SharivilleLife stories from Shari

At least Tommy thought he did!

A funny thing happened to Tommy on the way to work the first night Jerry was home from the hospital. It seems early on Thurs morning Tommy passed our bedroom on the way to Angie’s office to get his car keys, glanced in an discovered someone was missing in the bed.  I usually sleep on the right side of the bed, but when Jerry came home here , he felt it easier to get in and out of bed on the right. Seeing the left side of the bed empty he immediately missed Jerry.  He searched the house , back yard, and garage, notified Angie and the kids upstairs and was already backing the Scion out of the driveway when Angie caught up with him. I had slipped out of bed into the bathroom and not turned on the light, like I know where to go in there,  even if its dark.  Since the bathroom was dark all he could think of was that Jerry was gone.  I heard all the commotion and said” whats going on out there,” that’s when Angie figured it out and caught Tommy before he started to cruise the neighborhood in search of what he thought was a wayward Jerry.  Bless his heart he would have had the whole neighborhood up an running at 6:30 Am.  That’s been our laugh of the week. I think he thought Jerry’s first night home from the hospital, maybe he got disoriented and took a stroll. Thank goodness Jerry doesn’t get disoriented.

In fact he is doing very well, a little stubborn on occasion, but guess that’s OK after what he’s just been thru.  Today he and Tommy went to get haircuts and go to lunch at HOOTER’S, so I guess he’s getting back into the swing of things. Jerry is very proud of the wrap Tommy and Tyler installed on his pickup.  It’s hard to see in the picture, but it’s a map of the USA, That way we can pick out all the places that we have traveled to. It’s a really cool idea. The kids have made it very comfortable here for us, even putting their very own huge king size bed in the guest room so we can be more comfortable and have lots of room for Jerry to stretch out.  We go over to the trailer daily to check on our cats, love them awhile. I’m getting used to driving the little Scion.  I’m going to fall in love with that little car, it’s so fun and easy to drive.

There is a book about Military life and those who have lived it coming out.  Angie has her story published in it.  To find out about it go to her web site. www.angiestrader.com and check it out.  It’s a great book about the folks that are giving their all to keep us safe.  I’m glad someone had put it all together in a book.  I’m proud that they picked up her story for the book and made it through 5 cuts.

I finally found my nitch, since I love to cook, I have been signed on for awhile as chief cook and bottle washer here at the Strader house.  They get to taste test all my recipe’s, old and new.  They all like comfort food and I am good at that .  Tomorrow a breakfast of sausage, scrambled eggs with cheese and potatoes and toast.  Then since it’s Sun we will have a pot roast with all the trimmings for dinner.  Even the 4 dogs are in agreement, as they get extra scraps and bites. I am also getting my dog fix, I have 4 precious ones to hug and love on, they and the 4 cats keep us busy.

I hope all is well with all of you and that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving planned.  This will truly be a thankful year for all of us,  we still have a healthy Jerry. God must still have plans for him, I know we do.    Hugs to all,   S and J.

Well this looks like our last night here at the Baylor Heart Hospital. That is of course if Jerry has a good night tonight.  He is being weaned off the oxygen, which is proving to be somewhat difficult.  This Blood Pressure thing is beginning to resolve, and he is on oral meds entirely now except for occas IV potassium or mag.  He’s had good results with the diuretics and he’s not so puffy now.  Jerry is a tough bird and was in good shape coming in here.  He had been quite active, non-smoker or drinker, and all his previous grafts from his first surgery bypass are good and clear.  So we have been doing something right. This is just another stumble along life’s path that we have to overcome.  Its been great that I have been able to stay here at the hospital. They really encourage family involvement.  Last night he even got a sponge bath from his life long nurse (me).  It did help him relax and sleep better, either that or he is definitely getting better, and he is. He is out walking in the hall and I have to hurry to keep up with him.  The nurses say he is doing remarkably well, a lot of prayers have gone into this medical course, for which I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you all.

