I loved today! I just love the primary program. I am the primary chorister in our ward and I just loved how well the children sang. They followed me so well! Primary Children can sing with dynamics! I just love my calling! To top things off I said the closing prayer and cried my way through the first bit!
Krista turns 12 in less then two weeks! I think I might be old now. A daughter in Young Women.
Wow!
Randy is tired a lot! I love every day we have together!
I just feel so blessed to have every single day with him!
Nathan is so big! What a cutie pie.
Kelsey is lovely doing so well!
I am happy and hard working! Is that okay to say?
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Another Delay
They are keeping Randy for a few more days. They want his blood to be at a 3 and it was 1.7 for the last two days. Missing him. Makes me sad to think about it too much.
Leaving Tucson
As I drove the lonely road back from Tucson by myself I wondered if I had made the right decision to leave Randy at the University Medical Center and come back home and work and take care of my children. I pondered all that had taken place in the last four days, was it only four days? My eyes have been opened to the world of heart transplant and everything I saw was fearsome. Who would ever agree to go through that? I am not that brave. I am not that optimistic, even if I am a happy person. I am way to whinny to go through that. I do have challenges on my side, but I have been prepared after all and I will take my challenges. I can be a support and comfort, a provider and caretaker. I will be thankful for my part of the challenges and even more thankful for support and help to be made strong.
Randy has to be made from the strongest stuff on earth, he is such a kind hearted funny loving example to me of grace under incredible pressure. I adore him.
WE were supposed to be done with testing today and able to BOTH come home, but there were some minor (I hope) glitches and Randy had to be admitted and monitored for two days because his blood didn't get thin enough after one of his most invasive procedure. It was a surgery if you ask me, they put him under and sliced him up and feed tubes from his legs up to his heart and blew up little balloons and poked around and measured things. It was surgery.
They also found something on his kidney, I got to see it on an ultrasound. They don't think it is anything but they sure made some people move fast to get more tests on that little pea sized thing. If they end up doing a biopsy,I want to go back down there.
So he will be okay, he is officially to be called pin cushion, and yes I hated leaving him there. Its not quite home without him. But he does hunt and camp out, so for the next few days I will just pretend that he is out with his brothers on a hunt.
Please keep Randy in your prayers. Thank you!
Love,
Tiffany
Randy has to be made from the strongest stuff on earth, he is such a kind hearted funny loving example to me of grace under incredible pressure. I adore him.
WE were supposed to be done with testing today and able to BOTH come home, but there were some minor (I hope) glitches and Randy had to be admitted and monitored for two days because his blood didn't get thin enough after one of his most invasive procedure. It was a surgery if you ask me, they put him under and sliced him up and feed tubes from his legs up to his heart and blew up little balloons and poked around and measured things. It was surgery.
They also found something on his kidney, I got to see it on an ultrasound. They don't think it is anything but they sure made some people move fast to get more tests on that little pea sized thing. If they end up doing a biopsy,I want to go back down there.
So he will be okay, he is officially to be called pin cushion, and yes I hated leaving him there. Its not quite home without him. But he does hunt and camp out, so for the next few days I will just pretend that he is out with his brothers on a hunt.
Please keep Randy in your prayers. Thank you!
Love,
Tiffany
Trip to Tucson for Heart Transplant Evaluation
I've been thinking for a while that it is time to write to everyone to let you know what is going on. We had our first meeting with the transplant team and they reviewed Randy's charts and did a few minimal tests. They were quick to come to the decision that he should be evaluated for transplant. Randy was so worried about that visit the night before, it surprised me because this wasn't a life threatening situation, he wasn't about to go into surgery and he's been somewhat stable even if his energy is still low.
We got a call a few days ago and we are finally taking that trip to Tucson for all the tests that evaluated him for transplant. We left Monday Morning and will be gone till Thursday night. I have been checking in with face book since my phone allows me access to it from everywhere. Randy had quite the day yesterday and had 14 large vials of blood taken for the tests that check for "everything, the doctor at the lab stated, If they can't find it, he doesn't have it. Wow.
