Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles

After eight long days and seven even longer nights in Louisiana Heart Hospital following what proved to be five heart bypasses, Tom was given the release to come home.  We got here about 6 p.m. Wednesday evening, with his best friend Ron here to greet us and help Tom get into the house from the garage & straight to bed.

He had two major complications the third day following surgery, which have really sapped his strength and slowed down his healing process, so is about a week behind in where we had hoped he would be by now.  Everything is  a huge effort, even just walking a few steps.  The complications are under control, but continue.

Please continue to remember us both in your prayers.  Each of you praying for him – and me – has contributed to him being as far along as he is right now, I’m convinced.  He was not doing well at all the last couple of days in the hospital and I spent two hours in deep, earnest prayer with our Father in Heaven the middle of the day asking God to help Tom rally.  I went and told the nurses that he desperately wanted to come home, even though they did not feel he was at all ready.

But, we were able to convince the doctors, nurse practitioner and nurses that we knew what we faced (we’ve been here before, if you remember, with his major heart attack in October, 1999 and my five heart bypasses with multiple complications in March 2004), were making plans for help and that he would, indeed, be better off at home.

And, he has been, thank God almighty!

Ron was willing to stay all night Wednesday if we needed him, as Tom was so unsure on his feet.  But after being home just a couple of hours, he thought he was able to get around just a bit without falling, and that was good.  A Home Health nurse came yesterday to check on him and will be back Monday to do blood work and check his vitals, etc.  They sent a really sweet physical therapist this morning to get him started on just some very light exercises to strengthen his legs and arms.

Ron came and stayed with Tom yesterday afternoon for a couple of hours to I could get groceries, more Rx’s, etc,s and came back at noon today to bring us three home cooked meals from friends.  Ron even made Tom some homemade chicken noodle soup, which Tom had for lunch today.  It’s delicious and full of chunky chicken breast pieces.  He’s on a high protein, all he can eat (right now) meal plan.

The Mississippi Press Association sent a fruit basket and other friends have volunteered to bring us meals, as I am busy 24/7 keeping up with him, I’m tellin’ ya.

Last, but not least (you guys will all be happy to know and happy for him! ha!) – he’s managed to rack up some more electronic gadgets as get well/early birthday presents.  So, now that he’s home and beginning to feel just a tad better, he’s a happy camper.

Bless Rebecca’s sweet heart, she not only did three loads of laundry, went grocery shopping, and cleaned the house, she made two meals, as well, all the day of Tom’s surgery (week ago Wednesday.  Then, she went shopping for a get well gift and gave him a “fine” universal remote he’d been wanted for about four years.  It’s identical to Ron’s, so he fully programmed it on Tom’s computer yesterday for him while he was here.  Tom’s sister, Debbie, and his older brother, Dickie, and spouses gave him an iHome for his iPod, which includes a docking station, stereo speakers, a clock and alarm.  He hasn’t opened it yet, but it is sitting out waiting for him to feel well enough to “play” with it.

The best gift he’s had so far – and mine, as well, has been that Tom’s daughter, Kristine, has been here with us since the evening before his surgery, just leaving Wednesday morning.  Her help and care giving of Tom while he was in the hospital was a true Godsend.  We couldn’t have made it without her help.  Truly.

We feel deeply blessed.

Thank you each.  And, many blessings to each of you today!  Dee