FYI, this blog "Eagle's Wings", will remain here even though we won't be posting to it, in case you'd like to re-read any of it. Please feel free to share any/all posts with others that might need some encouragement in their journeys.
12 hours and counting till we're on the plane....
Monday, January 5, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
2 more "wake-ups" till we go home!
My good friend, Cheryl, shared this with me today - another way of saying "2 more days" is "2 more wake-ups", and we have 2 more wake-ups till we fly home! Yippee!
Today was such a wonderful day. We worshipped with our Arizona "ohana" First Southern Baptist Church of Scottsdale. They began with "Victory In Jesus", then we shared a short testimony, then they sang our favorites "How Great Is Our God" and "How Great Thou Art". What a rousing praise to our God.
After one more delicious lunch at The Cheescake Factory, we enjoyed a visit with Debbie, Josh, and Wendell Bond. Wendell and family are long long time friends, Wendell also was our Sunday School teacher 30+ years ago when Rick introduced me to Dan. We had fun reminiscing and catching up.
Then it was off to Marie Calendars for dessert with my high school friends, Karen and Calvin Slaan. What a blessing, reconnecting with these precious friends and fellow believers who have prayed fervently for us and loved on us during this journey.
Dan has labs and his last pentamidine inhalation treatment at Mayo tomorrow morning, then we might visit the Healing Garden one more time; we spent many afternoons there towards the end of Dan's hospital stay. Then we're on the plane Tuesday morning!
This may be our last post to this Eagle's Wings blog, as we have come full circle in our journey through liver transplant. Thanks for walking alongside us in the valleys and mountaintops. Let us know how we can pray for you in your journey. Keep trusting God no matter where life takes you, He knows where you are and loves you right there, hurts with you when you are in pain, and rejoices over you with singing (that one is in Zeph. 3:17), and my personal favorite - you are His treasured possession (Deuteronomy 26:18).
"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31 NIV),
Debbie and Dan
Today was such a wonderful day. We worshipped with our Arizona "ohana" First Southern Baptist Church of Scottsdale. They began with "Victory In Jesus", then we shared a short testimony, then they sang our favorites "How Great Is Our God" and "How Great Thou Art". What a rousing praise to our God.
After one more delicious lunch at The Cheescake Factory, we enjoyed a visit with Debbie, Josh, and Wendell Bond. Wendell and family are long long time friends, Wendell also was our Sunday School teacher 30+ years ago when Rick introduced me to Dan. We had fun reminiscing and catching up.
Then it was off to Marie Calendars for dessert with my high school friends, Karen and Calvin Slaan. What a blessing, reconnecting with these precious friends and fellow believers who have prayed fervently for us and loved on us during this journey.
Dan has labs and his last pentamidine inhalation treatment at Mayo tomorrow morning, then we might visit the Healing Garden one more time; we spent many afternoons there towards the end of Dan's hospital stay. Then we're on the plane Tuesday morning!
This may be our last post to this Eagle's Wings blog, as we have come full circle in our journey through liver transplant. Thanks for walking alongside us in the valleys and mountaintops. Let us know how we can pray for you in your journey. Keep trusting God no matter where life takes you, He knows where you are and loves you right there, hurts with you when you are in pain, and rejoices over you with singing (that one is in Zeph. 3:17), and my personal favorite - you are His treasured possession (Deuteronomy 26:18).
"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31 NIV),
Debbie and Dan
Monday, December 29, 2008
Christmas pictures and starting to pack
Check out our Christmas photos at www.picasaweb.google.com/dananddebvanalstine/christmas2008.
Isn't this the cutest 17 month old on the planet?!We had a terrific visit and Christmas with the kids. Amy and Adam live in a nice neighborhood with friendly neighbors, we met some. One highlight of the Christmas season in Yuma is the Parade of Lights and everyone comes out for it. We watched the parade across the street from their house, sitting on some hay bales. The parade is a long line of cars with lots of Christmas lights and other decorations, drivers and riders dressed like Santa or other festive costumes, honking horns and waving to everyone. The people watching would clap and cheer for their favorites. The weather was clear, crisp and a little breezy, perfect parade weather. Sunsets in Yuma are beautiful, this evening's sunset was no exception.
Dan and I rejoiced to worship with the kids at their church, First Christian Church in Yuma (www.fccyuma.org). A huge church and extremely loving group, the pastor is very down to earth, the music terrific, we felt very welcomed. It's great to visit another church once in a while without having to lead, teach, or "be the pastor" so to speak...to worship and to observe how others worship is very refreshing and we came away blessed.
Another treat was Christmas Eve, Adam took us all for a drive down "Storybook Lane", actually 55th Street in Yuma, but it's called Storybook Lane at Christmas time. I've never seen such a display by an entire street. At the entrance to the street is a big sign welcoming you to 55th Street, then in front of every other house is a big lighted sign with a few lines from "The Night Before Christmas". Every house was decorated to the hilt with lights, Frosty, Rudolph, Santa, you name it. At the end of the block is a sign turning you around to the other side of the street to finish the story. The last few houses really went all out, one had a bonfire, one had a carousel and merry go round for which they charged a nickel to ride, and one neighbor handed out lollipops to everyone walking by and even knocking on car windows to give candy and wish a merry Christmas. It felt like being in a Courier & Ives picture. Swen sure enjoyed the parade and the lights, and we enjoyed his lollipop.
We ate way too much during our 5-day visit. Amy cooked a delicious honey glazed spiral ham dinner, homemade cookies and chex mix, and her table setting was very festive. We discovered Del Taco and their Taco Del Carbon - this is the way tacos should be served, if you like cilantro and more meat than veggies on your taco, this is for you. We also discovered Texas Roadhouse, the best steak and rib place ever, sadly none in Hawaii. Their "fall off the bone ribs" literally do fall off the bone. And Christmas lunch was delicious at the Happy Greek Chef, about a block from the California border, and extremely popular with the locals, we got their just in time before a huge crowd arrived. Food is served piping hot, and plenty of it, and very reasonable. Yuma sure has changed since Dan and I were kids, Yuma used to be nothing more than a Marine base and a McDonalds to stop at on your way to San Diego. Now it has a population of about 100,000 with many more during the winter season, and has become quite the tourist destination.
We left for Phoenix after lunch on Christmas day, after smothering the kids and Swen with hugs and kisses. Adam may be getting transferred in March to a new construction job in Vancouver, BC and it was tough leaving them, but what a joy and blessing it has been to be with them while we've been in Phoenix.
Dan's folks are spending Christmas through New Year's with Roxanne and Joe in Colorado, and Dan has been very busy packing most all our stuff to FedEx back home. We're 99% done, just need a big picture box and maybe one more medium size box, then we're done. We'll get by with what fits in our suitcase for the next week or so. January 6 is coming up soon! Dan has Mayo visits this week, the last on Friday.
One more prayer request: we both have had colds since we got back from Yuma. Not that serious for me, but Dan doesn't have a working immune system anymore now that he's on anti-rejection meds, and a cold could be serious for him. We've been in contact with the transplant coordinator twice now, he has labs and a chest xray tomorrow so they will advise if he needs antibiotics, in the meantime he is allowed to take Tylenol and Robitussin DM and also Coricidin HBP. Please pray for his healing, particularly with a plane trip coming up next week.