We got a call a few days ago and we are finally taking that trip to Tucson for all the tests that evaluated him for transplant. We left Monday Morning and will be gone till Thursday night. I have been checking in with face book since my phone allows me access to it from everywhere. Randy had quite the day yesterday and had 14 large vials of blood taken for the tests that check for "everything, the doctor at the lab stated, If they can't find it, he doesn't have it. Wow.
He had a psychological profile done and I visited with the psychologist too. They recorded our visits and a report of everything that happened in these 4 days is summarized and a counsel decides if he should go on the list and where on the list he should go.
Today is the day of many body scans, heart scans and long meetings with social workers, Why social workers? I guess I'll find out today. This is getting to be a bigger deal the more I am learning about it. Can we have our old life back? Maybe just pretend this isn't really happening? Is there a beach nearby, I think I'm ready to feel some sand between my toes.
We are staying in the neatest place. Its like a home away from home. Its a hospitality inn, and we just love it. Its in a residential area and we cook our own meals in a great kitchen and it feels like visiting a friend.
We are hoping for your prayers again at this time, and thank you for them. We know that as you have prayed for us mountains have moved.
We will know as early as next Friday if he will be placed on the list. We are hoping that he will as he has stopped getting better, and has had quite a few setbacks.
We love you and are thankful for you. Especially Penny and Mike Law watching our three beautiful children during this trip. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!
Tiffany and Randy
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Happy and Well
I hope this finds you happy and well!
Our family is happy and enjoying having good, quiet, normal, family time. We are relieved that so much drama has passed. We had two doctors appointments and each appointment had more hope and encouragement. Randy can now start "working out" or walking a few houses down the street. He does more each day and loves that he feel tired but not exausted. I can't believe how things fell into place for him to be able to baptize Kelsey. He has had severe arm restrictions on his left arm ( so the wire leads don't come out of his heart!) and just got a few of the restrictions lifted a few days before the baptism. What a special day this was for our family.
We shared Kelsey's baptism day with three other cute kids in our ward and things went so smoothly. I love baptisms and especially love watching my own children be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. I also loved watching Nathan watch Kelsey get baptized and now he talks about getting b-tized like Kelsey. It is so cute.
I have shared many beautiful moments with you that I have counseled with Randy in sharing, and am glad to get the feedback that you care. We know the hand of the Lord has been guiding these experiences we have been having. We continue to know that the Lord is guiding us carefully still as we prepare to get Randy on the Heart transplant list and all the tests and procedures that that entails.
I am surprised by how much stronger Randy is getting. At our last Dr's appointment the doctor felt that based on Randy's age, and the factors involved in his condition, that possibly, this last surgery with the pacemaker/defibrilator will heal his heart. We will know in 6 months if it is working, but we can tell a difference in how much energy he has. The devise is forcing his heart to work together and beat consistently and more effiently. This should shrink his heart and continue to improve his condition. The heart transplant is now refered to as a safety net, not the main hope that it was once. A lot can change in a month.
I hope that the closeness we feel as a couple continues to grow, and the closeness we feel for the Lord also increases. There is a country song I heard a few weeks back on the radio( while driving to the hospital) that mentions " I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying. . ."
Or someone you love for that matter, what a lesson on life and loving and treating people with kindness and not taking people for granted. I would never wish anyone to experience this, yet with our miraculous outcome it's a bit easier to seperate the stress from the blessings and the hard times sweeten and the pain (Randy tells me) is worth it. And I know I learned things that may never be learned in any other way.
Things like, I sincerely cannot wait to shoot my bow with Randy on an archery course.
Like I said things change in a month.
I still believe in miracles, I live with one.
