How do I begin to thank EVERYONE who prayed, cleaned, fed, brought groceries, hung out, toted me back and forth, and made sure Jim and I were well taken care of? I have no words other than Thank You so...THANK YOU!
I decided to write on my blog because so many "God" moments happened this past week because of your prayers.
When Jim arrived at the ER on Tuesday he was a "potato chip" as my friend Lynn says. He was so dehydrated that he was very, very close to being schepis throughout his body. His BP was 41/30, color white however he was talking (which he should not have been) and a little joking.
The NP and nurses kept saying "why do you look so good for being so sick?". He also had septic pneumonia in his left lung so the race to keep it in his lung and not spread throughout the rest of his body began. After 4 hours in the ER trauma unit he was moved to ICU around 10:00pm. I stayed the first night which was rough for both of us...not much sleeping but a lot of praying from me.
He kept spiking a high fever all night long which meant the infection was winning at that point. His BP had come up to 71/40 better but far from where it should be. He had to lay flat on his back, which with bulging disc's does not feel so hot and could not get out of bed. At that time those were our two major things to work on besides getting him hydrated again.
Unbeknownst to me some wonderful friends behind my back made a "tote" Robyn back and forth team and I was told I was not allowed to stay the night and I would be going home for afternoon naps! They would pick me up feed me and take me home for some snoozing. The first night I went home it was so quite and lonely because Furry Emmie had gone to a sleep over with her cousins Titus and Marlin!
Day 2: When I returned in the am he was better and they were letting him sit up a little but still in bed...no walking or chair sitting...but he was on a high because our Pastor Dave had been there and Jim got to witness to one of his nurses (which is his favorite thing to do!). As the day progressed his BP keep going up but still under the 100's/70's where they wanted it. He was beginning to cough up yucky stuff and things were going in the right direction.
Day 3: His BP was 96/52!!! And they had identified the type of pneumonia he had in his lung so they started him on a strong specific antibiotic that would attack that particular bacteria. However he started having constant chest pains and some SOA so they decided to check his heart. His heart enzyme came back elevated so the heart testing began. As they took him out of his room for the first test I heard him as his favorite question..."What do you believe". When he came back he again was so excited to be able to witness to the transport boys as he called them!
Day 4: He was sitting up in a chair when I got there!!! He was looking so much better and his BP was 110/60!!!! And again he had witnessed to his nurse for the day and they had had a 45 minute conversation and the nurse was going to stay late to talk to him, which he did! He had an echocardiogram that day and we were told there had been some change from the last one he had about 4 years ago so they wanted to do a stress test on him which would be the following am. They moved him out of ICU into PCU that evening. I believe this was the day that Pastor Jim Viehl came by and prayed for more hair, Jim that prayer is still to be answered!
Day 5: He went early for his stress test and was already done with that by the time I got there. He was back to his feisty self and so ready to get out! The cardio Dr. came in later and told him there was some minor damage to the "good" side of his heart and to follow up in a month! We were praising Him!!! But...no go home...his WBC was still elevated higher than his Dr. liked so he had to stay at least one more night :( HUGE PRAISE that night...both his children showed up with a balloon, cookie cake, milk, cups, plates and forks! Most of you know that this has been a struggle for the past few years and has left a whole in Jim's heart. We had an AWESOME visit and even Arielle and I had a great talk...this is something we have been praying for for a long time. I believe because of my handsome hubby's obedience to God by witnessing anytime he can that we were blessed by this HUGE PRAISE! We both fell asleep on a high that night.
Day 6: In order to go home he had to have a WBC lower than 12 (when he was admitted it was 30) well...he did not make it to 12...he made it to 6!!! He is such a show off!!! He called me bright and early and said he was packed and ready to go! Our friends Charles and Lynn came and got me and then we picked him up! I don't know who was happier for him to be home...Furry Emmie or Jim!!!
Day 7: Slept in his own bed and woke up at 6am with so much energy but does notice he needs to do things in spurts not all at once. He is on two different antibiotics for the next month and then a repeat chest x-ray and he is to drink lots of water!!!
God has shown me how when my worry gets the best of me and so close to losing my husband He will always be glorified. And he used my very sick handsome hubby to do it! Sounds funny to say it but we were so blessed during this time...Jim handed out a lot of his business cards and had a lot of good conversations about God and when you are talking to scientist minds sometimes that can be difficult which does not scare Jim...I sit and listen in awe.
The only thing left for me to do is try to get him to slow down...I may have to have his sister Jenny come over and do that!
Again, Thank You for all the prayers and help that has been given too us this past week. We are both so thankful and blessed by everyone! We love the community of our church and our friends and family...We love all of you and can't wait to get back to church!!!
Blessings,
The Barber's
Jim "Batman" and Robyn
No comments:
Post a Comment