Monday, December 1st, 2003
Sad news
My only surviving grandparent, Lessie Reaves, passed away last night in Memphis, Tennessee. She would have turned 100 on May 16th. She has been ready to go for a long time, though, and finally left us after a long illness.
Grandma Reaves was a faithful Christian, a devoted wife, a loving mother and a wonderful grandmother. Please pray for our family through this time of loss.
Posted at 8:49 am by Tony :: link
Friday, August 22nd, 2003
A very, very special day
On this date in 1953, Les Paul & Mary Ford's song "Vaya Con Dios" finally hit #1 after 10 weeks on the music charts. Perry Como's "No Other Love" dropped to number two, and June Valli's "Crying in the Chapel" stayed at number three. Also, Froggy the Gremlin returned to NBC, and the Shah returned to Iran.
Of course, the most historic event of that day fifty years ago happened in Las Vegas, Nevada, where a young man named Johnny W. Campbell married an even younger lady named Yvonne Gail Reaves.
Today is Mom and Dad's Golden Wedding Anniversary, and while Dad's continuing recovery requires that we delay major festivities until later, we still celebrate their life and love today. Please take a moment if you can to write them an email or drop them a card or letter and share your good wishes with them. They enjoy every word of love and encouragement that they receive, and it all helps, believe me!
I apologize for not giving more frequent updates these past few weeks, but we've been quite busy around here, and thankfully there hasn't been much medical news to report. Dr. Hyre, Dad's cardiologist, took the pacemaker bandage off today and everything looks good. He said he wanted to see Dad in seven years to change the battery. Dad said that he was glad that his doctor expects him to outlast the first battery! Amen to that.
Thanks to everyone for their continuing prayers for Mom and Dad, and for all your good wishes on this special day. May God bless you all with the measure of love and happiness that they have shared and continue to share.
Posted at 12:14 pm by Tony :: link
Thursday, August 7th, 2003
Safely home
Mom and Dad are home, and are doing fine. Dad's been ordered to take it easy for the next few weeks, but he looks and sounds great and he's in excellent spirits, so he can handle that just fine.
We're already seeing benefits. He's feeling more alert and aware, and all the swelling in his legs and feet is gone. We're so happy that he's doing so well. It seems that this was just what Dad needed.
Thank you all again for all your prayers—please continue to remember Dad during his recovery!
Posted at 5:56 pm by Tony :: link
Going home today!
Dad's doing very well this morning, and he's in great spirits. He had some anxiety last night, but during the 9:00 visit he told the nurse that having Mom there it a lot better, so she said, "Mrs. Campbell, why don't you just stay for a while?" They were both fine with that!
Dad's still in ICU because of a lack of available rooms, and now they're just going to let him stay there, because Dr. Tygart has told them that he'll be released at 4:00pm today! Mom and Dad are both eager to get back home and get back on the road to recovery.
Thanks again for everyone's continuing prayers—they've meant so much to our family!
Posted at 10:34 am by Tony :: link
Wednesday, August 6th, 2003
Pacemaker in--surgery went "beautifully"
Dr. Hyre came down a little while ago and told Mom that the permanent pacemaker is now in, and that the surgery "went just beautifully." We're just waiting for them to get a room for Dad, and he can settle in to rest for the night.
Thanks so much everyone, for your continuing prayers!!!
Posted at 5:12 pm by Tony :: link
Surgery scheduled for 4:00pm today
Dad's surgery to implant the permanent pacemaker has been scheduled for 4:00pm (CDT) today. Everything looks good. Dad was awake and alert at the 9am visit, and he is in very good spirits. Please pray for him and our family today!
Posted at 12:05 pm by Tony :: link
Tuesday, August 5th, 2003
Dad taken to ER, will get a pacemaker
Dad was doing fine today until about 1:00pm, then he started getting weak and he went to lay down. Later he went to tell Mom that he couldn't get comfortable; he started down the hall toward where she was, but at the end of the hall he slumped down into the floor. Mom got him back to the bed and called Shelley, Dad's Hospice nurse. Shelly told Mom to take his blood pressure; when she did, his heart rate was 30.