Tiffany and Family
Our family is happy and enjoying having good, quiet, normal, family time. We are relieved that so much drama has passed. We had two doctors appointments and each appointment had more hope and encouragement. Randy can now start "working out" or walking a few houses down the street. He does more each day and loves that he feel tired but not exausted. I can't believe how things fell into place for him to be able to baptize Kelsey. He has had severe arm restrictions on his left arm ( so the wire leads don't come out of his heart!) and just got a few of the restrictions lifted a few days before the baptism. What a special day this was for our family.
We shared Kelsey's baptism day with three other cute kids in our ward and things went so smoothly. I love baptisms and especially love watching my own children be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. I also loved watching Nathan watch Kelsey get baptized and now he talks about getting b-tized like Kelsey. It is so cute.
I have shared many beautiful moments with you that I have counseled with Randy in sharing, and am glad to get the feedback that you care. We know the hand of the Lord has been guiding these experiences we have been having. We continue to know that the Lord is guiding us carefully still as we prepare to get Randy on the Heart transplant list and all the tests and procedures that that entails.
I am surprised by how much stronger Randy is getting. At our last Dr's appointment the doctor felt that based on Randy's age, and the factors involved in his condition, that possibly, this last surgery with the pacemaker/defibrilator will heal his heart. We will know in 6 months if it is working, but we can tell a difference in how much energy he has. The devise is forcing his heart to work together and beat consistently and more effiently. This should shrink his heart and continue to improve his condition. The heart transplant is now refered to as a safety net, not the main hope that it was once. A lot can change in a month.
I hope that the closeness we feel as a couple continues to grow, and the closeness we feel for the Lord also increases. There is a country song I heard a few weeks back on the radio( while driving to the hospital) that mentions " I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying. . ."
Or someone you love for that matter, what a lesson on life and loving and treating people with kindness and not taking people for granted. I would never wish anyone to experience this, yet with our miraculous outcome it's a bit easier to seperate the stress from the blessings and the hard times sweeten and the pain (Randy tells me) is worth it. And I know I learned things that may never be learned in any other way.
Things like, I sincerely cannot wait to shoot my bow with Randy on an archery course.
Like I said things change in a month.
I still believe in miracles, I live with one.
Tiffany and Family
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
The Best Valentine Ever!
Happy Valentine's Day! Our first full day back was wonderful. I have had quite the emotions flowing though me in this whirlwind of a week.
These last few days remind me of the feelings I had when we were first married, at least the parts where I spent time reflecting on the possibilities ahead of us. I can now with more surety see us together here on earth for a few more decades at least. I have hope that it can happen and pray that it will. This experience has forged our love and sealed our commitment to each other in a way I can scarcely comprehend. Reflecting more on the feeling of this experience has also reminded me of how I felt with each beautiful child I have had the privilege of bringing to this earth. I want nothing more than to take care of this beautiful man of mine. I woke up every hour the first few nights, checking on Randy, listening to his breathing, and putting my head gently on his chest listening to the sounds of his heart beating . . . tick tick, tick tick, tick tick, tick tick . . . to a steady rhythm that is my most favorite sound now.
I don't think he ever knew that for most of our marriage I would wait for him to fall asleep, then listen to his heart beating with crazy rhythms, and I would pray over his heart. I remember a few times when his rhythm would fall in sync with mine and that was fun. It reminds me of grandfather clocks, and how a whole store can find it's way to tick in rhythm. I also like to check his blood pressure often. The pharmacist freaked me out with warnings and cautions. I am ever watchful for a sweating forehead, low blood pressure, and I'm just waiting for him to drop to the floor when he stands up. I wish I could relax about this a little more.
But like my sister told me earlier, all my obsessiveness has resulted in great blessings to our family so far . . . my degree, getting out of debt (pretty close anyway), and eating healthfully. Go Oatmeal!
Did I mention that Randy's artery's are as clear as a bell? A great help in the surgery he had on Monday. Is it prideful to want to take credit for his clean arteries? I remember him saying as we left a doctor's appointment, "Now I have to eat like you." I just smiled.
