Tim was discharged this morning after a good night's sleep! He is now snoozing on the couch. The next few days will bring learning the next phase of the diet (full liquids), and increasing activity and exercise. The diet has to be limited in volume, high in protein, low in calories, no seeds or skins that could get hung up in the stomach right now. Things gradually loosen up over time. The challenge for this phase is to get enough fluid and protein in, and manage shifting blood sugars. We trust that things will continue to go smoothly. We are so grateful for your prayer. Please continue to pray for an accelerated recovery, complete adjustment to the new program of a new way of eating and exercising, and no infections. Blessings to each of you!
TJ's recovery has been remarkable thus far. All IVs are out, pain has been minimal, and he is tolerating fluids with no nausea or vomiting. Up walking without difficulty. The only fly in the ointment is that his blood sugars have been fluctuating widely. He could have gone home today if not for that! Prayer requests would be for continued excellent recovery, protection from infections, stable blood sugars , and discharge tomorrow!
We have been asked what is up with me (Mary Ann). I have multiple joint tendon dysfunction so my joints are often painful and sometime it can be difficult to walk. However, I am planning on our Heavenly Father to heal that as well!
Thank you for your prayer! God has demonstrated his hand in smoothing every detail. Dr. Rupp was able to use the laparascope for the full surgery. TJ has six little incisions, the largest about 2 inches long.
Yesterday afternoon TJs evening shift nurse was a very good friend of mine who had been at our house on Monday evening to pray for him with the other women in my prayer group. I was able to go home and go to bed early-which was needed! TJ's blood sugars sugars were variable during the night, common after surgery, so they were checking his blood sugars every half hour. That gets old in a hurry.
This morning he was sore and tired, but no nausea and vomiting as many post sleeve patients experience. On the fluid intake he will start with tablespoons at a time and has to get 64 ounces in- half ounce at a time. He has been up and walking a few times as well.
Prayer requests are for:
Protection from infection
Ability to stay hydrated and good transition to eating (over several weeks)
A restoration of full and active health.
Several people who have been praying about the surgery have been sensing, "I will restore the years the locust have eaten." Please declarewith us that the season when both of us have been repeatedly hit with health issues is over.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, make his face shine upon you, and give you peace.
MA
Tomorrow TJ is having Bariatric surgery. The weight gain was a side effect of the first time he was so sick- NO muscles left to stay in shape. I will paste in the prayer update he sent out today at the end.
The specific prayer requests this time would be for:
Not needing to update this blog very much! It has been a lifeline, but it would be nice not to need life lines this time.
Protection from hospital acquired infections, and pneumonia.
MA has had a lot of foot, ankle, and knee problems. Please pray that she is pain-free during this time and can get around the hospital easily.
They did a mega heart and lung work-up prior to scheduling this surgery. Everything, literally, everything is perfect. Not even scar tissue in his lungs after 3 rounds of ARDS! God's healing was complete!
Blessings!
Thank you for praying. God is at work.
Addington Prayer update
Please do not post to the web
Dear Friends:
Many of you know that on December 4, 2007 I went to the hospital with a very serious condition that should have taken my life. In the aftermath of that 45 day stay (31 days in the ICU and most of those in a coma) I struggled to get back to full health. A year later I had another similar stay in an ICU in Thailand and then a third stay in an ICU in Montana this summer.
After my first long stay, I put on a fair amount of weight which my doctor says is a life threatening condition because of my propensity for lung issues and three episodes of pulmonary failure. Thus, this coming Tuesday I will have bariatric surgery to resolve the weight issue (hopefully my insulin dependency) and get back to full health. It will be a procedure where they simply remove about three fourths of the stomach.
I would covet your prayers for successful surgery and a quick recovery. I would love to be back in a position of robust health for the work I do domestically and internationally. I thank you in advance for your prayers.
For those who would like updates you may access those at this blog address which was used for all three previous hospital stays:www.reachTJ.com.
I expect to be home for about two weeks after the surgery and hopefully be able to work from home during much of that time. Mary Ann has done a fabulous job of preparing for my new diet – especially for the first months after the procedure. I am very much looking forward to this surgery and the potential health improvements it will bring. We would appreciate your prayers for a successful surgery and a fast recovery.
