Sorry I didn't update yesterday afternoon as I said I would. It was a very long day. Got to the clinic at 9 and didn't leave until after 3.

Bill has, at the least, a bladder infection and Dr. Yip suspects a urinary tract infection. He's puzzled as to how he got it since men generally don't get UTIs. But, it was caught early and as soon as they see what med it will respond to they will get him a script called in. I suspect that he had been drinking too much caffeine and not drinking enough to stay flushed out. But that doesn't really address feeling like he had to go and not being able to. After the round of meds they will see if it's been cleared up and decide if he needs to see urology or if it was just a fluke. After he told me about the problem I made him drink lots of water and he started going again and he drank more yesterday so maybe that's all it was.

After the sadness of Jim's passing, we were surprised to see another VAD patient who had been in rehab with Bill. They are about the same age but Charles would fight with the therapists about doing the exercises. Bill said they would tell him to do something and he would tell them he was finished and not doing anymore. He and his family left the 1st part of December for home and we thought it was just for a visit but when he didn't come back thought they got released. He's still using his walker and his color is not as good as Bill's and was surprised that Bill doesn't have to use the walker anymore. He will be back in rehab tomorrow so maybe he'll start working harder so catch up with Bill.

All for today unless something happens today. He does see the physical medicine dr. tomorrow to see if they came to any conclusion about the problem he had with the lower leg. That should be interesting since it's resolved now, but who knows. I'll let you know how that goes.

We received some sad news yesterday. A new friend of ours, and fellow VAD patient, passed away while we gone. I knew we hadn't seen Jim or his wife Diana since we had been back, but since they were close to going home and lived in the Daytona Beach area, thought they had gotten to leave. While another wife and I were visiting Monday during rehab, she mentioned that she hadn't seen them and was getting concerned. We then learned of his death at the Support Group meeting yesterday.

We know that he had some of the same complications that Bill had after surgery, complicated by kidney failure. He was listed for both heart and kidney transplants and was going through dialysis. The drs. had wanted him hospitalized and on IV meds prior to the time Bill had his implant, but Jim was too stubborn and wouldn't do it until he was too sick to stay outside the hospital.

The last few times we had seen them, he had been very depressed but wouldn't talk to anyone about it and had mentioned a few times that he didn't know why he let them do the surgery.
Anyway, we found out that he just decided that he wasn't going to do what they wanted him to do any more and he was going home.

I know they had a couple of kids with at least 2 grandkids and another due any day now. He and his wife are both Christians so he's in a better place and not suffering any more. It's still very sad for Diana and the rest of the family and I pray they find peace knowing that he has found peace.

Sorry this has been such a sad entry. I'll update this again this afternoon after Bill sees Dr. Yip. He started having a little issue last night so it's a good thing he was already scheduled to see the dr. today.

Good Morning!

Woke up early this morning and decided that trying to go back to sleep was not the thing to do. So I've been up since a little after 6...on a Saturday!

Bill has had a very good week. Therapy is going well and he's getting much stronger. He said yesterday that he feels better than he has for a long time. The only immediate problem he's having is that his blood is a little thick. They have adjusted his Coumadin twice and he'll have another blood test Wednesday to see if it's thinned out some. Other than that, he's done very well.

That's about it from this end. As I said before, this is a waiting game and sometimes not much happens for a long time and then things start moving again. Until the next time, have a great week-end!

I didn't think that I would be updating this again so soon, but we got some news today. As of about 4 pm Bill has been listed with Mayo as status 1A for a heart transplant! He is not at the top of the list and he can't pick the next 30 days to be on top. There are a couple of other patients with the same blood type listed and the drs. need to evaluate all of them to see who is the sickest. But this happened way before we thought it would. We had been told that he had to finish rehab and get much stronger before he could even be considered for evaluation. I guess Dr. Yamani and Tina liked what they saw yesterday more than we thought they did.

Bill got a good report from his pacemaker check today. He had no episodes of arrythmia since his check in December. Debbie also said he looked so much better than he had in December when he was last checked.

