November 26, 2014 - HEARTS FULL OF THANKSGIVING

"We always thank God for all of you
      and continually mention you in our prayers."
                                                                                                                                          - Thessalonians 1:2

Like Paul, Silas and Timothy in their letter to the people in Thessalonica, we are thankful for all of you - for the prayers, love, support and encouragement our family and friends have given over the past year. Your cards, emails, phone calls and visits have filled the lonely places in our hearts. Your prayers on our behalf have invited the grace and healing mercies of Jesus Christ. You are the blessings we count this Thanksgiving season.

One year ago, life was rocky and the road much dimmer.  John had weathered well the amputation and accompanying bodily infection, but the Guillain-Barre Syndrome was exacting its toll.  He was in a specialty hospital on a ventilator and feeding tube, unable to move - not to blink or swallow or talk.  He was still in a battle and we just took each day as it came. Thanksgiving was a hard holiday for me and our kids; John was little aware.  Life was our blessing - God's gift.

This Thanksgiving, we are home, together, and at peace.  John's surgical wound is healing very nicely with steady home nursing care and the wound vacuum. Looks like he could be finished with the machine by Christmas, but dressings and complete healing will continue for some time into the new year. He works regularly on regaining his strength with the physical therapist.  The lasting effects of the Guillain-Barre makes conquering the difficulty of using one leg with the walker a challenge.  He tires easily and we have to pace all our activities. He did "graduate" from needing the occupational therapist.  Mostly, he is waiting patiently.

I am on an even keel.  The early morning walks give me an energetic start to the day.  Fall weather has finally arrived and our low-40's temperature makes getting out of bed in the dark and out on the pavement a real challenge! Being careful to keep my low sodium diet is easier. Better regular blood pressure has allowed me to have more medication to strengthen the heart. I do most everything to keep our life moving along.

We have weathered much. The ups and downs, the trials and hard work of John's journey have been documented in this blog.  My own journey with a cardiac diagnosis and surgeries has had its own demands.  The pleasures and joys of our days have been overflowing and we have shared those with you, too.  The steadfastness of John's faith and the sometimes-shaky faith of mine have also been recorded.  There is new depth and understanding and thankfulness as we draw closer to our God who really loves us so much.

At this time of Thanks-giving, please know that we think of each one of you.  May the love and peace and power of God's grace be present in your days.

Psalm 100

   Make a joyful noise to the Lord,
      all the lands!
²     Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!

³ Know that the Lord is God!
    It is he that made us, and we are his;
    we are his people,
    and the sheep of his pasture.

 

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him, bless his name!

 

⁵ For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love
    endures for ever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 5, 2014 - WE ARE HOME AGAIN

We are so happy to be home again! Without much warning, John was discharged late Monday evening in good spirits, good general health, the wound vac working and plenty of antibiotics. It was great to have the Hood grandchildren and other family here to provide a lively welcome.

It has been a whirlwind since returning. The Hoods left about 9:30 on Tuesday morning and the coordinating nurse for home care arrived at 10 until noon. After lunch we settled in and found the best ways for John to maneuver around with the small machine he has to carry and got him comfortable for a nap. I dashed off to see my parents - my mother had a fall the evening before. Despite some bruising, she was in good spirits and doing okay. After a rather late dinner, we were just exhausted.



Today the home physical therapist came in the morning to make an assessment and begin some work with John. Amazingly, John walked a good distance in the house with the walker - carefully! There are a lot of ways he can work on building his strength while at home. A brief hour later the nurse specializing in wound care came to change the dressing. That is a time consuming, detailed procedure that will happen every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The nurse was very good and John felt less pain this time - fortified with drugs, or course.



John caught a short nap and our dear friends, Stephanie and Mike McCoy from Grace Church in Arlington, Texas came for a visit. It has been many years and we thoroughly enjoyed the time together. We "brought in" dinner since I am not organized yet. Tomorrow there are no appointments and John should get a full day of rest and I will put things back in order.


