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
Friday, July 11th, 2003
Stress test results, another test to come
Dad had his appointment with Judith Baskin, Dr. Crenshaw's nurse practitioner, this morning. She said that they had been able to read the results of Dad's nuclear stress test and determine that there was a part of Dad's heart where the blood was "not flowing right," whether he was exercising or at rest. Dr. Crenshaw has scheduled Dad for a heart catheterization next Wednesday (July 16th) at 10:00am. It should take about half an hour and they've planned it as an outpatient procedure, but if the catheterization shows some blockage and they can treat it with a balloon or stent while they're in there, Dad may need to stay overnight.
Dad's very happy that they may have found what's been giving him trouble, and is looking forward to having it fixed. Please pray for Dad that this test goes well and fully reveals Dad's problem, and that Dr. Crenshaw can fully and safely correct it. Thank you for all of your prayers for him and our family throughout this time.
Posted at 12:53 pm by Tony :: link
Monday, July 7th, 2003
A spell, a visit and a doctor's appointment
Dad's doing okay today. He had a bit of anxiety attack late yesterday afternoon which made him feel "smothered," the first such episode in several days. Mom gave him a Lorazepam and within a few minutes it went away, but Mom stayed home with him to be safe.
Janice & Johnny Shavers, Mom's sister and brother-in-law, came through Jackson last night on their way to Memphis and stopped in for a visit. They live in Mobile, Alabama, and Mom and Dad don't get to see them very often. By all accounts it was a wonderful, wonderful visit.
Dad had a followup appointment with Dr. Misulis this morning, and they told him about Dad's Prednisone dosage. He agreed that 30mg and 5mg on alternate days sounded good, and that it might be as low as Dad needs to go. Mom told him that Dad hasn't had that "smothered" feeling in the afternoon for several days now, except for the episode yesterday evening. Dr. Misulis said that he didn't believe that those episodes were related to Dad's myasthenia gravis, but that they may instead be the result of a circulatory problem. He seemed very concerned about that, and said that he would try to move up Dad's July 25th appointment with Judith Baskin, the cardiology nurse practitioner. They don't have word yet on when that will be, but Dad says he is going to take it easy on the exercise until they know what's causing these spells.
Please continue to remember Dad in your prayers, folks.
Posted at 2:58 pm by Tony :: link
Thursday, July 3rd, 2003
New monitor, new building
Dad's recovery continues, both in health, in spirit, and in electronics. On Tuesday, Dad's computer monitor let its magic smoke out, and quit on him. He tried to resuscitate it, but to no avail. Dad doesn't spend as much time as he used to on the computer (he tries to keep his feet up as much as he can when he isn't moving around), but when he is on the computer answering email and whatnot, a working monitor is a pretty handy thing to have.
That afternoon I called him on the way home and he told me what happened, and asked if I'd check at Sam's Club for a possible replacement monitor. Sam's was just a mile down the road, so I went in and found a 19" Samsung for a really great price. He and Mom ran out to their Sam's Wednesday morning and snagged one, brought it home and let their garbageman take it inside from the truck, and soon Dad had hooked up the cables and was happily emailing again.
The folks at Madison County Church of Christ are going to be meeting at their new building on Sunday the 13th, and are hoping and praying that Dad will be able to be there and take part in the service to whatever degree that he can. We're expecting now that, Lord willing, he'll be able to do just that.
We have been so very blessed these past few months. Thanks, everyone, for your continuing prayers, and I pray that you all have a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend.
Posted at 3:16 pm by Tony :: link
Tuesday, July 1st, 2003
Another long-delayed update
Sorry for the long delay in this update; I've been a bit sidetracked as of late. Thanks for coming back to check, and rest assured that if critical news updates are required, you'll find 'em here.
Dad went in for his appointment on Friday and met with Dr. Thornburg, a retired cardiologist who keeps his hand in by substituting for Jackson Clinic cardiologists when they're on vacation.
A nurse took Dad's blood pressure at the beginning of the visit, and it read as 210 over 136. Both Dad and Dr. Thornburg were taken aback by this, so the doctor took it again to doublecheck and it was 152 over 91. The first reading might have been incorrect, but Dr. Thornburg didn't dismiss it out of hand.
He told Dad that his symptoms could be caused either by Dad's myasthenia gravis or by the medication he's taking. He prescribed Monopril, an ACE inhibitor, and fitted him with a Holter monitor to wear for 24 hours so they could get a better picture of his heart function. He wore that until 11:00 on Saturday morning and then sent it back to the clinic with Cheryl yesterday. Dad's next appointment will be in a month unless the record from the Holter monitor suggests otherwise, but as of today they haven't called with any such news.
Dad has been feeling even better over the last several days. On Dr. Misulis's advice, he had been lowering his Prednisone dosage every two weeks for some time now and had finally gotten it down to 30mg every other day just prior to the onset of the seizures. Last week he raised the dosage back to 30 and 5, and since then has felt considerably better.
I just talked to Dad a little while ago via chat and asked if he had anything to add to this entry. His reply:
"Yeah... It might be encouraging to those who read it to note that I have offered to take my beloved out to Shoney's to dine tonight. I told her it was contingent on the effects of Bill... the storm, not the invoice! She accepted. If that goes well, I plan to be at the midweek services tomorrow evening!"
That is encouraging! Thank you folks for your continuing prayers for Dad's recovery, and please continue to remember Mom and Dad.
Posted at 11:43 am by Tony :: link