Randy's reserves are way up. This is a good sign and it makes me almost giddy. If you saw him you'd think he looked very improved. I do. His blood pressure is up to 105/66 a definite improvement. His color looks better than it has in months, no more grinchy green! We see a whole lot of doctors soon, and I am just hoping for great news.
He is telling me that he is going to church on Sunday, and I shouldn't be surprised. The man is S T U B B O R N. Yes, Shepherd Stubborn even. There, I said it.
Our love and thanks to all,
Randy and Tiffany, Still in Love
These last few days remind me of the feelings I had when we were first married, at least the parts where I spent time reflecting on the possibilities ahead of us. I can now with more surety see us together here on earth for a few more decades at least. I have hope that it can happen and pray that it will. This experience has forged our love and sealed our commitment to each other in a way I can scarcely comprehend. Reflecting more on the feeling of this experience has also reminded me of how I felt with each beautiful child I have had the privilege of bringing to this earth. I want nothing more than to take care of this beautiful man of mine. I woke up every hour the first few nights, checking on Randy, listening to his breathing, and putting my head gently on his chest listening to the sounds of his heart beating . . . tick tick, tick tick, tick tick, tick tick . . . to a steady rhythm that is my most favorite sound now.
I don't think he ever knew that for most of our marriage I would wait for him to fall asleep, then listen to his heart beating with crazy rhythms, and I would pray over his heart. I remember a few times when his rhythm would fall in sync with mine and that was fun. It reminds me of grandfather clocks, and how a whole store can find it's way to tick in rhythm. I also like to check his blood pressure often. The pharmacist freaked me out with warnings and cautions. I am ever watchful for a sweating forehead, low blood pressure, and I'm just waiting for him to drop to the floor when he stands up. I wish I could relax about this a little more.
But like my sister told me earlier, all my obsessiveness has resulted in great blessings to our family so far . . . my degree, getting out of debt (pretty close anyway), and eating healthfully. Go Oatmeal!
Did I mention that Randy's artery's are as clear as a bell? A great help in the surgery he had on Monday. Is it prideful to want to take credit for his clean arteries? I remember him saying as we left a doctor's appointment, "Now I have to eat like you." I just smiled.
Randy's reserves are way up. This is a good sign and it makes me almost giddy. If you saw him you'd think he looked very improved. I do. His blood pressure is up to 105/66 a definite improvement. His color looks better than it has in months, no more grinchy green! We see a whole lot of doctors soon, and I am just hoping for great news.
He is telling me that he is going to church on Sunday, and I shouldn't be surprised. The man is S T U B B O R N. Yes, Shepherd Stubborn even. There, I said it.
Our love and thanks to all,
Randy and Tiffany, Still in Love
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Welcome Home Randy!!!
At last!!!!!! We are under the same roof. I am not tugged or pulled in multiple directions.
I find peace and comfort in knowing that my children are sleeping soundly in their own beds and my husband is resting comfortably in our borrowed reclining chair, with no tubes or wires attached to every part of him (other than the new ones keeping him alive, neatly tucked away in his chest.)
We must let you in on the latest news from Randy's cardiologist, We are now going to play the waiting game. We wait for Randy's heart to heal. And while we are waiting we are going to take a trip down to the heart transplant center in Tucson and take all the tests we can to qualify for a sparking new, or rather a precious hand me down heart. We are hoping, with very good cause to have this last surgery be our final answer, but we are going to get on the transplant list anyway. Its better to be on the list and not need it, than need one and not be on the list. We are hoping to be able to turn down a heart, and let someone else use it. But we will play it safe.
I am thinking of becoming a pharmacist, because I now have quite the inventory. I need a pill box the size of a briefcase to keep this boys medications straight. Wow.
Insert Staying alive song and cool 70's dance moves. Cuz it's taken a lot to keep this boy a live.(go ahead a click it, its just to the right!) And if you watch "The Office", like we do, you know it can also be used as a handy CPR reference tool. We loved the last one referencing the organ donor cards. Speaking of which, I am going to become an organ donor, I don't know why I haven't signed up yet.
