our tickets are booked to take us back home on Tuesday. Please pray for us!
Monday, November 12, 2012
Monday
Wow! Life has been so incredibly busy that I haven't taken the time to write on my blog for a while.
I woke up not feeling well last Tuesday yet but as the day progressed it seemed that I started feeling better which is unusual because I usually decline as the day goes by. I think the medication finally started to kick in after several days of the higher dose and it is helping quite a bit. Life is much more tolerable day to day which I am thankful for. The headache is still there all the time, of course, but more manageable. The ringing in my ears still seems louder than it used to be but I can deal with that. I don't feel that I am gaining strength with the new drug which is disappointing. That was the main reason for the switch. I still become both physically and mentally exhausted every day and if I push it one day it often carries into the next.
Last week was a marathon for this old lady! :) We had a busy week with the kids I had meetings in Des Moines Thursday and Friday. Going to the meetings was a challenge that I was concerned about but it went very well. Thankfully I have a perceptive leader that recognized that I was wearing out around 2:00 the first day so he sent me off to the hotel. The next day went well, but I was sure tired that evening! I haven't been able to go to many meetings over the last years so it felt pretty good to attend and see folks that I haven't seen for some time. Another step in the right direction.
Saturday was a swim meet for Tara and then Sunday we had the blessing and privilege of witnessing our older two children make profession of faith. This simply means that they publicly proclaimed the Lord as their Saviour and officially became members of the church. What a blessing! So amazing--what we have prayed for since their birth. Then we had a small lunch after church for family and a few of the kids' friends. So by the time that was done and the week was finished I took a three hour nap and still felt tired!
So we continue taking things one day at a time, thanking God each day for the strength to complete the day. I so hope and pray that the Lord renews my strength so that I can get through a whole day without a rest and significant exhaustion. When I say that I just long for being "normal" I simply would love to get through whole day without a rest and without being physically and mentally a goner!
I woke up not feeling well last Tuesday yet but as the day progressed it seemed that I started feeling better which is unusual because I usually decline as the day goes by. I think the medication finally started to kick in after several days of the higher dose and it is helping quite a bit. Life is much more tolerable day to day which I am thankful for. The headache is still there all the time, of course, but more manageable. The ringing in my ears still seems louder than it used to be but I can deal with that. I don't feel that I am gaining strength with the new drug which is disappointing. That was the main reason for the switch. I still become both physically and mentally exhausted every day and if I push it one day it often carries into the next.
Last week was a marathon for this old lady! :) We had a busy week with the kids I had meetings in Des Moines Thursday and Friday. Going to the meetings was a challenge that I was concerned about but it went very well. Thankfully I have a perceptive leader that recognized that I was wearing out around 2:00 the first day so he sent me off to the hotel. The next day went well, but I was sure tired that evening! I haven't been able to go to many meetings over the last years so it felt pretty good to attend and see folks that I haven't seen for some time. Another step in the right direction.
Saturday was a swim meet for Tara and then Sunday we had the blessing and privilege of witnessing our older two children make profession of faith. This simply means that they publicly proclaimed the Lord as their Saviour and officially became members of the church. What a blessing! So amazing--what we have prayed for since their birth. Then we had a small lunch after church for family and a few of the kids' friends. So by the time that was done and the week was finished I took a three hour nap and still felt tired!
So we continue taking things one day at a time, thanking God each day for the strength to complete the day. I so hope and pray that the Lord renews my strength so that I can get through a whole day without a rest and significant exhaustion. When I say that I just long for being "normal" I simply would love to get through whole day without a rest and without being physically and mentally a goner!
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