It looks like home is where we will be for the next 6-8 weeks as the wound vac does its job. After all, to qualify for Medicare, John is homebound. It is safer here for John to control the infection, protect the stump and get him the rest he needs. It certainly does look like a long holiday season as this journey overlaps into 2015, but God is good and we hold onto his generous mercies with great hopes for the future. I will continue to post on this blog and hope John will publish something soon.

November 1, 2014 - "WHATEVER IT TAKES"

John is doing well. He is upbeat and funny and calm. It has been busy here since John's surgery on Friday. The procedure to clean out the wound area went as planned - John tolerated it well and was alert in the recovery.  The wound vac was applied and he was moved to a room where he will be for several days.

John reports moderate pain and it is controlled with minimal medication today. Mostly he is just immobile and rests in the bed although he has been up in his wheelchair for a short period. Under the care of an Infectious Disease doctor, he is receiving a strong dose of antibiotic and we are waiting 72 hours for the culture report. Dr. Motzkin found the source of the infection and feels good about the procedure. Once again, John has an "open mouth" closing at the surgical site. We ate optimistic about the outcome, but only many weeks of specialized wound care will really tell. John should start receiving some physical therapy on Monday to continue building his strength and not lose ground on the hard work he has been doing.

Having Elisa's family here is a blessing. Halloween was a busy evening and I left the hospital for a bit to see the kids in their costumes as they went trick-or-treating with cousins. There is plenty of "loot" setting around in orange plastic pumpkins! With our Phoenix Zoo membership, I dropped them off at the zoo with those cousins this morning before going to the hospital.

Our days are beginning to take on a familiar routine. I spent a large portion of the day with John and came home this evening. Staying on my low sodium diet is difficult when I am away from home, but I feel very good. Elisa, Stephen, Ava and Corbin visited this afternoon.

John has a t-shirt that says
"Whatever It Takes"
and that is our motto each day.

We pray earnestly and hope fervently for a complete healing. We know it will not be swift. We know that God is what it takes. Thanks for your prayerful intercession.

October 30, 2014 - IN THE FACE OF ANOTHER SURGERY

It turns out that my report on October 22 was a bit too optimistic. The two small sections on John's recent surgical scar were not healing well. Despite daily care, infection reared its ugly head. The surgeon thinks perhaps it was not caused by the over-exertion. Rather, John's lingering Guillain Barre Syndrome probably compromised his immune system and allowed the infection to grow.

On this Monday the surgeon examined the infection and X-rays.  It looked as though another surgery to remove more bone was needed. Instead, he called back the next day to recommend another option.  He will perform "irrigation and debridement" in a surgical procedure scheduled for 10:00 AM tomorrow, Friday, October 31. The plan is for John to come home with a "wound vac" and begin a lengthy process of extensive wound care by specialists for the next few months.  If this works, John will be able to proceed with getting a new below-knee prosthetic leg. Otherwise, there will be a knee disarticulation amputation in the future.

Elisa's family is here to help and the house is full of chatter and laughter. We enjoyed a wonderful day at the park in beautiful fall weather. The kids are looking forward to trick-or-treating and we look forward to sharing the loot.

Although this is a major setback, John remains optimistic and calm. He continues to be grateful to be alive and determined to walk in the future. We will keep working together and remain diligent and faithful. Your concern for John's life and our days buoys us up. As always, we ask for your continued prayers for healing.

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY - October 22, 2014

One year today.   It has been a long year since that drive from Salt Lake City to the emergency room at Chandler Hospital and the surgery that followed.  We are so thankful to God for another year of John's life. It has been a battle that John has fought with perseverance, patience, strength and great faith - always focused on the long term goal of walking. We are grateful for each other and each day together.

We are overwhelmed by the love and care by our children and their spouses, our grandchildren and other family members. We are grateful for the prayers of friends and the skill and dedication of so many medical professionals.

