Grandfather update in emails in Book

12/29/13 Dear family and friends,

Just met with several doctors and nurses. Got a pretty good idea of what is going on. Things are very tenuous. Aortic valve is 4.7 times smaller than normal. Electric impulses that pass through the valve are affected so it causes his heart to be off rhythmically. Probably needs a pacemaker. Needs a stint for the valve problem. Heart muscle is working at 20% rather than 60%. All these things are fixable if it weren't for the blood infection that started in his bladder and went into his blood. His white count is 20,000 rather than the norm of 10,000 or below. So on two antibiotics and other meds. So the prayer now is that his infection clears up so they can take care of the heart. Dad's attitude is one of peaceful resignation. He has made his wishes known that he wants no heroic measures and that he is ready to be with His Lord. So we wait on our Lord now. I will keep you posted.

12/30/13 I spent the night with Dad and about 4:00 this morning he rallied. Praise the Lord! He just sat up in bed and I noticed that his heart numbers were back at an acceptable level. White blood count down a little this morning. Still no appetite but he drank a whole cup of coffee and talked to Bliss on Skype. Dr stopped by and he still needs a pacemaker soon so keep praying that the infection will go away. Thanks for your prayers.

12/30/13 Dad got a temporary pacemaker put in late today and it is working great. When he came back from the procedure, he was talking, laughing, and even asked for his dinner to be brought in. Heart rate is stable for the first time in who knows how long. Now we need for the infection to disappear so he can see if he is even a candidate for a heart catherization. Thanks for all the prayers!

*Jan 4 *Hi, guys. I got a note from Paul that Dr. Zajarious is performing the heart valve procedure on your dad at Barnes today. Apparently, he is one of the best in the country (maybe the world).....so he's in good hands. He's also in good hands because we have been praying for your dad that the Lord will see him through this tough season......so your dad is really in the BEST hands of all.

It is really tough on you guys. We are praying for all of you, too. Hang in there!!!

Your friends, John & Cathy CAD

P.S. Maybe you heard from Paul on this, but Dr. Zajarious is performing a study using our RADPAD products. Small world.....and we aren't linked to Kevin Bacon as far as I know.

Jan 23 Hi Dad,

What a rough day for you, I'm sorry.Thank God you have the love of God, Sunny and TooCoo with you! I am home thinking and praying for you even though I would rather be there trying to make you smile. I am with you and want you to know that I love you. Do not be afraid. Breathe. Pray. and remember all those great biscuits we ate smothered in BUTTER! I also can't forget the zebra cake and how you rarely gave a slice over an inch! Red beans and rice.....Mom sure knew how to cook!

I love you and hope today is a better day, Blissy

Jan 26 Dear friends, Dad will get a pic line in tomorrow at 8. This will allow him to go to a nursing facility in Jefferson City to get over the infection and get physically stronger. His breathing is still rough so he gets more lasik tonight. He can only be released if his breathing is alright. So tomorrow or Tuesday I will take him home. They will not do the valve replacement until he has 4 weeks of antibiotics. Prayers are for his breathing to settle down and for the pic line to go in smoothly (have to be done by xray so as not to interfere with the pacemaker.) and for a place in Jeff City that will take him. Thanks so much for caring. I do pass along all your emails and phone calls. He is still not strong enough to call anyone. Appetite is non existent but I think he will perk up when he gets to leave.....

*Jan 27 *Finally got the Hone (pic, iv, in his chest). It bled for a while and not sure if it still is as I left this afternoon for Jefferson City. I now have bronchitis so Sunny is by herself and I am trying to get well. Dad is so fed up with being in the hospital that he is refusing to take treatments and has not really eaten in 2 days. One nursing home refused to take him because of that issue. All we need is a place to send him for rehab and he can leave Barnes. He needs 6 weeks of antibiotics before they will even consider the valve replacement. You know he can be stubborn....

My sister came through the surgery just fine. They got all the tumor that they could and put chemo wafers in its place (whatever those are).She was stable throughout the surgery and will probably go home by Wednesday.

I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your prayers.

Bliss came through the surgery beautifully. Talked to her this morning and she was already getting released to go home. Praise the Lord God Almighty!

Jan 28 Dad has been turned down by 3 nursing homes already. His care is complex. Pray that Barnes will find one for him and prayerfully very soon. He got up and walked today but breathing is still an issue with fluid on his lungs.

I am feeling much better as the antibiotics have kicked in. Got a good night's sleep!

*Jan 29 *Finally! Dad is now in a nursing facility here in Jefferson City and his attitude has done a 180. I suspect that he will begin to feel better and start improving after his first good nights sleep in over a month. Thanks for praying this through with me up to finding a place to take him today. Prayers have been answered so many, many times so let us praise God together for his faithfulness.

Bliss is still in the hospital. I hope that she gets out tomorrow. I do not know what is really going on there because I have not talked to her recently. I hope to go out there sooner rather than later.