Thank you

For your prayers for Bill and William. Thank God both are home and feeling well. Williams procedure was quite long, 5 hours and very nerve wracking. They were successful in doing what was needed when they were finally able to get to it. They tried to go through his thigh but because of him having so many surgeries and heart caths the veins there were narrowed with scar tissue and they couldn’t get through. Instead they went in through his shoulder and neck area. Since they were in there they decided to take the opportunity and check his other surgery sites to see how they are holding up and I’m happy to report that they said they all look great! I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that. I hope and pray he never has to go through anything else as long as I’m still alive. We have been told that he may have to have another open heart when he’s older as the valve they repaired when he was 4 might need replacing someday. I pray it won’t be for many many years from now.

Bill’s problem is a mystery. He’s passed out twice with the last one being a week ago. It scared me to death. He collapsed on the couch and he wouldn’t respond to anything I did. I ran to the phone and dialed 911 then ran to the kitchen to get some sugar or honey to put in his mouth in case it was a diabetic reaction but before I could do that he came too. When the ambulance got here they took his sugar and it was fine, 103 but the ekg was a bit erratic. At the ER they did more tests and found nothing other then the ekg being a bit different but they said he didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke so they didn’t really know what’s wrong. They ordered an even monitor to wear for a month and he’s to push a button when he feels something is going on so it can be recorded. On Monday he called his doc at the VA Clinic and they had us fax the reports from the ER down here. On Tuesday they called and said for him to get up there to the ER as soon as he can. So, we jump in the Van and head to Madison. Did I ever tell you how much I hate driving that Van lol? Ok, we get up to the ER there and they admit him to the hospital. There again after taking all the tests again nothing shows up. He was there from Tuesday to Friday without passing out but does get lightheaded. Bill has lost weight and was on 4 BP meds so they took 3 of them away thinking that he might have been over medicated. I hope that’s what it is and it will be the end of his fainting spells. He’s suppose to take his BP here at  home and keep track of it for his next appointment. They said he can resume his normal activities but not to drive for awhile. They said they are not telling him to never drive but not to until we see how he does.

The best part (if that’s possible) of Bill and William both being in Madison was that I could go from one hospital to the other to see them. The VA hospital, the UW hospital and the Children’s hospital are all connected with walk ways and hallways. Even though it’s quite a walk I could go visit without ever stepping outside. I came home the first night as I didn’t have time to pack anything but I stayed in a hotel the next night. I decided to take my car back and I’m glad I did. I feel so much better driving I90 in my car then I do that big ole van.

It was so cold this week and when I left the hospital to go to the hotel my drivers door was froze shut. I thought “Oh boy, what am I going to do if both are froze” The hotel was just down the street but still quite a walk in that sub zero temps. Luckily though the passenger door opened and I crawled over and left. The next morning it opened. Go figure right lol.

So I’m happy to say that he didn’t have an heart attack or stroke or anything serious like that but we just don’t know what it was. I hope reducing his meds does the trick.

Thank you again for all your prayers. Bill, William and I and my entire family appreciates each and every one!