Let me fill in on the past few weeks and give a current report...

John's surgery on September 26 was successful and brief.  Although plans had been to stay in the hospital for 1-2 nights, Dr. Motzkin felt John was ready to go home the same evening. What a wonderful surprise (although I was a bit apprehensive about providing the homecare).  As usual, John did well and we had a quiet week at home with good results.  At the 10-day checkup, the doctor was very pleased with the healing and encouraged John to see the prosthetist which he did four days later. Jillian put on a "shrinker" (a tight stretch stocking) to dissipate the fluid and hasten the shrinking which will allow for a new smaller socket.

The end of last week and with beautiful fall weather, we decided it was time to get out and about. On Thursday we made our way around the Boyce Thompson Arboretum with John in the wheelchair for four hours. Then on Friday we went with our family to the State Fair for five hours. Great fun both times! But we overdid.  While using his right leg to help pull along the wheelchair John did not realize that the left stump was flexing against its support. He got overtired as well. When we got home, the stump was red, swollen, feverish and very sore.  A small portion of the surgical incision had come open and was seeping.  Consultations with the surgeon have led us through four days and nights of vigilant care. The seeping continues but has slowed down. All the other symptoms are gone. Thankfully there was not infection. This has set back the progress of the new prosthesis by 1-2 weeks. We covet your prayers of intercession.

Although the two days of outings were very tiring for me, I continue in good health and strength most days. The low salt diet is working. My blood pressure and weight remain constant. Occasionally, I am briefly short of breath - but not while exercising.

Now we are looking forward to Elisa, Stephen and the children arriving for Halloween. That will be great fun, we are sure.

August - September UPDATE (posted 10/22/14)

For our history of this journey for John and me, this update is to record events of August and September.  Although posted later in October, chronologically this and the July 28 post should
actually pre-date the September 22 posting.

When I left off on this blog in July, we were waiting for Amy's family to return from California.  It was such fun to have them with us a few more days. (It turned out that their visit was in the hottest days of the entire summer!)  But on Amy's last night here, I was sick again all night...and then again 48 hours later.  That Friday night Tom took me to the emergency room where I was diagnosed with a severe gall bladder attack.  The doctor kept me in the hospital, I had surgery on Sunday morning and came home Monday evening.  What a relief not to have to think about an attack again!  Recovery went smoothly and I was soon driving again.

We quietly celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary on August 17th.  Generous as always, Tom and DeeAnn prepared a delicious dinner for us in their home.  The last weeks in August were pretty routine as I got my full strength back.  Several annual doctor visits for both of us, prosthetic check-ups for John and once again regular mornings at the SpoFit gym filled the days. 






The BIG change occurred when John's new CANE arrived from Amazon on August 22!  He was up and walking with it immediately - it allowed him to walk smoother, faster and much more normal.  Over the next three weeks he used it most of the day while he wore the prosthetic leg 12-14 hours a day.  This new ability and confidence also allowed him to begin walking around the house a bit even without the cane.









We realized a dream we have had since this journey began - we took a driving trip to Albuquerque to see John's brother and sister-in-law, David and Ann.  We were gone five days, September 4-8. It was just glorious to be traveling in the car together again and beautiful through the pine trees of Tonto National Forest.

                                                                                                                                                                                        We celebrated our anniversary again with a gift from our children - the first night was spent at the
La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona. This is one of the string of hotels and restaurants built by Fred Harvey along the Santa Fe Railway in the early 1920's and staffed by the Harvey Girls. It was designed by the famous architect, Mary Colter. "It was the last great railroad hotel...a romantic Spanish castle with 70 guest rooms, fabulous dining and exquisite public spaces." It has quite a history - one of public service, neglect, use by the Santa Fe Railroad as their offices, then restored to a first-class hotel - all displayed in the museum on the grounds. It was a beautiful, restful, peaceful place we thoroughly enjoyed. Dinner in their restaurant was delicious. If you ever have a chance, we encourage you to spend some time there. We certainly hope to return. Many thanks to our children and their spouses for this treat!

