Unexpected Hospital Visitby Jim
22 Oct 2013
4:10 pm5
I know there are a lot of people who would like to know details as they happen, and instead of repeating myself to everyone over the phone or texts, I’ll try to put down as many details here on our blog. I’ve got a few plugins installed so that you can sign up for notifications for new blog posts. If you have questions, let me know and I can guide you through the process.
Last week on Saturday, Angie started feeling short of breath and had difficulty breathing. She had just started a new medication, and so at first, we thought it was that. She didn’t sleep well Saturday or Sunday, and tried to take it easy on Monday. I came home from work early because she said she still wasn’t feeling well and by about 5:30, just standing up and walking around a little was really exhausting. Her breathing had become labored and we decided to come to the hospital. Instead of going to the nearest ER, we decided to drive down to Stanford (her regular hospital). We’ve played that game before and we usually just end up here anyway, so we figured it was best to just come straight.
The ER here at Stanford was a little different than the ERs I’ve been to before. First of all, we had to pass through security like at an airport. We walked through a metal detector and had our bags searched. We were then given a face mask and asked to put it on while in the ER waiting area. It was a little strange. Fortunately for us, Angie’s symptoms (difficulty breathing, shortness of breath) put us in the express lane and we were seen by a doctor within just a few minutes. They got us to a bed in the ER and some very nice doctors and nurses came and listened to her breathe, gave her an EKG, checked her meds, asked a bunch of questions, took a chest x-ray, etc. Before 2 hours were elapsed, we were told she was going to be admitted and before we’d been here 3 hours, she was on the floor. That was the fastest ER visit we’ve had to date!
That first x-ray showed some fluid build-up in her lung cavity — not in the lung itself, but in the area around it. This is the reason for the difficulty breathing. Her oxygen levels were pretty low (the doctor in the ER asked if her “toenails are always this blue?”), so they gave her some oxygen. They decided that they wanted to try and increase her medicine that removes fluid from her system before they actually go in and remove the fluid surgically.
That was last night. This morning, things weren’t too much better, so they decided to do a procedure to put in a catheter to drain the fluid. They also considered a thoracentisis, which is basically sticking a needle in your side and sucking the fluid out. They didn’t want to have to do it multiple times, so they put in what is called a pigtail catheter so that they can drain it over the next day or two. I think this is partly because they don’t yet know why the fluid is building up and how quickly it is. Angie’s cardiologist, Dr. Lui, wants to do a catheterization, but that requires her to lay down flat for a period of time, which is hard to do when you’ve got fluid in your lung. Before we can do the catheterization, we need to fix the fluid-in-the-lungs problem. Catheterizations are a procedure that will allow them to see her heart function in a lot of detail. Dr. Lui wants to make sure that the Fontan conversion she had back in 2007 is working properly (and if it isn’t, could be the cause of the fluid).
The surgeon came and did the pigtail catheter right here in our room. It was about noon when he first came to set up. They got all the sterile pads and equipment and prepped for about 30 minutes before they went in. It is done with local anesthesia, but it was still really uncomfortable for Angie. She said it was mostly a really strange (and startling) sensation to have something being threaded into her lung cavity. The doctor also drew out about 600 ccs of fluid right away and sent some off for analysis. Almost immediately, Angie could breathe more easily. She’s got a chest tube and drainage box sitting by her bed now to collect the rest of the fluid over the next couple days.
Since then, Angie has had another chest x-ray, an ultrasound, and a late lunch. She’s in good spirits and breathing better than she has in days. She’s watching The Hobbit right now from the on-demand movies here at the hospital. We will probably be here for a few days; tomorrow they’ll probably do the catheterization and possibly a paracentesis.
I will keep the blog up-to-date with the latest news as it comes. If you sign up for notifications, use the Hospital Updates category. I’ve also added a means to log in with your Google, Facebook, or Twitter accounts instead of having to create a new one just for our blog.
Thanks for your love & prayers.
Visiting the Stokers in Fresnoby Jim
17 Sep 2012
2:09 pm0
Hoffmans & Stokers at the Fresno Temple
This weekend, we traveled out to Fresno to visit my former mission president and his wife, the Stokers. We had a wonderful time reminiscing about old times and filling each other in on what we’ve done since the mission. They took us to dinner at a fun steak house called “Tahoe Joe’s,” and then we chatted as we walked around the nearby outdoor mall before returning to spent the night in their beautiful home.
On Saturday, we spent some time sharing pictures from some of our recent vacations and activities, then went to do Sealings at the little temple there in Fresno. President Stoker was recently released as the Fresno temple president, so it was neat to go with them where they are so known and loved. We spent a few minutes in the Celestial room together after the Sealings. Sister Stoker pointed out the textured patterns in the carpet and explained that the carpet was carved by hand, with specialized tools. It is a dying art, but you can find the same detailed work in many temples. The same went for the gold leaf work on the walls and ceiling.
We could have stayed for many more hours to just talk and enjoy each other’s company, but after a late lunch at a special place they like called “Max’s,” we had to leave in the early evening to get home that night.
Kayleigh’s Wedding in San Diegoby Angie
10 Sep 2012
2:09 pm1
The beautiful San Diego Temple
We had a wonderful experience this weekend in San Deigo for the wedding of a dear friend, Kayleigh Rose Torres…now Mrs. Evan Kidwell. We carpooled down with the Mills family: Kelly & Joleen, their daughter Amber, and Kelly’s mother Edna. Kelly has a brother living in Upland (~2 hours north of San Diego), so we drove that far Friday night and were welcomed by Dean and his family. It was so kind and gracious of them to let us stay!
