Our Story I

Sent:  Mon 12/28/03  10:51 AM

Hi All, 

 Well hope everyone has recovered from Christmas. I guess I will  take down the decorations on the 31st. Have to think of how to decorate Mom's room for January. We had it looking pretty good for Christmas.

 Well, Mom is doing OK. She held her head up really well all weekend. She is practicing writing her name and likes to write the name Joppy. Who is that? Anyone know?  The therapist said she may be stuck in the time before she was married. She also starts the Josephine and changes it into the Joppy. She has written Eleanorski. Working on the Dombrowski, but no luck yet. I got a power of attorney form and will take it to the social worker to see about getting the form done and notorized about getting the form done and  that, we can deal with her accounts.

Dad continues to have his issues. He threatens someone or something on a daily basis. Today he was going to blow up the DM to get her out. I said that if he killed anyone - or himself  (he threatens to hang himself) that he will never see Mom and will go to hell to boot. I watched him today look in the mirror and throw  punches at himself. One night he did it and was saying, "Bad Boy, bad boy". You have to feel for him.  I am going to call his GP tomorrow and tell them what has been ppening. He needs some kind of antidepressant badly. I don't know what to do with him. Needless to say, I am looking forward to going home and back to work next week - just to get away from it. He even hates if I talk on the phone or do my e-mails until after he goes to bed.

So, that is what is happening here. I hope Mom does well with therapy this week. She seems stronger, but did have a weak day on Friday. She continues to eat well. She got a new roomie who is a good, talkative lady. She will look out for Mom- that's for sure.

Her first roomie died on Christmas Eve, and Dad and I went to the wake and funeral. There were only 10 people at the funeral - including us - 2 literal strangers. Joe was a nice man though and was crazy about his wife.

Dad says hello, so I will sign off for he is watching me.

Keep praying for Mom's health, Dad's peace of mind, and  pray for me to have more patience.

Love, Joanie

Hey Y'all I just wanted to give a short update on Mom for you.  The past few weeks we have had a few WONDERFUL relatives giving us a hand at helping out in Fl with Dad.  Mom's computer got a virus and they had to reformat the hard drive so the e-mail address have been erased and no one had had the info to put it back in Mom's e-mail account.

Joan also didn't have too much good news about Mom. She saw her late saturday afternoon and they had already put Mom back to bed. They had her up waiting for company, but they didn't get there till 3pm. Joan arrived at 11:30, then had to take Aunt Rita to the airport. But Joan said that mom was feeding herself and she had pulled the spoon out of the woman's hand when she went to feed her, so Mom feed herself the dinner.  She may get her feeding tube out soon since she is getting most of her nutrition by feeding herself and not using the feeding tube.  So that is very good progress!! 

She hasn't seen the therapy and what is happening with that. She will do that today. Joan did ask the nurse on sunday, if mom had gained any upper body strenth and she said no. Also, Joan felt that Mom was worse since she hasn't seen her in the past 3 weeks and now is positioning her body in a backwords S. She is keeping her head to one side and drawing her legs up. So I am not too sure if Mom will get much better. Joan will ask about her progress and prognosis.

But from what I have heard, is that Mom does alot of resting on the weekends because of the work she does during the week.

Hope all is well with all of you and our family wishes the best this holiday season.

Either Joan or I will keep you in the information loop. 

Love,  Mary

Nov 30, 2003

Mary, you are good with flight stuff. There is a lady from Houston who is at the center right now and planned to take her parents today. Her Mom has MS and is not the one in the center. Anyway, the airline said that she could not ride in the plane if she could not sit up with a seatbelt. They wanted to put a 5 point harness on her and they said NO. Her dad is sick too, so the center wouldn't release him. So, the are stuck figuring a way to get them to houston. We aren't the only ones in the situation although it feels like it. I think that Mom can ride in the plane, but still she needs 2 people to move her. One of us can drive the car to Houston, and if we need a small u-haul then someone would need to do that too.

Got to run. It's time to get moving to start the Aunt Jay day. I think Dad slept all night.

Anna thanks for coming early. It cheers me up to know that I won't have to spend NYEve by myself and feeling sorry for myself.

Love,JO

Nov 25, 2003

Hey Sibs,

Mary you can edit this and then send it on to the people on Mom's list. Computer is still in the shop. He is adding Windows 98 and tried to put 64kbs instead of 32 memory, but it wouldn't take. So, he will have it ready tomorrow. It will work, but be a little slow. That doesn't matter really. Hopefully, I will be able to get the internet connected.

Took Dad to do the power of attorney, so that is done. That lawyer kept cutting me off and wasn't too interested in talking. She suggested we do a trust for Dad - to keep stuff out of probate. She gave me a brochere, but we don't have to decide now. Dad seemed alert enough for them to agree to do it.

Mom seemed more alert today. They seemed pleased with her progress today.  She is looking more midline and to the right. The PT guy told met to do some things with her while she is in the bed - like move her good leg back and forth. She tends to keep it with her knees up, and he wants it to be flat so it doesn't get so stiff. Also, he said to take the pillow away from her to practice her lowering her head flat. That forward lean is a big problem.

The speech lady wasn't able to work with feeding, because she was still in bed when she came. She is working on communication - and not getting much in the way of that. She tried to get her to hold up fingers - like 1, 2 etc. without success. So, .... They will do the swallow test Friday.

Got to run. Left Dad with a snack in the car. Am going to take him to eat for the anniversary. There is a place on the river right down from the center that we will check out. We got Mom some roses and I got Dad that chair pad. I told him Happy Anniversary for that.

He's hanging in. He slept close to 12 hours last night. Guess he needed it. He said he went looking for Mom in the garage during the night, but he didn't come to my room.

Will meet with the directors tomorrow. So, I will have more to report tomorrow.

Love, JO

Hi All,

Your update reporter is now, me - Joanie. I arrived on Saturday and will be staying for 2 weeks until Bob and Judy come and take over for a week. Today was the first time that I saw Mom since the stroke. To me, it was  rather emotional. She seemed alert and I think she recognized me, but she is not the Mom that I am used to seeing and that was sort of hard. I have to get used to the new Mom.

I don't think that they did any therapy with her - for she was in her pajamas all day. When we came back for the second visit, the aide was sponge bathing her and we had to wait a while. Mike Noesen and the family came today and Mom seemed to recognize them. She had this little smile on her face and she just stares. Sonja who is a nurse was really talking to her and sort of examining her. She said her color looked good and she squeezed her hand when she asked her to do so. Sonja recommended that we tell the nursing staff to take the catheter out. She said it is a bacterial magnet and she is not going to be able to live the rest of her life with it. So, she said to ask them to get the doctor to write the orders to take out. She said it is more work for the staff, but...  She suggest taking the staff little gifts to "bribe" them to give her extra attention. So, we have a whole tree of navel oranges that I can pick and take as starters. I will feel the staff out tomorrow since I don't have any clue as to how the place works yet.

So, it was a non-productive day as far as therapy goes. I wish  they would work 7 days since Medicare only gives them a limited amount of time to be in therapy.

Aunt Dolores and Uncle Bob are packing to go. They have done a good job taking care of Dad. He is fine. He doesn't like to see her sleep and tries to wake her up. He also took his drool hanky and wiped her face with it after the nurse had just bathed her. We suggested he stop, but he did it again. Whatever...

Keep Mom in your thoughts and prayers.

Love, Joanie

Thursday, Nov 13

Good Evening,

Got off the phone with Aunt D.  She really didn't have much to say today.  She said when they got there that Mom was in the wheel chair in the main area and that the Dr. came to see her while they were there. Also,  Dotty and Frank were there and they said that Mom threw up.  Aunt D asked the nurse and the nurse had just come on shift and didn't know. So Aunt D is going to ask the nurse tomorrow.

Aunt D and Uncle Bob took Dad to the dermatologist.  He had a scheduled appt. but when I was there, he got a rash on his stomach.  I had been putting on the stuff in the purple tube that we used for his rash on his legs and the Dr. to her that was the wrong cream, so he prescribed a different one.

Today is Uncle Bob's birthday,  So happy, happy birthday to you!  They all went out to Denny's to celebrate.  Then as they were leaving, Dad went up to a total stranger, pulled up his shirt and startted tell him about his gallbladder sugery.  Aunt D told him that the guy wasn't really interested so they moved along.

Well that's about it for the update that I got from Aunt D.

Hope all of you have a great day or evening.

Love,  Mary and the pets (Jerry is off on a side job installing a sink)

Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003

I would like to start out today by saying that I am so proud of all the Veteran's that have helped keep our country safe.  Thanks to all of you.

I just got of the phone with Aunt D.  She said that they got to see Mom at about 12:30 pm.  When they got there, Mom was sitting up in a wheelchair in the common area.They had finished with the therapy and were keeping her up.  This helps strengthen the back muscles and the stomach muscles.  Then the speach therapist came and took her for therapy.  They were gone for about 15 to 20 minutes and the therapist told Aunt D that Mom was not focusing on the person speaking.  I noticed that she did that with me sometimes.  The therapist said that they will work on that with her.

Also,  across the hall from Mom is a young woman who Mom knows that has had 2 strokes.  So Mom has a friend across the hall from her.  A friendly face is a good thing.

They took Dad to supper at his favorite place, Arby's, tonight.  He got me to take him there.  I think Anna and Tom did too.

Aunt D also got a piece of poster board to attach the pictures we had in Mom's hospital room.  She is going to work on them tonight.

Well that's about all for today.  Will talk to you tomorow.

Love,  Mary & Jerry

Saturday, Novemeber 9th

Hi Y'all,

This will be my last e-mail to you from Fla. I am going home tomorrow. Aunt Dolores and Uncle Bob are coming today. They haven't gotten here yet, but they are on their way.

Dad and I went to see Mom pretty early today and stayed till 4 pm. Dad was pretty tired and he is now sitting in the garage (and has been since we came home) waiting for Aunt D and Uncle B.

Mom was ok today. There really wasn't any change. She was awake a little more than she was yesterday. They only did a few minutes of therapy today and she will get some tomorrow. Oh, and I clipped her toe nails and painted them pink for her. I showed her the polish and she put her foot up for me to do it. So I went ahead and did it.