We had a lovely visit with Dave and Ann. We were able to see nephew Charles and his family and nephew Andrew and his family. We even drove up to Santa Fe and had lunch with niece Lesley and her husband, Jim. We were concerned about the higher altitudes and my breathing (5000 ft. and 7000 ft.) but I had no problems. It was encouraging - and I was able to do all the driving.

Soon after returning, John had a visit with an ENT specialist at St. Joseph's to look at the continued occasional choking when he eats and also the cause of his wheezing. The suspected cause was scar tissue or a nodule resulting from his several intubations and the long term period on the ventilator. Using a scope, the doctor found the larynx and surrounding area to be "normal" - "What a relief after a year of nothing normal," John said. They will schedule a barium swallow test soon.

The remainder of the month was spent working on our strength at the gym and John walking with the cane. As the Guillain Barre runs its course, he feels his strength on the right leg is about 2/3 what it was when he got sick. Naps are still necessary each day. We were looking forward to his fourth (and hopefully last) surgery on the stump which was scheduled for September 22.  (Pick up on the postings for September 22 below.)

July 28, 2014 UPDATE (posted 10/2/14)

SLOGGING IN THE HEAT, BUT FAMILY ENRICHING OUR DAYS

Hello to anyone still reading these posts. Good intentions don't get much done, so it has been almost a month since the last one. We have hit some bad patches that slowed us down - particularly me. As the last post reported, I came through the implantation of my medical device just fine and returned home late the next afternoon. However, I did develop some post-op complications the next day with a quick trip to the ER and a rocky several days to follow.  Elisa and John were wonderful caretakers! At my 12-day checkup with the surgeon, all was well. However, they informed me that I could not drive for 6 weeks! Wow. That was a blow and has put a real burden on my sister and brother-in-law as well as our friend, Mary Danforth. They have continued to be magnificent in caring for us and providing transportation.

Meanwhile, John waited impatiently for his walker to be "approved" and delivered. We got fed up and ordered one from Amazon on July 2 and it was delivered on July 3.  He has been walking around the house on it regularly and is very helpful in the kitchen.  Grilling outside is easier now and a real help.
We have even taken it to appointments and left the wheelchair at home. Despite fewer visits to SpoFit, he continues to gain strength and mobility. He had one more 4-day bout with trouble on the stump and now has a good temporary "fix" from the prosthetist.  John saw Dr. Motzkin, the surgeon, on July 10 and he is definite that John needs a surgical "revision" to eliminate "redundant tissue" and create a smoother scar for the future.  This will probably happen in early September when we feel ready after I get stronger.






It took about two weeks post-op for me to feel
more like myself, but during that time Elisa's family arrived and kept us entertained.  Poor things - after living in Utah, this is a very hot place to vacation! A lot of time was spent in family swimming pools and having fun with water balloons.

We gathered at our house to watch the fireworks and celebrate the 4th of July.  Unfortunately, a real Haboob - a southwest dust storm - blew in with great force and cancelled the city festivities. It also severely damaged the trees in our "cactus forest" out back.
   
    Thanks to all of you who sent me 
        birthday greetings.

When the Hoods went home, Ava stayed with us and Serena came from Texas (July 8-15).  We had such a wonderful time with the girls. They were so happy to be together, polite and helpful.  Those two little girls sure can eat - especially after swimming everyday! We had sewing projects and they used the sewing machine for the first time (at 7 and 8).  We even got to the zoo one morning at 6:30, but by 10:00 we were melted.

 

My brother, Terry, and niece, Sarah, took them on an evening hike up the backside of Papago Mountain near here. So many activities were possible because of our family.