We came home today to a sparkling clean, freshly scrubbed home, I was so impressed. And we were robbed, they actually stole my dirty laundry. I tried to hide it, when I found out some sisters were coming to clean my house, but they hunted it down. Laundry is my least favorite of the household responsibilities, and my poor dryer decided that this would be a good week to die, (better my dryer than my husband!) It will be taken care of now that we are not quite so busy. please don't worry. Thank you! I love my clean laundry! What a fun surprise!
So I must go get some sleep myself now, I lost my car in the parking lot today, after getting medications. I must not let myself get to fuzzy! Sleep is my friend.
Another thank you! and our love and thanks go out. We know that God lives and loves us and we are his children. There is a plan to this life and we can make a difference to others. I know this to be true, because you have made a difference to our family. We will be always grateful! We Love you!
The together at last Shepherd Family
I find peace and comfort in knowing that my children are sleeping soundly in their own beds and my husband is resting comfortably in our borrowed reclining chair, with no tubes or wires attached to every part of him (other than the new ones keeping him alive, neatly tucked away in his chest.)
We must let you in on the latest news from Randy's cardiologist, We are now going to play the waiting game. We wait for Randy's heart to heal. And while we are waiting we are going to take a trip down to the heart transplant center in Tucson and take all the tests we can to qualify for a sparking new, or rather a precious hand me down heart. We are hoping, with very good cause to have this last surgery be our final answer, but we are going to get on the transplant list anyway. Its better to be on the list and not need it, than need one and not be on the list. We are hoping to be able to turn down a heart, and let someone else use it. But we will play it safe.
I am thinking of becoming a pharmacist, because I now have quite the inventory. I need a pill box the size of a briefcase to keep this boys medications straight. Wow.
Insert Staying alive song and cool 70's dance moves. Cuz it's taken a lot to keep this boy a live.(go ahead a click it, its just to the right!) And if you watch "The Office", like we do, you know it can also be used as a handy CPR reference tool. We loved the last one referencing the organ donor cards. Speaking of which, I am going to become an organ donor, I don't know why I haven't signed up yet.
We came home today to a sparkling clean, freshly scrubbed home, I was so impressed. And we were robbed, they actually stole my dirty laundry. I tried to hide it, when I found out some sisters were coming to clean my house, but they hunted it down. Laundry is my least favorite of the household responsibilities, and my poor dryer decided that this would be a good week to die, (better my dryer than my husband!) It will be taken care of now that we are not quite so busy. please don't worry. Thank you! I love my clean laundry! What a fun surprise!
So I must go get some sleep myself now, I lost my car in the parking lot today, after getting medications. I must not let myself get to fuzzy! Sleep is my friend.
Another thank you! and our love and thanks go out. We know that God lives and loves us and we are his children. There is a plan to this life and we can make a difference to others. I know this to be true, because you have made a difference to our family. We will be always grateful! We Love you!
The together at last Shepherd Family
Monday, February 9, 2009
A Day of Miracles!
I am the happiest person on the planet. M I R A C L E is the word of the day. Randy's surgeon used this word multiple times to describe Randy's surgery.
He came out and said,"I did not think that I could even preform this surgery after I saw his heart ( from the angiogram) I was going to have to swim the ocean and climb the mountains to get the wires in the right places on the heart. So I started and God's hand stepped in and we just sailed through so easily. I can't even believe it myself, it was a miracle." He went on to say that he has done this surgery thousands of time, and people came from all over the world to have this procedure done and this was one of the most challenging cases he had ever seen. Bishop Holt was talking to me in the hall when Dr. Chan, the amazing, came to talk to us, Bishop asked him how the procedure went on a scale of 1 to 10?
Dr. Chan, " a 10.5, it was a miracle."