Well I am off to Texas tomorrow. I doubt that Aunt D will do the e-mails, so I will call her everynight and send out an update from TX. It won't be first hand stuff, but it will be something.

Y'all take care,

Love, Mary and Ed

Friday, November 7, 2003

Hey Y'all,

Not much happening today. When we got to Mom's room she was asleep and stayed that way till the therapists woke her up. It took a lot to wake her. Jan had to take her effected leg and straighten it out, and she didn't like it, so she woke up. They had her on the tilt table today and they had her playing volley ball with a balloon. Mom did good. I got a picture of her doing her therapy. When I get the photo's developed, I will send them along on the e-mail. I have to wait till I go home to get them developed. Anyway, she did her excersises then they put her in the big chair and took her to the therapy room (Dad calls it the play room). So all and all Mom was out of bed for two hours today. She fell asleep very quickly after getting back to bed.

Dad and I came home kinda early today, but he is wore out and so was Mom. There is not much use sitting in the room, if Dad is slumping in the chair cuz he is so tired.

I spoke with the doctor today and he said they would most likely move her on Monday to the rehab. He didn't have any good news and frankly said he didn't think she would get any better. I am not sure what to believe since Mom has an inner strength that he dosen't see. I certainly hope Mom proves him wrong.

Aunt Delores and Uncle Bob are coming tomorrow and I have a bunch to teach them before I leave on Sunday. They will be the ones that set Mom up at the rehab. I bet they are going to enjoy the weather here since I saw on the weather report that the high for tomorrow is 39 in Chicago and 83 here in sunny Fla.

Well, I must go and check on Dad he is so tired.

Love to you all,

Mary and Ed

Thursday, November 6th

Hey Y'all. Not much happening today. Dad and I went to Walmart to get her some clothes to wear at the rehab center. I got her some more of those snap down light robes to wear and one heavy robe for the winter with snaps. I also got a few pairs of pull over night gowns. She normally wears long PJ's and they wont work with her catheter. The doctor is not sure if they will leave the catheter in her or if they will take it out. If they take it out, she can't go to the bathroom yet and will need the depends and they will have to change her every two hours to keep her skin from breaking down. They said she can wear shorts there and thread the catheter through the leg of the shorts.

Today she did some occupational therapy. The therapist tied an apron on her that had buttons, a zipper, a pocket and a shoe lace. Mom worked on the buttons and did them with her left hand. She also had to pick up some large pegs and place them in the pocket. Then she had to take the pegs out of the pocket and put them in a peg board. She did real well with that.

Jan is also teaching her to turn her self over in bed. It is still hard for her, but she is giving it her all. He did the sit up thing again and she was a bit tired today and really couldn't hold herself up.

When we were leaving today she took her left arm and pulled Dad's head to her so she could kiss him and when she did that, she also straightened out his collar!! She can't resist taking care of him when she is ill.

That is about all that happened today. I fixed Dad and me a turkey pot pie from leftovers that I found in the frig. I cut up a few potatoes and put them in with the turkey and veggies and cooked it for an hour. And the potatoes were rock hard. Oh, well, next time I will cook the potatoes before I put them in the pie. Live and Learn, but Dad didn't complain at all.

Talk at y'all tomorrow and hope all is well with all of you.

Love, Mary and Eddie

Wednesday, November 5th

Hey Y'all,

All is well here in Deltona, Mom is doing well today. We didn't get to see her till after Noon today since I had to go to see the Rehab Center and the housekeeper came at 10am.

Mom was on a tilt table when we came. She had been on it for an hour or so. They put the patient on the table and strap them on and then they tilt it so they can put weight on their feet. There is a foot rest on the bottom and it looks like a "L". The therapy really tired her out today, so she was snoozing a lot when we were visiting.

Jan, the therapist, had her do the sitting on the side thing again today. She was better than yesterday and she stayed longer by herself this time maybe 10 seconds instead of 2.

Mom had a student nurse helping out today and yesterday. She is very good with Mom. She told me that the regular nurse saw Mom move her toes on the right foot (this is her bad side), so YEA MOM!!

Dad was a little bored today and we left early and got back to the house at 4:30 today. So we didn't spend a lot of time there today. But Dad got so amused today, we were riding the elevator up to see Mom and there was this little girl with her mom in the elevator with us. The little girl (about 2 to 3 years old) looked at her mom and said "You Farted" the mom denied this and the little girl said "yes you did". Dad had a really good laugh at this.

Oh, and I forgot to tell you a few things from yesterday. I was looking at Mom and I looked up and saw Dad walking out her door. I looked back at Mom and said that Dad was escaping and I would have to go after him and I sware I heard her say "UH Huh". My second thing is that Dad and I were leaving and we were stuck in traffic (I think there was an accident on 17-92) and the traffic was backed up to the hospital. As we were sitting there, I looked over to the lake and saw a huge alligator watching the fishermen about 50 feet from him. The gator was only about 10 feet from the shore.

Well, I got to run and get some supper on the stove for us.

Oh, and as I was writing this, Dad took the rest of his pills for the day. He took the 5pm's and the 9pm's. OH well, I guess I wasn't watching to close this time.

Have a great day!

Love, Mary and Ed

Tuesday, Nov 4th

Hey Y'all,

Everything here is going well.  Mom was doing great today.  When we got to the hospital today after running to the grocery store they were just bringing Mom back from PT.  When we walked in she had just finished looking at a magazine and turning the pages.   The therapist (Jan - pronounced Yon), did some more exercises in the bed.  I thought for sure that Mom was going to sleep, but she stayed awake for the entire time we were there except for a cat nap of ten minutes.  We come home at 5 pm to get supper ready for Dad.

Mom really looked good today.  Later in the afternoon, Jan, came back and was having her sit up.  She did it without help for a few seconds.  Most of the time she was leaning on Jan, but there for a second or two she was on her own.  She is recognizing people when they come into the room and she is turning her head to look at who it is coming into the room.

I spoke with the case worker, Annette,  and she said that they were going to send her to the rehab place on Monday.  Jan wants to work with her some more before he ships her off.  I am going to see DM tomorrow morning.  The house keeper is coming tomorrow at 10:30 to 11 so that gives me time to run there in the am and see the place.  We most likely wont get to see mom until 1 or so.

That's about all I can think of for now.

Love,  Mary and Ed

Monday, November 3, 2003

Hey y'all, I'm back!!

I really don't have alot to report on today.  I got here about 11 and I spent about 45 minutes with Tom at the airport.  Dad stayed at Dottie and Frank's while we swapped at the airport.  Tom was afraid if my plane was late and he had Dad with him, he would miss his plane.  All worked well.

Dad and I came back to the house and then I took him to have his blood drawn.  It took me a while to find out where to take him to get it done, but it is done for the month.  After the blood test we went to see Mom.

It was the first time that I have seen her since just after the stroke.  She physically looked great.  Her color was good, her incisions were healing well,  and most of the bruising had gone away.  She had just finished her PT when we arrived at 3 and she slept most of the time.  She did wake up and I think that she recognized me.  The nurse, Roz, came in to feed her and she turned her head and eyes to look at her to see what she was doing.  She didn't stay awake long and at 5pm Dad wanted to go home.  We told her we would be back tomorrow and that it would be her birthday.  She seemed to perk up at that anouncement.

The technician, Naomi, came in and told me that DM came over today and did an evaluation on/of her and they said that they would accept her as a patient.  I haven't gone over there yet, maybe tomorrow, to see it too.  Anna and Tom both like it and feel that it would be the best for Mom.  From what I have heard, it sounds good to me.

Well, that is about all from me today.  I will have more to chat about tomorrow.  I can't wait to see her do the PT.  Jon, the therapist, said that she did great today!

Thanks for everything.

Mary and Ed

PS Mom's Birthday is tomorrow!!!

This is my last full day of looking after Eddie while Eleanore is in the hospital. This will be my last letter before my sister, Mary, takes over.

This has definitely been a good week for Eleanore. I think that I have learned that Eleanore is looking at a long road to recovery, but that she is on the road to recovery. From a day-to-day perspective the improvements are not large. But when I review the entire week that I was here I think that she made steady improvement. All of you who have been involved with stroke victims before know that each stroke is different so only time will tell with Eleanore's.

This week she made progress. Some steps were small, but important. When I first saw her last Sunday her eyeballs were sharply focused to the left (like she was trying to see something out of the corner of her eye.) They have been working with her on this and her eyes are not so leftward looking and she can follow moment from left to right. She can certainly move her left arm with purpose and they have her moving rings from side to side across and arc, and they have her stacking cones. Good progress. She is pushing back with vigor with her left leg and she able to push back a little bit with her right leg. Good progress. She is definitely more animated for longer parts of the day (but she can still be asleep for major parts of the visiting hours, but it has been reported that she has been up all night watching the food channel.)

When I came last week I tried to read to her out of an Erma Bombeck book. She was asleep in a few pages. Now I have to stop because I need a break. Good progress. When she is very awake you can see the emotion in her face. She "smiles" when something would make her smile (like a story about her grandson) and she frowns when I tell her some to the things that Eddie is doing. Today we said the rosary and she was able to keep track of the entire 50 "Hail Marys" on her beads. I most certainly think she understands what is happening, she just can not speak.

Her next step from the hospital will be to a rehab center. It may happen on Thursday November 6th or it may be a sometime after that. We think that we have located a rehab center who has worked with patients in her condition before. We will wait until Mary gets a look at the places before we make our final selection. Again, all strokes are different but at one place I met a man who 3 months ago was just like Eleanore. He could not move half his body, he was on a feeding tube and he was not able to talk. When I met him he was waking with a cane, eating regular food and talking very well. We can all hope and pray that Eleanore's recovery continues at a steady pace and she is able to do full range of activities in the coming months.

Eddie is doing OK, but he is definitely bothered by the site of his bride in the hospital. He is showing his love and devotion in many ways. But he wants her home. He will just have to be patient.

The next e-mail will be from Mary. Thanks for all the kind words. Keep the prayers coming. Your support means the world to Eleanore and Eddie.

Tom and Eddie

Dad and I got the hospital a little bit after 8:30 am and Mom was looking very wide  wake. She seemed very like she was following us around with her eyes, but looked a little tired. They were finishing up breakfast and the PT folks said they wanted to get her cleaned up and to PT early when she was most awake.