Two days of rest, then Paul, Veronica and Dillon arrived from California! It was so wonderful to have them here with all their energy, lively conversation and, of course, Dillon.  He is such a bright, happy little boy - growing up quickly.  My family provided great opportunities for swimming and gathering with cousins.  Unfortunately, on the third day I came down with a severe intestinal bug which knocked me out.  Paul left last Monday night and I am still working on full recovery including the need to gain back lost weight over the past month. 







We rested a bit and the Sutherlun family arrived from San Antonio.  So grand to see them again!  We stuck to the house with 110+ temperatures - but, of course, there was the swimming. John was able to get into the pool for the first time and declared it "luxurious!"  He loved the freedom.


We also had a grand day at the Musical Instrument Museum in Scottsdale.  This is a new world-class museum worth a visit to the Valley.  After five days they took off in our van for California to visit Paul's family and participate in the wedding of Joshua's brother.
We will see them again in eight days.

 

When things quiet down - meaning we will be sitting home alone with all these great memories of such happy days with our kids and grandkids - I promise to blog again.  Meanwhile, keep cool as possible and keep on praying, dear family and friends.

September 22, 2014 at 9:45am

LATEST NEW UPDATE...

John's surgery scheduled for this afternoon was just cancelled. The surgeon is sick. It has now been scheduled for Friday, September 26 at 11:00am.

September 22, 2014 - A QUICK UPDATE

Friends and family,

Certainly I have been delinquent in posting on this blog for 2+ months!  Much has happened in our lives and I will post a more complete update soon:)  But after receiving many inquiries via email and Facebook, here is the quick update for John. Today at 1:30pm John is scheduled for a surgery on the stump.  Specifically, in medical terms, it is a "revision to remove the redundant tissue and improve the original scarring."  Dr. Motzkin, the original surgeon, will perform the operation. This will allow for a better fit and long-term comfort in the new prosthesis which will be made after the surgical sight heals completely.  He has been walking with a cane and around the house unaided. We are not looking forward to 6-8 weeks in a wheelchair again!

We covet your prayers and I promise to post a report after surgery.

JACKIE'S POST- OP REPORT. June 24, 2014

Good evening.  This is Elisa writing this on my cell phone.

My mom successfully had her surgery to implant a defibrillator/pacemaker in a 2 hour procedure. The doctor accomplished all he wanted to and said everything went smoothly.

She is recuperating nicely in the hospital for 24 hours. There was a small incision in the right groin. There was also a 3 inch incision for the implantation in her upper left chest/shoulder. This is where she is experiencing pain but she is responding well to medication.

Tonight she sat up and ate most of her dinner. She hopes to be discharged first thing in the morning.

Dad and I have been here all day and he is doing  well.

June 21, 2014 - 6:30AM

NEEDING PRAYERS FOR THE DAYS AHEAD

It has been two weeks since my last post, so here is a quick update.  It is amazing how quickly our days are passing - such a different rhythm than all those days in the hospitals. We relish our time together, but still wait for days to really feel like retirement for John.  As his eyes are improving, he does get in a fair amount of recreational reading.

After fifteen days John was finally able to put his leg on again! What a happy guy! It was so difficult, but crucial that he wait for complete healing. Now he is gradually increasing the daily time of wearing the leg and very careful about sock layers and fit.  He is also wary of the leg press at the gym which we suspect prompted the sore problem.  He will have a check with the surgeon again in two weeks.  Physical therapy at the rehab center is over for awhile.  John is waiting for his walker to be delivered so he can begin more effective and aggressive practice here at home.  Our regular and frequent trips to the SpoFit gym are critical to continue strengthening his body.

I continue to feel good most of the time. Some days a good nap is just the thing! My visit to the cardiologist last week had a mixed report. My heart and valve function have improved slightly. In fact, now I am able to take a small dose of the Ace Inhibitor (Lisinopril) since the blood pressure is up slightly and more consistent. However, there is not enough improvement to avoid having a defibrillator/pacemaker implanted. We are told this is a standard treatment for my condition even though I have not had any significant events.

