Just when you think you're out of the woods and in the clear....you're not!
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| This little tree had not been lit the last time we were in the hospital. Someone fixed it and it was lit when I left :) |
Last night I left the hospital because Dad was doing so well. When I got home at 10:30, Mom reported that there were no changes when I talked to her. I hopped in the shower, ate a snack and started the blog. Little did I know that an hour and 45 minutes after I finished writing the blog, that everything would change...for the worst!
Brendan called me at 1:45 and said that Mom had called. Dad's internal defib kept firing and they had to shock him with their defibrillator to get him back into a normal rhythm. She told us they called the dreaded code blue for him.
Brendan and Kerry came to get me at the house. They were at the door less than 5 minutes after I talked to them and we started on our way back to Boston. I called Joe and told him he should probably come up. Joe and Lauren packed themselves and their dog, Biggie, into Joe's car and headed up to Boston.
Brendan and Kerry came to get me at the house. They were at the door less than 5 minutes after I talked to them and we started on our way back to Boston. I called Joe and told him he should probably come up. Joe and Lauren packed themselves and their dog, Biggie, into Joe's car and headed up to Boston.
We arrived and checked in at the desk we did not know what to expect. Mom had called again while we were on our way to let us know he was awake and even talking to the doctor responding to questions...That's my Dad fighting the odds every step of the way!!!! They sent us to the family room to wait until they had him ready.
His hematocrit level had dropped to a below critical level of 14! Normal people it' s 40 -50, people with a LVAD 30's and he was at 14. This is the lowest his count has ever been! So he was either still bleeding out or the blood he received before was not enough to sustain blood volume.
His hematocrit level had dropped to a below critical level of 14! Normal people it' s 40 -50, people with a LVAD 30's and he was at 14. This is the lowest his count has ever been! So he was either still bleeding out or the blood he received before was not enough to sustain blood volume.
They think the shocks and V-Tach episodes were due to the anemic state he was in. When there is not enough blood volume the heart can squeeze it's ventricles together causing interference and static episodes. They interrogated the unit and found all the episodes recorded.
They gave him two more units of blood, at this point, they were badly needed. I asked him if he felt like he had just gone 12 rounds in a boxing ring?...he said, worse!
They gave him two more units of blood, at this point, they were badly needed. I asked him if he felt like he had just gone 12 rounds in a boxing ring?...he said, worse!
We slept in awkward positions for about 20 minutes or so at a time. One couch, one catapulting chair, 4 of us kids one Mom and a partridge in a pear tree, not exactly comfortable :)
Joe and Lauren arrived at 6:50 and came right up to the room. They were able to say hi and spend some time in the room then Brendan and Mom went to get breakfast. After, I grabbed breakfast and they stayed with Dad.
They had to do a few more tests so we all stepped out into the lobby for a bit. We were greeted by Kerry and little Julie. Kerry brought us muffins and hot chocolate and little Julie who cheered everyone up. Thanks Kerry :)
Joe and Lauren arrived at 6:50 and came right up to the room. They were able to say hi and spend some time in the room then Brendan and Mom went to get breakfast. After, I grabbed breakfast and they stayed with Dad.
They had to do a few more tests so we all stepped out into the lobby for a bit. We were greeted by Kerry and little Julie. Kerry brought us muffins and hot chocolate and little Julie who cheered everyone up. Thanks Kerry :)
Mom and I watched as a man decided to stand in the middle of the street this morning. No idea what he was doing but 5 minutes after I took this, he got out of the way of an ambulance screaming down the street!
They have been in and out of the room all day doing all kinds of tests and running blood tests to make sure the two more units of blood he received last night...remember he's a vampire...were sufficient. I am happy to report that his first levels came back at 22 and then a little while ago he was at 24!!!! Woohoo!
They also feel like the clamps did work it just took a while for them to stop the bleeding.
This is the Dinosaur Lilly bought Brendan for a Christmas present. She wanted Kerry to take it to him so he would have it at the hospital :)
We spent another hour or so in the waiting room while they cleaned Dad up and let him shave. Imagine having the worst day of your life and wanting to shave the next day. I think he is doing well and has turned the proverbial corner. His color is 1,000 times better. I thought it was good yesterday, well today, it is even better.
They are going to cover all possibilities and leave no stone unturned until they fix this problem and we are able to go home. We are hoping for a heart sooner rather than later. Pray that one comes in for him soon!
They are going to cover all possibilities and leave no stone unturned until they fix this problem and we are able to go home. We are hoping for a heart sooner rather than later. Pray that one comes in for him soon!
It started to snow on Mission Hill so the boys, Kerry, Julie and Lauren went home. Luckily John and Daniel had gone to the house, checked on everything for us, brought us in the mail, some fuel pellets from out back and cleaned off all the cars and moved them to the front driveway. I just talked to Joe who said Biggie did fine at Grammy and Papa's house all day in his crate and that the drive home wasn't bad at all.
Mom and I are staying the night. I would much rather be here than at home if something changes. We had an awful night but luckily someone up there is watching over Dad and keeping him here with us.
Thanks to everyone for all the messages, texts, calls, Facebook messages, e-mails and support. These last few days were truly some of the worst days we have experienced in this journey. Never in my wildest nightmares did I expect to be racing back to the Brigham at 2 a.m. after having left less than 4 hours before.
Keep those prayers coming. This has been a long winding yellow brick road and we haven't even seen the wizard to ask him for a new heart!
Until Tomorrow,
Laurie
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