This will be night 6 here and the only down side is that I never get more that a couple hours sleep at a time, because he has such a busy schedule.  I have a really comfortable bed to sleep in and a nice shower in the room, Jerry’s not using it.  the staff bring me linen and towels, etc. They come in at night and do their best to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb me, I’m a light sleeper is the problem, but the best part is that I am able to be here to help him with the things I know he needs help with and he doesn’t have to ask others for help. We could not have accidentally landed in a more perfect place, I give all the credit to my special friend Joy, my high school classmate form Calif. class of “60″.  Joy lives in a small town about 60 miles from Dallas.  She was so kind as to come here on Jerry’s surgery day and sit with us for support.  She is one of Gods real angels. They have the best staff here form the housekeepers to the MDs, they are all wonderful. Jerry got the pacemaker wires pulled out of his chest today and all he has left is his central line, they are using that for IV supplements and to draw blood. The food here is great, it costs me $10.00 for a guest tray and I cant go down to the Heart Rock Cafe and get that kind of dinner for less.  Tonight I had home made chicken noodle soup, green salad, fillet Mignon, asparagus, baked potato with butter and sour cream and an dinner roll and strawberry sauced angel food cake and of course Starbucks coffee. Last night I has grilled salmon with similar side dishes. In the mornings I usually order a bagel and cream cheese on Jerry’s tray, at lunch time if I don’t go downstairs I get a sandwich out of the frig across the hall form his room.  They keep that fridge stocked with sandwiches, puddings, ice cream, pop sickles, sodas, milk, jello, small salads, of course theres always crackers and cheese and graham crackers and Starbucks coffee, which I really like.  Ive been known to be eating a turkey sandwich a 1 AM, if I can’t sleep and get hungry more than once this past week. The staff makes it known that the fridgee food is for the families of the patients and encourage us to partake. I may even miss this place and I never thought I would say that about any hospital.

We have decided finally to go to Angie’s house for the first few weeks.  It would be to difficult to get in and out of the trailer since it’s so high off the ground and Jerry is not to use his arms to pull or push for awhile. It will be two weeks before he starts Cardiac Rehab and he will need to keep up the walking prior to that. It will just be easier from Angie’s house. I will go over and visit with the kitties in the mean time.  Angie has a nice guest room. Well, all is good here, so far, hope all is well with you all.  Let me know otherwise.  I will be in touch when I have something more to catch you up on.  Hugs,   S and J.

Hello everyone, all our prayers and good will thoughts have been answered.  Jerry got out of surgery yesterday evening about 6 pm.  His surgeon replaced his aortic valve and decided that was all that was necessary, after looking the situation over up close and for sure.  He was unable to put in a larger valve due to the small size of Jerry’s vessels, so he put in the same size only new.  I guess the old valve was very calcified and bordering on useless. We got here just in time.  Anyone of you who have googled Dr Michael Mack know how brilliant he is as surgeon and I’m here to tell he’s a wonderful human being also.  Very laid back and down to earth. We have been so blessed to have him.

While here in the Dallas area, I connected with a fellow class of “60″, classmate, Joy Jones, and she asked us to consider Baylor Heart Hospital for the surgery.  It’s a Christian Hospital , based on Baylor Christian University. Let me tell you all about this fabulous hospital. Talk about being blessed with the heart surgeon, this hospital is a work of art.  It’s a 100 million $ facility.  It has 68 beds and 400 employees. It has 4 floors, 3 cardiac catheterization labs, 3 operating rooms.  It has free wifi. There is the Heart Rock Cafe a nice dining venue.  In suite dining, valet parking Concierge service and a heliport.

Each room is a spacious, private suite.  Family and friends may visit here as their schedules permit. When Jerry is ready for breakfast, lunch or dinner we simply pick up the phone an dial ”ROOM SERVICE”. Food service has already been notified of his particular diet plan and he is able to select from a personal menu.  The meals come with fine china and cloth napkins delivered by a tuxedo attired server.  Families can use the room service also for a charge.  They serve Starbucks coffee, and oh well, if I can’t get Green Mountain, Starbucks will do.   They also have a great cardiac rehab program here that Jerry will make use of.

I spent last night here in the room with Jerry and will again tonight.  There is a comfortable day bed in his suite and huge bathroom where I can shower.  The kids brought me a change of clothes and other things I needed so I am all set. He really feels more comfortable if I’m here.  I am able to help him with some of his activities.  He is doing super will.  Liz, they already DC’d the Swan and Largest chest tube, 2 Peripheral IV’s. He’s been up and down in his chair, tolerating it well, they will be walking him in a little while. He is eating some, not a lot yet, but all seems to be progressing well. They have not snowed him with pain meds, a little bit goes a long way with Jerry.   All the rooms have floor to ceiling windows, wood laminate floors and comfortable furniture. It’s more like a hotel than a hospital room.   They use the universal bed concept where , GUESTS, as the patients are called, stay in one room during their entire hospitalization. No crazy multiple transfers from room to room. We are having some blood pressure problems, too high. They are working diligently on that.  This floor is run primarily be nurse practitioner’s.  Hey Liz, one for our side. Well so much for the less than 24 hour post op update.  I will keep all informed of Jerry’s status. The kids have been right here with me all along except to go home last night to sleep.  Once again this is a 3 generation operation we have going here.  Thank goodness for their constant support.   Hugs.  S and J.

