Monday, September 21, 2009

Hey all, haven't posted lately since there is really no news to report. We fill our days with reading (the good news/bad news thing is that there is a Barnes and Noble close by, as well as a Borders - can't do the library since we don't live here), TV, and an occasional stroll through the parking lot around the building. We have watched some DVDs in the evening, and of course lots of sports. Thank goodness football has started, baseball was getting a bit old, even for John. I am working on the computer from here, since there is actually quite a bit I can do online. We have a nurse come once a week, and they ship us all of his IV medicines once a week, so that is pretty much the same. We are still hoping that something will happen before the next scheduled doctor's appointment, which is October 9, but of course we understand we can't control that. Our room is still pretty small, but so far it is working out fine. We venture out occasionally to a farmer's market to buy fresh vegetables, but we really try to avoid places that are too crowded or closed in to avoid the flu.

We are glad, I guess, that we are missing all of the rain in the Atlanta area. Overall the weather here has been about the same as in Atlanta, but we have gotten hardly any rain over the last week like they have.

John says that if anyone wants any advice on the political scene, just ask. He has had innumerable hours to watch, analyze, and critique our current situation. (I just sit back and do the crossword puzzle, he gave up on any stimulating political discussions with me long ago.)

Again, thanks for the prayers. We'll spread the word as soon as anything happens!

Sunday, September 7

After about 30 new tubes of blood, meeting with the entire heart transplant team, a number of forms, insurance approval, and 2 more forms, I am on the list at Duke. I had a lot of help from the transplant coordinator here and the insurance folks in Virginia. The place we're in is pretty small, but good enough for 2 people. Don't know exactly when the call will come, but we're ready any time. the operation itself takes about 6 hours and the hospital stay is 7-10 days. Thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers. I think this will work out. John

Tuesday, Sept 1

We now have appointments set up to see the surgeon, the transplant coordinator, the financial folks (that one's always a bit of a shocker), and the social worker, all for tomorrow throughout the day. It is a lot of coordination for folks with very busy schedules, but we are ready to get John's listing status changed from Emory to Duke after all of those meetings. We have been told that it is simply a form that gets filled out, so after all of the appointments maybe that part won't take very long.

We will get more of his IV medicine shipped here today; since there is a Coram office here in NC that transfer went very smoothly. Also, we are supposed to see a home health nurse today to get his picc line dressing changed out which is due today.

We've even gotten a call from John's Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance folks to check on him, and see if they can help in any way. I must say they have been great through all of this so far, very helpful and supportive.

All in all things are falling into place, and the process is moving along. We've already driven from here to the hospital so we know the best way to get there, and probably later on this afternoon we will figure out some other ways to get there, just in case one way is backed up or blocked. So we are trying to do everything on our end to be ready, then all we have to do is wait. That is certainly not easy to do, but John has gotten pretty good at it now. The fact that we stand a much better shot at getting this done sooner now rather than later (although we don't really know when it will be, it is great knowing it is a much better time frame) makes the waiting a bit easier.

Thanks again, and keep us in your prayers! All of you who are helping out in so many ways, and those of you who are supporting us through good wishes and prayers, are what keeps us sane.