Naomi, the tech came in and said that she was going her a sponge bath. Dad and I went out to the day room and sat for a little while. At about 9:45 the PT guy came in and said that they would be taking her at 11.

So I used the time to take Dad to see the DM rehab unit. He has been saying "Idon't know what we are going to do with her" or "I don't know how we will be able to get her home" so I figured that this would be a good time to take him and see where she would be going as an intermediate step between the hospital and the house.

I thought the place looked good enough. The only difference that I could tell between DM and JK is that JK has single rooms and DM is doubles. After we left Dad said "I don't think that she will like this, she has a house." I again said it was a temp situation until she was well enough to live in the house. So we made it back to the Hospital, sat down and no sooner had we got seated they come in to take Mom to PT. They wanted to take her to the first floor unit where they can lay her on a padded table so she can roll over. Dad saw the effort that it took to get her off the bed and into the cardiac chair. And then the effort to roll her down to the PT are and onto the large padded table. He was making commentslike she doesn't move to good. I told him no she does not and that she is not ready to live at home yet, but if she keeps working hard she will be able to live at home. So I think that for a while today he understood that yes indeed she needed to go to the rehab and that he would be staying in the house.

I think that Mom impressed the PT workers today. She was able to follow objects with her eye and to push with her left arm (and with her two hands interlocked.) She is trying to roll over, which is important in avoiding back sores. She was squeezing a ball and trying to give a ball to a PT person. She seems to be able to do things once they help her get started. They showed me things to do when we are alone with her.

Two things did make an impression on me. She is aware and is trying to help the workers, but she has a long way to. While we were in the day room we saw a woman practicing to stand up. It took her a few times and it is going to be awhile before Mom gets to that point. I think it is a case where the mind is willing but the body is going to take some time to get back in shape to do it.

The other good news for the day was after the PT they had her in the day room and she was able to reach out and fix the collar on dads zip up sweat shirt. That was definitely a sign of purposeful movement.

The other thing I will quickly add as dad is ready to go back to the hospital is that Naomi used to work at the DM until about 6 months ago. She had been there 6.5 years and she said that she would really recommend it. The only real difference was the single vs. double room. So we will see.

Later.

Tom

HI, Today is Monday, October 27th.

I am using theWord Perfect feature to see if I can type a message off line and then send it on line. It should not be difficult, but I will see if I can do it. I d of hate to be online and composing while I am tying up the phone line.Dad and I got the hospital a little bit after 9am and Mom was looking very wide awake. She seemed very like she was following us around with her eyes. She was furrowing her eyebrows too. I took some pictures off the wall and handed them to her and she took them and moved them closer to her eyes, like she was trying to get it in focus for her trifocals. When she was finished with one she shook it pretty hard and I took it away from her. That seemed to be what she wanted to happen.

I had a long talk with Glen the head nurse for the SNU. He was very helpful and he gave me the name of the neurologist. He strongly suggested that I call him and find out what there is to find out. He said there was not a whole lot in the file at this point and that was pretty typical as they don't do the final write up until the end. I will try calling the neurologist today. I also met Naimi, the tech. She is a Jamaican and is very talkative. She wanted to know about our family. I also met the physical therapist, Jan. He was going to take Mom downstairs for a therapy session, but Mom was asleep. (Around 10:30-11). He said he would come back at 11:45. Mom woke up around 11:20 and as Jan was coming in it was time for Naimi to give Mom a "sponge bath" and for her to get meds, so we left. Naimi said she would check on the meds that Mom got overnight.

Jan was very helpful in therms of the PT. He saw a whole lot of difference in the way that Mom's left leg was working versus her right leg. The left leg is purposeful while the right leg is more like a reflex action. He said it was better than nothing, but it was not a purposeful movement. He did say that she was going to have to start at essentially square one in terms of using her body, like a baby. He also said that if the cognitive section of the brain is still intact that nothing is impossible. Also Glen said that in terms of recovery from a stroke we are really talking a year before the plateau is reached and improvements are not made.

So, I got a general upbeat feeling from them. The social worker, Annette, will not be back until Wednesday so I guess that I will be seeing her then.  I also got the feeling the that the 7-10 day stay is hard and fast. I don't think Annette will say, well today (Wednesday) is day 6 so tomorrow is day 7, so where do you want her.

Dad has been saying, "I don't know what I will do with Mom" so I am going to take this as an opening to take him to the rehab centers so that we can check them out together.

Speaking of Dad he was sitting in the recliner and it tipped over and he got a small cut on his head. He was watching TV (History Channel about B 17's) and he was dosing in and out. He just was over on the side of the chair and he just must have tipped over too far. I guess we will have to try to get him used to the couch.

Tom

Hi Y'all ,

Good news!  Mom was moved out of the intermediate care unit into room 280 of the Skilled Nursing Unit (SNU) where she will get more concentrated rehab.  She will stay there for about 10 days.  After that she will go to a private rehab facility for an undetermined period of time, which we are told averages 2 to 6 weeks.  After that we will see where she is before making any additional decisions.

She was quite alert today and moving quite a bit.  We put her glasses on her and she perked right up.  The neurologist told us that the CAT scan from last Monday evening showed still some swelling in the brain, but since she has been much more alert and active, he said the swelling has probably gone down.  He did not want her moved to the rehab unit until the swelling was resolved. 

We will keep you informed as to her progress.

Thanks so much for your prayers and support,

Anna and Eddie

Hi Anna,  It sounds like you got a clear priority of the rehab centers.  I am sure that she would be very comfortable in the JK center and I am equally as sure that the last place on the list would appear very chaotic to her.  It sounds like you did a good job of sorting them out.

I guess we will just have to wait and see what is available when the timing is right.  I definitely had good vibes from the second place on your list (no opinion at all on the third as it was just a drive by.)  So it sounds like we got some really fine choices for Mom and we will just have to see what develops.

As for the finances of them I do not see that any of them are a problem especially with the insurance.  It sounds like insurance will cover a large portion of the cost for the initial time that she is in (if not all) and even if they did not cover it all M+D can certainly supplement it.  So i would say this is a good time to spend the rainy day fund as the more rehab she gets the better she will be.

I had a talk with my boss to tell him that I would be missing a meeting on Monday and he was very understanding. It seems that a very similar thing happened to his father when he was 81.  An "elective" surgery on his carotid artery to prevent "the big one". His father had the stoke in the recovery room and my boss said it looked bleak.  He could not move his left leg or arm.  He was able to speak and he swore he would be living on his own in 3 months.  My boss said he worked very hard and his motivation was to live in his house without any help.  My boss said that he didn't think it was possible, but he was home in 6 weeks.

I can see that Mom would have a similar motivation of living at home on her own again.  I would say that we should do nothing to tell her otherwise.  I think we need to be careful and describe any assisted living centers in TX, or staying at Mary + Jerry's as temporary. The desire that she will be living on her own may very well be what allows her to do exactly that.

So i guess we need to "hope for the best and prepare for any eventuality".  Not quite ready for the bumper stickers yet.

So Anna, it sounds like you did a good job arranging for the next step out of the hospital.  Keep up the good work.  Hang in there and don't let yourself get run down either physically or mentally. 

Tom

Wednesday, October 22

Hi Y'all,

Eleanore was pretty alert yesterday, but today she was mostly sleeping.  I suppose there will be alternations like that.  Daddy gets bored when she sleeps, and he will try to wake her up.  She finally gets to a deep sleep where she is almost snoring, and then he wants to go home.  So today was kind of a short day for us at the hospital.  She is still on the intermediate care floor.  I haven't been able to talk to a doctor today, so I don't know why.  It could be there are no beds available in the rehab unit, or perhaps she is not ready yet.  I think she is not ready yet. 

I'll keep you informed on any changes, but if you don't hear from me every day, that  means there is no change and nothing new to report.

Love and thanks to all for your prayers and good wishes,

Anna and Eddie

Sent: Wed 10/22/03 11:39 AM

Subject: Re: List of Questions

Hi,

I'll see how much I can get done on this, but it's not too easy working in the hospital room.  There is really no desk-type place to work.  After coming home in the late afternoon and having to fix dinner, send emails, phone people, I'm bushed.  I often fall asleep in a chair in the evening well before Dad is ready for bed.  I'll try to do this in the mornings before we go to the hospital. 

Today Dottie and Frank came over and stayed with Dad while the house cleaner Betty was here, and I went over to the rehab place JK facility.  I had filled out the form correctly and talked with the administrator and the nurse in charge of evaluation for admissions.  Everything is cool except they cannot guarantee that they will have a free bed on the day she is released from the hospital.  They suggested having backup places selected.  So I went to the 2 nearby that you and I did not get to tour on Saturday, Tom.  My list in order of preference is

1)    JK ($250/day)

2)    OCN & Rehab  ($160/day) this is the place with the nice grounds we walked into, Tom.  This was rated 5-star by the paper in 2002, whereas JK was only 4-star

3)   DBM ($105/day) Tom, this is the place that looked like a former motel.  It was much nicer on the inside.  The unit mom would be in is a separate building behind that front motel-like building.  

4)    DH - the zoo-like place - definitely last place.

Websites to check out:

www.myziva/net

www.fdhc.state.fl.us/nhcguide

http://www.medicare.gov/

Gotta get Dad dinner.  He's standing here talking to me as I am typing.

Anna

List looks good. If I think of more today, I will e-mail you. I think the most important questions are the ones about the level of care as people get worse - or what mobility will they accept.

Also, I think we should start talking to Daddy about moving. Also in your "spare" time, Anna, you may want to look over the accounts that Mom has in that folder. Maybe when you are sitting there watching Mom sleep. Karen's husband who is an accountant thinks that we need to see about Daddy giving us a "gift" of $10K each, so that we can put that money in account for their care.

When you want Medicade or Care to kick in, they first will pretty much drain them of money before they will pay. If he  could gift us that money this year, he can turn around and do it again in January. The $10K gifts are tax free. I know there are accounts in Best of America - I have money in that too. Their checking accounts don't have that kind of cash. I wonder if there are savings bonds in the saftety deposit box. Also, the fire box I think is in the closet in the pantry, I think.