Mom told Shelley that when Dad had gone back to bed he'd had her bring him a nitroglycerin tablet. Shelley told her that was the worst thing he could have done because his heart rate was already slow, and that he should only take nitroglycerin if he is experiencing chest pain. She told Mom to wait for half an hour, take his blood pressure again and call her.
Half an hour later Dad's heart rate was still 30. Mom called Shelley, who called Dr. Diffee; he said to take Dad to the emergency room where they could put him on a monitor and see what the problem was.
At the hospital, Dad's heartrate was still 30 and even went down as far as 26 or 27. The nurse told Mom to keep talking to Dad and it would help to keep his heartrate up. Mom did keep talking to him and it seemed to help.
Dr. Crenshaw was called in, and he hooked up a temporary pacemaker. Dad was then moved to the Cardiac ICU (Room 731), and a nurse came down and told Mom that everything went well and Dad was doing fine.
Dad will stay in ICU under observation until a permanent pacemaker can be implanted. That is a relatively minor procedure, but it requires a surgeon and an operating room. They may do the procedure as early as tomorrow, but it will probably be two or three days before a surgeon and operating room are available.
For the past several months Dad has been dealing with several symptoms of bradycardia, which a pacemaker is designed to correct. We hope and pray that this will give him an improved quality of life overall.
Please pray earnestly for Dad, for Mom, and for all those who love them during this time.
Posted at 8:31 pm by Tony :: link
Wednesday, July 16th, 2003
Dad's back out and doing fine
Dad came through the heart catheterization fine, and is now resting in a room at JMCGH. Dr. Crenshaw noted a partial blockage at the spot they were concerned about, but it wasn't sufficient even to warrant removing it. They've told Mom and Dad that they can go home at 3:00pm, provided Dad behaves himself in the meantime.
Dad's spirits are much improved since the procedure. He has been avoiding exertion for some time now, not knowing what might be going on with his heart. Now that he's been assured that it's in fine shape, he is eager to get back to doing some exercises, walking and such. Of course we still don't know what was causing his 'spells,' but several medical folk have told him that it takes several days to recover from every day that you spend in a hospital, and Dad was in the hospital for 55 days this last time. We're very hopeful that the recovery will continue, and so is Dad.
Thanks so much, everyone, for your continuing thoughts and prayers.
Posted at 12:45 pm by Tony :: link
Heart catheterization this morning
Mom and Dad went this morning to JMCGH, where Dr. Crenshaw has scheduled Dad's heart catheterization for 10:00 am. The basic procedure should last only half an hour; if they find something and they can treat or correct it while they're in there, it could last longer, and Dad may have to stay overnight in that case.
Please, please continue in your fervent prayers for Dad.
Posted at 9:59 am by Tony :: link
Sunday, July 13th, 2003
A new building and a loving remembrance
Dad is doing well today, though he is very tired tonight.
The Madison County Church of Christ met for the first time in their new building today. Mom and Dad were unable to attend today, and although 102 people were there for that first assembly, Mom and Dad were sorely missed. Hazel Johnson, one of the members, called Mom and Dad from the assembly on her cell phone, and the church sang "How Beautiful Heaven Must Be," and then yelled "Hey, Johnny!" Mom and Dad were both on the phone, and both wept for joy at this showing of love from their brothers and sisters at the Madison County church.
They were able to get out this afternoon and briefly tour the building with Hazel, and were amazed at how beautiful it has turned out. God has truly blessed that congregation, both in their growth and in their dedication, and now in this new place of worship. We pray that He continues to do so, as we continue to covet and appreciate your prayers for Dad and for our family.
Posted at 8:42 pm by Tony :: link