PRAISE THE LORD, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER!!!!!
Angele spent the day with Mommy yesterday, Sunday Aug 31, and that is what she posted for Sept 1. Today I spent the day with her and the Lord amazed me.
As Angele mentioned, Mommy continued to be in much pain and extremely nauseated most of the morning. Around 12 noon, things subsided a bit and by 2 pm, she was basically pain free. I was completely bowled over when I looked at the monitor and saw that her heart rate was in the 70s and 80s!!!!!!!!! PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!! This is well within the ranges of "normal" (60-100) and not on the upper extreme. I am truly convinced that this is nothing but a miracle as a result of all the prayers on her behalf!! Her blood pressure is normal and her temperature is normal. And to top off the day, Lynette and I went with her to take a walk around the unit!!! While sitting, she is only on 3 liters of 45% O2 verses the 6 liters of 100% O2 she was on just over a week ago.
GOD IS TO BE PRAISED! When I told Mommy all her numbers, she said "Ask everyone to keep praying for me!" So please do, and let's continue witness the miracles He has yet to perform! GO WARRIORS!
Monday, September 1, 2008
September 1
They are still "tweaking" her Flolan (PH med) and her BP (blood pressure) medication. They are trying to find the right level for each where she doesn't have nausea and other side effects. They also continue to drop her oxygen. She still is not up walking (since she is hooked up to the heart monitoring system). It was our hope and prayer that she would be out by Wednesday, but now it might be Thu. She still does not have much of an appetite, only eating a couple spoonfuls of things. She has had back pain that has radiated around to her left side and they are trying to find the source of that. Right now pain medication doesn't seem to keep it under control for any length of time. Her heart rate was in the high 90s for most of yesterday, so that is coming down.
Your prayers are still needed on behalf of our mom. We must hold fast to God's unchanging hand and know that all things work according to His time. May we be patient as we wait and continue to trust in Him.
Your prayers are still needed on behalf of our mom. We must hold fast to God's unchanging hand and know that all things work according to His time. May we be patient as we wait and continue to trust in Him.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Aug 30
When Mommy was moved to the step down, the ICU nurse's aide warned her, "You know, we really spoiled you, and here they aren't going to treat you as well." The nurse to patient ratio is now 1:4 and it takes a long time for the nurses to attend needs. The nurse's have even gotten nit picky about the ice packs she has to keep on her flolan, saying she needed to have brought her own in...it was never an issue in the ICU.
Mommy is hardly eating as the side effect of a couple of the medications is nausea. The have started her on Ensure to get her nutrients. The cardiologist is still adjusting her medications to diminish the nausea and get her blood pressure steady. Her cumadin levels are now correct and she was taken off the IV blood thinner, heparin. She still receives the IV antibiotic once a day. He told us on Thursday that he was going to order a physical therapist to come and get her walking to monitor her O2 levels, but as of Saturday, a PT still hasn't come to see her.
The infectious disease doctor came by on Friday and checked her hickman site and said it didn't look infected. He stated that her first blood culture showed one bacteria and her second, a different bacteria. As far as I know, he didn't order another culture; his tone and body language said he is anxious to get Mommy out of the hospital and on oral antibiotics for two weeks, as it seems she keeps catching bugs.
PRAY FOR MOMMY'S DISCHARGE. She's not eating well, and seems to keep catching things. Pray for the physical therapist to be scheduled for her to get up and walk around, as that's the only thing she needs now to get out. It's a holiday weekend, but we are praying for a Monday or Tuesday release.
Mommy continues to get surprise visits, cards and phone calls. Thank you all for your prayers for her and our family. God has truly been working some miracles and we're certain it's because of the army of prayer warriors petitioning Him.
Mommy is hardly eating as the side effect of a couple of the medications is nausea. The have started her on Ensure to get her nutrients. The cardiologist is still adjusting her medications to diminish the nausea and get her blood pressure steady. Her cumadin levels are now correct and she was taken off the IV blood thinner, heparin. She still receives the IV antibiotic once a day. He told us on Thursday that he was going to order a physical therapist to come and get her walking to monitor her O2 levels, but as of Saturday, a PT still hasn't come to see her.