Timothy J. Addington Senior Vice President, EFCA Leader, ReachGlobal
The PA was satisfied with what he saw yesterday. Lungs clear, oxygen sats good while on O2. Haven't heard about labs yet. He also liked how we were managing Lasix and potassium. Nice reassurance. After the doc we had lunch and I dropped TJ and his oxygen tanks off and Barnes and Nobles and did some grocery and sundry shopping (also got side tracked at Coldwater Creek- the store in Bozeman still has lots of stock). Tim had a consult online in the evening. We were done in by the end of the day. I donned all my ankle and knee contraptions to bring up the groceries,after sending Tim to rest over his objections, and am not overly sore today! Go stiff nylon and Velcro! Thank you for your continued prayer as we continue to climb back to health. Blessings and Gratitude, Mary Ann
Tim continues to be super fatigued and quickly gets short of breath. He will do a long phone or skype call with someone then basically sleep the rest of the day. He was coughing more again over the weekend- could just be the extremely high pollen count. Still on O2 and we are so thankful that we have that. Today he goes to see the Internal Med PA again. It feels like good timing. I am grateful that I am not trying to figure everything out with my "x-ray eyes". They don' really do it so good. My joints are getting less painful and I am less tired- but still in pain and tired. I have had some wonderful times of listening to worship music on the deck overlooking the mountains. "By the streams of still water, restoring my soul." Prayer items: Safe and helpful visit to the PA. A long drive up the canyon with road construction to get there. That the portable oxygen concentrator and supplies get to HERE. Addresses and the post office are weird out here so there is a good potential for misdelivery. Continued improvement for both of us. That we would not miss what Papa God wants to whisper to us in the midst of trying to cope and recover.
It seems a relief to be responding every few days with updates and changes verses every few hours because the needs were so urgent and great. We are continuing the "upward trend" but it is in the "slow and steady" pace verses the "fast and furious" (tortoise and the hare). Indeed, we are thankful for that "slow and steady" because the "fast and furious" can lead to lots of iradic turns, ups and downs, and wasted energy.
Bullet Points of our Faithful Father hearing our prayers:
Allina Medical, our Minnesota medical supply company overnighted a loaner CPAP for Tim with all his correct settings. When we return home they will take a look at his CPAP and assess it for repair. This cpap has been around the world a couple of times. Excellent service, thank you Allina Medical!
Through our network of friends, we have seen first hand how the Holy Spirit guides and directs the body of Christ. A gigantic prayer request was what to do re: an Oxygenator (a machine that makes concentrated O2 from room air...and that is portable...and FAA certified, etc). These machines run about $4,000. Soon after we reached out, we got a message from a friend of a friend who had a gently used portable oxygenator. The tenderness of this story is that it was used by my friend's husband in his battle of mesothelioma. But, even more so is the fact that he gave his life to the Lord as an adult, went back to school & seminary, and then worked as a missionary in Haiti for five years and then in Kenya for 15 years. His journey on this earth ended and he is getting a head start in eternity with Jesus! Thank you to this new friend for sharing a piece of equipment that supplied the sacred breath of a life well lived. May you tenderly feel the touch of the Lord as we have.
Sacred friends are arranging their return from Montana to the midwest so they can drive us and the required medical supplies home. No small task since we seem to have enough to start mobile clinic!
Life in the little details. My joints are still pretty painful but the less I have to go up and down the stairs or haul things the better. I was able to do water exercises at the pool today and had the whole beautiful pool to myself and Jesus.
Tim is three steps forward and two steps back. He was pretty shot today. Good news is that his lungs are clear. But, he still he needs the O2 although SATS are not dropping as far. The encouraging news is that he can do a long consulting call before he crashes. I am encouraging him to keep the oxygen turned up because I am sure all his cells were in deficit after a recent call. No reason to push it. It would also be good to increase the O2 to hopefully decrease the 'bounce back' time needed. Tim's arm continues to really hurt him.
We see our PA in Bozeman on Monday for follow up. He is very sharp and will help us navigate/coordinate the future plan home ward. I don't think Tim will be on oxygen long term but I also don't want to be in the middle of North Dakota and discover the need for it.
Papa God has been faithful in working out all the details. Thank you for your continued faithfulness in prayer. Please pray the next days would be added to recovery of long term health and stamina. I purchased a stethoscope and oximeter out here for the just in case...and have used it much more than planned! But, He knows our needs even sometimes before we do.
Our parting kiss...enjoy this song by Hillsong United called "Oceans".
Thank you for your support and prayer!
Mary Ann...maegan
Today could I ask you to pray about a couple of things?
TJ's cpap (sleeping machine that helps manage breathing) gave up the fight. We have an appointment today in Bozeman to get a check up or a new machine. Could you pray for good conversations with the insurance company? These machines are not cheap and sometimes even if they are covered it is a loooooong authorization process. This is a piece of equipment that is so important for TJ's rest and healing on a daily basis. It really is not something that he can wait a month for a replacement.