Of course being listed means we are in Florida for an undetermined time, which makes it a little harder. But, family will just have to make plans to come and see us. I will have to go home at some point to take care of some business but not for a few months. Shirley and Don will come then since he has to have a caregiver to get him to the hospital and do the dressing changes until the transplant happens.

Another thing that may lengthen the wait is the helicopter accident that happened at Christmas. As of right now Mayo is not using helicopters to harvest organs. There has been no cause determined for the crash so until they know what happened, they are not using them. I don't know if they are using private aircraft, or just shortening the distance that can be travelled. If that is the case, many organs may not be available. But, we won't dwell on that. We will just wait for the phone to ring!

We're still planning on exploring some, just in the immediate area. We can't be any further away than 2 hours for the transplant and with the LVAD only an hour away. But, there should be something here we can find to do. Since he feels so much better now it will be easier to do things that take some physical activity.

So, things are moving right along! Posts may start coming closer together, or stay the way they are now. Just keep checking back periodically, and keep praying!

Things have finally settled back down for us. The wedding in Oklahoma was lovely. Bill walked his daughter down the aisle and danced with her at the reception...all without needing his walker. The trip back to Florida was uneventful and we got home Monday afternoon.

Yesterday was spent just resting and unpacking and today started the process all over again.

Rehab went well and after Bill told the girls that he hadn't used the walker at home and had no problems, they gave him some tests with his legs and decided that he didn't need to use the walker anymore! He even spent 30 minutes on the treadmill for the 1st time!

Tina and Dr. Yamani were both very pleased with the way he looked. He's gained 4 pounds and just looks better overall. I even told him Monday at lunch that he was looking like his "old" self in the face. Of course he's still pretty thin but does look better. He also has more stamina and his color is good with the extra blood flow. Tina also said that his wound looks the best of all of her patients which made me feel good about keeping it clean.

Some extra bloodwork was done today to check for anti-bodies in his blood since he was give blood after surgery. What they are looking for exactly isn't clear to me, but this is a test that had to be done before being considered for the transplant.

Going home was good for both of us. I wish we could have stayed longer and spent more time with the grandkids. But, it's looking like they will be vacationing in Florida next which will please all of them!

We're going to try to find some places to go around here so we don't start feeling cooped up again. Bill said yesterday that coming through the gate into the complex makes him feel like he's in prison!

All for tonight. Bill has already gone to bed and I don't think I'm going to be far behind him. At least we don't have to get up early tomorrow! Goodnight everyone!

Our time here at home is rapidly drawing to a close! We've been so busy, taking care of some business and seeing friends and family. We did some shopping and now it's time to repack and head to the next stop.

Bill has done extremely well while we've been home. He's eating better so his weight is up some and he's doing much better walking. His legs haven't given him any trouble at all. He even said last night he feels stronger.

He is being a little beligerent at times, just kind of pushing the limits. He had to get a new suit for his daughter's wedding Friday. We went to Jonesboro Sat. to pick one up. He waited until last night to try the pants on and said they didn't fit. Of course there is no time to take them back to exchange now, we're in Memphis all day today at the dentist and we leave early tomorrow morning. BUT, all he had to do was ask for some help in getting them on! He was also supposed to call the roofer yesterday but plans on doing that today while we're in Memphis. Of course he won't have his dentures in so he will be hard to understand on the phone, and, unless I write the phone number down, he won't have it with him since it's in my computer and I'm not taking it. Hmm, maybe 2 can play this game!

Tomorrow morning we head out to Oklahoma for the wedding and then back to Jacksonville.

We wish blessings for all in the new year. Take time to tell the ones who are important to you how you feel. So, since I'm giving advice this morning, I'd better take it myself. To all of you, family and friends, I love you all. Without you I don't know if I would have made it through this process. For the ones who held me while I cried, thanks for the shoulders, for the ones who made me laugh, thanks for cheering me up. For you who just listened, thanks for the ear. And to all of you, thanks for the prayers. God has been so good to us throughout this journey!