Myra has her new, voice-activated cell phone all ready to go. If you'd like to give her a call and visit with her sometime, email me at theratcliffs@charter.net and I will give you her cell number.
Today will be a test, she has dialysis. It's been really taking a lot out of her lately so we might have a bit of a challenge to get her up the few stairs to our house when they get back.
Curt is healing nicely and is still with Matt & Tess. Resting lots and slowly gaining his appetite back.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
all settled
We have both Curt & Myra situated in their temporary homes.
Curt is sleeping in Derek's superman bed and he's getting lots of rest there. He's up and moving around but is very weak and tired yet.
Curt and Matt brought Myra down to meet Dusty and I in Eagan today. We made the transfer just fine and we have just finished introducing Myra to the surroundings in her new bedroom.
We have two stairs that Myra has to climb to get in our house. She was a little stressed about those but handled them like a trooper! She's getting acclimated with her new surroundings and is enjoying a cup of coffee and the Twins game. Not sure if the Twins game is on for her or Dusty.
Curt is sleeping in Derek's superman bed and he's getting lots of rest there. He's up and moving around but is very weak and tired yet.
Curt and Matt brought Myra down to meet Dusty and I in Eagan today. We made the transfer just fine and we have just finished introducing Myra to the surroundings in her new bedroom.
We have two stairs that Myra has to climb to get in our house. She was a little stressed about those but handled them like a trooper! She's getting acclimated with her new surroundings and is enjoying a cup of coffee and the Twins game. Not sure if the Twins game is on for her or Dusty.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
improvement
Today is the first day that Curt feels pretty decent. Doctors removed all tubes, including his oxygen.
He said the last two days were pretty awful and he was wondering if he'd ever feel human again. So he was pretty excited to have less chest pain today.
He was busy with therapy this morning and he has another session this afternoon.
As of today, it looks like he might be going home on Sunday. When he leaves the hospital, Curt will be staying with Matt & Tess until he's strong enough to go home. This way he'll have help with his recovery and meals and that sort of thing. Curt has discussed with his doctors the situation with needing to care for Myra when he gets home and that is just physically not an option.
Sooo.......Myra will be coming to stay with Dusty and I in Mankato. We've got her new room almost all ready. We were able to arrange for dialysis in a neighboring town (well, it's actually 45 minutes away but beggars can't be choosers).
She'll have a room on our main floor with a bathroom and of course the kitchen is there as well. Dusty works nights (for the time being) and I work during the day so it will work out pretty good. I have some flexibility at work which allows me to work from home or take time as I need to help Myra, so that is a relief.
This just seems like the best solution. Right now, they are paying out of pocket for nursing home care and then she has to take a cab to dialysis. We're not comfortable with relying on strangers to care for her.
You are more than welcome to visit Myra if you want to make a trip to Mankato, or to call her here on our phone. We love to have visitors! The same goes for Curt while he's with Matt & Tess.
Email me at theratcliffs@charter.net for contact information.
Until later....
He said the last two days were pretty awful and he was wondering if he'd ever feel human again. So he was pretty excited to have less chest pain today.
He was busy with therapy this morning and he has another session this afternoon.
As of today, it looks like he might be going home on Sunday. When he leaves the hospital, Curt will be staying with Matt & Tess until he's strong enough to go home. This way he'll have help with his recovery and meals and that sort of thing. Curt has discussed with his doctors the situation with needing to care for Myra when he gets home and that is just physically not an option.
Sooo.......Myra will be coming to stay with Dusty and I in Mankato. We've got her new room almost all ready. We were able to arrange for dialysis in a neighboring town (well, it's actually 45 minutes away but beggars can't be choosers).
She'll have a room on our main floor with a bathroom and of course the kitchen is there as well. Dusty works nights (for the time being) and I work during the day so it will work out pretty good. I have some flexibility at work which allows me to work from home or take time as I need to help Myra, so that is a relief.
This just seems like the best solution. Right now, they are paying out of pocket for nursing home care and then she has to take a cab to dialysis. We're not comfortable with relying on strangers to care for her.
You are more than welcome to visit Myra if you want to make a trip to Mankato, or to call her here on our phone. We love to have visitors! The same goes for Curt while he's with Matt & Tess.
Email me at theratcliffs@charter.net for contact information.
Until later....
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Surgery went great
Curt had a successful double bypass. They did one on both the left and the right side of the heart. The surgeon did it that way so that both sides of the heart is operating. They were even able to bypass the part that was defected from birth.
The surgery took about 3 1/2 hours and he was back up in his room early afternoon.
I actually spoke with Curt this morning. He pretty much sounds like himself, but he wasn't quite up to joke telling. He said he was up quite a bit last night but is fairly comfortable. He's completely coherent. And, hugging the heck out of his heart pillow.
His nurse said that he is doing very well. He was removed from the ventilator yesterday and is still on oxygen, but his levels are great and normal. The oxygen is simply a formality right now.
They had him sitting up last night and he dangled is legs over the side of the bed. Today they will actually get him up and walking a few steps.
Curt thinks he'll be moved out of ICU today and into telemetry but the nurse wasn't quite so sure that would happen today. Guess it never hurts to have positive thinking, does it?
I'll be in touch soon....
The surgery took about 3 1/2 hours and he was back up in his room early afternoon.