In re: to medical equipment. We are still trying to determine what to do with O2. When we go in to the medical supply place, pray that there will be someone that could discuss options with us and help us navigate insurance. Another option of buying a used machine has come up, pray that we would be wise in what to do. These machines are very expensive as well.
And, as always, pray for travel. If you have ever been to Montana you know that "running into town" could very well take the day. Pray for stamina for both of us.
Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord! Psalm 117:1-2
Tim had a doctor appt. in Bozeman Wednesday. We saw an internal medicine PA who was REALLY sharp. He thought that Tim looked good-actually a bit surprised because of how sick he had been. His lungs sounded clear and his vs were good. Ted (the PA) thought that Tim would be on oxygen for several more weeks. We have a follow up appointment with him on Monday, July 14, to check progress and if needed, start the process to arrange oxygen for the trip home. It is a very onerous process to fly with o2 so we may consider driving back. He also checked kidney function and hemoglobin but we do not have those results. He said that Tim is a very complex patient. (Insert Tj's little smirk). Another issue that has really been a problem is Tim's right arm. Ted examined that but said the only way to really know what is going on is an MRI and it did not make sense to start that process out here (we had already decided that). He did order pain medication for it- it is really very painful. It has been hard for Tim to use it even for typing so while we were in Bozeman we picked up an inexpensive typing table that makes typing possible because of his arm position. He still has profound fatigue which is not unexpected after a severe pneumonia, but is frustrating. My joints (feet, ankles, knees, back) did not appreciate the hard floors at the hospital and have remained very painful- hard to walk and stay cheerful (Sure honey, I will be glad to get that for you since you can't breath well or use your arm). Prayer items:
Continued and full recovery from pneumonia
The Father's plan for Tim's arm- as you pray if you feel that God is urging you to pray for miraculous healing speak up and lets see if others are hearing the same.
Understanding from The Father this event (is it an opportunity to see his mighty healing power again, is there a course change that he desires, is it an attack from the evil one?)
Pain relief for Tim's shoulder and arm.
Pain relief for my joints.
A restful vacation in spite of the exhausting start.
Thursday, June 26 Thank you for traveling this journey with us with prayers and petitions. Be encouraged with these answers to your prayers.
When I was heading up to Bozeman yesterday to get Tim there was a line of southbound traffic at least one mile long at the road constriction site. When we were heading home to the cabin last evening we were THE LAST CAR TO GET THROUGH before the road crew stopped traffic to allow the northbound vehicles to use the single open lane! That was the hand of God! Thank you for praying about that.
TJ & I both slept soundly with one productive coughing spell (music to a nurse's ears) during the night and then right back to sweet sleep. (Rest is one of the most essential things to healing.)
TJ was released with Oxygen, thankfully, and his Oxygen SATS have been in the 90's. He has been stable between 3-5 liters depending on activity. We are very thankful that the supporting health care company is willing to help where ever is needed. TJ has a home concentrator, six canisters of O2 for times when we can get out, and a large tank in case of power outage. (It is rural Montana ;)
Please continue to join in prayer for the complete and total healing.
Our cell coverage is not great here in the mountains. We have access to a phone in case of emergency but we sometimes do not receive calls. We are embracing our silence as encouragement to sabbath.
We are grateful for the beauty of the mountains, for a fire accompanying me as I sit and drink tea, for dear friends and for TJ experiencing your healing touch.
How exciting it is to tell you that WE ARE OUTTA HERE! TJ is discharged from the hospital!
Please join us in continuing to pray:
There is a great deal of construction between Bozeman and our cabin. Sometimes the waits in allowing traffic have been up to 45 minutes long. It would be great if it would be a short and seamless transition to the cabin.
TJ's transition to the cabin and the higher altitude air.
If Tim can walk down the hallway without a significant drop in oxygen he will be discard later today! Please pray that the walk "works" and all the discharge process goes well.
I finally was able to speak with TJ's nurse this afternoon. He is doing well. His chest x-ray was stable from yesterday, catheter pulled and is weaning off of the oxygen. He is very fatigued. And does not want to see anyone today. Our hope is that with rest he will be ready for discharge tomorrow.
Prayers requests:
Continued on the healing trajectory.
Smooth discharge planning. Could you ask for favor in my direction in the discharge planning? (I am a nurse :) ) I would like TJ to be discharged with Oxygen due to the altitude difference in the mountains from our usual low midwestern altitude.