I wonder if she left instructions on how to open it in all her information. I guess we need to take financial inventory. I can go when I get down there, but I guess you could take Dad and he could go open it. The key is in the box. Don't feel like you have to do all of this before you leave Anna. We have time, but just need to be thinking about financial stuff. Tom can do some and so can I.

Joan

Hi Y'all,

Eleanore is doing much better today.  She was alert with her eyes open for most of the time from 9:30 until 12 noon today and again for an hour in the afternoon.  She reached out her good hand (left) for Daddy, and she was raising her head from the pillow and turning it to look at me.  The pillow was blocking her view.  I could have moved so she would have had an unobstructed view, but the exercise was good for her.  She did that about 10 times over the course of an hour, so she was remembering that I was there also.  At one point Daddy got curious and started opening the drawers next to her bed and she perked up and lifted her head and peered down to see what was there.  He closed it and she relaxed, and then a few minutes later he opened it again and she immediately lifted her head and looked again.  She followed his hand as he raised each of the different items and showed them to her.  I also told her that the more she moved her right leg (the affected one) the sooner she  would be walking again.  She then lifted that leg about an inch at the knee and flexed her foot.  Then she continued doing that over and over again for about an hour at perhaps one minute intervals.  She was remembering that, I wasn't telling her to do it each time.

We has a relatively short day today as Daddy asked to leave about 4:15.  He gets a little bored when she is sleeping deeply and he can't wake her, which he tries to do, mostly successfully. 

Well, time to make supper.  Once again thanks for all your prayers for her.  I will keep you posted. 

Love and thanks to all

Anna and Eddie

Subject:  RE:  Talk with Dr. V.

Hi y'all,

Yes, I agree Dad needs to buy into any decision like moving.  It's probably too early until more is known about Mom's prognosis.  Dr. V would probably be happy to talk with him.

I'll find out about Aunt Jay's situation. It doesn't hurt to ask.  It would be nice if they were all in the same facility.

Love and hugs, Anna

Subject:  List of Questions

Here is my list of questions that I started.  Let me know if you want me to ask anything else.

Questions for the Assisted Living Facility:

1). Is there a buy-in price for the facility?

2) Can they handle stroke victims?

3) Is there a problem with someone who is not able to walk and needs a wheelchair?

4) Is there an extra charge for Depends disposal?

5) If so how much?  per week? per month?

6) Does the facility buy them or do the residents purchase them?

7) Is there 24 hour nursing care available?  Is that extra if so?

8) Can they bring their own furniture or are they furnished or can they be furnished?

9) Do they accomidate special diets i.e. diabetic and low sodium?  Is there extra charge?

10) Is there an extra charge associated with the rehab? If so how much?

11) Are pets permitted to visit?

12) Can they have adult overnight guests?

13) Smoke detectors and sprinklers in the apartments?

14) Is there a code call cord or button?  In bedroom, bathroom, living room?

15) Is the facility accrediated?  If so whom?

16) Are there any inspection records that we can look at?

17) What is the general health of the residents?  Average age of residents?

18) Do they accept medicare?

19) What activites to they have for the residents?

20) Do you restrain any of residents, if so why and in what situations?

21) Do the residents provide bed linen and towels?

22) How many patients do the staff care for on a normal day?

23) How often do you check on the residents?

24) If my parents eventually need more than assisted living, do you have a higher level of care?

25) Do the apartments have locks?  If so how do staff enter in an emergency?

26) Does the limo provide transportation to shopping, church etc?  How far in advance do they need?

27) How does the laundry get done?  Are residents responsible for their own?

Mary

Subject:  RE:  Talk with Dr. V

Hi,  I think it would be very appropriate to have Dr. V. talk to Dad. I agree with you that it would be good for Dad to hear it from a Doctor.  Ultimately we will have to have his agreement to sell the house.  So lets see if Dr. V. can help.

I also have thought about moving Aunt Jay with them too.  I think that AJ's first reply will be "NO!", but i could see her coming around when she starts thinking about it.  Trying to maintain a sense of family is so important and i think this will win her over in the long run.

I talked to Joan about the possibility of Jerry coming to FL on Nov. 3.  I am scheduled to fly out of Orlando at 1:50 PM on Monday Nov. 3rd.  So if Jerry could get in before noon we could change out. If he had to come later we could use Dottie as a sitter until he did show up.

Take care and keep the faith. Tom

Subject:  RE:  Talk with Dr. V

Hey Y'all,

 I was wondering if Dr. V has talked to Dad about all this.  I feel that perhaps if Dr. V talked to Dad and told him it would be the best thing if they lived in assisted living and to perhaps move closer to family.  Dad may come to the decision on moving on his own.  I feel that, in order for him to cooperate and for him to feel that this is the best for him and his wife, he needs to be part of the decision-making and not be told what to do.  I know it may come to us doing what is best for them, but it would be much harder on him and mom if we had to step in and force them to move.

I know Dad respects him and I think that Dad may be a little leery of us trying to tell him what he needs to do.  I don't think that Dad could come anywhere without Mom.

I am going to start looking for a place that would work for them if they decided to move to Houston.  I guess if they wanted, they could stay in FL in assisted living, but it would be much harder.  I am also going to look to see what it would cost for Aunt Jay to live there too, if she wanted to move with them, but I doubt she would, but asking her is free.  I feel without Mom, Aunt Jay may be lost and I really don't know who she could trust with her banking if she stayed in FL.

Have a great day.

 Love, Mary

Sent:  Mon 10/20/03 7:33 PM

Subject:  Talk with Dr. V.

Hi Sibs,

Dad's hanging close to me tonight so I might not have the opportunity to talk freely on the phone tonight.

Dr. V called me at home this afternoon.  He said he was "absolutely shocked and devestated"  today when he heard what had happened to Mom.  He said he fully expected her to be at home for a while when he returned from vacation.

He reviewed her chart, and said that in his opinion her stroke was "big" and we should start exploring options for assisted living in the best case, or nursing home care in the worst.  He also said that if none of us lives here, then we should move them somewhere close to one of us.

He said it is hard to predict what functions she will recover.  He has seen people with left-sided strokes be only affected in their motor skills, with their personality and intellect intact (Aunt Jay), but with others their personality changed.  It is only when she is more awake and the rehab is further along that we will be able to know.

He also said he and his staff will help us get her into a private rehab center.  He said JK was an excellent choice, and if it were himself, he would go there.  He said two retired physician friends of his have bought into the cottages there, so that when they need the extra care, it is there for themselves.

Oh, yes, so first thing this morning, I looked up the other 3 places in the area, and even the nice looking one on Enterprise had some serious issues, so I did not even go to look at it.  JK had a much better rate or walking and doing as well as or better than before than the other places too.  So I told the case worker we had decided on JK, and the JK nurse, came to see us at the hospital within 2 hours.  She will evaluate Mom and make a decision as to if their facility is appropriate  for her needs.  Mom was out like a light, and still in ICU at that time, so she said she will come back at a future date to do the evaluation.

He said our idea is good to move them out to Houston, and he recommends beginning now to investigate assisted living places, especially where Dad can be with her.  He agreed that Dad would do very poorly separated from her.  He said that after JK, then we might have to transport them in a van, because she might not be in acceptable physical shape to travel on an airline.

So that's all I know at this time.  I'll try calling you and tell you at least to read this email.

Love and hugs, Anna

Hi Y'all,

Eleanore got out of the Open Heart ICU today.  They moved her to 3 West, room 312.  She will stay there at least until after the results of another CAT scan tomorrow.  When she is able they will move her to a skilled nursing unit (SKU) where she will get physical therapy.  She is still mostly sleeping, with brief times with her eyes open.  The nurses tell us that she is pretty alert first thing in the morning, but then the physical rehab technicians work with her for about 20 minutes and leave her sitting up in a large chair, and she is exhausted.  She then sleeps most of the day.  She can receive non-family visitors now, however, she's mostly asleep. 

I will keep you posted,

Love and thanks to all

Anna and Eddie

Hi Everyone,

Not much to report today.  She was alert when we first got there in the morning, but then fell asleep, and was asleep again when we saw her in the late afternoon.  This is good though, the doctors tell us.  Sleep is healing.  When she was alert and had her eyes open, they were both about the same size, but as she got more tired the left eye began to sag.  Her face is not obviously lopsided as with many stroke patients, so perhaps those muscles are not too affected.  She only tried to speak once, and that was a grunt, so it looks like her speech center and her right arm are the 2 areas most heavily affected.

I'll let you know of any news tomorrow, and thanks again for your good wishes and prayers,

Anna and Eddie

Hi all,  This is Tom

We saw Eleanore today in the morning and in the afternoon.  There is not much to say about the afternoon visit as she was sound asleep the whole time, but she was shifting around a little bit.

She seems to have four general states that we can tell.  Eyes open and responsive, Eyes closes and responsive, light sleep and deep sleep.  In the morning she was going from eyes closed to eyes open and responsive.  When her eyes are open she seems to aware of what is going on but is not able to communicate at all.  Today she was  really looking at Eddie and  cocking her head a little bit.  She also opened her mouth a few times like she was trying to talk but the tongue was not moving.  She was moving her left arm and left leg pretty often.  When she is laying down she can put her left leg up so that her foot is flat.

When the cardiologist came in Mom was moving her legs pretty well and the doc was impressed.  It seemed like she was trying hard to impress him.  As far as the heart goes the cardiologist says that she is ready to be going to the next level of care.  I think it is called acute care.

Ultimately she will have 10 days in a rehab unit in the hospital then she will have to go to a non-hospital affiliated one.  Anna and I went and saw three, two of which we got a tour of.  I think there will be some good choices for her.

Dad is doing well.  He stayed at Dottie and Franks while we were visiting and he continues to be good for us and he is showing a lot of concern for his bride.

Again, thanks for all your prayers and good wished.

Anna, Eddie, and Tom

Saturday, October 18th

Hi, this will be a quick update because I typed a message and lost it. We are  about to eat so...

Mom is still in Cardiac ICU and is making progress. She is better off today than she was yesterday.  She is moving her left leg and left arm well, and she has a some movement in her right leg.  Her  right arm is still not moving.  The cardiologist was impressed with how much she improved from yesterday and said that as far as he is concerned she is ready to leave ICU and go to acute care, but he needs to coordinate with the other doc.  I think mom was showing off for him.