Another prayer request: Dan senses God may possibly be leading him to write a book about his experience and lessons learned (thanks, Roger, for your encouragement, you are a good friend). And he senses God may also possibly be leading to offer to share with pastors, or with churches, or with anyone. He plans to send a letter to Hawaii Pacific churches with more info and how to get in touch with him. For Dan, the most humble and non-self-serving person I know, this is very scary for him to put himself out there like this. We don't know if anyone will contact him, but Dan's passion now is to share what God has been teaching him about living with pain and difficult health situations, so we'll see what God does with Dan's obedience. And how in the world do we publish a book? God, we sure need your direction. I love Psalm 119:105 KJV: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." He shows me just enough of His will...'a lamp to my feet' to see where I am standing (sort of like my current spiritual status, in relation to His holiness)...and 'a light to my path', just enough for me to see the next step (it's best not to know too much too soon...if God had told me years ago that His will for us was to go through a liver transplant and all the trimmings...I'd probably be in Kahi Mohala).
Aloha from the desert,
Debbie and Dan
Thursday, December 18, 2008
We're coming home!!!!!!
Halleluia is not a big enough word to express our praise and just plain giddy-ness today!
Gift #1- Dan needs to be able to climb stairs both at home and at church and we weren't sure he'd be able to do this for quite some time. Well, Dan had outpatient PT today, and was able to climb 26 stairs, up and down, unassisted, and wasn't even out of breath! Richard, Dan's therapist, was shocked and could not explain how he was able to do that, as he didn't have this much strength two days ago in PT. We saw several other PTs and OTs who worked with Dan while he was still hospitalized, and they all shared kind words and compliments to Dan on how great he looks now. But the most humbling and blessed of comments shared today was from a lady in the rehab office, we don't know her but she's watched Dan while he's done rehab since November, and she said Dan has given her hope for her own life.
Gift #2- Next, Dan had outpatient OT, this was his third appointment with Michelle who was assessing Dan's ability to start driving again, testing for strength, reflexes, and eye-hand coordination. And he passed! Dan will start driving around the neighborhood at first until he feels confident to try freeways.
Gift #3- Later, Dan saw Dr. Byrne, one of the liver doctors. He also had labs first thing this morning, and results were excellent, the only lab a little off was kidney function, that creatinine number was 1.8 which is great for Dan but normal is lower, the dr. said Dan may never get to that number but he wasn't overly concerned either. It was profound to me that we saw Dr. Byrne today. He was the first doctor Dan saw when he was being assessed for the Mayo transplant program last year, he has seen Dan's health go from bad to worse, and now today told us how fabulous Dan is doing and how good he looks - kind of completes the journey for us to have come full circle with Dr. Byrne. Dan has a few more appointments left like cardiologist, pacemaker check, and 2 more PTs, the last on Dec. 31. So....drum roll please....Dr. Byrne released Dan to return home to Hawaii the first of January!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gift #4- This afternoon, I received a love gift that will cover my airfare for last week's trip to Hawaii.
To be sure, tears flowed freely as we received each of these gifts today. Do we feel blessed? You bet. We are living Ephesians 3:20-21 (HCSB): "Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think—according to the power that works in you—to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever." Amen and Amen!
Can't stop smiling,
Debbie and Dan
(PS: In case you're wondering, yes we already have our flight reservations, we'll be flying home Tuesday, Jan. 6th.)
Gift #1- Dan needs to be able to climb stairs both at home and at church and we weren't sure he'd be able to do this for quite some time. Well, Dan had outpatient PT today, and was able to climb 26 stairs, up and down, unassisted, and wasn't even out of breath! Richard, Dan's therapist, was shocked and could not explain how he was able to do that, as he didn't have this much strength two days ago in PT. We saw several other PTs and OTs who worked with Dan while he was still hospitalized, and they all shared kind words and compliments to Dan on how great he looks now. But the most humbling and blessed of comments shared today was from a lady in the rehab office, we don't know her but she's watched Dan while he's done rehab since November, and she said Dan has given her hope for her own life.
Gift #2- Next, Dan had outpatient OT, this was his third appointment with Michelle who was assessing Dan's ability to start driving again, testing for strength, reflexes, and eye-hand coordination. And he passed! Dan will start driving around the neighborhood at first until he feels confident to try freeways.
Gift #3- Later, Dan saw Dr. Byrne, one of the liver doctors. He also had labs first thing this morning, and results were excellent, the only lab a little off was kidney function, that creatinine number was 1.8 which is great for Dan but normal is lower, the dr. said Dan may never get to that number but he wasn't overly concerned either. It was profound to me that we saw Dr. Byrne today. He was the first doctor Dan saw when he was being assessed for the Mayo transplant program last year, he has seen Dan's health go from bad to worse, and now today told us how fabulous Dan is doing and how good he looks - kind of completes the journey for us to have come full circle with Dr. Byrne. Dan has a few more appointments left like cardiologist, pacemaker check, and 2 more PTs, the last on Dec. 31. So....drum roll please....Dr. Byrne released Dan to return home to Hawaii the first of January!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gift #4- This afternoon, I received a love gift that will cover my airfare for last week's trip to Hawaii.
To be sure, tears flowed freely as we received each of these gifts today. Do we feel blessed? You bet. We are living Ephesians 3:20-21 (HCSB): "Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think—according to the power that works in you—to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever." Amen and Amen!
Can't stop smiling,
Debbie and Dan
(PS: In case you're wondering, yes we already have our flight reservations, we'll be flying home Tuesday, Jan. 6th.)
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Praises galore!
We have so much to be thankful for!
Today, Dan had labs, follow-ups with doctors and then PT. His labs are great, as the doctor stated "his liver is stone cold perfect", his creatinine continues to drop, his red cell count is normal, only his INR is elevated, meaning his blood will not clot as well, so they took him off Warfarin for a few days (also called Coumadin, this med is the blood thinner he takes). And today was the first day Dan walked in to these appointments using his cane instead of a wheelchair or walker. Dan was commenting this evening at the great improvement in just a short time, just last week he was struggling to stand up from the wheelchair; as Dan put it "The Lord's just showing off!"
A wonderful surprise this morning, we ran into Tim and Lily at labs this morning. Tim and Lily are from Hawaii Kai, fellow Kaiser patients (even the same Kaiser liver doctor), and Tim just received his liver transplant at Mayo. It was great seeing them again, Tim looks great after his surgery and some challenges that followed. Tim and Lily are also believers, they attend Central Union Church in Honolulu, and actually found our blog a while ago and had followed our journey. We had a great time of sharing and I hope we continue the friendship and fellowship when we all get home.
Dan and I have been out Christmas shopping, eating in restaurants, and just enjoying spending time together. Dan's strength, drive, mental state, and passion for life have improved so much over the past few weeks, every day we notice something new. Like today, we noticed the hand tremors are gone and Dan is able to eat and write with no problems.
Dan woke up this morning cheering, saying "I'm going to be 50 tomorrow!" I don't think Dan has ever rejoiced about getting older before. The last several years, he has been so sick that he said he felt 80 years old; so turning 50 must seem like he's getting younger. We are looking forward to celebrating tomorrow with shopping, lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, then pizza, birthday cake, presents, and games with the family in the evening.