No gut side effects from the massive doses of antibiotics.
We are so grateful for you joining with us in this battle. Your prayers on TJ's behalf have played a critical part in this journey.
One of the blessings of being surrounded by people who pray is also hearing how the Lord has spoken to them on our behalf.
Below is a tender message I received today from my friend B:
"I was just cutting the lawn at the farm and the wind started and I again knew I was in GOD'S presence. Then you and TJ came to mind and I felt you stepped into a new level of His Presence. That wind on the Bridge your were on has stopped.
Here is what the bridge looked like:
You are on the other side now. I sense Peace and Knowing."
Go Team, Go! Keep up the prayers as the Lord leads you.
Today was a day of remarkable progress. As you know from previous posts, TJ was moved from ICU to a regular room. Our hope is that translates to more opportunities for rest, which is essential for healing. When I left TJ today he was settled into his new digs and was reading. Yesterday he was too tired for reading or even to stay awake for a conversation. The Lord has done great things!
Our hope is to discharge from the hospital late tomorrow or on Wednesday if there are no hiccups.
Please pray in specific:
Straight forward and steady trajectory towards health and complete healing.
No infections or "hiccups" like c.diff gut infection which can come as a side effect to all the antibiotics.
Good night of rest for both TJ and myself.
Discharge tomorrow.
We know that recovery could take some time but have been blown away (in a good way) by the path this time. "God is good all the time, all the time God is good." Rest would be so much more pleasant in the sunshine of Montana on a mountain being cared for by your wife and treasured friends, right? We are hopeful.
I am back in the ICU with TJ where things are definitely looking up. Hopes are that TJ will be transferred out of the ICU to a regular floor/room today when a bed becomes available.
Measurable Progress:
TJ is off the insulin drip and doing his own diabetes management.
Oxygen SATS are at 97% on nasal cannula for oxygen and no Bipap. TJ's breathing is much less labored. All excellent and amazing progress. It is especially amazing considering it was only yesterday that the doctors were considering intubation and being put on a ventilator.
TJ's cousin, Gary, was in Saturday and once again today. He affirms that TJ look A LOT better!
Another lady in the waiting room was commenting on the quality of staff at the Bozeman Hospital. She said, "They are on it before it even happens!" That sums up the care that TJ received yesterday which allowed him to dodge being put on a ventilator. (Remember, he has played that game a few too many times already in his life!)
TJ is getting up to the chair now. Sitting up and having additional doses of Lasix is helping to stay ahead of the excess fluid.
Continue to pray! TJ was encouraged that our Good Shepherd has been awakening some of you to pray even during the middle of the night. It is a great comfort to know that he is being cared for in such tender ways both physically and also spiritually.
Stay the course. Pray for:
Continue ease in breathing and healthy transfer of oxygen.
Fluid reduction.
Transfer to a regular room.
Rest. Rest. Rest.
...and for me as I to head to the mountain to pick up some things.
What a pleasure it is to bring you such great news. Encourage one another. Pray without ceasing.
~MaryAnn...maegan
Today's theme: Press in (to Jesus in the power of the Spirit) for Progress
Just a quick update this morning so far:
Praise: Mary Ann was able to talk with TJ on the phone. Praise that he has enough breath to talk.
Prayer: TJ said the night was marginal. As many of you know, ICU is not known for its optimal sleeping conditions. TJ had very little sleep.
Would you pray for a day of rapid progress so TJ can transition to a regular room, discharge and then to the mountain for sunshine and healing?
The doc's have not been in for rounds as of yet.
with great gratitude to God,
Mary Ann, maegan
Below are the observations of a friend who has been with TJ. Mark it. Your prayers are effective.
Mary Ann, We spoke about this, but I want to memorialize my belief that God specifically intervened at least twiceyesterday and today. Yesterday, when Tim's bp levels were low and the Dr. decided to put a port in Tim's jugular, somehow it would not take the wire so the Dr. withdrew. The result was that Tim's bp jumped 20 pts from the trama but retreated only ten which was then the beginning of a steady rise throughout the night. So why did that happen? Today, as the Dr. was prepared to insert the dreaded vent tube, the lasix kicked in at just the last moment. Isn't that an interesting development. From my perspective, God simply answered the prayers of those that love him. And why are we astonished? Grant
Tim is up in a chair. He has been wearing a bipap most of the afternoon because he prefers it. His blood oxygen, blood pressure and fluid management are all good.
It
is time to rally the faithful for praying for TJ’s health.As in times past, this blog has been a
battle cry in the heavenlies that we have seen over and over again change the
trajectory in these situations.There is
a huge component of spiritual warfare to this.