A few days ago, I saw the cardiac electrophysiologist. My surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24 with hospital check-in at 7am at Mercy Gilbert Hospital in Mesa.  It should take a little over an hour. After observation, I will come home the next morning. There will not be general anesthesia and the recuperation is expected to be fairly easy. I cannot raise my left arm above shoulder level for three weeks or lift anything more than 2 pounds. Of course, driving is out for at least a week and I can't put the wheelchair in the car.  Once again, Elisa is coming from Utah to help us out. What a blessing!  Stephen will bring the children down over the 4th of July and that will liven up my birthday.

I feel a bit anxious, of course. My weakness is my inability to trust God enough to cease my fret and worry. John remains steady and calm and optimistic as always. We ask for your prayers for the surgery and recuperation.

We covet your prayers for other matters in our life.  Our dear sister-in-law, Ann Notson Poling, is in the final days of her battle with MDS.  Her three daughters are providing loving and vigilant care for her in Portland, OR.  Ann remains faithful in her witness and is an inspiration.

On a final note, we have been praying for safe travels and good health for our children.  Amy and her family are on a cruise in Greece along with all of Joshua's extended family. Paul, Veronica and Dillon and her mother and sister are in Brazil at the World Cup. 

Thanks, family and friends. Do enjoy your summer days!

June 6, 2014

DESPITE THE HEAT, WE MOVE INTO SUMMER WITH HOPE

When we began this medical journey last October, the 100 degree days of 2013 were just ending. We welcomed the cooler days ahead and looked forward to walks, bike rides and more time outdoors. That didn't happen and now more than 7 months later the long hot days are beginning again.  But we are people with a new appreciation for life, live expressing gratitude each day, and with awe of God's continuing grace and mercies giving us hope for better days.

Although we are ever aware of the limitations - fatigue, muscle weakness, and nerve recovery - that continue from the Guillain Barre (daily naps help, John is gaining strength and endurance.  The right leg can do more weight-bearing and has more control and flexibility.  His eyes close and blink, but still tear often and vision can change during the day. The new ophthalmologist agrees we made the right choice when we bypassed the eyelid surgery. Speech and eating are almost normal.  He has been able to continue in physical therapy for a few more weeks.  Here are pictures of John's first lessons on climbing stairs.  This felt like real progress!

 

We have a family zoo membership and very early one morning, we took our friend, Mary Danforth, to the zoo.  It was a good place for a walk with different scenery.  It was also a good chance to relax in the shade while watching the "African" plains complete with giraffes, rhino, gazelles and ostriches.

An exciting event was getting a new "socket" on John's prosthesis! Because the stump continues to shrink dramatically, the old socket was too big and a poor fit.  He had begun to wear 10 "layers" of the special socks. The new prosthesis fits great and is very fashionable - take a look below.  John is able to move around with more comfort, confidence and safety. He also does well on the parallel bars, moving with a smoother gait when he uses only his right hand for guidance.

However, he continues to experience setbacks because of wounds on the stump.  Each time there is a small seepage of the "serous" fluid, he is not able to wear the leg.  It has been a full week this time. He continues in physical therapy twice a week, but emphasis is on strengthening his right leg, arms and "core". No walking.  This also means a lot more time in the wheelchair and less activity which is very frustrating. The prosthetist is working on a possible solution, but the possibility of more surgery grows stronger.  (Please pray about this particular issue.)

Jackie continues to feel well most days and keeps up with day-to-day routines and chauffeuring. Yesterday she had the second echocardiogram and next week will get the results when she has a checkup with the cardiologist.  Keeping track of the diet with the sodium intake under control has become easier.  Occasionally, there is shortness of breath - oddly, not occurring during her vigorous activity or exercise.




We continue to care for our patio garden - and there is always some "chore" we need help with when we have visitors.  Our friend Tony Cook came by and conveniently helped hang two flower pots - after Jackie had pounded the long nails into the rafters.  My skills at home repairs keep growing! Just today I repaired the latch on the front screen door. 






