A week of recoveryApr 22, 2012
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SUNDAY: Up early packing for the hospital and trip to Phoenix. Then we headed up the hill to church. We really like the people in this church. Most are retired, but there are a couple of young families. I think we have 5 children that are regular so they have started a Sunday School – one class for all the kids from a pre-schooler to Jr. High.
One family that brings their kids is our choir director, Chuck. His wife is the choir director at another church so Chuck brings the kids to ours. A couple weeks ago he was diagnosed with lymphoma – a cancer of the lymph glands. A specialist in Tuscon told him he had about 18 months to live. But a bone marrow test last week proved that he has a very curable plain old lymphoma and will start chemo on Tuesday. We are so glad, as he is an awesome guy and a wonderful singer.
After a quick lunch and some last minute packing we headed for my brother's house. He and Ron were able to go to Costco and pick up a starting battery for the MH and brought home some Church's Chicken for supper. We sat around and looked at each other as we yawned our way to bedtime. It was great to be with Rod as he let us impose on him for the night.
MONDAY: Up at 6 and on the road by a little after 6:30. Traffic wasn't too bad until just before the hospital but it never stopped completely.
We had a bit of a problem finding where we should park as the hospital complex is so big. But the people we talked to were great and we soon turned the truck over to the free valet parking guys and found our way into the hospital.
We quickly were thru the sign in procedure and on to the Heart Cath Lab. Again minimum waiting, smiling, friendly staff and Ron was all prepped for his procedure.
After he was done our Dr. came out and talked with me. Instead of 2 stents, they put in 3. He had one spot in the main descending artery that was 99% blocked with another blockage near that one. They put 2 stents there. Then the Right artery that goes around to the back of the heart had another blockage where they put the 3 stents.
They brought me back to the recovery room were he had to lay perfectly still for 4 hours. After making sure he was OK (and feeding him some lunch – I ate the rest of it) I headed out to check into the motel.
The motel was nice – but I couldn't get the WIFI to work – it was a good thing I had brought my own. The pool was outside so I guess I won't get a swim in either. I got settled and went back to Ron's room about 2.
The neatest thing is there is no check in and I can just walk back to the recovery room. So I sat with him – and/or walked around the halls until about 5. I was getting hungry by then and wanted to have daylight to drive in so I headed out.
There was a Sonic right on the way so I stopped there and got some supper. Then I watched DWTS and surfed on the computer for a bit and went to bed early.
TUESDAY: After a VERY LONG night with very little sleep, I packed up and went down to breakfast at the motel. There I met some of the people who had been in the waiting room with me. As we got to talking, I found out that they were from Ron's sister's town and even knew her. Small world!! The neatest thing was they asked to say a prayer and prayed for Ron's recovery and for me not to be afraid to drive home. Pretty neat people.
Ron was sitting up and raring to go home when I got to his cubical. But we basically sat and waited until the Dr. finally came in around 11. After hearing the same instructions for about the umteenth time (in a cubical we could hear every one else get the same instructions) they let us just walk out. No wheel chair – just leave – so we did.
The ride home wasn't too bad, I took McDowell west to US 60 and US 60 right into Wickenburg. There were a lot of stoplights but traffic was pretty light.
The hardest part was that my knees got pretty sore. But after we got out of Phoenix area, I could put the cruise on and move them around a bit, so it was OK.
We stopped in Wickenburg for a Subway and then stopped at CVS for Ron's medications. It was good to see the old homestead and our big chairs.
I got the rest of Ron's new scripts written up for our mail-order pharmacy and headed to Congress to pick up our mail and to mail the script off.
Then we just enjoyed the quiet of our little house. Left over Subs for dinner – hooray – no cooking.
WEDNESDAY: Up this morning to unpack and then rescue the house from all our “stuff”. Ron needs to take his BP 3 times a day and to walk twice a day – so I set up a spreadsheet to keep track of that. The new meds should be here next week and we have his followup Dr. appointment on May 2 so that should give the meds time to show up on the chart. That way we can see if any tweaking needs to take place.
Not much else to say. We took a couple short walks today. But mainly rested.
We were very surprised at the number of comments on Facebook. Great to have super friends like that.
THURSDAY: More of the same – resting and walking. A little less of the first and a little more of the second.
During our evening walk, we stopped at our neighbor's house and had to finish the walk in the dark. But it was a wonderful warm night and got to know good people a little more.
FRIDAY: Didn't take a walk this am as shopping was on our agenda this morning. First off was Habitat Re-store, but couldn't find anything. I still have my eye out for a table and chair set for the dining area and maybe a love seat. Then the used clothing store but nothing in my size caught my eye.
We lucked out at Alco and I found 3 tank tops on sale. They are my top of choice now that it is getting warm.
Once we were home I cooked up some boiled eggs and some macaroni for tuna salad. Then I found out I didn't have any tuna. Ron liked it just fine with just the veggies in it. So that is what we had.
It is getting hot out with temps supposed to be in the 100's for the next 3 days. I broke down and turned on the AC this afternoon, but then opened the windows for a nice breeze after the sun went down.
SATURDAY: We worked a bit on the chest of drawers that we still haven't finished since December. It is coming along. If I had to do it over again – I would just have sanded the top and let the rest go with just a coat of varnish and called it antique. But now we have about ½ of the drawers sanded plus the base so will just have to finish the job.
Ron cooked wonderful chicken on the grill tonight and that with some sweet potato fries and cauliflower made a wonderful dinner.
Anyway that is the way our lives have been going. Hope you and yours are well and happy. ENJOY!!