Mom was opening her mouth like she was trying to talk but sounds were not coming out.

When she leaves the hospital she will need more rehab and Anna and I checked some places out. It looks like there will be some good ones to choose from nearby.

Dinner is ready.

Love and thanks to all

Anna, Eddie and Tom (trying to figure out Mom's computer.)

Friday,  October 17, 2003

Hi Y'all,

Good news!  Today Eleanore opened her eyes!  She was responsive to simple commands, recognized Daddy, Tom, and myself.  She also got excited when Tom held a picture of his son Matt up in front of her, and she reached out and stroked the picture for several minutes.  From the time we got there at 10 am until we left at 1 pm, she was sitting up in an armchair and she was alternating between periods of what I'd call alert with eyes open and alert with eyes closed with brief periods of light sleep.    She also was moving her head around on her own while she was sitting, and several times she rested her chin in her left hand like you do sometimes.  She also rearranged her whole body and shifted it to another position in the chair at one point.  This afternoon when we visited between 4:30-6 pm she was mostly asleep laying down in her bed. 

They inserted the feeding tube into her stomach, and she was disconnected from all the IVs although they still have the ports in her neck for injection of medicines so they do not have to actually stick her each time they need to give her something.  The stomach feeding tube did not seem to be bothering her at all.  Her face was pretty relaxed and not tense like it was the first few days, when she looked very worried.  Her color is also good and about back to normal.

Take care and thanks so much for all your support and prayers.  I tell her every day that you all are praying for her, and she relaxes when I do.

Love,  Anna, Dad, and Tom

Hi Y'all,

Today Eleanore has been alternating from periods of fairly light sleep and times when she is able to respond to simple commands from both the nurse and me.  She is still not opening her eyes, although the nurse says her eyes are brighter and responding well when they look inside. 

She responded to Dad's voice and to his snapping fingers several times and to my voice sometimes also.  They told us to rotate her head from time to time to prevent her neck muscles from cramping.  She tends to keep her head turned to the left.  So I will place my hands on each side of her head and tell her what I am going to do each time before I start.  This afternoon twice she moved her head to the right immediately after I told her but before I could move it.  So that's encouraging. 

Also she is squeezing hands with her left hand when she is in that almost awake state.  I  had my hand on top of hers and she was squeezing my fingers, but after about 5 minutes of that, she suddenly took her hand out of mine, grabbed my hand, lifted it, turned it over and placed it on her upper thigh.  Then she proceded to examine each of my fingers and the rest of my hand up to my wrist for the next 7 to 10 minutes.  Then she was content to keep her hand on top of mine and squeeze it occasionally until she fell asleep again. 

They are going to insert a tube directly into her stomach tomorrow in order to feed her a more varied diet.  The tube through her nose is small diameter and limits them in what they can feed her.  The gastroentrologist, Dr. N, who will insert it, said though what they are feeding her is suppossed to be nutritionally complete, she is low on protein, and they want to do some supplimentation.  He also said she should be more comfortable without the nose tube.  The stomach tube is completely removable whenever they are sure she is able to swallow properly. 

Dad continues to worry about what to do for her, and we keep having the conversation about I don't know what to do either, but she is in the best place to help her now.  This afternoon he told me he thought that this hospital was taking very good care of her, so that is hopefully an improvement in his level of worry.  He has a hard time leaving her each time, even when he tells me it is time to go.  He gets to looking very tired.  He will continue to talk to her and stroke her legs and toes as he makes his way slowly out. 

So that's the way it is today.  Mary and Joan went back to Houston and Atlanta respectively.  I will be here with Dad until Oct. 26th when Tom is coming for a week. 

Our family really appreciates all the support y'all are giving us and all the prayers.  I tell her many times each day that all of you are praying for her. 

Love,  Anna and Dad

Sent: Wed 10/15/03  9:33 PM

Subject:  Tom is coming later today

Hi Y'all,

Tom just called and said he will be here this weekend as well as coming again next weekend for the following week.  He said "Why not?" and Mary Liz is insisting that he be there for his parents like he is insisting she be there for her father.  So he will arrive about 10 pm and is renting a car, which we can take back the next day.  I offered to pick him up, but he said he already paid for 24 hours and he figured I'd be bushed from the day already and didn't need to drive that late at night. 

Daddy is pleased he's coming.  I also told Daddy that Dolores and Bob, Bob and Judy, and Rita are going to all be coming to stay with him at different times as well as us until Mom is .... well, able to leave rehab hospital which will be a while.  I told him then after that maybe he and Mom might want to come to Houston for a while while Mom is getting better.  So he is ok tonight.  His eyes seem clear and not red for the first time since I've been here. 

Believe it or not, Daddy initiated a shower tonight.  I had decided that I wasn't going to mention it for tonight.  He wasn't that dirty and he could skip a night.  I didn't say a word, and he got up about 9 and said he was going to take a shower.  I heard the water running etc.  This was before I told him about the help the help from Dolores and Bob and Bob and Judy.  In fact Rita called while he was in the shower.  And Tom called after Rita. Jo, you are in charge of organizing the visitation schedule. 

So things are ok here.  Dad's legs are much better too.  I put more on this evening after his shower.  It turns out there were ants going right in front of his chair out in the garage, and I wonder if some were ant bites, but then again, that would have been an awful lot of ant bites.  I used a spray to kill those immediately.  Frank noticed them actually, and I also gave Frank and Dottie the extra garage door opener. 

Well, I'm going to bed now.  Lots of love and hugs, Anna

Hi Aunt Dolores and Uncle Bob,

That timing would be great!  I'll let Joan coordinate people and visits.

Many thanks!

Love and hugs,

Anna

Sent:  Wed 10/15/03  7:26PM

Subject: Update on other things

Hi Sibs,

I arranged for the exterminator to do the inside on next Monday afternoon.  Then in about a month they will treat the outside.  The outside treatment will be repeated once every 3 months for a year (one inside and 4 outside treatments) for a total of $308.75.  If the large ants don't go away with the inside and first outside treatment, then they may have a nest in the attic, which will require a separate treatment of about $75.  The man said often times that separate treatment isn't needed.  The big ants are carpenter ants and they could have their main next in a tree or sometimes in landscaping timbers.  I paid for it out of my checking account as my "treat." 

The required termite treatment is separate and is scheduled for the 24th.

Dad's generally ok but worried.  He was aware of what the gastroenterologist was saying and asked a question, but I forget now what it was, but it was timely and a good one.  Oh, I know, it was would it hurt her?  They are just going to use a local.  He agreed it was a good idea and she would get better nutrition this way and it would be more comfortable than the nose tube.  He was able to sign the consent for just fine. 

Well, take care and I'll keep you all informed each day.  Many thanks to all of you for all your help.

Love and hugs, Anna

Subject:  Answer to Question

Hey:    Yes, Uncle Bob and I can help.  The best time for us would be November 8th (Saturday) to around the 17th (Tuesday) if that's all right. Let us know, and  we can make arrangements to fly out then. 

Love, Aunt Dolores

Subject:  Answer

Hi Anna,
       Got your e-mail this morning about helping out with your Dad. Judy and I have checked our schedule and we are available the week before Thanksgiving, Nov 15 thru the 22, or the week after Thanksgiving Nov 30 thru Dec 6. We can be available a day or two either side of these weeks. Let us know what's best for all of you so we don't make any new commitments during this time.

Love,

Judy and Bob

************************

Hi Judy and Bob,

That's great!  I'll let Joan coordinate visits.  Thanks so much for being available. 

Love and hugs,

Anna

Sent:  Wed 10/15/03 5:22 PM

Subject:  An Interesting Conversation

Hi to all, I am sure that you all are as sad and upset about the news about Mom as i am and i thought i would share this conversation with you all. I was talking with a friend from work, Brad. 

Brad is an extemely nice guy and early this year he told me alot about his grandfather (GF) who died in January. The GF was 90, and had been a PA supreme court chief justice and was quite a "character".  Brad and his wife would go out to Pittsburg 3-4 times a year to visit him in his assisted living center. It turns out that GF had a feeding tube and also a colon tube.  It turns out that GF had a stroke a while ago (Brad could not remember when) that caused him not to be able to swallow food, and it took him a while to be understood.  He also was not all that mobile. 

But he lead a very full and interesting life inspite of the fact that he could not eat food. I am sharing this with you all becuase i must admit that when i heard that Mom may not be able to swallow food, that it really hit me hard.  I guess that wasTHE ONE aspect that really let me know the severity of the stroke.  It also gave me images of her having a very poor quality of life.  Hey if you can't eat, that has to be very bad. 

Well we all know that each stroke is different and itis too early to tell how it will turn out, but it gives me great hope to know that people can recover from strokes severe enough to prevent one from eating and still have a high quality of life like Brad' GF. I guess in my mind that was a dividing line.   

Who knows how this will all end up, but with my conversation with Brad it tells me that having to take food from a feeding tube does not mean that she cannot have a good quality of life.  There may be other factors that limit her quality of life but it does not HAVE to be that one. I don't know if i am explaining it well, but it did give me some hope. Take care, Love to all, Tom

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 

Hey Y'all, I really don't have good news at all today.  We saw a few of her doctors today and both of them indicated that she really had a large stroke.  It has affected all portions of her left brain.  They, and us, were all disappointed to hear that.  They really have no clue what her progress or outcome may be.  They say that all strokes are different and we have (at this time) no idea about Mom. 

Today she was not awake at all when we were there.  She did open her eyes 2 times today for the nurse as they transferred her to a chair and then back to the bed. She will squeeze your hand and she still moves her left leg, left arm and a little of the right leg.  But she was not awake at all for us. 

Today they had her in a really cool chair.  It makes a flat bed, then turns into a chair and they just slide her over into the chair.  Well, when she was in the chair, Dad was so cute, he was kissing the back of her neck  (her head was tilted foward and this is good, it streches the muscles and keeps her more limber).  Joan told dad, that he hasn't kissed her this much in the past ten years.  He also leans down and kisses her hand too. 