TJ
is in Montana.It is a place that allows
him to think, reconnect and recharge.However, he is in the battle for his health currently instead of
swinging the rhythm of the fly rod.
Yesterday,
TJ was admitted to ICU in Bozeman with an acute pneumonia.Given his history with such conditions going
down hill fast the doctors are hitting it with about four big gun
antibiotics.
TJ’s
health is in a very fragile position and he is very sick.This morning there was a time where he was in
“flash pulmonary edema”.His lungs
suddenly stared to fill with fluid.He
could not breath, vital signs became unsteady and he was not moving oxygen.The doctors put him on bipap and a good dose
of Lasix that helped him put out a lot of fluid which turned things
around.The pulmonologist thinks that
yesterday he was in septic shock and they had to give him many liters of fluid
to keep his blood pressure up.Today
that fluid was just looking for a place to go as the antibiotics started to
kick in and the shock resolved. He currently is on a nasal cannula oxygen and
may switch back to bipap when moving to a chair or other things that may stress
his system.
Please
pray:
·Resolution of the pulmonary edema.
·Pneumonia would respond to the antibiotics.
·Sepsis would completely resolve.
·Kidney function would remain high and responsive.
·That oxygen transfer in his lungs would happen with ease.
·That he would be able to transfer from the ICU within 1-2
days, and then make a fast pace towards discharge to recuperate on his
mountain.
Mary
Ann is doing well.She is having
assistance with communication.Please
know that she values your prayers more than anything.She will not be able to communicate directly
with each of you at this time.She is at
TJ’s side with limited cell coverage.As
you pray, could you ask for relief of the soreness in her feet?
Feel
free to post in the comments.Your
communication and prayer is of great worth and value.The family appreciates it so much and will
review often.
First for super happy news! Jon and Katie are engaged and we are thrilled! The date has been set for August 15 in the Twin Cities.
Now on to neurosis….On Tuesday Tim sat in a chair in the EFC board room and somehow the back was totally loosened and he fell backward hitting his head and neck hard. By Thursday afternoon he was feeling more pressure in his head and had some focus and short term memory issues so we went to United ER. They did a CT scan of his head and neck and it was “normal”. The doc said that he “rang his bell pretty good.” He is pretty achy and tired and still somewhat foggy. His brain is more susceptible to trauma after the long illness of last year.
Friday morning I went to the Hematologist to get the results of all the blood work and other tests. While everything was negative for cancer, I found out that I have something called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis which showed up on the abdominal CT scan. The hematologist said that I was not a normal candidate for this. I will be seeing a liver specialist on May 20. What I found on the net is that it may be reversible if there is no liver scarring. I have only read a couple of articles and it looks like a very low fat diet, weight loss, low alcohol intake, and avoiding unnecessary medications are the initial treatments. (http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/nash/ ). I need to be svelte by August 22nd anyway. I may have to have a liver biopsy that will be interesting since I am on Coumadin for the clots in my lungs and am allergic to heparin, which would normally be used to take a break from Coumadin. If the steatohepatitis is not reversed, it can lead to cirrhosis over several years. I also see the hematologist again, see a pulmonologist to follow up on the PE’s, have a CT scan of my chest next week, go to our regular doc once a week for INR (Coumadin levels), and PT for my knees once or twice a week. I don’t look like a gimp!
The repeated illness are getting old but we still think it is a “job hazard” and are committed to trusting God and staying positive, even if occasionally cranky.
I think the biggest prayer request is for people to “press into” all this. How are we to respond? Pray for complete healing? See it as preparation in trusting God in ways we never have had to before? Definitely to allow the refining that only comes through difficulty.
This is a song that I have listened to often in the last couple weeks and I think it coveys how we feel.
Momentary Light Afflictions
I set my eyes on what I cannot see I set my eyes on the eternal…
You are my great reward Forever I will be with You…
I know that this momentary light affliction is working in me An eternal weight of glory, an eternal weight of glory…
For You are God and You know what You want… And You give and take away, the only Initiator of seasons of change…
Consider it pure joy when You face trials of many kinds The testing of your faith develops perseverance Perseverance is needed to run the race…
This is my confidence, this is my confidence I’m living for another age…
My only confidence, my only confidence It’s an eternal weight of glory being worked in me I’ll consider it pure joy I will consider it pure joy…
I have been to the doctor a couple times this week to regulate my Coumadin (blood thinner) dose. I have been able to stop the heparin which is nice since it involved poking myself twice a day and the heparin leaves a bruise every place it is injected. The deal with the blood thinners is that they do not dissolve clots but prevent new ones from forming. The clots that are in my lungs will have to dissolve on their own. The doctor said this can take 3-6 months. Each place that there is a clot (at least 4 each in different lobes) prevents blood from flowing freely and there is a lot of inflammation in that area so the lungs can’t work well. He said that I can expect to feel extremely tired and not to push it because I will feel worse. Starbucks (the dog) likes this schedule!