Hello after some quiet days. We are getting closer to surgery date, day after tomorrow.  I think all of us are on edge somewhat.  I think we all truly believe it’s in Gods hands now, and that all will turn out fine.  I just dread the recovery time, it’s so unfair for Jerry to have to undergo this procedure twice. I wish I could change this and make it all better at once. This for me is the frustrating part, there seems like I can’t do anything to spare him.  Jerry is so brave and taking in all in stride.  I think he looks like it as just a little inconvenience along life’s path. We both know there’s so much ahead of us, so many more roads to cross over and more adventures to conquer, still a lot of roses to smell along the way. We have so many plans for the future.  In 37 yrs. it’s always been one adventure after another.  He is and has always been THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS.  He’s always put me first in his life and been there for all the support he could give me in all circumstances and trials of my life.  We have been together more that half my life and we still have lots of life to still be together.  So, I guess we can take a little time off now and get ready for the rest of our lives. He will come out of this breathing so much better, with so much more energy and vitality. Please keep us in your thoughts and esp prayers.  We can feel the love and support.

I  would love to tell you all about my wonderful birthday weekend, but I need to save that for when I can really do it justice.  The best part of my birthday was that we were all together, all 3 generations, Jerry and I, Angie and Tommy and Felecia and Tyler. How blessed could we be?     Hugs.    S and J.

Hello all , happy Halloween. It’s fun here tonight, Felecia, my grandaugter, and her boyfriend Tyler are getting ready to go to a downtown  Fort Worth Club to celebrate, Angie is doing her hair for the occasion.  Here is a picture after hair and makeup.

Today Angie took Jerry and I to lunch at a place called Which Wich.  It’s different from any place we have been before.  You walk in and take a paper bag and on the bag has a choice of sandwiches, and what you want on the sandwich, you mark it pay for it and the sandwich is made according to your directions. Then you pick up the sandwich when they call your name and it’s packaged in the original bag. It’s a really healthy place to eat, they are a lot like Subs only better and more unique.

Yesterday morning we went to Tommy”s shop at 360 Wraps.  It was baby day, and Tommy and Tyler wrapped helmets for 16 different babies.  There were no multiples yesterday, but he has done helmets for quadruplets before.  The reason for the helmets is a condition called Plagiocephaly, it’s misshapen heads for one reason or another, usually happens in the womb with multiples, they just run out of room and get squeezed.  The helmets are worn 23 hours a day.  They cost $3,600 each .  They come  in plain white, made of medical plastic material and are adjustable.   The kids wear these helmets from 2 to 6 mos. and it takes about 4 months to correct the condition.  Tommy got into this helmet wrapping because a desperate father came in asking if Tommy could wrap his kids helmet with something colorful, it seems sibblings and other people kind of stared as in plain white it did make it look like a medical device and the babies stood out and the sibblings made fun of it.  Well, this has become Tommy and Angie’s charity, as they do not charge for this and to this day Tommy and Tyler have wrapped 95 helmets.  The parents are so delighted and now their babies are so admired.  It’s fun for them to pick a design and color with the babies name on the helmets.  It’s now a status symbol for what otherwise was a stigma. Now they have to have an appointment and Tommy devotes one day a month to do the babies, and he does it for free.  Click here for more info www.wrapbuddies.com.  We were lucky enough to get to be here for baby day and it was fun.  The parents bring food like a pot luck of finger foods, everyone shares and it’s a real event.  These parents are so happy with this, and it’s increasing all the time by word of mouth.  It’s amazing how many babies have this condition.  All the parents bring camera’s and photograph the process and then want a picture with Tommy holding the babies.  This way Tommy gets his baby fix too.

We did find a place for the trailer just down the street from the kids.  It’s not perfect, but it’s great to be so close.  That way when Jerry is in the hospital, and the Doc said from 7 to 9 days.  It won’t have far to drive to the kids.   Tommy is letting us use the Scion while we are here.

Well that’s all that’s new for now, each day something goes on here.    More later…Hugs  S and J

Hello, our prayers are answered in part, and we have been blessed with a truly wonderful heart surgeon.  He is a renowned open heart and heart transplant surgeon, one of the best in the United States.  Jerry’s surgery is scheduled for Nov 12, 09, in the afternoon.  He will replace an aortic valve and possibly the top end of the aorta, very tricky, and do another bypass of one vessel.  The Dr. is Michael Mack, and he’s also a nice guy.  The surgery will be at Baylor Heart Hospital not too far from Angie’s.  The hospital also has an excellent  reputation for heart surgery.  We are feeling better now that we know whats going to be done and when, we can now make plans for our obviously long stay here with the kids. Both Angie and Tommy have been beyond belief, helpful. Jerry is feeling more relaxed tonight and in good spirits.  I know he’s uptight but he would be crazy not to be. After talking to this physician, he is so confident and self assured that he made us all feel better.  Thanks again for all the support and prayers and all my facebook buddies too.  Tomorrow I will follow with some really good and uplifting events going on here.                Hugs,           S and J