I'll be going home for a week to visit Mom and take her to a few doctor appointments, worship with our Mililani ohana, as well as box up the rest of Amy's stuff and get it sent to her (I know, she's been married for several years now, I guess procrastinating sending her stuff was a way of not completely letting her go - sorry, punkin). I'll be in Hawaii from Dec. 7-14. Then Dan and I will celebrate Christmas in Yuma with Amy, Adam and Swen (who is now walking!) from Dec. 20-25. It won't be long now until we return home to Hawaii together!
Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow....
Debbie and Dan
Swen was in his first rain storm recently - love that hair! Sunday, November 30, 2008
Beam us up, Scotty...
What a terrific weekend! And a weekend of firsts since Dan's surgeries.
On Saturday, Dan and I along with Debbie and the kids went to the Arizona Science Museum in downtown Phoenix, nearby the Convention Center - we saw Star Trek: The Experience! This is heaven for Star Trek fans like us - memorabilia, props, costumes, sets, shuttlecraft simulator, and more (check out http://www.startrek.com/custom/include/community/tour/virtual). We all took turns sitting in the captain's chair on the bridge set of Next Generation (actually, I took several turns). This was the first big "field trip" for Dan, transporting and using his wheelchair and being around a big crowd of people.
Today, we went with Dan's folks to church, Dan's first time back since his transplant on Aug. 25. It was a wonderful time of worship and thanksgiving, church members were praising God for answered prayer for us. And another first, Dan managed all his morning preparation by himself, with just a little help from me. After church, another first, we went to lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. If you haven't been there, you must go. I don't know if the menu is the same at all locations, but this location's menu was about 40 pages long! So many choices, you could eat here every day and not make it through the menu.
Dan's next Mayo visit is Tuesday at 4pm for outpatient rehab. Thanks for your prayers for Dan to regain all his strength, he is doing better each day. And fyi, his mental challenges are gone, he's back to normal (for those of you who know Dan, I know you are laughing out loud).
Thankfully,
Debbie and Dan
On Saturday, Dan and I along with Debbie and the kids went to the Arizona Science Museum in downtown Phoenix, nearby the Convention Center - we saw Star Trek: The Experience! This is heaven for Star Trek fans like us - memorabilia, props, costumes, sets, shuttlecraft simulator, and more (check out http://www.startrek.com/custom/include/community/tour/virtual). We all took turns sitting in the captain's chair on the bridge set of Next Generation (actually, I took several turns). This was the first big "field trip" for Dan, transporting and using his wheelchair and being around a big crowd of people.
Today, we went with Dan's folks to church, Dan's first time back since his transplant on Aug. 25. It was a wonderful time of worship and thanksgiving, church members were praising God for answered prayer for us. And another first, Dan managed all his morning preparation by himself, with just a little help from me. After church, another first, we went to lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. If you haven't been there, you must go. I don't know if the menu is the same at all locations, but this location's menu was about 40 pages long! So many choices, you could eat here every day and not make it through the menu.
Dan's next Mayo visit is Tuesday at 4pm for outpatient rehab. Thanks for your prayers for Dan to regain all his strength, he is doing better each day. And fyi, his mental challenges are gone, he's back to normal (for those of you who know Dan, I know you are laughing out loud).
Thankfully,
Debbie and Dan
Friday, November 28, 2008
Friday, Nov. 28th updates
It's been a busy week. Dan's had something to do at Mayo every day this week, except for Thanksgiving day. Labs, PT, pacemaker check, and follow-up with the liver doctors and all went very well. Dan's new liver function is about as perfect as can be, his creatinine is up a little and his prograf level is down a little, so meds are being adjusted. Dan may have a intestinal virus, we should hear the test results tomorrow and then get antibiotics. The next think Dan and I want to work on is a thank-you letter to the donor family. We will give the letter to Mayo to send to the family; the family may or may not respond, again via Mayo to us. After a certain amount of time, it is up to them and us if we actually know each other's names and/or meet. We hear that sometimes the donor and donee meet, other times it is too difficult for one or the other family. We'll send the first letter, then trust God with what happens next.
Thanksgiving was truly a time for giving thanks. Dan's sister Debbie and the kids Tim, Alyssa, and Josh were with us and Dan's dad asked Dan to pray. It was emotional as Dan shared in his prayer that God had granted the desire of his heart, to spend the holidays with family. It was particularly poignant since we had been told years ago right after Dan was diagnosed with Alpha-1 that the doctors were not sure if Dan would see his 50th birthday (next week, Dec. 5); then we were told by Mayo doctors the day after his transplant that Dan probably had only a few weeks left to live.
Today was especially productive, Dan and I dove into cleaning our room, tossing a lot of junk we've been holding on to, packing more boxes, clearing out his desk, my nightstand, and the closet shelf and rearranging the stuff to keep that was strewn all over the place. It will be much easier to pack everything for returning home (still planned for January). Tonite we are relaxing and watching 2 great holiday movies - Polar Express and The Family Man - if you haven't seen these, run right out and borrow them.
The cleaning we did today made me think about how our spiritual lives often need cleaning, how we need to confront and confess sin, rearrange priorities, get rid of unhealthy habits to make room for God and His will for us. When we do this, our lives will truly reflect God's glory, people will see Jesus in us, that's what it's all about.
Thankful,
Debbie and Dan
Thanksgiving was truly a time for giving thanks. Dan's sister Debbie and the kids Tim, Alyssa, and Josh were with us and Dan's dad asked Dan to pray. It was emotional as Dan shared in his prayer that God had granted the desire of his heart, to spend the holidays with family. It was particularly poignant since we had been told years ago right after Dan was diagnosed with Alpha-1 that the doctors were not sure if Dan would see his 50th birthday (next week, Dec. 5); then we were told by Mayo doctors the day after his transplant that Dan probably had only a few weeks left to live.
Today was especially productive, Dan and I dove into cleaning our room, tossing a lot of junk we've been holding on to, packing more boxes, clearing out his desk, my nightstand, and the closet shelf and rearranging the stuff to keep that was strewn all over the place. It will be much easier to pack everything for returning home (still planned for January). Tonite we are relaxing and watching 2 great holiday movies - Polar Express and The Family Man - if you haven't seen these, run right out and borrow them.
The cleaning we did today made me think about how our spiritual lives often need cleaning, how we need to confront and confess sin, rearrange priorities, get rid of unhealthy habits to make room for God and His will for us. When we do this, our lives will truly reflect God's glory, people will see Jesus in us, that's what it's all about.
Thankful,
Debbie and Dan
Monday, November 24, 2008
Great Day!
What a great day today was. Except for the early morning. Dan did great, he likes mornings, but I don't do mornings well and found myself racing to get ready and out the door, but we got to Dan's PT appointment on time. Dan's therapist is Richard, and he worked Dan hard. And Dan loved it. Dan's goal is to be able to walk without the walker, so it's a lot of leg lifts, squats, stretches, and just walking. Dan has "homework", exercises he has to do-5 sets twice a day. We'll see Richard twice a week, next time on Wednesday.
We had a little break between PT (8-9am) and Pacemaker check (10:15am) so we had breakfast in the cafeteria. A nice rest, although PT says "rest is rust", yikes.
Pacemaker check went well, Dan's heart is in sinus rhythm and pacemaker is working fine. Dan has 3 more weeks until he can lift more than 8 pounds and lift his left arm above his shoulder.
