SharivilleLife stories from Shari

Yesterday we left early enough in the day to miss the AM traffic rush, headed for two doctors appts. for Jerry.  First with the new cardiologist, who will now be our Texas cardiologist, as he himself proclaimed. He is young and very handsome with a very positive personalty, made us comfortable immediately.  He pronounced Jerry in great condition and the new valve sounded perfect.  We were there almost 2 hours.  They are very efficient in this area.  Everything is automated and done by helpers before the doc gets in to see you.   I guess with the population around here so great they have learned how to cut to the chase.  We were off to lunch with only an hour to spare between docs and having to go all the way across Dallas to get there. That’s the main drawback here is the traffic.  The next doc was The Main Man.  Dr. Michael Mack, the open heart, thoracic surgeon.  He also gave Jerry a clean bill of heath, and we sadly said our farewells.  I will never forget that great man of healing, his down to earth attitude and the fact that he gave Jerry back to us in good health.  I would climb the highest mountain to proclaim this mans genius. Thank you Dr. Mack for being there and being who you are.  By then it was 5:30 in the evening and here that signifies the mad rush to the suburbs from a long day at work in the city. Thousands hit the freeways for the next 2 hours.  We drove thru the outskirts of Dallas, not downtown, and I realize why there is no smog here.  Dallas , Fort Worth area is home to many many of our countries corporate headquarters.  That means white collar jobs and not factory and industry work.  That’s one reason there is so  much money here and they are not feeling the recession like other parts of the country.  Their building are so tall and so attractive  I could just ride around looking at and identifying them.  We passed Mary Kay’s corporate,and I thought of you Mary Hubbard, not that you are not on my mind a lot anyway. I know we are in all your family’s prayers.  Much appreciated and returned to you all.

Anyway, I got distracted from the tail lights.  So leaving the city so late subjected us to a never ending , never ending row after row of red tail lights in front of us and wall to wall traffic of all sorts. We wanted to stop off for a Star Bucks caffeine hit, but could not get off the freeway to do so.  It’s brutal around here.  The upside however is, everything a person could possibly need or want is right here in the DFW Metroplex. And during the right time of day its all at our disposal.  I will definitely, most definitely, plan my excursions into the city on off traffic times.  Two hours of red tail lights in front of me is marked into my brain and not something in my dreams.

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, 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