I have been really beat this week. I get out of breath with even minimal activity like going up and down our stairs. I do at least one errand a day just to get out and then come home and take a nap! I have a migraine almost every day but it has been manageable with Imitrex. When my doc asked a neurologist what could be done about the headaches he said, “not much,” and that it could be an “interesting” few months. Hmmm…not sure I like the “interesting.”
I can’t even whine to TJ . Well I could, but not legitimately. He got to do the heparin and Coumadin thing, has felt worse longer and had more stuff going on- and he doesn’t complain. I might have to go out for coffee with a girlfriend and get it out of my system.
I see the hematologist on Tuesday to discuss the results of the blood work he did and hope to get some answers for the cause of the clots. We are very impressed with the hematologist.
T.J. has been able to do a couple video presentations to the RG lead team meeting in Bangkok and has several more to go. Technology can be a real gift! Overall, he is working on getting his energy back.
While we certainly are ready to get off the health roller coaster and have some energy back (life is dramatically different than 15 months ago) we really are not discouraged. God is in control. He loves us and He never wastes life’s experiences.
Prayer requests: -That God would give Mary Ann the energy she needs to get through her days. -That God would help us both stay encouraged and continue to trust in God’s -goodness. -That T.J. would continue to gain strength.
Thank you so much for your prayers. Jon and Chip are doing well although Chip experienced some “post traumatic” stress after he got back into school after the Bangkok hospitalization. Jon has a part time job in Knoxville but is looking for something more permanent.
Around 1:30 am Sunday morning I woke up with incredible chest pressure and and pounding heart rate. Given how fast my heart was going I figured I was in atrial fibrillation and Tim called 911. At the hospital the doctors figured out that the cause of the atrial fib was multiple small blood clots in both lungs so I was admitted and am on heparin.
Yesterday I saw my family practice doc, a hematologist (to figure out why the clots), a cardiologist, and a pulmonologist. The challenge is to figure out the cause of the clots. Late last evening I had an ultra sound of both legs that indicated that clots in my legs (like from travel) is not the cause. Today I have an echocardiogram to make sure that the severe irregular heart rate was not from a cardiac cause. They also drew about a dozen tubes of blood.
I will be in for a least a couple of days while they make the switch from IV heparin to shots of heparin that I can do at home and coumadin. This will mean weekly trips to the doc for a long time while the coumadin is regulated.
We have a huge praise that this event happened at home and I could get to the hospital -where we are starting a frequent stayers club. (Maybe we could redeem points for decent coffee and real toilet paper.) And that a clot did not end up in a place that could have had devastating results.
Prayer requests would be:
Finding a cause that can be taken care of. The alternative is to be on blood thinners the rest of my life.
No complications like loose clots that could end up in bad places.
A medication was discontinued that can contribute to clots. When I have stopped in the past has led to a killer migraine. Pray that there is a good way to manage this.
Please pray for TJ this week. He has a very intense week as the RG lead team meets in Bangkok. He is doing presentations by video and over the net. He has a lot of preparation to do and will have to be up most of the night for several days at the end of the week.
Also pray for Jon and Chip. Bummer to do this again with your parents! Chip had gotten home at midnight Saturday from a week long hiking and camping trip in Arizona and we woke up at 2 to head to United. Jon is now living in Knoxville, TN.
Addendum: I wrote what is above early this morning. It is now 9 PM and we are home! It was decided that since I can inject my own heparin I could go home. I will be seeing my doc almost daily for a while to get the bleeding times and meds regulated. Please pray for no bleeding events. It was very drippy when the nurse pulled out one of my IVs. I have not gotten results from the echo cardiogram. I will also be following up with the hematologist and pulmonologist.
I realized this evening with several phone calls that we have been remiss in updates causing some level of concern. Mia Culpa, Mia Culpa....
TJ saw his internist/endocrinologist on Thursday morning. He checked many things including heart issues, clot issues, lung issues, took 6 vials of blood and EVERYTHING was normal! The pulmonologist who admitted TJ last year who said there was no reason for him to see him. As a nurse this is very weird. Nobody I have seen gets so sick so fast and nobody gets better this fast without sequel from being so sick!