We boxed up more books to send back home, now we can finally see the carpet in our room. Tonite we're watching the finale of Dancing with the Stars - we think Brooke will win, but we love to watch Warren.
And we got a call from the disability insurance agent today, who told us they will be sending us a sizable check for monies they should have been paying us (it's a long story), and mahalo to Pastor Derrick for all you did to make this happen. God spoke to Dan in the hospital, clearly telling Dan that He would provide for our every expense during this journey, and this unexpected gift looks like the beginning of God's fulfillment of his word to Dan. We can't wait to see how God will provide for the rest of the bills, including the 6-figure charge for Dan's liver transplant.
"God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won't stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:6 CEV
Debbie and Dan
We had a little break between PT (8-9am) and Pacemaker check (10:15am) so we had breakfast in the cafeteria. A nice rest, although PT says "rest is rust", yikes.
Pacemaker check went well, Dan's heart is in sinus rhythm and pacemaker is working fine. Dan has 3 more weeks until he can lift more than 8 pounds and lift his left arm above his shoulder.
We boxed up more books to send back home, now we can finally see the carpet in our room. Tonite we're watching the finale of Dancing with the Stars - we think Brooke will win, but we love to watch Warren.
And we got a call from the disability insurance agent today, who told us they will be sending us a sizable check for monies they should have been paying us (it's a long story), and mahalo to Pastor Derrick for all you did to make this happen. God spoke to Dan in the hospital, clearly telling Dan that He would provide for our every expense during this journey, and this unexpected gift looks like the beginning of God's fulfillment of his word to Dan. We can't wait to see how God will provide for the rest of the bills, including the 6-figure charge for Dan's liver transplant.
"God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won't stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:6 CEV
Debbie and Dan
Friday, November 21, 2008
Friday, Nov. 21
Today was a pretty good day, Dan is feeling well and was able to walk out to the dining room table for meals, and he enjoyed reading "The Grand Weaver" by Ravi Zacharias and writing a new blog entry (www.linesfromdanielsden.blogspot.com). We also started packing a few boxes of books to FedEx back home, we figured if we start now a little bit at a time, it will be easier in the long run. We also enjoyed listening to CDs, in particular, Tony Bennett's new Christmas album, and Three Wooden Crosses (inspirational songs by country artists -- thanks for this CD, Karen and Calvin!). Dan's first follow-up appointments are on Monday - 8am outpatient PT and 10:45am pacemaker checkup.
Aloha from the desert,
Debbie and Dan
Aloha from the desert,
Debbie and Dan
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Home again!
It's Thursday, Nov. 20 and we're home from the hospital again. Sorry for not updating since Sunday, I haven't been home until today.
Dan's heart procedure on Monday went very well. They did the cardiac ablation and then implanted a very high-tech pacemaker. It's called an ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) and it has 2 leads into the heart and 1 lead on the outside of the right ventricle. It will keep Dan's heart from going too fast or too slow. He's doing very well, he seems to have more strength and is breathing easier. The pacemaker is permanent, along with taking coumaden (a blood thinner).
The liver doctors decided on Tuesday to do the ERCP procedure (removal of the bile duct stent). This procedure also went well, it is done endoscopically so not real invasive. They removed the stent along with a biliary stone and put in another stent which will also have to be removed in a few months. Dan was fine and able to eat a regular dinner that night, he just had a scratchy throat.
Wednesday was a rest day, meaning no procedures, but PT and OT were back to get Dan up and around. He was able to walk a lap around the nurses' station, he hasn't done this in weeks. Yay, pacemaker!
Today was very busy, with doctors' last rounds with Dan, PT and OT getting in a few more exercise times including the rehab gym, removing the PICC line and catheter, discharge instructions, prescriptions for more meds, we ended up leaving around 4:30pm.
Dan now has outpatient OT and PT twice a week, labs twice a week, pacemaker check-ups a few times in the next month, cardiologist follow-up, liver doctor follow-ups, dietician follow-up, you name it. And now we start trying to follow the low sodium diet at home, along with fluid restrictions, he only gets to drink one 16 oz. bottle of water in a 24-hour period. This is sure different from the instructions after transplant, to drink 6-8 bottles of water a day. They tell us it is a different way to get the excess fluid out of his tissues and into the plumbing, he gets a huge amount of diuretics and drinks very little fluid. Go figure. He also has new instructions and restrictions with his pacemaker, like no more MRI's, no airport security systems, cell phone and ipod on the right side, etc. and my personal favorite...no arc welding.
Thanks for your prayers and support. Continue to pray for Dan to regain his strength, and for me and Dan's folks to stay healthy, and for all of us to continue living together in harmony and love...it won't be long now until we hele on home.
Aloha,
Debbie and Dan
Dan's heart procedure on Monday went very well. They did the cardiac ablation and then implanted a very high-tech pacemaker. It's called an ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) and it has 2 leads into the heart and 1 lead on the outside of the right ventricle. It will keep Dan's heart from going too fast or too slow. He's doing very well, he seems to have more strength and is breathing easier. The pacemaker is permanent, along with taking coumaden (a blood thinner).
The liver doctors decided on Tuesday to do the ERCP procedure (removal of the bile duct stent). This procedure also went well, it is done endoscopically so not real invasive. They removed the stent along with a biliary stone and put in another stent which will also have to be removed in a few months. Dan was fine and able to eat a regular dinner that night, he just had a scratchy throat.
Wednesday was a rest day, meaning no procedures, but PT and OT were back to get Dan up and around. He was able to walk a lap around the nurses' station, he hasn't done this in weeks. Yay, pacemaker!
Today was very busy, with doctors' last rounds with Dan, PT and OT getting in a few more exercise times including the rehab gym, removing the PICC line and catheter, discharge instructions, prescriptions for more meds, we ended up leaving around 4:30pm.
Dan now has outpatient OT and PT twice a week, labs twice a week, pacemaker check-ups a few times in the next month, cardiologist follow-up, liver doctor follow-ups, dietician follow-up, you name it. And now we start trying to follow the low sodium diet at home, along with fluid restrictions, he only gets to drink one 16 oz. bottle of water in a 24-hour period. This is sure different from the instructions after transplant, to drink 6-8 bottles of water a day. They tell us it is a different way to get the excess fluid out of his tissues and into the plumbing, he gets a huge amount of diuretics and drinks very little fluid. Go figure. He also has new instructions and restrictions with his pacemaker, like no more MRI's, no airport security systems, cell phone and ipod on the right side, etc. and my personal favorite...no arc welding.
Thanks for your prayers and support. Continue to pray for Dan to regain his strength, and for me and Dan's folks to stay healthy, and for all of us to continue living together in harmony and love...it won't be long now until we hele on home.
Aloha,
Debbie and Dan
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Prayer Request
Things change so quickly.
The round-the-clock diuretics seem to be working, fluid is getting through the plumbing much better. They put compression stockings back on Dan's legs to force the fluid up and out, which is working but they are a little painful, so they plan to switch to ace bandages this afternoon. And he is getting used to his low-sodium diet.
