Nancy spoke to the doctor yesterday (Thursday). She was able to get some answers to many of the questions I had about Dad’s recovery.

Here’s some of what she found out transformed into a Q&A format:

Q: Will Dad have the same life-long lifting restrictions as Aunt Rosemary (who had surgery in August 2001 for a myxoma, a tumor in the left atrium)?
A: The 5 lb. restriction for Dad is only for 1-2 months post op. He said the surgery Aunt Rosemary had does restrict lifting to 5lbs for life, but that once the Cardiologist clears dad, he can lift more.

Q: What about other restrictions?
A: He is also not to go up steps other then the 2 at their house for one month. No driving until cleared by the doctor and no house cleaning, grocery shopping, gardening etc. until cleared (like dad would be doing cleaning LOL).

Q: Will he need a special diet as soon as he gets home?
A: As for diet, low fat and low salt, but they don’t want to get too strict until after 3 months recovery.

Other News:
He may still come home on Sat. they are taking it day by day. Dad went to therapy twice [Thursday] and did the required walking and was taken off the oxygen. If he can stay off the oxygen it is more likely that he will go home.

Nancy told mom that if he goes home and walks to the shack and starts working on the computer [and this blog ], at least he will be sitting up. Maybe that will motivate him to stick with the recovery program.

Thanks to Nancy for getting all this info.

I also spoke to Mom last night. She got a call from the visitiing nurse who will come to the house twice a week ($35 copay each trip!) to check on Dad once he is home. I’ll save my rantings about such insurance company ripoffs for another time. For now please pray that they don’t send him home before he is really able to move about on his own. Mom certainly cannot lift him. I’m rather worried we will soon have TWO patients on our hands.

Cindy

I apologize for the lack of posts.  Most of the “news” the past few days has been about bureaucratic hassles–insurance companies, rehab facilities with no cardiac rehab specialists, etc.  And a patient who thinks he can talk his way out of rehab but seems to just want to be waited on.

Of course, these types of ups and downs are “normal”, but they are rather a pain to deal with as they happen.

Prayers that Mom and Nancy have the patience and persistence to deal with all the nonsense and that Dad will decide to do the work required for his recovery.

On a more upbeat note:  BASEBALL has begun!  The Twins play tonight and the Cubs tomorrow.

Love, Cindy

Hello everyone,

Just saw dad at the rehab center. He looks better but is very weak. It took a long time for him to eat lunch but at least he does it on his own. He does the breathing exercises but not as often as he should (once an hour). He is back on the oxygen which he can’t stand the tube over his ears. Tomorrow the physical therapist will see him and fit him for a walker.

Kathy, the package arrived and he enjoyed the family pictures.

I’ll keep everyone posted of any news or changes.

An ice storm is headed this way tonight so we are happy dad is closer to home. No more 40min. drives through pine forests!

Love,
Nancy
[P.S. from Cindy -- We got a foot of snow here in Minnesota, the first real snow of the winter, and it's still coming down. At least snow is better than ice!]

Well, apparently he was so crabby and bossy yesterday that they decided to kick him out   Not really.  He thought he was going “home” but is actually on his way to the Southern Ocean County Rehab in Manahawkin.  Just down the street from home.

More details once he gets settled there.

Cindy

Hi all,

Dad was moved to a regular room yesterday.

Today he has reverted to crabby and bossy mode.  Refusing to do his breathing exercises. Ordering everyone around.  He’s also insisting that he will just skip rehab and go home and let mom take care of him 24/7.  As you can imagine, she’s just thrilled about that.

One step forward and two steps back.

Tomorrow is another day.

Cindy

Hi all,

Dad was moved today from Surgical ICU to Medical ICU. He’s in a room by himself. Mom and Nancy can actually sit and stay there during their daily 11-3 visits.

Nancy says he’s doing much better at everything: eating, breathing exercises, etc. Father Murray came to visit from St. Stephen’s church and Dad recognized him right away. They had a good chat.

Dad has some confusion about most of what’s happened since he’s been in the hospital (Feb 5th to present), but apparently that’s pretty normal.

The physical therapy team has been working with him. He seems eager to work with them so he can get out of there and go home. He misses Bootsie (the cat).

Love, Cindy

P.S.  Dad is convinced that I’ve been there visiting.  Mom and Nancy patiently explain “No, she’s in Minnesota”.  My explanation–”when I pray my spirit goes and sits with him (and sometimes my cats, Mudpie and Marvel, come with me).”

Today dad was in better spirits. Talking more and eating solid food with assistance. They have not moved him to the 4th floor yet. [still in Surgical ICU] They are waiting for a room. He is doing better with his breathing exercises and they used Tylenol not morphine for pain today. He says hello to everyone and asked about Bootsie the cat today.

Each day brings a little improvement.

Mom is going to a church meeting tonight which will be a good change of pace for her.

Take care,

Nancy

Hello everyone!

Dad had the balloon removed around 4pm Friday night. [REMINDER from Cindy: the balloon pump was fed up through his femural artery to the left ventricle; literally a balloon inflating and deflating to help his heart pump] He is doing well without it. He was able to sit up in the bed today. He is drinking clear fluids and eating pudding and soup.

He is not a good patient when it comes to the required coughing and breathing treatments. He tends to whisper and cough from his throat. We do know that he can talk at the normal volume since he yelled at mom to let go of his hand and yelled that he wanted to use the bathroom (he is hooked up to a catheter). He also at one point said he needed DUCT TAPE. This will be a SLOW recovery until he gets it in his mind that he can get home quicker if he follows directions.

Take care,
Nancy

Not much news today. The long slow haul begins. I’m not sure whether I will continue to post every day, but given how worried I was today when I hadn’t heard anything from mom and Nancy, I thought I’d better post a brief update.

Dad was rather glum and discouraged today. Apparently he had a rough night. They had to give him benedryl because he was coughing uncontrollably (they need him to cough, but only productive lung-clearing coughs, not chest-ripping coughing fits). He was eating today (pudding, soup, juice), but still too hoarse to say much.

I’ll repeat what I put in yesterday’s comments:

Now would be the time to start sending encouraging Get Well cards to Dad at the Hospital. Both Mom and Nancy mentioned to me that Dr. McGrath said Dad needs to “FIGHT”! So that means we all need to cheer him on. This will be painful, difficult work, but with lots of love and encouragement, he’ll get through it.

I asked the front desk and they said to address patient cards to:

DeBorah Heart and Lung Center
Patient: John DeWitt
200 Trenton Road
Browns Mills, NJ 08015

THANKS!!!

Cindy

Dad had his breathing tube removed today around 2:30pm.  He is off of most of the pain meds. and therefore more responsive to the nurses.  Dr. Magrath told us dad needs to build his strength and start working on coughing and keeping his lungs clear without the vent.  This is painful but important to his recovery.  Dad was able to whisper to mom and gave her a kiss which I think helps both of them.  We will visit again tomorrow and hope for more improvement.

Happy belated Valentine’s Day!

Nancy