Ailing mother.....

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  • gad5264
    Veteran Member
    • Aug 2005
    • 1407
    • Columbus, Ohio, USA
    • BT3000/BT3100NIB

    #1

    Ailing mother.....

    Over the last week, my mom (Mary) has been having some breathing problems associated with fluid around her heart. She was first trying to convince herself that she had pneumonia, but after three doctors visits, she was convinced to have a heart cath(she can be quite stubborn). She has been dealing with a leaking heart valve for > 12 years and it's finally decided to give her some problems. The heart cath was performed on Friday morning and the doctor informed me that she has three blockages (one artery completely blocked and two blocked at > 80%). In addition to the blockages and leaky valve, he said that she had suffered a heart attack in the past week. The last test he had performed on her in his office a couple of months ago showed her heart functioning at 55% and on Friday it was functioning at 25%. They decided that she would need surgery at the Ross Heart Hospital next week and transported her from the Cambridge Hospital on Friday evening to Columbus by way of ambulance.

    Her doctor came in yesterday and told her that her surgery would not be until Wednesday morning. He has three heart surgeries already scheduled on Monday (each taking 6 hours). Her surgery will be the first on Wednesday. Mom told him that she'd rather wait until he was well rested :-) He wants to take the extra days to continue to get the fluid off of her and make her heart stronger for the surgery. After meeting her heart doctor I have been very impressed with him. He spoke with us for over 20 minutes, and was very patient with all the questions. Of course, mom is understandably nervous, but she's in very good hands. She told the technician who gave her a chest Xray on Friday night that she thought everyone in that hospital must take happy pills because they are all so kind, caring and friendly.

    Once her surgery is over, she will be in the hospital for one week to 10 days with 6-12 weeks recovery to follow.

    My mom is now 75 years old and has only been retired for 2 years. She does have longevity on her side as my grandmother will be 102 in June.

    Prayers would be greatly appreciated.
    Grant
    "GO Buckeyes"

    My projects: http://community.webshots.com/user/gad5264
  • Ed62
    The Full Monte
    • Oct 2006
    • 6021
    • NW Indiana
    • BT3K

    #2
    We'll keep you all in our thoughts. It's always tough when things like that happen. Best of luck for a speedy recovery.

    Ed
    Do you know about kickback? Ray has a good writeup here... https://www.sawdustzone.org/articles...mare-explained

    For a kickback demonstration video http://www.metacafe.com/watch/910584...demonstration/

    Comment

    • cgallery
      Veteran Member
      • Sep 2004
      • 4503
      • Milwaukee, WI
      • BT3K

      #3
      Whew! That is a lot to worry about. On the plus side, though, is that I really think the medical system has heart problems down. So the fact that your mother is on track for surgery and the doctor is optimistic, I think is really cause for celebration. After all, I know guys that had quad bypass 10+ years ago that play tennis every day.

      I think it is more likely than not that when all is said and done, she may wonder why she waited so long. It will probably feel (quite literally) like a giant weight has been lifted from her chest.

      I'll keep you guys in my thoughts and prayers.

      Comment

      • TB Roye
        Veteran Member
        • Jan 2004
        • 2969
        • Sacramento, CA, USA.
        • BT3100

        #4
        We will keep your mom in our thoughts and prayers. The surgery should help her feel a lot better and improve the quality not to mention the quanity of her life.

        Tom

        Comment

        • germdoc
          Veteran Member
          • Nov 2003
          • 3567
          • Omaha, NE
          • BT3000--the gray ghost

          #5
          Good luck--prayers on your way!
          Jeff


          “Doctors are men who prescribe medicines of which they know little, to cure diseases of which they know less, in human beings of whom they know nothing”--Voltaire

          Comment

          • Uncle Cracker
            The Full Monte
            • May 2007
            • 7091
            • Sunshine State
            • BT3000

            #6
            Prayers up... Been through some similar problems, and came out fine. Your mom will, too. Tell her to just relax, and do as the docs say...

            Comment

            • MilDoc

              #7
              Add us to the prayer circle ... your mom is in good hands.

              Comment

              • smc331
                Veteran Member
                • Apr 2003
                • 1016
                • Charlotte, NC, USA.
                • BT3100

                #8
                Add me to the list of folks with good thoughts and prayers...
                Scott

                ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. -- Frank Zappa

                http://macbournes.com

                Comment

                • Pappy
                  The Full Monte
                  • Dec 2002
                  • 10490
                  • San Marcos, TX, USA.
                  • BT3000 (x2)

                  #9
                  75 and retired for 2 years already? Maybe after next week, she can look for a new career!

                  She and your family have my prayers.
                  Don, aka Pappy,

                  Wise men talk because they have something to say,
                  Fools because they have to say something.
                  Plato

                  Comment

                  • gerti
                    Veteran Member
                    • Dec 2003
                    • 2233
                    • Minnetonka, MN, USA.
                    • BT3100 "Frankensaw"

                    #10
                    Prayers on the way.

                    Comment

                    • mater
                      Veteran Member
                      • Jan 2004
                      • 4197
                      • SC, USA.

                      #11
                      My prayers are with your mom.
                      Ken aka "mater"

                      " People may doubt what you say but they will never doubt what you do "

                      Ken's Den

                      Comment

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