Dan's heart went back into afib last night while he was sleeping. This is the first time it's done this during rest, the other times it was during exertion. So, the teams have decided to postpone the ERCP (procedure to remove the bile duct stent) in favor of the cardiology team's recommendation to first do a cardiac ablation and pacemaker implant (www.heartrhythmcenter.com/myweb2/av_nodal_ablation2.htm has a good explanation of this.) Surgery is scheduled for Monday afternoon, we don't know the time yet, and it will take a few hours. This is a fairly common procedure and is minimally invasive, and hopefully once his heart is pumping normally that it will help the kidneys along. And yes, the pacemaker will be permanent, the battery will need to be replaced, usually after 5+ years, depending on the rate it "paces".
Thanks for your prayers for Dan tomorrow, as always. Life is hard, but God is good.
Aloha,
Debbie and Dan
The round-the-clock diuretics seem to be working, fluid is getting through the plumbing much better. They put compression stockings back on Dan's legs to force the fluid up and out, which is working but they are a little painful, so they plan to switch to ace bandages this afternoon. And he is getting used to his low-sodium diet.
Dan's heart went back into afib last night while he was sleeping. This is the first time it's done this during rest, the other times it was during exertion. So, the teams have decided to postpone the ERCP (procedure to remove the bile duct stent) in favor of the cardiology team's recommendation to first do a cardiac ablation and pacemaker implant (www.heartrhythmcenter.com/myweb2/av_nodal_ablation2.htm has a good explanation of this.) Surgery is scheduled for Monday afternoon, we don't know the time yet, and it will take a few hours. This is a fairly common procedure and is minimally invasive, and hopefully once his heart is pumping normally that it will help the kidneys along. And yes, the pacemaker will be permanent, the battery will need to be replaced, usually after 5+ years, depending on the rate it "paces".
Thanks for your prayers for Dan tomorrow, as always. Life is hard, but God is good.
Aloha,
Debbie and Dan
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday, Nov. 13 - the saga continues
Dan is still in Mayo. He is breathing better, and his new liver is working well, that's the good news.
Yesterday's chest xray showed his lungs are worse, meaning more fluid surrounding the lungs. This morning's labs showed elevated heart enzymes, elevated creatinine level. So 3 teams are working on this - liver transplant, cardiology, and nephrology (kidneys).
The main problem keeping Dan in the hospital is the fluid that won't go away, resulting in shallow breathing, swelling in his abdomen, legs and feet. Dan's kidneys are not functioning well, and we were told this morning that he has had kidney disfunction even before transplant, which makes sense since he had so much leg and feet swelling for so long. There are several solutions to this problem, one they tried on Sunday, to drain the fluid via thorocentesis and pericentesis. The doctors do not want to continue this, as it is risky for Dan's liver. Another solution is meds, this is the plan now, to give Dan a high dose of lasix round the clock now for 24 hours, along with the metolazone, these work in different parts of the kidney. We also learned that Dan's kidney problem may not be "cured" even after the fluid is under control. Which brings me to another solution - dialysis and kidney transplant - they tell us this would be considered if nothing else worked and it is a decision to be made "way down the road." Let's hope so. The doctor said 5-10% of liver transplant patients need this done, since the liver disease can cause kidney problems.
The echocardiogram showed Dan's heart is only pumping at 35% (normal is 55-60%) so that's not at a danger level but it is a decrease. This could be caused by the anti-rejection meds Dan is taking, along with the stress and trauma of Dan's transplant. The cardiologists will follow on Dan's labs, they are more concerned with getting the fluid moving through the plumbing, and more tests may be needed once this is better, including a nuclear stress test.
The liver doctors changed one of Dan's anti-rejection meds (cyclosporin) to prograf last night, in case the cyclosporin is hurting the kidneys. Both can do so, but prograf is less likely to do so, but it has other side effects including confusion, so I'll be watching this carefully.
Dan and I both were busted yesterday for Dan eating way too much sodium. He needs to be on a low-sodium diet, which means less than 2 grams (2,000 mgs) of sodium a day, or about 600 mgs. per meal. I was eating salad with honey mustard dressing last night and noticed the sodium in the dressing was around 550 mgs. by itself, that puts this in perspective. Or as Dan says, he is allowed to eat air. The dietician gave me a booklet on how to cook and eat with this limitation, and the nurse is examing everything he eats and drinks now. Between this dietary restriction and others for transplant patients, life as we knew it is now over - aloha fast food, pizza, shoyu, soda, salad bars, salsa - and hello to no-salt or low-salt everything, Mrs. Dash seasonings, and homemade meals.
All this to say they are getting Dan healthy enough to do another procedure on Monday, to remove the stent they put in his bile duct about a month ago, and put in another stent if needed. So not sure if Dan will get to come home before that.
This is all pretty depressing, and Dan and I have been praying and trying to encourage each other. Dan occasionally talks in his sleep, most of the time I ignore it, but last night I enjoyed listening to him PRAY in his sleep! He doesn't remember it, but I'll never forget it.
A BIG mahalo to our ohana in Hawaii (Roger, Joy, and Clyde) for the surprise package from Bath and Body Works - bubble bath, here I come!
Aloha,
Debbie and Dan
Yesterday's chest xray showed his lungs are worse, meaning more fluid surrounding the lungs. This morning's labs showed elevated heart enzymes, elevated creatinine level. So 3 teams are working on this - liver transplant, cardiology, and nephrology (kidneys).
The main problem keeping Dan in the hospital is the fluid that won't go away, resulting in shallow breathing, swelling in his abdomen, legs and feet. Dan's kidneys are not functioning well, and we were told this morning that he has had kidney disfunction even before transplant, which makes sense since he had so much leg and feet swelling for so long. There are several solutions to this problem, one they tried on Sunday, to drain the fluid via thorocentesis and pericentesis. The doctors do not want to continue this, as it is risky for Dan's liver. Another solution is meds, this is the plan now, to give Dan a high dose of lasix round the clock now for 24 hours, along with the metolazone, these work in different parts of the kidney. We also learned that Dan's kidney problem may not be "cured" even after the fluid is under control. Which brings me to another solution - dialysis and kidney transplant - they tell us this would be considered if nothing else worked and it is a decision to be made "way down the road." Let's hope so. The doctor said 5-10% of liver transplant patients need this done, since the liver disease can cause kidney problems.
The echocardiogram showed Dan's heart is only pumping at 35% (normal is 55-60%) so that's not at a danger level but it is a decrease. This could be caused by the anti-rejection meds Dan is taking, along with the stress and trauma of Dan's transplant. The cardiologists will follow on Dan's labs, they are more concerned with getting the fluid moving through the plumbing, and more tests may be needed once this is better, including a nuclear stress test.
The liver doctors changed one of Dan's anti-rejection meds (cyclosporin) to prograf last night, in case the cyclosporin is hurting the kidneys. Both can do so, but prograf is less likely to do so, but it has other side effects including confusion, so I'll be watching this carefully.
Dan and I both were busted yesterday for Dan eating way too much sodium. He needs to be on a low-sodium diet, which means less than 2 grams (2,000 mgs) of sodium a day, or about 600 mgs. per meal. I was eating salad with honey mustard dressing last night and noticed the sodium in the dressing was around 550 mgs. by itself, that puts this in perspective. Or as Dan says, he is allowed to eat air. The dietician gave me a booklet on how to cook and eat with this limitation, and the nurse is examing everything he eats and drinks now. Between this dietary restriction and others for transplant patients, life as we knew it is now over - aloha fast food, pizza, shoyu, soda, salad bars, salsa - and hello to no-salt or low-salt everything, Mrs. Dash seasonings, and homemade meals.
