Thursday, February 25, 2010

One Week and Counting

Today will complete Mike's 7th day at the top of the transplant list. Some days have been better than others. However, Dad remains in good spirits and we all pray that the wait won't be much longer. Everyone is ready to move on. Yesterday he got a chance to spend the afternoon with Kelly and Taylor. They brought him mexican food and he inhaled it. There are some things in life that always make the day better. In this family it is mexican food. Taylor spent the afternoon curled in the bed with Papa, playing games and watching the Olympics. It is those moments of normalcy that make the days go by faster. From a health standpoint, there isn't much new to report. Dad's machines are doing their job. He has some pain in his shoulder and chest and the nurses are treating that on an as needed basis. Things are moving along as they should.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Snow

Ok, you may be wondering what this picture has to do with my dad and his heart. This is a picture of our snowman that we made last night after a beautiful afternoon of snow. It really doesn't have anything to do with Dad, except for the fact that Papa has been talking about taking his grandkids to see snow for the past two years. We even had a big family trip planned in December, but we got the news he needed a transplant just weeks before we were supposed to go. We made the decision to cancel the trip all together and plan it for a day that Dad would be healthy enough to join us. So, this picture serves as a reminder of all of the wonderful things we will get to do with Dad once he is given his new lease on life. Dad, we will all be standing at the bottom of that ski slope, cheering you on when you reach the bottom. I can hardly wait.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Not as Bad as it Sounds

I know many of you have not had a chance to see Mike at the hospital. This post is to show you that although the situation is not ideal and Dad is on "life support" for his heart, he is still doing well. He is in remarkably good spirits and if he covers up all of the wires and machines, you probably wouldn't know that anything was different. That is always how Dad has been. Even at his worst, he keeps a smile on his face and he never lets it show that he is sick. However, if you ask Abby she will tell you, "Papa is not sick sick. He just needs a new heart!"

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Settling In

Yesterday Dad was moved to his private room. It is on the 11th floor in the Fondren Heart Failure Unit at The Methodist Hospital. The unit is very quiet and Dad is being treated very well. The food is great and the company even better. Yesterday he had lots of visitors. Abby and I got to spend the day with him. The unit where he is at is very flexible about visitors and they even let the grandkids come to see him. Abby reacted well to seeing Papa in the hospital. She was a bit mesmerized by all of the wires, but it didn't phase her for long. We enjoyed our afternoon together.

Today Taylor and Victor will have their first visits with Papa in the hospital. Janice and Randy are also coming in town, along with some of their homemade meatloaf and banana pudding for Dad. I hope he doesn't get used to all of this spoiling!

R2D2

It has been an eventful week. Let me try to type a quick update on everything that has happened. On Monday Dad went in to the hospital for iv treatment of his pulmonary hypertension. It appeared to be working great. Good enough to send him home on Wednesday. Around lunchtime on Wednesday Mom and Dad left the hospital. They stopped to grab a bite to eat before heading home. To make a long story short, on the way home Dad's defibrillator went off. Mom rushed him to the ER (thank goodness they were still close to the hospital) and he was admitted. Dad was not reacting well to the iv meds and that was causing severe arrhythmias. The meds were stopped.

On Thursday Dad had a procedure to install an intra aortic balloon pump. This will regulate the heart pressure and basically perform the functions of his heart until he receives his transplant. As Dad was being wheeled out of surgery he said, "Hey, look at my new heart. It is R2D2."

With this machine Dad will not be leaving the hospital until he gets a new heart. He won't be very mobile. There are lots of wires and monitors that make moving around somewhat difficult. Dad is taking this very well. He is in good spirits and willing to do whatever it takes to get his "new motor."

Monday, February 15, 2010

Pressure Update

Today Dad was admitted for iv treatment of his pulmonary hypertension. The heart cath showed that his pressures were still very high so then began iv treatment immediately after the procedure. The meds have to run for 48 hours, but it appears they are making a difference. Dr. Torre will be in first thing in the morning to decide what to do next. If they do let him go home, he now has a PICC line in his arm and will be able to administer the medications via the catheter. However, that decision will be made tomorrow. For now, Dad is resting comfortably and in very good hands.

Calm Before the Storm

I can't count the number of times we have sat it the waiting room waiting for the doctor to come give us the results of Dad's latest heart cath. Each time he was wheeled away my stomach turned to knots and the anticipation of the next blow would build. The news was never good, but for so many years, that has been the reality. We simply prayed that God would carry Dad just a few more years.

Eight years ago Dr. Torre came into our life. That is when the discussion of a heart transplant began. Each time Dr. Torre would walk out of the operating room we would wait to hear the news and decide what to do next. For most of those eight years, a heart transplant was far in the back of every one's mind. Dr. Torre has provided my father with exceptional care. He is a terrific physician. None the less, we always knew that there was only so far the medical profession could go with my Dad's weakening heart. One day my Dad would need the miracle of a new heart.

So here we are today. Waiting. Praying. We spend our days as a family reminiscing about the time we have had together and hopeful about what is yet to come. But as Dad was wheeled away this morning for his heart cath, there was an unusual calmness. No knots. No fear of what news we would hear next. It was an odd but good feeling. We have surrendered ourselves to the process. We know what's next. It may be scary, but it is the new reality. It may be stormy for a while, but there is sure to be a rainbow when all is said and done!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Boots and Bow Ties

Last night Janice and Randy treated the Nall/Bursmith/Guindi family to a wonderful fundraising dinner and dance. We all got to spend a kid-free evening together, enjoying each others company...all for a good cause. The event was to raise funds for Scotty's House; a local organization that provides support to abused children. We dined on a delicious steak dinner and told many good stories. As always, we were the loudest bunch in the room. Laughter: God's medicine for the soul.

Tomorrow Dad will be admitted to the hospital. He will go in for blood work, a heart cath and then hopefully begin his iv meds for pulmonary hypertension. If he begins the iv meds we can expect his stay to last at least several days.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Paging Mr. Nall

Dad got a special delivery in the mail a few days ago. His pager has arrived. I guess that makes all of this transplant stuff official. It could be days, weeks, or months...but his life will forever change when that small plastic object starts vibrating in his pocket.