Two weeks ago we successfully trimmed our purple sage bushes.  Our beautiful museum palo verde tree in the front yard needed trimming, so today we tackled the job ourselves.  You can see from the pictures below that John was very determined to cut what he could from the wheelchair.  Since he could not venture forth on the gravel yard it was my turn with the tree trimmer - a first for me. It was a lot of work, but we got the job done before the temperature hit 100. 

We continue to receive your greetings and appreciate the encouragement.  We live in the grace of the Lord and the answers to your prayers.  Please know that all of you are in our prayers each day.  If you are in town, give us a call and stop by for a visit!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

 

PROGRESS AND ENJOYMENT IN OUR DAYS

 

Hello again! We are well. Finally keeping my promise to keep this blog updated. Our days seem to be full and although we are speeding towards the hot days in Phoenix, our weather has been beautifully cool and perfect for being outdoors.  We take every chance we get to be on the patio - continually grateful for the days God has granted us to be together at home.  We have enjoyed our patio gardening in the midst of the rocks.  Here are a few pictures to give you an idea.

 

 

John finally received his own new wheelchair! 
It is beautiful blue and very comfortable. 

John is wearing his prosthetic leg all day and making good progress at the rehab center - and working in our kitchen!
He has been discharged from speech therapy and will finish occupational therapy this week.  Physical therapy will continue through May until Medicare coverage discontinues.  Our hope is that John will be using the walker much of the time in place of the wheelchair.  He will need to increase his vigorous exercise at the SpoFit gym at least three times a week as well as at home.  There have been many visits to the prosthetist for alterations and repairs.  There is some difficulty with small wounds on the scar tissue at the end of his stump which are being carefully treated and monitored by therapists and the surgeon. Pressure sores are a normal concern and affect the wearing of the prosthetic leg. 
(We would appreciate prayers for this specific issue.)



Jackie is feeling really well!  She wore the heart monitor for two weeks and the results showed "no significant disruptions" in the rhythm.  Her weight and heart rate are staying steady indicating that the edema is under control.  The blood pressure is pretty constant, but still too low to make it possible to take more medication to strengthen the heart itself.  Her energy is good and she does most things that she wants to do including more walking.  She loves the chance to walk outdoors and goes further than walking in the gym. The cardiologist gave permission for added exercise at the gym.  Next month he will do another echocardiogram and see if there is improvement in function. 
(We would appreciate prayers for improvement.)

We certainly enjoyed a glorious Easter service at Horizon Presbyterian.  The Lord was worshipped and praised!  Jackie's family gathered in the afternoon at Dee Ann and Tom Underwood's home for a delicious dinner and rousing games of dart baseball.  Their large backyard is like a private park - green and lush with flowers which is such a treat in our desert surroundings.

We have enjoyed company! Dale and Mary Ann Bates, good friends from our church in Surprise and now living near Austin, Texas came to town.  We thoroughly enjoyed their two days with us - talking, eating and walking in the park. 

 The next day Robert and Janet McPherson came to visit and we enjoyed sitting on our screened back porch.









 


Another great visit to The Desert Botanical Gardens
with the Chihuly Glass Exhibit

We had a marvelous second visit at The Desert Botanical Garden to enjoy the Chihuly Glass art exhibit scattered among the desert plants.  This time we were awed by its beauty lit up at night! Jackie's sister and husband and her brother and wife went with us making it a fun evening.  Then we went to Applebee's for a late dinner and had our first experience of karaoke in a bar! Wild surprise! (We hope you enjoy the Chihuly pictures below.)

Thanks for the continuing prayers and notes of encouragement.  Thanks for reading this blog.  Everyday is a treasure to us as we recall the serious health issues of the past six months.  There are still uncertainties ahead, but we are making our way along this new path with faith and trust in a gracious God.