All this to say they are getting Dan healthy enough to do another procedure on Monday, to remove the stent they put in his bile duct about a month ago, and put in another stent if needed. So not sure if Dan will get to come home before that.
This is all pretty depressing, and Dan and I have been praying and trying to encourage each other. Dan occasionally talks in his sleep, most of the time I ignore it, but last night I enjoyed listening to him PRAY in his sleep! He doesn't remember it, but I'll never forget it.
A BIG mahalo to our ohana in Hawaii (Roger, Joy, and Clyde) for the surprise package from Bath and Body Works - bubble bath, here I come!
Aloha,
Debbie and Dan
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Still in Mayo
Dan is still in Mayo, we hope he gets to come home tomorrow. Sunday night after he moved to a room back on 3West, they did the thorocentesis and took out a lot of fluid from the lining of the left lung. The rest of the night was miserable for Dan, he coughed all night, apparently the lung was a little compressed from the pressure of the fluid and once it opened up there was plenty of fluid in his bronchial tubes. The pulmonary guy gave him an albuterol breathing treatment to get the tubes opened up. Once he stopped coughing around 6am, he got a little sleep, and later on the morning he felt better and was breathing better.
So now they are trying to figure out why the kidneys are not functioning well. He didn't have any problems pre-transplant other than a kidney stone, so we know it's from the transplant, these organs aren't fully "awake" yet. It's a vicious cycle. The kidneys need plenty of blood flow and lots of fluid from water we drink to work well. Without those, the kidneys get sleepy and fluid we consume needs to go somewhere, so it fills up either the tissues or the blood vessels. Healthy kidneys can get working again when we drink more water, that's why we run to the bathroom more, which is a good thing unless you're stuck in traffic on the H-1. Dan's kidneys aren't healthy so he has swelling in his feet and legs, tummy, around the lungs (which they drained on Sunday), even his scrotum (don't tell him I told you this one). For Dan, they don't want him drinking more than 1 bottle of water a day, they want to treat his swelling with meds, like albumin (draws the fluid from the tissues to the vessels) and then lasix and another diuretic I can't remember the name, that should get the fluids excreted through the kidneys and bladder. Please pray the doctors can figure out why the kidneys and bladder are still sleeping and this will be an easy and quick fix. With his legs and feet so swollen, it's hard for Dan to walk and he needs to do this daily to get stronger.
Aloha,
Debbie and Dan
So now they are trying to figure out why the kidneys are not functioning well. He didn't have any problems pre-transplant other than a kidney stone, so we know it's from the transplant, these organs aren't fully "awake" yet. It's a vicious cycle. The kidneys need plenty of blood flow and lots of fluid from water we drink to work well. Without those, the kidneys get sleepy and fluid we consume needs to go somewhere, so it fills up either the tissues or the blood vessels. Healthy kidneys can get working again when we drink more water, that's why we run to the bathroom more, which is a good thing unless you're stuck in traffic on the H-1. Dan's kidneys aren't healthy so he has swelling in his feet and legs, tummy, around the lungs (which they drained on Sunday), even his scrotum (don't tell him I told you this one). For Dan, they don't want him drinking more than 1 bottle of water a day, they want to treat his swelling with meds, like albumin (draws the fluid from the tissues to the vessels) and then lasix and another diuretic I can't remember the name, that should get the fluids excreted through the kidneys and bladder. Please pray the doctors can figure out why the kidneys and bladder are still sleeping and this will be an easy and quick fix. With his legs and feet so swollen, it's hard for Dan to walk and he needs to do this daily to get stronger.
Aloha,
Debbie and Dan
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Back at Mayo
Dan has had a hard time breathing the past 2 days, more swelling, and drinking a lot of water without much output. So we called the transplant coordinator this morning and she spoke to the doctor and told us to go in to the ER. After labs, a bladder ultrasound and a chest xray, they decided to keep him overnight. They are going to do another thoracentesis and parecentesis, but prior to that they will give him blood plasma to amp up his platelet count in hopes of not too much bleeding from those procedures. They put in a foley catheter to help the bladder along to get rid of the large amount of fluid there. The kidney doctor will visit tomorrow also. And his labs showed very low sodium and pretty high potassium, both of which may be caused by the diuretics but they need to watch his electrolites carefully as this could signal a rejection coming on, and don't worry - they would adjust his anti-rejection meds if this happens.
The doctors tell us it is not that unusual for a transplant patient to come back in the hospital a few times after the initial discharge to get things regulated. Hearing that didn't make it any easier on Dan, though. I'm home for a short time now to blog, pick up his contac case and glasses and ipod, and then head back. My heart hurts for Dan that he has to be back there, but he will go back to 3West where we know all the nurses so that will be nice, plus selfishly speaking...I will get a little reprieve from lifting Dan. If anyone knows any good stretching exercises for my back and legs, let me know.
TTFN ("ta-ta for now" as Tigger says to Pooh),
Debbie and Dan
The doctors tell us it is not that unusual for a transplant patient to come back in the hospital a few times after the initial discharge to get things regulated. Hearing that didn't make it any easier on Dan, though. I'm home for a short time now to blog, pick up his contac case and glasses and ipod, and then head back. My heart hurts for Dan that he has to be back there, but he will go back to 3West where we know all the nurses so that will be nice, plus selfishly speaking...I will get a little reprieve from lifting Dan. If anyone knows any good stretching exercises for my back and legs, let me know.
TTFN ("ta-ta for now" as Tigger says to Pooh),
Debbie and Dan
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Saturday, Nov. 8
Sorry I haven't blogged in a few days. Having Dan home is great, however taking care of him is an all-day and all-night activity. I'm getting pretty good at helping lift Dan out of a chair to his walker, who'd have thought someone my size (5'3") could deadlift a 6'4" guy, thanks to something called a posey, a sturdy canvas strap that tightly belts around Dan's chest. And a huge thanks to Dan's dad who helps me lift Dan when needed.
Like today, Dan started walking with his walker the length of the lanai, about 100 feet from end to end, and he made it one round trip for 200 feet, probably the longest he's walked in a long while. The rest of the day, his legs were very wobbly and we were so thankful Dan's dad was here to help.
And a special thanks to Dan's mom for "encouraging" him today - "you go, girl!"
I gave Dan his first insulin injection this evening, not really his first but first since he got home. He's only diabetic since transplant, this will go away hopefully after he stops taking prednisone, but until then we check blood sugar before every meal, and if the count is over 150, he gets an injection based on a "sliding scale". We opted for the insulin pen rather than a syringe, my mom uses the pen and it seemed much easier to do and less scary to me than a syringe. Dan said he didn't even feel the needle or the insulin, so I hope I did it right.
By the way, last Thursday's doctor appt. went well and his labs were good, his kidney function is still not 100% so they scheduled a follow-up with the kidney doctor a week from Monday. We go back to Mayo on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the round of labs, doctors, PT and OT, squeezing in meds and blood sugar tests when we can.
Have a wonderful day of worship tomorrow and remember...you can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you (paraphrase of Philippians 4:13 NKJV, emphasis mine).
Aloha from the desert,
Debbie and Dan
Like today, Dan started walking with his walker the length of the lanai, about 100 feet from end to end, and he made it one round trip for 200 feet, probably the longest he's walked in a long while. The rest of the day, his legs were very wobbly and we were so thankful Dan's dad was here to help.