Saturday morning, we left early and made it to San Diego with plenty of time. The temple is absolutely beautiful and built in a fascinating way: lots of angles, huge windows and skylights, and even a lovely little atrium in the central hallway of the third floor. The Sealing Room was small but full, and the Sealing itself was one of the most insightful I’ve ever attended. I took away several principles that I hope to apply more fully in my own life and marriage. Here are a few of my favorites:
– “If you want the best husband in the world, be the best wife in the world…and vice versa.”
– “You can’t be in the temple every day, but you can have a temple experience every day of your life – every time you get dressed to begin your day.”
– “We need to be spiritually nourished on a daily basis, and so do our marriages: We nourish one another not only with prayers and scripture study, but also with words and notes of love and encouragement, especially “Please,” “Thank You,” “I’m sorry,” and “I love you.”
That evening, at a lovely country club in the hills above the city, Kayleigh’s YSA bishop led their ring ceremony. He had wonderful, fun counsel to give as well, including the injunction to treat their marriage like a brand new car: Take good care of it, fix it up when things go wrong, and patch it up when it gets little scrapes & dings. If you do, down the road you won’t have a run-down old beater, you’ll have a pristine classic worth even more than when you first got it.
A reception followed, including dinner, toasts, and dancing. When the DJ announced the “Anniversary Dance,” he asked all married couples to come to the floor. About 30 seconds apart, he dismissed first the couple married less than one day, then those less than five years, then those less than ten years, and so on until they narrowed it down to the longest-married couple in the room, who had been married for 53 years. The DJ asked what was the secret to being happily married so long. The husband said, “My wife’s grandmother told her on the morning of their wedding that all she needed to do was treat her husband like he was her favorite little boy: love him, take care of him, and give him milk and cookies sometimes…That sure worked for me!” His wife then replied, “Also, you keep a good sense of humor.”
We spent that night in a nearby Marriott Residence Inn, then visited a 9:00 Sacrament Meeting on Sunday morning. It was a combined meeting for a regular ward and the local Deaf Branch, so there was an interpreter on the stand for the talks, and an ASL conductor to lead us in signing the hymns. And, who should be speaking that day in that ward but the San Diego Temple President and his wife! Sister Yeager told a story about a man who took his two grandsons for a drive in the nearby hills. After an hour of circuitous travel, they stopped to take in the view. He asked the boys, “Do you boys know where we are?” They shook their heads. He said, “Do you think we’re lost?” One of the boys pointed out over the valley to the bright building that was the temple and answered, “Grandpa, you are never lost when you can see the temple!” It is really true. Also, she brought up the Bible Dictionary reference that only a home compares to a temple in sacredness, and continued on the idea of our homes being like the temple: Ideally, they will be a place of love and peace, clean and orderly, filled with uplifting images and music. She ended by quoting President Monson, “Temples are more than stone & mortar…They are the all-important, crowning blessing of membership in Christ’s Church.” My testimony of the blessings of the temple has been strengthened in so many ways over this weekend.
Amber, Joleen, & Edna
We returned to the hotel to have a late breakfast, pack up, and check out (and report the ants in our hotel room – ew), before driving to Upland once more. We spent a couple of hours with the Mills’ family again and enjoyed a delicious dinner of homemade fajitas before finally heading home. Despite the break in our driving, we all started to go a little stir crazy after a while, so Jim spent some time helping Amber with her Calculus homework, amazing us all with his Mathmagician skills and tricks. At one point, Edna said, “He’s speaking an entirely different language, I’m sure of it!” We finally arrived home as the sky was darkening, and were welcomed by a sleepy, purring cat who was thrilled to no longer be home alone.
We’re coming home!by Jim
2 Aug 2012
3:08 pm0
The doctor just visited us and said he’s got the discharge papers processing. We’ll be leaving soon!
Morning Newsby Jim
2 Aug 2012
11:08 am4
I’m with Angie again (after a good night’s sleep, thanks to Brandon and Mary) and we’re playing the waiting game some more. All the tests have come back negative and besides a slightly enlarged spleen, everything looks pretty normal. They’ve ordered a blood transfusion, because she is pretty low (and they’ve been taking so much to do tests), but that hasn’t happened yet. It looks like they won’t be letting her go home tonight, which is saddening, but the doctor expressed his desire to get her out of the hospital as soon as possible, so hopefully it won’t be too much longer.
Yesterday, as I was walking around the floor, I saw a poster that discussed pain control and what the patient and nurses should be aware of. I found this paragraph that piqued my interest. I told Angie, and she was sad that she wasn’t in any pain, which makes her ineligible for pet therapy. First world problems, I know.
Yellow socksby Jim
1 Aug 2012
12:08 pm4
Because one of Angie’s symptoms is strong dizzy spells, there is an automatic concern about her walking around. But, her doctor said he wants her to walk around and keep active while she’s here, so Angie got special yellow socks, which indicate to the other nurses that they have to keep an eye on her in case she falls. Neat, huh?
So, an update on the situation: Angie’s heart is fine. They are quite sure it is something else that is wrong. There is something wrong with Angie’s blood. Her protein is low and her blood count is low. They can’t figure out where it is going, so they are running all sorts of tests. They have an ultrasound scheduled and a few other tests, so we’re still waiting for news. I’ll keep you posted. Sorry I didn’t get this posted sooner; I slept in a little bit this morning (didn’t realize how tired I was).
Another trip to Stanfordby Jim
31 Jul 2012
8:07 pm0
This morning Angie woke up feeling kind of crummy. When she took her blood pressure, the little machine said her pulse was really high. We called the hospital and they asked her to come in so they can monitor her for a day to see what is going on. So here we are at Stanford. They are probably going to kick me out any time now, since visiting hours ended at 8. I’ll keep the blog up to date as I learn anything new.