Oh, yea I forgot to tell you that we found out yesterday, they did not give her that clot busting drug, like we thought.  They said since she had the surgery so soon, they couldn't give that to her.  One of the doctors thinks that Mom had a bunch of plaque in one of the major arteries/veins that supply blood to the brain broke off and that is what caused the stroke, not a blood clot like they thought at first.  The doctor said that if she had developed an antibody to the heparin (by the way that test was negative and she did not develop that antibody), she would have had small stokes all over the brain and not on one side like she did. 

Well, this will be my last update and I am turning over the torch to Anna tomorrow.  I will fly back to Houston tomorrow and Joan will drive back to Atlanta. Love,  Anna, Joan, Dad and me 

Monday,  October 13, 2003 My Husband's 41st B-Day!!  

Not much to update you on today.  She is the same.  The neurologist talked to us today and told us he wanted to do a second cat scan to see the total amount of damage to her brain.  He indicated that it would be at least 48 to 96 hours until we know for sure.  Mom has been a very deep deep sleep.  We can't wake her up at all. 

The doctor said this is most likely due to the edema from the stroke and that she is not in a coma.  She is moving her left hand and left leg.  She coughs and yawns alot.  He said in a coma they just lay there and don't move at all. 

She is covering and uncovering herself when she is cold or hot.  Anna and Dad were the last in there today and Anna said mom was responding a little to her.  Mom was feeling around at her wounds (the zipper - I call it) or incision and feeling the tubes they have on her face.  Mom has a feeding tube and nasal oxygen and she was feeling it.  Anna was telling her what the tubes are. Maybe tomorrow she will be more awake. 

We have been keeping dad in the room and rotating us girls.  The nurse today didn't say that more than 2 of us could be in the room and we really didn't ask either. 

Dad is good.  He is still rubbing her face and hands.  It is so nice to see him being so loving to her.  The nurse asked us today if Dad could sign a permission for them to change her arterial line and he said he wasn't signing anything until he knew exactly what he was signing.  A pretty good thing.  He is firing on all cylinders today. 

I will let you know what happens tomorrow.  We will the case worker tomorrow. Our family really appreciates all the support y'all are giving us and all the prayers. Love,  Anna, Joan, Dad and me of course.

Sunday the 12th 

Good Afternoon All, Well, today is sunday and I really don't have much to report on.  Mom still looks bad.  She is not moving her right hand at all and she still can't speak.  We stayed about 3 hours today and she was in a very very deep sleep. 

The doctor said she wouldn't classify it as a coma, but it is heavier than normal, but not as deep as a coma. The nurse reported to us that the neurologist told her this am, that if mom does her physical therapy, that we may not see much signs of the stroke, but she won't be 100% like before the stroke. 

I really don't know much to say today, she hasn't gotten any better, but she hasn't gotten any worse either.  She is stable.  It is really a setback for us.  The nurse said they would keep her there in the open heart ICU instead of transferring her to the regular ICU, but I guess that could change. 

Joan came back to be with us and to see mom.  I think she will stay till tuesday and I will leave on wednesday. Dad is very sad, but is very compationate to mom.  He strokes her head and her arm.  Then he leans down to kiss her forehead.  It is very special to see. Y'all take care and I will keep you posted. Love,  Mary

Saturday the 11th 

The Saturday Update: 

Well, I have very bad news.  Mom had a stroke today.  She was stitting up in the chair having breakfast when it happened.It was about 9:30am (fl time).  She had food in her mouth, but she didn't choke on the food.  So far she cannot use her righthand and her left side of the face is droopy.  She also can't talk.  She is moving both of her legs some, but they didn't have her out of bed today.  As we were leaving this afternoon, when she saw dad, she said Hey, but very low.  I am glad Anna is here cuz I thought I imagined it. 

They did a catscan and found out that the stroke was caused by a blood clot.  Which is better news that free bleeding in her brain.  The doctors think that she has developed an anitbody to the heparin, but they have to send out the test to confirm that.  So they started giving her a blood thinner that will destroy the clot (we hope).  The nurse said they weregoing to insert a small tube in her nose to feed her. 

We won't really know for a few days the extent of the damage caused by the stroke.  Unfortunately, the stroke is affecting her right arm, which is her dominate arm.  I am a little confused, because it is affecting her left face, but right arm. They are keeping her in the ICU unit, which is good I guess, they can take better care of her there, because she is more heavily monitored. I have changed by plane reservation and will leave on wed. 

Dad is not doing to well with the new and seeing her.  Sorry to say, she doesn't really look good at this point.  So I think it is better that the two of us are here for dad.  Anna came in today at 11am.  It sure is good to have her here. 

Well,  I will keep everyone informmed. Oh, and Garlen,  I won't be in till thursday.  I hope that is ok.  If not it will be a far commute.   Gotta go and get dad some dinner. Love,  Mary, Anna & Ed

Tuesday October 7th  

Hey Everyone,  I just wanted to let everyone know about Mom. 

To make a very long story short, she went to surgery today and had a triple bypass.  I had no clue, but they can somehow go in with a lapriscope (sp?) and remove the veins from the legs, but they tried to do that on Mom, but they couldn't so as the nurse says, "they had to go in the old way" to get the veins. The short history of the surgery, is that after the caterization on Monday Oct 1, 2003, they found that  she had 99% blockage, 80% blockage in two arteries/veins.  The postponed her surgery until Monday the 6^th because of the high blood pressure.  They got her blood pressure down alright, one day it was 118/28 !!! Since the BP was down they were a go for that, but then her platelets (the blood clotting cell in your blood) was dropping.  So the doctor called in a Hematologist to look at the low platelet count. So they drew a bunch of blood on Sunday evening and told us they MAY NOT do the surgery on Monday.  The lab that they have to send it to, was closed on Sunday.  So we waited all day on Monday for the results of this  test.  Well at about 4 pm the test results came back negative (what the hematologist wanted) so all they had to do was get clearance from him and we were a go. 

So Dad, Joan and I went home about 6pm on  Monday. Mom called and told us they were prepping her for the surgery, so we thought it was a go for Tuesday at 6:30 am. The Surgeon told us to be there at 6am so we could see her before they took her.  Well none of us slept well and we were up at 3 am and got to the hospital at 5:30am.

The hematologist still had not cleared her for surgery!!!  So about 7:15am they came and took all of us to the pre-op area.  We had to wait till 8:45am until the hematologist cleared her. Mom went in to surgery at 8:45am and the surgeon came to see us at noon to tell us she was fine and he was finished with the by-pass.  It took them till 1:45pm to bring her to the ICU. 

We had to leave at 2 to take Joan to the airport.  Dad and I got back from the airport and saw Mom at 4 pm.  At that time she was awake, but had the respirator tube in her throat and she couldn't talk.  Her eyes looked bright and she was aware that we were there and talking to her.  She squeezed our hands.  The nurse said that she would have the breathing tube out this evening and be sitting up tomorrow.  Dad and I will see her at 11am and 4pm.I will let everyone know her status each evening that I am here. Thank you all for all the prayers, I know it helps, and keep her in your prayers for a speedy recovery.

Oh, and an update on Dad.  He is good.  He has been excellent for Joan and myself and is no trouble.  He has been very sad that Mom is in the hospital and he told Joan that his head hurt that she was sick.  He was upset when he saw her today and said "she doesn't look too good"  I explained that this is the worst and she will begin to look better and she is on the downward slope towards home.  He really misses her. I will sign off now, thanks for everything

Love Mary

Sent:  Fri 10/3/03  4:45 PM

Subject:  I’ll be Next 

Hi,  I had talks with my bosses and to make a long story short i will be able to get to FL after Anna.  I will make reservations to come on Saturday so there can be some overlap with Anna.  Perhaps i can continue some of the cleaning of the attic/garage that i started in July. I have sent an e-mail to Aunt Dolores, but not to AuntRita.  No reply from Aunt Dolores.   

Have a good weekend. Love to all.  tom 

Sent:    Friday, October 03, 2003 9:35 AM

Subject:            RE: Mom 

Mary, I talked to Mom and JO this morning.  Mom's blood pressure is fluxuating up and down (250-ish/158 - wouldn't someone be dead with a lower value of 158?), but it sounds like it was a couple faulty automatic BP machines, as when a nurse then took it manually it was 158/60-ish.  The 4th doc is a kidney specialist.  He saw her this morning, and says they will adjust her BP meds before the next dose.   

JO says the name of the adrenal gland hormone that controls potassium and sodium levels is aldesterone.  She requests a quick internet search, please.   Love ya, Anna

Sent:   10/2/03 

Subject: Mom, I made Some Reservations

Hi y'all, I made reservations to fly to Orlando on Sat Oct 11,returning Sun Oct26. 

That will give us on-site coverage for the first 3 weeks following her surgery. 

 My flights are as follows: Sat Oct 11  CO586  lv IAH at 7:43 am, arrive Orlando  11:04 am Sun Oct 26  CO1587 lv Orlando at 3:05 pm, arrive IAH 4:25 pm 

Love and hugs, Anna 

Sent:  THU 10/2/03  10:48 AM

Subject:  RE:  Mom, I made Some Reservations 

Hi,  I will have to work out some things here at work but I suspect that I will be able to come for a week. I will get see what I can arrange in the next few days. 

Love to all. Tom

Sent:    Wed, 10/ 01/03 1:01 PMSubject:            Mom 

Hey Everyone one,  I have made flight reservations.  Joan pick me up at the airport on Sat at 11am  Tom and Mary,  I don't know what you know about Mom,(Joan left a message at home for you)  but she went through the cath ok, 

They found one artery/vein 99% blocked, and 2 that have some damage.  They also are referring her to a kidney specialist, that dr. will see mom tomorrow.  They are going to do a triple bypass on Monday the 6th.  Joan and I will be there and she will go home on the 7th (probably) and I will stay until Sunday evening the 12th. 

Anna will come sometime on the 11th or 12th to take over that week.We would like to maybe have M&D come to Houston when she is able to fly, that way we can look after both of them locally and maybe get someone to stay with them while we are at work.