We have been laying low. Running a few errands as an excuse to get out in our lovely weather (cough, cough) and to stay awake during the day to get our schedules turned around. We are tired, cranky, feel disorganized and incredibly humbled and grateful. TJ is coughing still, but no fever, and up and about combined with resting.
Jon has been getting my laptop ready to send into Dell (the hard drive died) and Chip is learning how to make chicken soup from scratch in preparation for an outdoor overnight tomorrow. Only supposed to be -7'. It is a "shelter project" for an art class and he is the TA/den-mother for the mostly freshman group.
I will try to put together more thoughts on this whole deal in coming days. There are many layers and we only see a few of them.
The flights went well and we are all exhausted and going to bed!
Jon is alive and well, also beat after his moving adventure.
TJ sees his own doc at 9 am tomorrow-will blog more tomorrow. Now thanks to a very good friend we are fed and I am hitting the tub in a well scrubbed bathroom.
TJ passed all the last checks at the hospital today and was given an updated "Fit to Fly" form so we will be on our way EARLY tomorrow morning. The hotel has arranged a car (at 3:30 am!) and expedited transport through customs and check- in. Also wheelchair transport through airports. For someone who likes to fly "below the radar" this will be interesting. TJ is feeling remarkably well as he was extubated only one week ago. Still tired and coughing a lot. His chest x-ray today showed some limited diffusion in the right lower lobe and the left was totally clear.
We brought some gifts to the staff today which RG personnel in Chiang Mai put together for us. They included some literature in Thai. The nursing staff seemed very excited about the gifts and told TJ that he was a "good patient" and different than what they usually deal with. We have been praying for illumination for the staff and doctors through this experience.
Jon is driving the final 300 miles to Oakdale after unloading in Knoxville. He is really beat so please pray him home safely!
Staying a few days to get some rest was the right thing to do. The trip tomorrow is tiring when one is feeling well. Please pray that TJ's stamina holds up and all goes well tomorrow. We just finished dinner and will head to bed early. Chip is out trying to do one more deal on a copy watch.
To God be the glory!
We are grateful beyond what words can adequately express for all of you!
TJ and I have had a quiet day enjoying the hotel. TJ had a couple naps today where he really slept- a rare thing in the recent weeks. We decided that it would be easier to manage his blood sugars using the insulin pump so we switched to that this morning and TJ is having much better success keeping them in range. The docs here are not comfortable with the pump, but TJ sure is.
Chip went to the weekend market and made some very fun purchases. He is a very good bargainer. His body is shaped like a Thai person's so he is finding very good deals on clothes that fit his unique tastes.
We had a nice dinner this evening- celebrating TJ's 3rd birthday- but told him he can quit now. (Last year he decided that his discharge date would be his second birthday).
It looks good for coming home on Wednesday and the travel assist was able to get us all in business class which will help a lot with the ability to rest on the plane.
Time for us to turn in as many of you are getting up.
We have had a quiet day. TJ is really fatigued. We are having problems controlling his blood sugar- running too low- and don't really understand why that is the case. I did a grocery store run today so we have appropriate snacks to take care of it. I went to the Big C- like a Walmart super center.
We are working with the travel assist company to arrange flights back to the US. The hospital did not send all of TJ's meds home with him so I called this morning and they sent a messenger this afternoon. Between the Travel Assist and the hospital it all seems very complicated, but it is all getting done!
The hotel is lovely and restful. Chip and I just had a light supper by the pool and had it all to ourselves. The food definitely tops the hospital cafeteria. The staff had flowers sent to the room after TJ got here- they are so thoughtful!
Jon made it to Knoxville in the 24 foot Ryder truck. I thought it would be a good opportunity to thin out junk from home, you know, just send it to Knoxville since he has such a long truck. Too bad I was not home...
Not much else to report for now. Please keep up the praying for healing, rest, and smooth travels.
TJ has been discharged from the hospital. He is fatigued, but doing well. Able to walk around the hotel without assistance (like up to the room). He is still coughing quite a bit which is to be expected. We will go back and see a couple of the docs on Tuesday before we fly home, hopefully on Wednesday. Still have to hear from AIG about what tickets they have been able to secure.
Chip is off the the local IMAX this evening. TJ and I are off to bed hopefully for a long night's sleep without the disturbances inherent in a hospital.