Hello all, We hit the road from Bowling Green Medical Center Wed. after clearance from the heart surgeon about 5 PM in the evening with an appointment wtih a heart surgeon here in Dallas tomorrow at 2:30. and all his records with us.   They wasted no time getting us set up here in Dallas with the surgeons colleague.  Tommy and Jerry in the truck pulling the trailer and Angie and I in the Camero.  Angie  ran tail gunner, she stayed in the passing lane so Tommy would have no trouble passing the many thousands of trucks on the road. We had over 800 miles to cover ASAP.  We spent the first night in West Memphis in a Holiday Inn, the next day drove on into Dallas at about 8 PM.  Tommy was more than exhausted.  The trailer setup where we were suppose to set up did not work out for us as we need 50 amp and they had only 30.  So we have the truck and trailer parked in the cul de sac around the corner from Angie’s until further plans are made.   It is so good to be here with the kids.  I feel so much safer and so does Jerry.  Tomorrow we will know what the next few weeks will bring, after seeing the heart surgeon.  We are going direct to the surgeon and skipping the cardiologist because it is that serious. The major problem remains the Aortic Valve failure.  Please keep us all in your prayers, this family is in crisis right now , and I do feel the angels are watching.   Hugs,  S and J

We waited all day and finally Jerry went in for his cardiac catheterization.  Thank you all for your  prayers because thankfully they found all of the previous grafts from the first surgery to still be open and viable.  There was one coronary artery that is 70% occluded and will need an angioplasty and a stent, but we still have to address the aortic valve that is in need of repair, or replacement.  Tomorrow we will find out from the open heart surgeon here if he feels that Jerry is stable enough to travel to Dallas, with a referral to a cardiologist there.  We then hope to have the surgery done at Baylor University Hospital in Dallas.  As of tonight that is our plan , but then we all know about plans.

Everyone here has been wonderful to us all. The hospital is a wonderful facility and the staff have outdone themselves.  We could not have ended up in a better place to have an emergency.  This vacation sure has had its problems.  Jerry’s cousin in Iowa says I need to write a book about  “The Vacation From Hell.”   Some of you will get to meet her, she will be out to visit us when we finally do get home.  She is a hoot , her name is JoAnne.

Angie and Tommy have been life savers here for me.  And I get to ride around in a gorgeous Camero.  Jerry is in good spirits and feels good having the kids here too.  They are such a support system.

Liz, you should see the fall foliage here, its absolutely beautiful, I haven’t gotten the  pictures that I would ordinarily have gotten for obvious reasons, but I have enjoyed the scenery. Well, once again thank you all so much for your prayers, calls and Emails of support they mean so much to all of us , especially Jerry, who is trying so hard to come thru this. Thank you Liz for the beautiful flowers, it made Jerry’s day.  More Later,    Hugs;    S and J.

Angie and Tommy arrived this afternoon.  I’m always so glad to see them , but today, especially glad.  I was feeling so alone with trying to make all these decisions.  The doc’s told us that they did not recommend that we take Jerry out of the hospital until they performed a heart catheterization.  It seems as of this morning they decided that he had indeed had a  heart attack.  Angie and Tommy had arranged to have a private plane fly him from here to Dallas, but they strongly discouraged that, and actually maybe they are right, because if he suddenly decided to have another heart attack in mid air it would be very inconvenient at several thousand feet up.  They said if we decided to check Jerry out of the hospital I would have to sign a paper saying, ” it’s against medical advice,” I’ve seen this before in my own practice, as a nurse, and it almost always turns out not to be for best. After talking with Jerry and the kids we have decided to stay here and go forward with the heart cateterization.  It will give us a definitive answer as to how much damage to the heart that has already been done.  We already are aware of the valve , but now we have the further problem of the actual heart attack, a very real complication. Problem is the time schedule, it won’t happen until 4PM on Mon.  Tommy said they will be staying here with us, because he’s not going back to Dallas without Jerry.

I’m so praying that they will find him stable enough to travel and in that case we may still fly Jerry and Angie and I to Dallas. Thanks to Judy Lou, who put me in touch with another classmate of ours Joy, who  lives only 65 miles from the kids, suggested instead of the VA, we admit him to Baylor University Hospital.  I had completely forgotten about Baylor, it’s a well known teaching hospital with fab resources.  That’s where we will probably have him admitted to.  Now it could be the case that during the heart cath they may find they can do an angioplasty and put in stents , which would resolve the blockage.  That would take care of the heart failure, and Baylor can then deal with the Aortic Valve problem, that is not so urgent.

At any rate we are staying at the trailer in the meanwhile. Jerry is doing much better now with all the fluid off his lungs so he can really breathe again normally. He also feels better with Angie and Tommy here.  So all things aside things are looking up now that some decisions have been made.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers and think positive thoughts for us all.   I will continue to keep you in the loop, as Judy Lou and Bob say.   More later when I know more.    Hugs,  S and J.