Mary

Sent:  9/23/03  5:50 PM

Subject:  CatherizationH

i Y'all:  Once again the catherization I was to have on Sept 25 was canceled because the person responsible for scheduling the date and time of the procedure forgot to call the hospital and make the arrangements.  I went to the hospital for a pre-op registration and blood work todaybut on reviewing my data on the computer, the girl said I was canceled.  I told her that I was canceled for the Aug 22 procedure.  So - one thing another, they found out that the Cardiologist's office was at fault!  So the office scheduled me for Oct 1st, same time but I   don't have to wait to register as they did that today.  All I have to do on the 29th is go to the room where they take the blood samples, then on the 1st , go to the past of the hospital where they will do the catherization.  Twice postponed. Will the Oct 1st date be a lucky date?? 

Paula:  Your mom will leave as scheduled on the first.  I'll have someone get her to the airport.  Joanie will be trying to get an airline flight out late on the 30th.  Her school has a  mandatory order that teachers must be present for the parent/teacher's meetings, so she'll be late arriving in Orlando. 

Martha:  How are you feeling?  Better, I hope. Will keep in touch. 

All my love, Eleanore.

Mary L: Will keepyou all in our prayers.

Sent:  Wed  9/10/03  4:46 PM

Subject:  Test Results

Hi Mary, Anna and JO:  Mary, I sent you copies of Doctor S's lab reports.  I  put them in the mail today. You may understand them, so you can interpret them to Anna and JO.  I still don't know when they will reschedule the Catherization.  I  got a call from Dr. V.'s office today and they said to cancel tomorrow's scheduled appointment. The girl said he will seem me at the October 3rd appointment, AFTER  the Catherization.  I called back asking when they scheduled me for the cath. and she said the nurse will call me and let me know. Dr. S. said yesterday, my blood test were just about normal and there should not be any trouble with doing the procedure.  I did not know it, but he said he thought there was no reason to do a bone marrow test.  I was not aware they were thinking of it.  I'm glad they don't have to do it. Will keep you all informed.  Love M&D

Hi Everyone:  Thanks for your prayers and concerns about me.  I'll need them in about six weeks; that's when they will try the catherization again.  My Cardiologist and the Hematologist are working together to get my blood to the right level. 

Joan is flying in tomorrow; I'll pick her up.  She will only be staying until Sep 1st; Aunt Rita will be coming in on the 2nd.  Mary and Jerry came in on Thursday, the 21st and left after the good news about no Leukemia, and no scheduling until at least 6 weeks.  They did do a lot of things to help, such as minor things that had to be done but I could not do. 

Thanks kids, for everything.  Oh, they brought 2 dogs with them, which Dad and I enjoyed.   As for me, I feel fine; no aches or pains other than my back and knees - arthritis, I guess. 

Will keep you all informed of any changes.  All our love, M&D; Ellie and Eddie.

Subject:  RE:  Update Info

 Oh, Mom, You aren't weird, your special and you are making the Doctors earn their living and testing their knowledge.  Eventually they will figure it out.  At least they are getting control of your blood pressure. 

Just remember, Dr. V and Dr. S have families to feed and you are helping support their kids and wives.  You are keeping them employed! 

Oh, and your favorite grand-dog Harley, was a bad dog on the way home.  We had stopped about an hour and a half earlier and she just peed on the blanket in the truck.  Oh, Jerry was not pleased at her peeing in his truck.  After that, water was restricted. Love to you all, M

Sent:  Thu   8/7/03  4:28 PM

Subject:  RE:  Medical Update

Hi Everyone:  I read your messages - they are loud and clear.  I will adhere to the advice on the living wills.  I'm not ready to fold up right now.   Glad you Houstonites will be coming on Thursday the 21st. We will be happy to see all of you again.  Thanks a lot. I will consider the advice about someone coming in to clean every now and then. 

Dad still talks about you kids being there at the beach house how all of you girls are so beautiful and Tom and Jerry are so patient with the boys.  So, you see he still has some memory that he uses.  Thanks for the advice you guys have given me.   

Rita:  Thanks for the offer of coming.  I appreciate it very much.  Perhaps at another time I'll need your help, but since Anna, Mary and Jerry will be coming I'm all set for now.  I'll keep Jerry busy doing some chores. 

JO:  Thanks for considering coming around Labor Day if you can get away. 

Love to all, M&D, etc.

Sent:  Tue  8/5/03  3:38 PM

Subject:  Medical Update

Hi All:  Since it is thundering right  now, I'll just give you the  highlights of my trip to the Cardiologist.  On Aug 22, I'm scheduled for a right and left catherization at the Sanford Hospital.  He says there's something unusual in me that he is baffled with.  Anyway, I'll write more when it stops thundering and raining. 

All my love, M&D, etc.Oh, by the way, Dr. V said he will call my daughter(which one) and explain to her.

Sent:  Fri  8/2/03  10:26 AM

Subject:  Update Info

Hey Mary & JO:  Thanks, Mary, for the information on thosetests.  I must be a "weirdo"!!!  The doctors will have a time deciding what is really wrong with me, or it may not be so complicating of a deal!!!!  We'll wait and see.  The gal at the hospital did not give me ultrasound, just took 4 vials of blood; a pint, orange, I think a green and I think a red vial.  Maybe I'll have to go back for that ultrasound.  We'll see. OK, JO, I'll be there on or about 7:15 PM.  Have a safe trip.   All our love, M&D

Sent:  Thu 7/21/03  2:41 PM

Subject:  Thanks 

Hi Everyone:  Thanks kids for a wonderful time at the vacation house.  Dad and I enjoyed it but it was good to be home again.   

Dol. and Bob:  We got home on Saturday about 4:30 PM. Alligator Point is a nice but remote area.   It was quiet and relaxing. 

Thanks, kids, also for doing the cooking and helping clean up the house when we were leaving.  Dad and I love all of you very much.  Too bad, Mary and Tom, Andy and  Matt that you all could not stay any longer. Did Andy leave for Thailand already?  I wanted to call and wish him good luck and a safe trip but I was busy putting all the stuff back where it belongs and forgot about it. If he calls you, tell him that we wish him well and a good and eventful trip. It was great to see Brian and Donna and also good to meet Faye, Jo.  Will write more later.  It's thundering again.All our love, M&D; Busia and Dziadzi, El and Ed.

Sent:  Tue   7/17/03   6:19 PM

Subject:  Black Cloud

Hi Everyone:  Sorry to hear all the bad happenings going onat the Davis'.  Here we thought Harley was getting alongjust fine!  Hope the medication works on her.  Guess youwill just have to wait and see.  What else could be donewith her.  No wonder the people wanted to get rid of her! 

Anna:  You'll just have to do what I do - make notes foryourself with appointment dates and times!  I can't remember so well anymore.  My refrigerator calendar is full of appointments - takes me a few minutes to clarify the date.   Mary and Jerry:  Am so sorry that the accident happened to your Dad.  I hope he is OK now and will be able to workafter a few days.  Also, we are sorry about the break-in toy our truck.  That's a lot of tools that were stolen.  Any clues as to who it was?  Were the police able to get any fingerprints?  Hope you will get some reimbursement back so you can get more tools to work with.   

On a happier note:  We are looking forward to our get-together in Alligator Point.    We are invited over to Rose and Norbert's home on the 4th.  I'm bringing dessert andsome rolls for the hamburger, and some salad.    Are   you having company on the 4th?   

Again I'm saying sorry about your misfortunes.  I'll keep youall in our prayers. 

How are you doing, Mary L?  I  hope you don't hurt too much anymore.  Take it easy for a while!!!!! 

Hey JO:  Glad you got back from Sarasota OK.  Too bad Candis got ill there.   

Hey Andy, Tom, and Matt.  Takecare of yourselves.  Will see you soon. 

Love, M&D;Busia and Dziadzi.  How's the new car working? 

Sent:    Tue, 7/01/03 8:45 AM

Subject: There is a Black Cloud Over the Davis' 

Hey Everyone, As the title notes, we are having a bit of bad luck or bad mojo in our little family, ya know I guess this includes Anna with her broken hand and teeth problems. The first thing is that we got the phone fixed.  So you can call now.  I will call you mom tonight, if I get a chance. 

So you want to know how the phone got broke, well to make a long story short.  Jerry is putting in a new gas cook top for me and taking out the electric one.  As Jerry says, "piece of cake." So Jerry calls his dad to come over to help dig the ditch to replace the gas line.  Jerry has figured that when they installed the pool heater (which is broke and needs replacing), they undersized the gas line and the line that was there was not best quality line.  So to get the correct amount of gas to the cook top and the heater (which we will replace sometime) he had to put in a bigger line.  So, they cut the phone line 3 times while diggins.  Not too bad, you kinda expect that to happen.  Well, Jerry's dad started yelling when he was digging and he had hit his pinky finger on the cement slab that the air conditioner sets on.  Blood is flowing fast and hard from his finger and upon closer examination, he had popped off his pinky fingernail all the way back to the white part near the bed...............OUCH!! 

That was Sunday. To back up a day, Jerry went to fix a backflow preventor (a $75.00 job) at a local hospital and his truck was broken into and they stole ALL his power tools and a bunch of other tools.  We guess about $3000.00 worth of stuff was stolen. Then, Jerry went to turn on the computer last night and the damn thing wont do anything.  No power to the main box at all.  The computer is relatively new, about a year and a half.  The monitor gets power, but not the computer it self. 

Then, the new dog, Harley is going nuts.  We went to Denver for a week and she stayed home with Anna and the other pets, and she was fine.  On Thursday (two days after we got back), we notice she is wandering back and forth in front of the front door and back to the dining room.  Each day her pacing has gotten worse.  I thought that there was some scent on the dining room floor (which is where her big attraction is), so on Sunday I mopped with Mr. Clean, then I went over that with some vinegar, then I sprayed on odor eliminator in the room.  She still continued do it more and more.  On sunday evening, we got her distracted with a pig ear.  Anna and I sat down sunday evening and discovered she was chasing her shadow.  On monday, I looked up on the internet, shadow chasing and found it to be a obsessive compulsive disorder.  They suggested going to get a check up at the vet to make sure that there is not a physical problem. 