The infectious disease doctor came by on Friday and checked her hickman site and said it didn't look infected. He stated that her first blood culture showed one bacteria and her second, a different bacteria. As far as I know, he didn't order another culture; his tone and body language said he is anxious to get Mommy out of the hospital and on oral antibiotics for two weeks, as it seems she keeps catching bugs.
PRAY FOR MOMMY'S DISCHARGE. She's not eating well, and seems to keep catching things. Pray for the physical therapist to be scheduled for her to get up and walk around, as that's the only thing she needs now to get out. It's a holiday weekend, but we are praying for a Monday or Tuesday release.
Mommy continues to get surprise visits, cards and phone calls. Thank you all for your prayers for her and our family. God has truly been working some miracles and we're certain it's because of the army of prayer warriors petitioning Him.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Aug 28
Some of you are asking for specifics to pray for instead of just "healing".
1. Mommy's heart rate needs to decrease. The medications for the heart that do this present more of a risk than benefit to her, so they are not an option. They are bringing the rate down with blood pressure medication; the only drawback is that it's lowering her BP as well....and that going too low is not good.
2. The blood infection needs to clear and not have affected her hickman catheter....this is the direct line tube to her heart that administers her flolan medication.
3. Mommy was already prone to anxiety, so pray that God will give her peace an not be anxious (something else that may be keeping her heart rate elevated.). She is given medication for this, but only at night time to help relax her so she can sleep. She just shared with me as I was leaving today, she's anxious in the mornings for me to arrive and hear the doctors' reports as they make their rounds.
Angele already posted the praise for the day in "Movin' on Up".
1. Mommy's heart rate needs to decrease. The medications for the heart that do this present more of a risk than benefit to her, so they are not an option. They are bringing the rate down with blood pressure medication; the only drawback is that it's lowering her BP as well....and that going too low is not good.
2. The blood infection needs to clear and not have affected her hickman catheter....this is the direct line tube to her heart that administers her flolan medication.
3. Mommy was already prone to anxiety, so pray that God will give her peace an not be anxious (something else that may be keeping her heart rate elevated.). She is given medication for this, but only at night time to help relax her so she can sleep. She just shared with me as I was leaving today, she's anxious in the mornings for me to arrive and hear the doctors' reports as they make their rounds.
Angele already posted the praise for the day in "Movin' on Up".
Movin' On Up
Praise the Lord. Our mom is now out of Heart Failure ICU and in a "regular" room in the Heart Center at the Cleveland Clinic. She has a corner room with plenty of windows and she's by herself so her grandbabies (Olivia & Avery) can come to visit and not disturb anyone! Here is her phone number and address if you'd like to send a card. She'll most likely be in through the weekend and depending on the infection, they will decide if they need to change her hickman (sp) cath. If they have to do that, she'll be in another week.
216-444-1466 Her direct number at the Cleveland Clinic
When she's released, she'll be staying with Stephanie. You can mail cards to her at
Wanda Carter
1265 Wittmer Road
Mansfield, OH 44903
This way, regardless of when she is released from the hospital, she'll be sure to get the card.
God is good. We'll post more later, I just wanted to get this on before I leave work at 3 and head to the hospital.
Angèle
216-444-1466 Her direct number at the Cleveland Clinic
When she's released, she'll be staying with Stephanie. You can mail cards to her at
Wanda Carter
1265 Wittmer Road
Mansfield, OH 44903
This way, regardless of when she is released from the hospital, she'll be sure to get the card.
God is good. We'll post more later, I just wanted to get this on before I leave work at 3 and head to the hospital.
Angèle
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Aug 27
Not as stressful a day, but progress is being made. When I arrived this morning, Mommy was sitting in the chair and remained there until early afternoon. By sitting, her lungs can expand further and her oxygen levels were MUCH better....up to 97% from the upper 80s- low 90s range! The medications are working to lower her heart rate, but it's still a little fast. Optimally, the doctor wants to see her resting rate in the 70s - 80s, but will settle for below 100 considering what it was. Right now it ranges from 101-125. This is much improved from the 140s it had been.
She is completely off of the nitro IV and all heart medications are oral now.