I actually spoke with Curt this morning. He pretty much sounds like himself, but he wasn't quite up to joke telling. He said he was up quite a bit last night but is fairly comfortable. He's completely coherent. And, hugging the heck out of his heart pillow.
His nurse said that he is doing very well. He was removed from the ventilator yesterday and is still on oxygen, but his levels are great and normal. The oxygen is simply a formality right now.
They had him sitting up last night and he dangled is legs over the side of the bed. Today they will actually get him up and walking a few steps.
Curt thinks he'll be moved out of ICU today and into telemetry but the nurse wasn't quite so sure that would happen today. Guess it never hurts to have positive thinking, does it?
I'll be in touch soon....
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Curt's turn
Well, I bring news about Curt this time.
Curt will be having double, possibly triple bypass surgery on Monday morning at St. Joseph's hospital in St. Paul.
Here's the condensed history with a disclaimer that I am describing what is happening the best I can and without any medical background. Suzie should probably dictate to me for future postings so that I can be as accurate as possible about the situation.
How this started...
Curt has been extremely tired lately, so tired that some days he can hardly keep his head up. His blood pressure has also been very high and hasn't been controllable even with medication.
In trying to diagnose the problem, doctors discovered that Curt has an aneurysm on the thorax, which leads to the heart. This aneurysm requires a surgery where they insert a stint to help ease the aneurysm and prevent it from going off (going off is probably not a proper medical term). This type of aneurysm is the same thing that John Ritter died of a few years back but his was undetected.
In preparation of this surgery, blockage was discovered which brings us to yesterday (7/12) when Curt went for an angiogram.
During the angiogram, the doctor discovered that the right side of his heart probably NEVER worked properly and more than likely has been 100% blocked since birth. However, there is no damage to this side of the heart because the heart developed collateral feeders on it's own. The input of these veins are all well developed.
The left side of the heart, also known as the "death artery" has two blockages. Because the blockage is in this side, it was considered too dangerous to perform an angioplasty yesterday, as death is probable if it doesn't go just right.
This means he will be having bypass surgery on Monday morning. The way I understand it, this will definitely be a double and possibly a triple bypass.
What we know so far...
Myra will stay with Matt & Tess Sunday night. Matt and Myra will pick up Curt very early Monday morning. Curt has to get checked in and prepped at 5:30 a.m.
If you would like to talk to Curt or Myra this weekend, email me and I'll get you their phone numbers. I will keep this blog updated so you know how the surgery went, prognosis, etc.
P.S. If you're wondering why Myra can't stay at home this weekend, it's due to the fact that she still requires more physical care than Curt is able to provide this weekend and obviously after the bypass. For instance, she's at dialysis right now and that requires getting downstairs, into the car, into dialysis, back into the car, back home again and up the stairs.
Please put Curt & Myra in your prayers this weekend.
I'll be in touch.
Curt will be having double, possibly triple bypass surgery on Monday morning at St. Joseph's hospital in St. Paul.
Here's the condensed history with a disclaimer that I am describing what is happening the best I can and without any medical background. Suzie should probably dictate to me for future postings so that I can be as accurate as possible about the situation.
How this started...
Curt has been extremely tired lately, so tired that some days he can hardly keep his head up. His blood pressure has also been very high and hasn't been controllable even with medication.
In trying to diagnose the problem, doctors discovered that Curt has an aneurysm on the thorax, which leads to the heart. This aneurysm requires a surgery where they insert a stint to help ease the aneurysm and prevent it from going off (going off is probably not a proper medical term). This type of aneurysm is the same thing that John Ritter died of a few years back but his was undetected.
In preparation of this surgery, blockage was discovered which brings us to yesterday (7/12) when Curt went for an angiogram.
During the angiogram, the doctor discovered that the right side of his heart probably NEVER worked properly and more than likely has been 100% blocked since birth. However, there is no damage to this side of the heart because the heart developed collateral feeders on it's own. The input of these veins are all well developed.
The left side of the heart, also known as the "death artery" has two blockages. Because the blockage is in this side, it was considered too dangerous to perform an angioplasty yesterday, as death is probable if it doesn't go just right.
This means he will be having bypass surgery on Monday morning. The way I understand it, this will definitely be a double and possibly a triple bypass.
What we know so far...
- Doctors have performed this surgery 'millions' of times. Curt's doctor happens to be the chief of cardiology and has been in the cardiology field for 30 years, so that level of expertise and skill provides some comfort.
- the surgery is expected to last 4-5 hours
- at this point, Curt will be hospitalized for 7-10 days
- once home, he can't lift anything over 10 pounds
- no driving for 1 month
Myra will stay with Matt & Tess Sunday night. Matt and Myra will pick up Curt very early Monday morning. Curt has to get checked in and prepped at 5:30 a.m.
If you would like to talk to Curt or Myra this weekend, email me and I'll get you their phone numbers. I will keep this blog updated so you know how the surgery went, prognosis, etc.
P.S. If you're wondering why Myra can't stay at home this weekend, it's due to the fact that she still requires more physical care than Curt is able to provide this weekend and obviously after the bypass. For instance, she's at dialysis right now and that requires getting downstairs, into the car, into dialysis, back into the car, back home again and up the stairs.
Please put Curt & Myra in your prayers this weekend.
I'll be in touch.
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