Mom saw the cardiologist today. Actually it was his Physicians Assistant, which we love because he has such a great bed-side manner. This turned out to be a very surprising visit. the PA's name is Stephen Chase, and we have worked with him since mom moved down here. He is always so cute with her, sits next to her, sometimes holding her hand or puts his hand on her leg while he talks to her. He is a cute 30 year old with a tribal tattoo on his arm, (totally surprising), and has become like a family member.
He first walked into the office and walked over and gave mom a great big hug and sincerely asked her how she was doing. She said "Oh pretty good, I survived Christmas". He looked at me and I said "actually, she survived something much more than that. My father passed away a few weeks ago and she survived that". Stephen said that is what he was talking about, and again asked mom how she was doing. He stood there with his arm around her for a couple of minutes, and was very cute with her.
He first walked into the office and walked over and gave mom a great big hug and sincerely asked her how she was doing. She said "Oh pretty good, I survived Christmas". He looked at me and I said "actually, she survived something much more than that. My father passed away a few weeks ago and she survived that". Stephen said that is what he was talking about, and again asked mom how she was doing. He stood there with his arm around her for a couple of minutes, and was very cute with her.
The first thing on the agenda was to review the results from the angiogram she had in November. The results were not back yet when she had her appointment in December so we had never reviewed the report. Apparently some of the stents she has had are closing off, this we knew from Dr. Kramers intital report. However, where the stents are closing off, she has grown new capillaries that are circumventing the blocked arteries and providing blood flow around them. Her body is creating a new channel for the blood!
We discussed moms thoughts regarding quitting dialysis as she is in-operable and has been so miserable during dialysis at times. He told her it was ridiculous to even consider stopping dialysis, that she is far too healthy to do that. He told her that "in-operable" does not mean she is knocking on deaths door. He told her she needs to get the permanent access in her arm (fistula) and continue on with life. She will most likely be hospitalized for that procedure as they will take her off her blood thinners and use Heparin (injections in her stomach) for short term blood thinning. So, we are off to another adventure, or at least making the arrangements for that new adventure. Her temporary access (catheter) will typically only last around 6 months and it takes a a couple of months for the permanent access to heal enough to be used, so we need to get moving on that one. She started with this catheter in November.
Talk about a new lease on life! What a miracle! I discussed with her how interesting that she received a blessing that very firmly and adamantly told her she was not to quit dialysis weeks before we hear it from the doctor. Another great testimony to the power of blessings, and reminder that God is in charge. (Maybe at this time dad is in charge, who knows?)
We discussed moms thoughts regarding quitting dialysis as she is in-operable and has been so miserable during dialysis at times. He told her it was ridiculous to even consider stopping dialysis, that she is far too healthy to do that. He told her that "in-operable" does not mean she is knocking on deaths door. He told her she needs to get the permanent access in her arm (fistula) and continue on with life. She will most likely be hospitalized for that procedure as they will take her off her blood thinners and use Heparin (injections in her stomach) for short term blood thinning. So, we are off to another adventure, or at least making the arrangements for that new adventure. Her temporary access (catheter) will typically only last around 6 months and it takes a a couple of months for the permanent access to heal enough to be used, so we need to get moving on that one. She started with this catheter in November.
Talk about a new lease on life! What a miracle! I discussed with her how interesting that she received a blessing that very firmly and adamantly told her she was not to quit dialysis weeks before we hear it from the doctor. Another great testimony to the power of blessings, and reminder that God is in charge. (Maybe at this time dad is in charge, who knows?)
We went to breakfast after the appointment then to Target to fill her new prescriptions. She was in the shopping scooter and she shopped from 11:00 until 2:30, looking at things for Easter and her little grandkids. I just followed her around and we talked. She put bunny ears on and I took a picture. She then forgot to take them off, and I walked around the aisle to the other side. When I walked back over to check on her she called me a "Silly Goose" because she had forgotten to take the bunny ears off and had been wearing them for a while, sitting in her scooter, shopping.
Now, I ask you....who is the "Silly Goose"?
Now, I ask you....who is the "Silly Goose"?A little 80 year old lady was trying to decide on a hat to buy and started a conversation with me about how the hats look on her. We spent 20 minutes (really) helping her choose a hat. Mom tried on a couple of hats as well saying if she is going to be around for a while she needs a hat!
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