The doctors tell us to plan on being discharged tomorrow. We will remain in Bangkok for a few more days for Tim to rest and gain more strength before hitting the airport again. A flight doctor has to fill out a "Fit to Fly" form; this is a different doctor than the treating physician but they work hand in hand.
Please continue to pray that things go smoothly for the discharge and all the details of getting tickets rebooked, escort through airports, etc.
Jon is moving to Knoxville TN this weekend. We decided that it would be less commotion at home for him to move while we are still away. Please pray for safety as he goes- he is really tired.
Chip had a killer migraine again today, but is feeling better this evening and out bumming the city.
Personally, I am going to bed early to be ready for our big day tomorrow.
Thank you for your prayers.God was so good in again sparing my life.After ten days in the ICU, they removed my breathing tube, feeding tube and two arterial lines yesterday.Today I go to a step down unit for a few days while we make arrangements for the trip home when advisable.
Being awake the whole time this time provided some good spiritual lessons.I gave up asking God to take the pain away, why should I be exempt?Or, to be with me, (he was).I just ended repeatedly asking for his closeness and thought a lot about his suffering.The hardest thing was getting my breathing tube cleaned multiple times a day which triggered involuntary spasms and huge pain.Just breathing was something that took a huge effort (an hour on a vent when not in a coma is like twenty four hours).Often I felt like I was trying to breathe through mud or fluid.
My companion has been CNN news and I have done a lot of reflecting on the vast majority of our world, in Gaza and elsewhere who are caught in the political crossfire or just the ravages of disease and poverty and who have none of the health care advantages that I have had.I cannot imagine being in those circumstances having lived through the over 60 days I have been in the hospital since December 4, 2007.Most of them in the ICU.
The first day was the most difficult day that I can "remember."I know I was in more serious situations a year ago and closer to death but I had the advantage of sleeping through the worst of it.This time as I listened to them talk about severe pneumonia, septic shock, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and a lot of the past year came flooding back, including the question as to whether I would live through this again.
Fortunately, Steven was able to provide a lot of medical history so from the first hours they treated me with everything they could throw at the pneumonia in case MRSA had reappeared.It was interesting to have my son giving them permission to do all kinds of things, but he was in touch with Mary Ann and had been through this before. I was quickly developing sepsis so was lucid but like through a fog.
By the way, the neurologist has ruled out a seizure on the plane, although that is what it looked like to the flight attendant.I did lose consciousness and vomited and was disoriented after the cabin was pressurized and was heading for the runway.My blood pressure was dangerously low for some reason and speculation is that an infection was already brewing.
Also, unlike many of the events last year, I was awake for everything this year including the difficult and potentially dangerous procedure of putting a central line right into my neck since they were not successful in doing to in my chest.I told Mary Ann that there was merit to either a coma or heaven and she made it clear that the coma was an option but not heaven.I was also amazed once again at how quickly I was in such trouble.
I thought initially that the admittance to the hospital was a formality but I was already in septic shock and going downhill very rapidly – and I was fully aware of the danger I was in and wondered if I would survive this time.Mary Ann was not here till I had been in the hospital for three days although a number of awesome RG staff dropped everything to be here and to help.
I am sure I will be learning through this experience as I did from my prior hospital stay.I figured today that I have spent 60 days in the hospital, almost all in ICU since December 4, 2007.Thank you for your prayers and love.I am overwhelmed that others would care, but we are deeply grateful.
For security, please refer to "TJ", not, well, you know. His job is quite sensitive in some places. See A Little Blog Housekeeping for more information.
Calendar
For easy reference to what day a certain day was in 2007.
Some of the more important and popular posts (from December 2007): In and Out of the Fire: A basic timeline of TJ's entire stay in the hospital.
The Rest of The Story: A more detailed summary of how TJ got into the ICU in the first place, along with some of the bumps along the way. An Attempt At A Word Picture: What it's like to be in the ICU. Powerful Times: A bigger picture of the blog, the stay in the ICU, and TJ's comments on it before he knew what was going to happen. Genesis of a Blog: Why this got started, and why it blesses us.
What Are the Vitals?: An explanation of the vital signs we track and why they are important.
Sourcing Wikipedia
I'm sure that some of you have noticed that we link to Wikipedia quite a bit. There is a good reason for this, Wikipedia usually has the most complete information regarding whatever we are referencing. It generally pulls together many other sources that are considered "reputable" which are at the bibliography at the bottom.
So we do check out the article first and its sources, and it is usually pretty good. (If it's not we link to somewhere else.)
Glossary
Any words or acronyms you don't know? Look at our Glossary. Updated as often as necessary.
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