So off we went to the vet last night and the vet(s) were amazed.  Harley was doing exactly what their vet books said would happen with this disorder. The vets had never actually seen this happen, mostly they are told what happens and wont do it at the vet office.  She was going nuts chasing her shadow and she even started like jumping in the air to bite imaginary flies oh, and now and then she barks at it.  The vet thinks she freaked out because we were gone for a week.  I said GREAT! we have a weeks vacation planned in 3 weeks..........so I am not sure what we are going to do with her during the vacation.  I have a place secured at the training place as of now.  The vet has put her on an anti-depressant (Clomicalm 20mg) to see if that helps.  Of course, it takes 3-4 weeks to see any improvement.  Harley won't even play with Lucky anymore. 

Oh, the black cloud can pass us now.  We have had enough!!! Don't know about the tools.  If we file it on the business insurance, it will go up a lot and if we claim it on the homeowners, they may drop us.  That is the new thing in Texas; if you make any claim on the homeowners they are dropping you like a hot potato.  A lot of companies have totally stopped writing homeowner's policies in Texas.  All this is due to the flood of 2001 and the huge mold case outside of Austin where the mold took over the home of some family and they got like 20 million awarded to them.  And of course, the flood is causing more mold problems. 

Well, enough whining from me.  I hope all of you are fine.  Mom, I got the shoes back. Sorry they didn't fit.  I would try taking her to a shoe store and trying on the men's high tops, there are more of them out there then women's. Hope all of you have a great week.  

Love,  Mary and the rest of the black cloud gang   

Sent:  Tue  6/17/03 6:41 PM

Subject:  Summer Vacation

Hi Kids:  T&M:  Great; we'll be looking forward to your trip to our house on July l7th.  Thanks a lot.  For the rest of you guys, T, M, A, and M will joins us at the rental house. They are flying into Orlando on Thursday, Jul 17th.  Mary L will be coming in by herself at 9:30 and T, A, and M willarrive about 11 PM.  They could not get a flight out on Friday so Mary L will pick them up at the airport, as she will rent a car.  The Yankees will help me get things going and help pack the car.  Also, Tom will be able to see to Dad as to restroom facilities, etc.  They may not be able to spend the whole week, but at least they will be able to spend time with us. 

Anna:  We received your box today.  Dad was really thrilled with the Suburu race car.  Thanks.  Thanks also for the inflatable pillows you sent me. How's your left hand doing?  

How was your trip, JO?  I take it you got back OK?  Didyou have fun? 

Aunt Dol was in an auto accident last week.  She rammed into the car in front of her, not knowing the car had stopped.She called yesterday and said she was to have surgery on her right thumb today.  The left thumb was knocked out of place but at the ER they put it back in line and she has a type of splint on it.  The thumb they operated on today is on the same hand that she had broken several years ago when the family got together in Colorado.  (The same doctor is doing that thumb.) 

I take it Matt is still in school.  Andy, how was your first term, semester, or whatever at the University?  Did OK?Good for you!   

JO:  I looked through the garbage yesterday to see whether we accidentally through the shirt away which you said was with Dad's shorts.  I saved the envelope and looked in there alsobut the shirt was not in it.  Anyway, thanks, kids for the gifts you sent Dad. 

Tom:  I did not tell Dad what gift he had coming from you guys.  I thought he'd be surprised when he opened it.  Thanks.  (What did I press that made this type change to italics - anyone know? ) 

Mary Houston (as JO  would say), Anna and  JO, When you can, lets get together on who is bringing what to the rental house. 

All our love, M&D; Busia and Dziadzi.

Sent:  Tue         6/10/03

Subject:  Test Results 

Hi Y'all:  Went to the Cardiologist this morning.  The stress is normal; the echo-gram shows a slight "leakage"; the heart monitor that I wore (two times) shows that I have arrhythmia.  He says my heart goes "baroom, baroom, baroom, then it goes baroombaroombaroombaroom, meaning  hat it skips beats.  He wants me to get still another holter monitor on in two weeks to see how the heart is after he adjusted my medications.  He increased my Digitex (Lanoxin) too two a day instead of one a day plus my Toprol to 50 mg. twice a day. 

This morning, my pressure read 188/78 in my left arm and 200/84  in my right arm.  He told me it's very important for me to  NOT eat anything salty nor cook with salt, which I don't do anyway.  I must be very sensitive to salt.  Yesterday we had our last meeting for the summer and people brought covereddishes and, of course, I ate things that were salty, especially the deviled eggs someone brought and the fried chicken that the club furnished (purchased at our Publix grocery store, although I did not eat the coating of the chicken.  Anyway, after the wearing of the third heart monitor, he'll see me in a year (unless something else develops). 

Mary D:  Good luck on your upcoming test.  I'll say some prayers for you. 

Mary L  Thanks for the lowdown on your visit to the Bar Mitzvah of your nephew.  It seems like you all had a good time. 

JO:  In case I don't get a chance to talk with you before your trip to CA, let me wish you a good and safe plane ride and an interesting weekend.    

Anna:  How's that left hand of yours doing?  Is it getting better?  How was the visit to the Orthopedist?  Must you still wear the brace?   Thanks all of  you for all your messages.  Say hi to everyone and will keep you all posted about my health.

All our love, M&D; Busia and Dziadzi. 

When will you  Yankees go to Chicago to bring Andy back.  A. Dol saysprobably next week?  Have a good trip also.  Drive carefully

Bye for now.  Mom.

Sent: Thu 6/5/03 6:21 PM

Subject: Grapefruit Tree

Hey to all:  Well, yesterday the grapefruit tree finally got cut down.  I was thinking about it for quite a while but never called anyone about it.  The decision was made for me when I went to pick up two plastic grocery bags of grapefruits that fell off the tree and some that were very over ripe, in fact rotten.  I  put the two bags by the end of the driveway for the garbage men to pick up on Tuesday.

When Dad came in the house, he said he gave Pete, the guy across our driveway the two bags of grapefruit.  I told him he gave away OUR garbage!!  I call them to tell them that they were not good, to put them back on our side for the garbage men. I then decided it was time to call the tree guy and have them cut it down.  I then picked some good ones from the tree and took it over to them before the tree was cut down the next day.  I  know Dad was trying to be neighborly but he was not thinking that I also put the rotten ones in with the ones that had just fallen off the tree. Well, now I wont have to worry about grapefruits!. 

Bye for now.  Will write later.  PS:  Had another holter heart monitor put on yesterday and taken off about ten AM today.  No results known from any of the tests I had done.

Will keep you informed. 

Love, M&D; Busia and Dziadzi

Sent:    FRI 5/23/23 4:15PM

Subject:  Dr. V’s Visit (Second Day)

Hi Everyone:  The nurse took the holter monitor off me that I wore for 24 hours today.  The doctor did not get a chance to see the results before I left, but later on the receptionistcalled and told me that I had an erratic heart beat and that they will call in some more pills for me to take. Today they tried to give me a stress test but I FLUNKED! I was on the tread mill for one minutes and twenty-twoseconds.  The Doctor stopped it and decided to do a chemical test.  I was all  pooped out and could hardly catchmy breath.  They injected a drug call Persentine and it does about the same as walking on the tread mill but takes a bit longer. 

When it was done, I laid on the table until my heart rate when down.  It took a long time going down.  I did not go lower than 99; and then it would go up again. Later when I was in the waiting room (had to wait until all the medication went through my system) my throat started to tighten up, just like it did the night of April 1st when I went to see Dr. W.  That was while I was in bed, and I could hear my heart beat pretty loudly. 

The Doctor said he did not know why my throat was tightening up.  But Dr. V. told the nurse he is going to check on my thyroid.  He was explaining that it was an apothetic thyroidism syndrome where I may feel nervous inside but not show it outside -something like that.  That may cause the increase in high blood pressure. 

Last year when I was to have the hemorrhage surgery, I know I was not nervous; I wanted it done and over with, but the pressure was getting higher and higher when they decided not to do the surgery; too high of a risk of a stroke or heart attack.  To make a long story short, I went to get some blood work done:  TSH, T4RIA, T3RA, T7 Index and a magnesium level.  Course, theresults wont be available because of the holiday.  The lab has to have the results of two of those tests then send itto another lab for the T7 Index results.  Those tests, as I know are for the thyroid. 

When the nurse called about the new pills she said some- thing like I had Articardia - Arrhythmia.  After two weeks of taking the new pills, he wants me to come back on Jun 4th and they will put another halter on me for 24 hours and see it the heart rhythm responded to the additional pills.(That Articardia  she said was an SVT heart or an irregular heart beat.  Amen!  Will keep you informed.

You all have a nice holiday.  Sorry, Anna about your hand.Hope it will get better soon. 

All our love, M&D; Busia &Dziadzi, and El and Ed. 

Sent:    THU 5/22/03 12:53 PMSubject:  Dr. V’s Visit

Hi Kids:  Well, I went to Dr V's office today.  The test was a resting test.  The male technician gave me a shot ofsomething in my arm and then told me to drink at least wo cups of water and wait about 45 min. for the medicationto go through my blood stream.  He then called me in again and put me on a narrow table and explained that a biground thing would rotate around my upper body every 12-15 seconds until it reaches my left side.  Then a nurse took my blood pressure (160/72) and put on a heart monitor that I have to wear for 24 hours.  I go back tomorrow for a tread mill test.  I told the nurse that I don't know if I could do it with my bad knee, hip and back.  She said they can do a chemical test.  I go for that at 10 A.M.  I have to fast again but to take my medication.  Will keep you informed. 

Matt:  Happy Birthday.  Today you are 8 years old!  Gee how time flies.  Your are getting to be a big boy now.  Howmany more days of school do you have until you get a summer vacation?   

Andy:  Are you home from U of C   yet?  How did you make out with your subjects? 

Mary D:  I just found a size 34 bra in one of the drawers in the spare bedroom.  I found it after A. Dol and U. Bob leftand thought it was hers.  I wrote her about it but she did not answer me as yet.  Then I figured it may be yours.  There was also a pair of peds in the drawer.  If it's yours, I'll mail them to you or give it to you in July at Alligator Point. Will close for now. 

JO:  Today Melanie is graduating from Grade school but we are not going, as it will be in theevening and will be late by the time we start going home.  I don't care to drive very far at night, and besides, I have this monitor on.  I have to be careful not to pull any wires off. God bless all of you, M&D; Busia and Dziadzi.