I was impressed that such a skilled and talented man would recognize so plainly the hand of the Lord. I have prayed and begged and fasted and pleaded that this would be the will of the Lord and I am so overcome with joy and I look forward to and anticipate the challenges we have ahead of rehabilitating this great loved man of mine, and even having the chance to workout daily problems and struggles together, hand in hand, with the Lord, as a loving union can and does.
He is already breathing easier, this is great, we didn't even hope for that this soon.
I am so grateful for the love and support and help and meals and love and friendships, and the closeness I feel with each of you. I have witnessed a miracle this day and I am a believer.
This morning I woke up with hope and joy as my companions, and I was pleasantly surprised by that. I was strong and able up until the doors of the surgery room closed and my dear husband was out of sight. I came into the waiting room and wrapped my arms around Sis. Gibson who had come to be my "mom" for the day, I didn't think I needed someone there for me until that moment and we had a very releasing (sob) cry. Thank you.
Shellie Morris came too and thankfully we talked the time away. I am forever grateful that they knew I needed someone, even when I didn't.
February 9, 2009 A day of miracles, thank you for taking part in the journey with us. We love you and know that the combined faith of all was enough to have this prayer answered for us. We know that the Lord loves us and hears our prayers, that he comforts those who stand in need of comforting, and the sacred gift of the atonement makes all of these things possible. Randy is looking pretty dang good, and he ate a slice of awesome pizza and a whole hamburger! Wow! We are happy with even the simplest of things.
Love, the Randy and Tiffany Shepherd family
He came out and said,"I did not think that I could even preform this surgery after I saw his heart ( from the angiogram) I was going to have to swim the ocean and climb the mountains to get the wires in the right places on the heart. So I started and God's hand stepped in and we just sailed through so easily. I can't even believe it myself, it was a miracle." He went on to say that he has done this surgery thousands of time, and people came from all over the world to have this procedure done and this was one of the most challenging cases he had ever seen. Bishop Holt was talking to me in the hall when Dr. Chan, the amazing, came to talk to us, Bishop asked him how the procedure went on a scale of 1 to 10?
Dr. Chan, " a 10.5, it was a miracle."
I was impressed that such a skilled and talented man would recognize so plainly the hand of the Lord. I have prayed and begged and fasted and pleaded that this would be the will of the Lord and I am so overcome with joy and I look forward to and anticipate the challenges we have ahead of rehabilitating this great loved man of mine, and even having the chance to workout daily problems and struggles together, hand in hand, with the Lord, as a loving union can and does.
He is already breathing easier, this is great, we didn't even hope for that this soon.
I am so grateful for the love and support and help and meals and love and friendships, and the closeness I feel with each of you. I have witnessed a miracle this day and I am a believer.
This morning I woke up with hope and joy as my companions, and I was pleasantly surprised by that. I was strong and able up until the doors of the surgery room closed and my dear husband was out of sight. I came into the waiting room and wrapped my arms around Sis. Gibson who had come to be my "mom" for the day, I didn't think I needed someone there for me until that moment and we had a very releasing (sob) cry. Thank you.
Shellie Morris came too and thankfully we talked the time away. I am forever grateful that they knew I needed someone, even when I didn't.
February 9, 2009 A day of miracles, thank you for taking part in the journey with us. We love you and know that the combined faith of all was enough to have this prayer answered for us. We know that the Lord loves us and hears our prayers, that he comforts those who stand in need of comforting, and the sacred gift of the atonement makes all of these things possible. Randy is looking pretty dang good, and he ate a slice of awesome pizza and a whole hamburger! Wow! We are happy with even the simplest of things.
Love, the Randy and Tiffany Shepherd family
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Update on Randy's "Trashed "Heart
You know that this is my therapy, thank you for letting me tell you our continuing story.
Randy's angiogram went well, and the needed information was gathered. As soon as Randy's surgery can be scheduled he will have a devise that is a combination of a pacemaker and defibrillator implanted in his chest with wires hooked up to his heart.(The devise alone retails at $40,000 )
The words of his very amazing heart surgeon were. "Man, you know your heart is just trashed, right?"