After consulting with the "electricians", the team concluded that the shocking of her her DID work. They looked back through all of the EKGs and said that her rhythm was indeed reset, however, the shock did NOT slow the heart rate as the cardiologist had thought it would. At present, the electro team doesn't see a need to do any further procedures along the electric lines.
Dr. Eckman, the lead cardiologist fellow who manages the unit, has assured us that all teams are actively trying to diagnose everything they possibly can and not just medicate conditions. One doctor said it was like Mommy was in for a "tune up." Although she doesn't feel as well as she did say 6 months ago, she's much better off than when she came in last week.
Please continue to pray for HEALING. God has been answering your prayers in healing her, keeping her spirits up, and granting her tolerance for all the pokes and prods. The resounding thought I receive in all of your emails is "GOD IS ABLE".
She is completely off of the nitro IV and all heart medications are oral now.
After consulting with the "electricians", the team concluded that the shocking of her her DID work. They looked back through all of the EKGs and said that her rhythm was indeed reset, however, the shock did NOT slow the heart rate as the cardiologist had thought it would. At present, the electro team doesn't see a need to do any further procedures along the electric lines.
Dr. Eckman, the lead cardiologist fellow who manages the unit, has assured us that all teams are actively trying to diagnose everything they possibly can and not just medicate conditions. One doctor said it was like Mommy was in for a "tune up." Although she doesn't feel as well as she did say 6 months ago, she's much better off than when she came in last week.
Please continue to pray for HEALING. God has been answering your prayers in healing her, keeping her spirits up, and granting her tolerance for all the pokes and prods. The resounding thought I receive in all of your emails is "GOD IS ABLE".
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Aug 26
There were no clots and they were able to shock her heart, in fact they shocked it 3 times, however, that did not work.
Right now we are waiting for them to do another EKG. I don't know medical terminology, but they want to see if it's one thing that a electro-physiologist could go into her heart and "burn" out what is causing her heart to race so much, or if it's another thing, then they will try and lower her heart rate with drugs. One thing is for sure, her heart can not continue to beat at it's current rate.
Now some of her blood and urine cultures are coming back with signs of infection and they don't know if it's "surface" or not. They just drew a lot of blood and will start her on antibiotics.
As you can see there are many things in "play" right now. We are still trusting that God, our Great Physician, will heal her and direct the doctors here on the proper treatment.Continue to lift my mom up in prayer. Pray for my sister and I as it's becoming over whelming at times and we want to be strong for our mom and support her throughout this healing.
God Bless
Angèle
Addendum: Most likely due to the infections, the swan catheter was removed this evening when the antibiotics were started. It was sent off to be cultured; so please pray that the infection was not right at her heart.
As Angele mentioned, it is getting really hard to be strong. Mommy is a true trooper and I told her that she's a strong woman as I would have been begging the doctors to sedate me for all she's had to endure. Physically, she had a rough day, but when we were leaving this evening, she seemed to be doing much better and had a few laughs with the nurses. Please continue to uplift us in prayer.
Right now we are waiting for them to do another EKG. I don't know medical terminology, but they want to see if it's one thing that a electro-physiologist could go into her heart and "burn" out what is causing her heart to race so much, or if it's another thing, then they will try and lower her heart rate with drugs. One thing is for sure, her heart can not continue to beat at it's current rate.
Now some of her blood and urine cultures are coming back with signs of infection and they don't know if it's "surface" or not. They just drew a lot of blood and will start her on antibiotics.
As you can see there are many things in "play" right now. We are still trusting that God, our Great Physician, will heal her and direct the doctors here on the proper treatment.Continue to lift my mom up in prayer. Pray for my sister and I as it's becoming over whelming at times and we want to be strong for our mom and support her throughout this healing.
God Bless
Angèle
Addendum: Most likely due to the infections, the swan catheter was removed this evening when the antibiotics were started. It was sent off to be cultured; so please pray that the infection was not right at her heart.
As Angele mentioned, it is getting really hard to be strong. Mommy is a true trooper and I told her that she's a strong woman as I would have been begging the doctors to sedate me for all she's had to endure. Physically, she had a rough day, but when we were leaving this evening, she seemed to be doing much better and had a few laughs with the nurses. Please continue to uplift us in prayer.
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