Checking In

Hello all. Just checking in. Tracy’s still doing pretty good, some days better than others, but not quite where we’re hoping. Seems there some tightness in her chest, though her lungs are doing fine. She’s been getting around and she looks good. She’s talking about doing some shopping for a belt, LOL, and I’m sure she’ll get her hair done soon.

She has a checkup this week, we may head down to the ‘Burg a little early to be proactive.We’ll know more tomorrow, and I’ll let you know something by Tuesday. -mh

 

Out of the Hospital

Well, wonderful thing is that Tracy made it out of the hospital yesterday evening. Last night we talked Bible stuff, a really great conversation, and tonight we just cuddled on the couch. There’s so much more to that – the simple things – when things haven’t been simple for so long… -mh

 

Short Trip to the Hospital

Monday night, Tracy was admitted to Saint Vincent Hospital (here in Erie) for high potassium levels (see article, “Dangers of High Potassium Levels in the Blood“), a situation that can happen more commonly with transplant patients because of the medicines they take. If all goes well, she’ll be home this afternoon.

Again, trips to the hospital are nothing new to us, and even post-transplant, we were informed that the first year is the most challenging, so there was no cause for alarm. -mh

 

Doing Well

After Tracy’s first day of Physical Therapy (Thursday), Tracy’s doing very well. Her appetite is good, her attitude is great. She’s tolerating the meds pretty good – I guess they’re getting used to each other.

 
 

Physical Therapy should compose of her muscles being strengthened. They started out with a stress test, I suppose to see where she’s at physically. We’ll take it from there one day at a time.

 

Heading Home

Sitting here taking a breather and watching Tracy nap before we head back home to Erie. We’re both doing fine after a decent dinner and everything’s packed up.

Appreciate all the prayers and encouragement… -mh

 

Squeaky Wheels

Tracy’s doing much better today. She’s still nauseous, though not as bad as it has been. Whatever they’ve hit on is working and she’s been able to keep food down. She had a couple of “Get me some…” requests, that’s very good. So she may be getting out of the hospital tomorrow (Thursday). We still have a few more tests to do while we’re here

As much as I wanted to head up to Erie and go to school Monday as Tracy and I had agreed, I felt a check in my gut, a nudge by the Holy Spirit, letting me know I had to stick around.

I talked with the doctor, and I thank the Lord for the patience to research and log what was going on, so we had a reasonable conversation. Bottom line, Tracy may be getting out tomorrow, but we’ll probably stay in Pittsburgh until the weekend or Monday to make sure the home care measures we are on are working properly.

Right now I’m in Erie, came back to attend school, grab a couple of important items and heading back within next few hours. Visited my pastor, did a little shopping.

It’ll be good to have Tracy out the hospital, even better to be back home again – at least for a little while. Thanks all for the prayers, the laughs, the concern, and encouragement. -mh

 

Onward… in the Battlezone

Tracy’s been having a pretty hard time of it. Though she had a bout with a stomach bug, the doctor’s pretty sure that’s licked. It may be some side effects from one of the medicines she’s taking. She’s not comfortable at all and I know that it’s very challenging for her to be back in the hospital so soon.

I’m praying that they figure out what’s going on so we don’t have to keep running back and forth or, even worse, stay here for any period of time. But most importantly I’m praying that God’s will be done and that He give us Patience through the Process.

Tnx for your love and prayers… -mh

 

Out of ICU

Tracy’s been transferred out of ICU to a regular room. ICU was an initial precaution until they found out what was going on. She had an infection which she previously had after the operation, one that’s hard to totally get out of your system with a compromised immune system. She’s doing fine. No word on going home yet. -mh

 

Remembering to Breathe

One of the most challenging facets of being a caretaker in situations like this is remembering to breathe – mentally, emotionally, spiritually. You feel like you’re out of the woods, like things are on the rebound and then… you’re right back in the hospital. When that happens, it’s very easy to feel despondent and a little let down. Difficult to remember to breathe.

I have to remember who’s in control. …Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. (Psa 127:1b NKJV)

I was talking to one friend and she confessed to feeling so helpless. It’s something I had dealt with earlier in this ordeal, but it really allows you to see who you are trusting: God, or man – usually self. As long as we’re trusting man, we can always get our little self-glory in there, too. But when trusting God, there’s no room for glory. Not for anyone. That’s because He’s taking care of it, and my job simply comes down to giving Him the praise due Him.

Of course, it does take a lot off of my shoulders when I realize that I don’t have to be the Fixer of The Thing That Is Wrong. As a caretaker, my job is support and advocate. It’s not fixer. Here’s a thought: even the people that are assigned to help with the fixin’ are just helpers. They are not THE Fixer. That’s God’s job.

Too many times, I just want to fix things that don’t need to be fixed. Let God handle that, and just do what He says to and it’s not so hard – and it’s not so bad. Gotta trust Him for the result. And gotta remember to Breathe.

Breathing, in the spirit, amounts to prayer. His Word is my meat and drink, but His presence is the air we breathe. Prayer – taking a deep breath of the presence of God, feeling Him in every part of my being.

Just gotta remember to breathe and relax. God’s in control.

 

Back To the ‘Burg…

As of 9:30 pm, Tracy headed back to UPMC because of high temperature and white blood count. Though she was doing reasonably well, and all appears well with her lungs, the hospital emergency room that she was at was instructed to send her down to get things back in line.

We had already been told that local hospitals would have a strictly “Hands Off” policy, only being allowed to stabilize the patient and then if necessary, to ship them down to Pittsburgh, so this is relatively normal, all things considered. Not the happiest thing in the world, but relatively normal and within the expected course of events.

We’ll keep you posted. -mh