I did find out today that this surgery is the only option other than a transplant. And the odds are right around 50% that this will work and make Randy's heart stronger. A normal heart pumps 6 oz. with every beat, Randys heart is pumping less then 1 oz., and if you have seen my handsome husband you know that he probably could use more then the average person.
As we talked more with Dr. Chan, the wonderful, it became more and more clear what a miricle it is that Randy is alive right now.He is safely being watched and monitored and poked and prodded on a very regular basis and I have less worry as I think about how risky it was for him to be at home as long as he was.
We were informed that it could take longer than a week to book the surgery, I asked if he would stay in the hospital the whole time. He actually started to laugh at that a little, and said, " Oh, yes he has to stay here where we can watch him, his risk of death is just too high for him at home."
So far this has been my hardest day to handle, filled with ups and downs as its become painfully clear how lucky I am to have my favorite man alive still. Thank you for following these crazy days and events with me, and even more thank yous for your words of kindness, and prayers and meals and offers of help and love. I am overcome.
Tiffany
Randy's angiogram went well, and the needed information was gathered. As soon as Randy's surgery can be scheduled he will have a devise that is a combination of a pacemaker and defibrillator implanted in his chest with wires hooked up to his heart.(The devise alone retails at $40,000 )
The words of his very amazing heart surgeon were. "Man, you know your heart is just trashed, right?"
I did find out today that this surgery is the only option other than a transplant. And the odds are right around 50% that this will work and make Randy's heart stronger. A normal heart pumps 6 oz. with every beat, Randys heart is pumping less then 1 oz., and if you have seen my handsome husband you know that he probably could use more then the average person.
As we talked more with Dr. Chan, the wonderful, it became more and more clear what a miricle it is that Randy is alive right now.He is safely being watched and monitored and poked and prodded on a very regular basis and I have less worry as I think about how risky it was for him to be at home as long as he was.
We were informed that it could take longer than a week to book the surgery, I asked if he would stay in the hospital the whole time. He actually started to laugh at that a little, and said, " Oh, yes he has to stay here where we can watch him, his risk of death is just too high for him at home."
So far this has been my hardest day to handle, filled with ups and downs as its become painfully clear how lucky I am to have my favorite man alive still. Thank you for following these crazy days and events with me, and even more thank yous for your words of kindness, and prayers and meals and offers of help and love. I am overcome.
Tiffany
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Randy's Heart Condtion
I am forcing myself to come to grips with the fact that Randy is in terrible condition. After our visit to the doctor to get the results from his echo we spent the day holding each other and crying. I wanted to let you know what is going on with my sweet husband, and hope that I can explain clearly. Many of you know that Randy had rheumatic fever when he was a younger. Recently he has started to show signs that things are not well. We have seen his heart doctor and taken tests that show that his heart is in very poor shape. He is on three new medications to try to get his heart stabilized. We don't know if they will work, or if they will work how long it will last. The words that still haunt me are how it will most likely come down to a heart and lung transplant. He is not currently on a list. I don't know how long the list is. His lungs are very heavily involved in his problem, and just a heart transplant would fail immediately because of his pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in his lungs) Unfortunately his whole body's blood pressure is on the low side of normal and the meds will most likely take him even lower, dangerously. Also, the walls of his heart have become so enlarged to compensate for this high pressure, that his heart is only pumping out 15 to 20 percent of his blood volume and at his age he should be pumping at least 60 to 75 percent. His doctor was amazed that he had been working up till last Thursday, and that usually people are in bed and home bound at these levels. We wanted to let you know what was happening and ask that you would keep Randy and our family in your prayers. I will do my best to keep you updated. Thank you for your love and prayer. We are fasting this February for him. I did paste this from a group email I sent out due to how hard it is to repeat the information in detail. I am more than willing to discuss it, feel free to ask questions or call.
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