And a special thanks to Dan's mom for "encouraging" him today - "you go, girl!"
I gave Dan his first insulin injection this evening, not really his first but first since he got home. He's only diabetic since transplant, this will go away hopefully after he stops taking prednisone, but until then we check blood sugar before every meal, and if the count is over 150, he gets an injection based on a "sliding scale". We opted for the insulin pen rather than a syringe, my mom uses the pen and it seemed much easier to do and less scary to me than a syringe. Dan said he didn't even feel the needle or the insulin, so I hope I did it right.
By the way, last Thursday's doctor appt. went well and his labs were good, his kidney function is still not 100% so they scheduled a follow-up with the kidney doctor a week from Monday. We go back to Mayo on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the round of labs, doctors, PT and OT, squeezing in meds and blood sugar tests when we can.
Have a wonderful day of worship tomorrow and remember...you can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you (paraphrase of Philippians 4:13 NKJV, emphasis mine).
Aloha from the desert,
Debbie and Dan
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
First day home, and LInes from Daniel's Den
Today was Dan's first full day home from the hospital. He enjoyed sleeping in a more comfortable bed with me, his wife (giggle). He really enjoyed getting to eat whatever he wanted, including tacos and bean burrito from Taco Bell for lunch. He tried to start getting on a schedule, one he'll need to follow the rest of his life. There are a few extra chores we need to do for the first few months or so. It was a non-stop day of taking about 15 pills at 8am and 8pm, meals, and a lot of effort just getting to the bathroom with his walker, sometimes it took both Dan's dad and me to get him up from the chair to his walker. We also had lots of phone calls, a rental wheelchair delivered and I had to learn how to get Dan into the chair and then how to fold it up and hoist it into the back of the van. We should only need the chair for going to church, the mall, etc.; it doesn't fit in the house doorways and Mayo has a "garage" of wheelchairs plus volunteers who greet you when you drive up with a wheelchair and a smile. All in all, we survived the first day, with a lot of worrying and nagging on my part, and Dan patting me on the back saying "relax".
Check out Dan's new post on his blog www.linesfromdanielsden.blogspot.com.
Tomorrow we go back to Mayo for a full day of labs, visits with the post-transplant coordinator and doctors, OT and PT. We'll be there from 7:05am thru 2pm, we have short breaks and a lunch break and the cafeteria there is great.
Stay tuned,
Debbie and Dan
Check out Dan's new post on his blog www.linesfromdanielsden.blogspot.com.
Tomorrow we go back to Mayo for a full day of labs, visits with the post-transplant coordinator and doctors, OT and PT. We'll be there from 7:05am thru 2pm, we have short breaks and a lunch break and the cafeteria there is great.
Stay tuned,
Debbie and Dan
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Out of the hospital!
It finally happened...Dan was discharged from the hospital today, November 4. It was a very long day of meetings with everyone - doctors, PT, OT, endocrinologist, post-transplant coordinator (3-hrs and more to come on Thursday), then the nurse has to review a 20+page discharge paper and we sign when she's done and most of this was repeat from the previous meetings. The icing on the cake was getting to hear a noon-time concert by Vicki and her combo - she's a professional jazz singer and fellow pastor's wife and she has visited Dan faithfully several times a week to fellowship and sing wonderful jazz numbers with Dan "be-bopping" along with her. Dan is pretty tired but glad to be out of the hospital. He had some strong mixed feelings leaving the hospital, both happy and sad and emotional, as the Mayo staff on 3West and 3East have become family. And just getting around the house with his walker and in and out of chairs takes a lot of energy, more than we realized, so recovery will continue. Dan is also anxious to post a new blog entry to his 'Lines from Daniel's Den', so keep watch!
Soaring again,
Debbie and Dan
Soaring again,
Debbie and Dan
Friday, October 31, 2008
Aloha in the desert for Halloween
Check out my Halloween gift to Mayo Hospital at www.debsturntoblog.blogspot.com. Dan told everyone he was a munchkin for Halloween (as in Wizard of Oz). It was fun. I did see a funny costume in the store today, a blind referee - black and white striped shirt, dark glasses, and a white cane. Pretty funny.
Plans are still in the works for Dan to be discharged on Tuesday, however a few more blips have come up since yesterday. Dan's bladder is still having a hard time and the doctors ordered several catheterizations a day to empty the bladder, a painful procedure, and he needs to drink at least 4-20oz. bottles of water a day, not to mention his 5-8oz. bottles of Ensure a day.
Dan also now has a urinary track infection and he is on antibiotics (Keflex tablets) and they did an extensive ultrasound today on his kidneys and bladder. Dan is scheduled for a large number of lab tests tomorrow, the liver doctors want to follow up on everything.
We look forward to a visit tomorrow from Dennie and Bev Little, and Ted and Matthew Stout. I've already reserved the activity room in rehab for the visit, we expect lots of rowdy laughter and plenty of craziness with these dear friends from our Mililani ohana, although the Littles recently moved to Las Vegas, they will always be ohana to us. Ted and Matt have been visiting family in Tucson.
What a joy and major surprise it was to have Jane Bishop and Jeri Boland visit us at the hospital yesterday. Jane is with the North American Mission Board in Atlanta and she and Jeri visit Hawaii every year to help with our Wives in Ministry Retreat every April, and they have become dear friends and have faithfully prayed for us at Mayo. They happened to be in town for the weekend and were so thoughtful to spend part of their "girls weekend" visiting us. Thanks, ladies, for the smiles and joy; and thanks, Father, for nudging them to visit us.
How great is our God!
Debbie and Dan
Plans are still in the works for Dan to be discharged on Tuesday, however a few more blips have come up since yesterday. Dan's bladder is still having a hard time and the doctors ordered several catheterizations a day to empty the bladder, a painful procedure, and he needs to drink at least 4-20oz. bottles of water a day, not to mention his 5-8oz. bottles of Ensure a day.
Dan also now has a urinary track infection and he is on antibiotics (Keflex tablets) and they did an extensive ultrasound today on his kidneys and bladder. Dan is scheduled for a large number of lab tests tomorrow, the liver doctors want to follow up on everything.
We look forward to a visit tomorrow from Dennie and Bev Little, and Ted and Matthew Stout. I've already reserved the activity room in rehab for the visit, we expect lots of rowdy laughter and plenty of craziness with these dear friends from our Mililani ohana, although the Littles recently moved to Las Vegas, they will always be ohana to us. Ted and Matt have been visiting family in Tucson.
What a joy and major surprise it was to have Jane Bishop and Jeri Boland visit us at the hospital yesterday. Jane is with the North American Mission Board in Atlanta and she and Jeri visit Hawaii every year to help with our Wives in Ministry Retreat every April, and they have become dear friends and have faithfully prayed for us at Mayo. They happened to be in town for the weekend and were so thoughtful to spend part of their "girls weekend" visiting us. Thanks, ladies, for the smiles and joy; and thanks, Father, for nudging them to visit us.
How great is our God!
Debbie and Dan
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, Oct. 30th updates
Our wireless internet connection has been down for a few days, that's why I haven't blogged in a while, but we're up and running again now. Funny, how did we live all those years without a computer and the internet? We are so grateful for these luxuries that enable us to stay connected with our ohana in Hawaii and all over the world.
