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