Great news...looks like Dan will be discharged from the hospital next Tuesday! He will then have outpatient rehab every Tuesday and Thursday, along with regular labs and doctor appointments. We haven't been told when Dan can finally return home to Hawaii, we'll let you know as soon as we know. His outpatient rehabs are scheduled through the 2nd week of December, so maybe by January we'll be home!
Dan is getting stronger and feeling better each day. Rehab keeps him busy almost all day until about 3pm, then he and I go for our "walk" to the healing garden or wherever. One day we sat on the bench outside the hospital door and played a game of guessing the make and model of each car driving by just by looking at the front of each car. Dan loves cars and before transplant would watch Motorweek on tv, read "Car & Driver" magazine, anything to learn more about vehicles, so this game was good for him and fun also. Mentally, Dan is also improving. He has a ways to go, but he is doing so much better, this was probably the hardest thing for me to handle, and I praise God for the healing, slow but steady. By the way, his color is all better (no more "golden boy"), he wants to keep clean shaven so no more beard and mustache - it might take you some time to get used to this new look, but I think he's quite handsome! And he's decided that drinking V-8 juice is better than eating those vegetables! But I have pictures of him eating peas, etc. - I can probably use this to my advantage sometime (wink wink).
Soaring like an eagle,
Debbie and Dan
Great news...looks like Dan will be discharged from the hospital next Tuesday! He will then have outpatient rehab every Tuesday and Thursday, along with regular labs and doctor appointments. We haven't been told when Dan can finally return home to Hawaii, we'll let you know as soon as we know. His outpatient rehabs are scheduled through the 2nd week of December, so maybe by January we'll be home!
Dan is getting stronger and feeling better each day. Rehab keeps him busy almost all day until about 3pm, then he and I go for our "walk" to the healing garden or wherever. One day we sat on the bench outside the hospital door and played a game of guessing the make and model of each car driving by just by looking at the front of each car. Dan loves cars and before transplant would watch Motorweek on tv, read "Car & Driver" magazine, anything to learn more about vehicles, so this game was good for him and fun also. Mentally, Dan is also improving. He has a ways to go, but he is doing so much better, this was probably the hardest thing for me to handle, and I praise God for the healing, slow but steady. By the way, his color is all better (no more "golden boy"), he wants to keep clean shaven so no more beard and mustache - it might take you some time to get used to this new look, but I think he's quite handsome! And he's decided that drinking V-8 juice is better than eating those vegetables! But I have pictures of him eating peas, etc. - I can probably use this to my advantage sometime (wink wink).
Soaring like an eagle,
Debbie and Dan
Friday, October 24, 2008
Friday, October 24th updates
Dan's first 2 days in Rehab sure have been busy.
Mornings start with breakfast group at 7:30am in the activity room. Dan may be the youngest one there and also may be the only transplant patient (for now), and they eat together and enjoy conversation. The rest of the morning is a whirlwind of activity: OT (occupational therapy), PT (physical therapy) in the gym, RT (recreational therapy - yesterday the group played Wheel of Fortune, Dan guessed all the letters even though he couldn't see the board!), and in between he gets visits from the doctors, labs, meds, and ST (speech therapy - they are exercising his throat muscles to help the swallowing, exercising his voice which is still a little raspy probably from various scope procedures, and also cognitive therapy to help the confusion). Lunch is in his room at 12noon, then so far the afternoon is free time except for meds and blood sugar monitoring. Yesterday he had dinner in his room, tonite Dan and I ate dinner together in the cafeteria; the hospital gives a $5.00 gift certificate to use for meals eaten in the cafeteria. Yesterday and today, we spent most of the afternoon outside in the healing garden, walking around the hospital parking lot (actually me walking, pushing Dan in the wheelchair), and in the hospital lobby listening to music, yesterday 2 nurses were there singing and playing on the piano "It is well with my soul", today a retired volunteer was playing showtunes on the piano, Dan particularly enjoyed the medley of songs from Wizard of Oz.
Dan's favorite part of today was a visit from Amy and Swen. They walked with us to the healing garden, with me pushing Dan in his wheelchair next to Amy pushing Swen in his stroller, Dan and Swen held hands and did fist bumps in the hallways. We got to our favorite bench in the garden, under a shade tree opposite the waterfall and Swen sat on Dan's lap for quite a while goofing around with his grampa. It was an emotional time for Dan, and another one of those "kisses from God". My turn to be emotional will be tomorrow when I have to say aloha to the kids, they return to Yuma Saturday morning. We really enjoyed another special visit this evening in the garden, Debbie and Tim came by. Tim is turning 17 on Sunday and what a fine young man he is becoming, his dad would be extremely proud of him and I'm sure he is, as well as the rest of his family.
Weekends will be less activity, Dan has OT at 9:15am and PT at 2:15pm, both for 45 minutes. I'm sure afterwards we'll be back walking around outside, Dan loves being out of the room and it is really nice out now, today it was in the high 80s.
It really is "well with our souls",
Debbie and Dan
Mornings start with breakfast group at 7:30am in the activity room. Dan may be the youngest one there and also may be the only transplant patient (for now), and they eat together and enjoy conversation. The rest of the morning is a whirlwind of activity: OT (occupational therapy), PT (physical therapy) in the gym, RT (recreational therapy - yesterday the group played Wheel of Fortune, Dan guessed all the letters even though he couldn't see the board!), and in between he gets visits from the doctors, labs, meds, and ST (speech therapy - they are exercising his throat muscles to help the swallowing, exercising his voice which is still a little raspy probably from various scope procedures, and also cognitive therapy to help the confusion). Lunch is in his room at 12noon, then so far the afternoon is free time except for meds and blood sugar monitoring. Yesterday he had dinner in his room, tonite Dan and I ate dinner together in the cafeteria; the hospital gives a $5.00 gift certificate to use for meals eaten in the cafeteria. Yesterday and today, we spent most of the afternoon outside in the healing garden, walking around the hospital parking lot (actually me walking, pushing Dan in the wheelchair), and in the hospital lobby listening to music, yesterday 2 nurses were there singing and playing on the piano "It is well with my soul", today a retired volunteer was playing showtunes on the piano, Dan particularly enjoyed the medley of songs from Wizard of Oz.
Dan's favorite part of today was a visit from Amy and Swen. They walked with us to the healing garden, with me pushing Dan in his wheelchair next to Amy pushing Swen in his stroller, Dan and Swen held hands and did fist bumps in the hallways. We got to our favorite bench in the garden, under a shade tree opposite the waterfall and Swen sat on Dan's lap for quite a while goofing around with his grampa. It was an emotional time for Dan, and another one of those "kisses from God". My turn to be emotional will be tomorrow when I have to say aloha to the kids, they return to Yuma Saturday morning. We really enjoyed another special visit this evening in the garden, Debbie and Tim came by. Tim is turning 17 on Sunday and what a fine young man he is becoming, his dad would be extremely proud of him and I'm sure he is, as well as the rest of his family.
Weekends will be less activity, Dan has OT at 9:15am and PT at 2:15pm, both for 45 minutes. I'm sure afterwards we'll be back walking around outside, Dan loves being out of the room and it is really nice out now, today it was in the high 80s.
It really is "well with our souls",
Debbie and Dan
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