Jim Is 35, Camo Is 4

Since the last email…we have been to Alabama. We went to see our parents. Jim celebrated his 35^th Birthday. Cameron celebrated his 4th birthday. He had two cakes, ice cream and lots of goodies. We visited the local museum, Cheaha State Park and the bowling rink. It was spring break…we couldn’t do a lot because Jim gets so tired and we have been exhausted from being sick and going to various doctor appointments.

When we returned home we caught up the laundry and rested up for the transplant evaluation / workup. Initially it was supposed to last 3 days. When we got there Monday…we went from one test to another. He started with various pulmonary tests. He did a bike test. He gave lots of blood. We then met with the transplant committee (one member at a time). We met the financial counselor, social worker, dietician, cardiac rehab and transplant surgeon.

It was information overload to say the least. The financial counselor informed us that having Medicaid will allow the transplant to be paid for but it will only pay for two name brand drugs. If he has Medicare…we will be responsible for 20% of the operation, hospital stay, etc. We should have better drug coverage under Medicare. Jim has Medicaid now but he may lose it come June. He will receive his first disability check then and could possible pass the threshold limit for Medicaid.

The social worker had to have lot of information about how we felt about the transplant….if we have caregivers available…if we have someone to help us with our children…some of the answers were yes and some were maybe and some were no. She shared a personal story about her sister-in-law that has had a lung transplant, heart transplant and kidney transplant. She has surpassed all the doctors’ expectations.

Next we met the dietician…she told us what to eat…what to watch out for…asked about what all we normally eat. I learned a lot and got a new cook book. Basically…no salt…no sweets…watch your portions….don’t eat anything that comes in a box or that is processed. Hmmm….that will be hard.

The cardiac rehab guy (Russ) was awesome. He loves his job and you could tell it. He talked to Jim about how he needs to do what he can to keep his body as strong as possible so he can recover better. He also stated that after the surgery…Jim would be walking around the hospital floor within a few hours…within a week he would be on a treadmill. It was wonderful to think about that for a few moments. I pictured how it would be to see Jim jog down the street and wave to me. I just wanted to make it happen right then.

Finally, we met one of the transplant surgeons (Dr. Creswell). He talked about every detail you would want to know and some you would rather not know about the surgery. He talked about how they harvest organs and the tests they run on those organs. He seemed to be very nice and excited about his part in changing lives. We asked lots of questions and felt pretty good about the meeting.

The transplant coordinator then informed us that we were done. She stated that Jim might have to do another cath but she would let us know when she talked with Dr. Moore. We got home around 7:30 or 8 p.m. and wanted to go to sleep immediately. Mrs. Murrell was kind enough to make the trip again and take the children to school and pick them up. Words cannot express our thanks for all that she does for us. We know that she gets really tired and that she is going through a lot. This is her son…her baby boy…she started this journey with him…and together we will help Jim through this.

We were told that Jim would go before the transplant committee on Thursday March 25. The committee would decide if he would be able to be placed on the list. Wednesday, the transplant coordinator called and stated that the bike test results had not come back. She was trying to get them. So when Thursday passed and we didn’t receive a phone call…we just thought they didn’t get the test results. Friday, I worked on the bulletin boards at the church building and Jim worked on making meeting CDs. I tried to stay busy and did a pretty good job. Then Linda Cook (one of our members) called and asked if we had heard anything. I thought…No….I need to call….so I did.

I called the Heart Failure and Transplant group and talked with our transplant coordinator. She stated that I would need to talk with Tammy (her supervisor/head transplant coordinator). I knew that wasn’t good. Tammy stated that he passed his bike test but it wasn’t as good as they liked. For someone, Jim’s age he should have done a lot better (I thinking…hello…he is in heart failure)…then she said that Dr. Moore wants to do another echo…then she stated that Jim’s Medicaid is only “preliminary” (this means that he will only have it until June). Then I asked her…is he going to be on the list…she stated that they would help him handle his heart failure to the best of their ability (that is Spanish for…no…he is not on the list). Once again…we are hit with the financial part. You know that commercial….Eating out at Old Mexico $30.11….Having a lifetime with the love of your life…PRICELESS! (I wish I could snap my fingers and make it happen)

To be honest….after my conversation with Tammy….I cried…I felt like I could seriously hurt someone….but even more than that I continue to realize that we are not the only ones. There are so many out there that are in need of help and cannot get it.

I KNOW THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY….we appreciate so much all those who continue to pray for us and to those who have helped us financially with our medical expenses. We pray that God will richly bless you. Jim will preach and teach whenever he is able and he will do it until his eyes close in death. We are so thankful to have our Heavenly Father on our side…He has not forsaken us…We are becoming stronger…we pray that we will always do what the Lord would have us to do…We will be faithful no matter how hard it gets. Jesus was faithful and kept the course…Our burdens are so few in comparison to what the Lord went through. We love you all….Jenn-------- "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul." (Psalm 25:1)

Hear is what Jim told the congregation concerning not being placed on the transplant list thus far.

Our Gospel Meeting Is Here

Well, to say the least these past few weeks have been terribly busy. I have failed to keep everyone up-to-date due to illness. Cameron was sick for an entire week with pneumonia. He ran a high fever the last full week of February until it broke on Thursday. He was still recovering when we were trying to get our Gospel Meeting under way. On February 26, Julianna and I knocked on over 50 doors and with the other members of Philadelphia we knock a combined 426 doors to invite our neighbors and friends to the Gospel Meeting with Tim Hayes from Lincoln, AL.  We had the elders and their wives and Tim and Flora Hayes and Alan all over for supper that same day. We were extremely excited to have done so much that Saturday but we were worn out when the night was over. Tim did an outstanding job. He has so much enthusiasm and love for God’s Word. He makes you just want to jump up immediately and work harder than you have in the past for the Lord. It was so encouraging to spend time with Tim and Flora. They are wonderful examples and excellent Bible students. We pray that they will have many years doing the Lord’s work and that they will always have to support they need to grow and stay encouraged.

After going to the Gospel Meeting all week and cooking for that every night, then add in doctor’s appointments (which we had have 6 in the last two weeks) I am sooo tired. Jim has endured these past few weeks and has done rather well. His blood pressure has increased significantly from time to time. His chest pain has increased. He has days where he rests for hours and then he has days where he can take one nap and just sit around and do pretty good. Thursday and Friday (4^th and 5^th) were hard days because he had over done it during the meeting. He tried to show the Hayes around Philadelphia a little on Monday and Wednesday. He just did too much. He was so tired.

Saturday, our neighbor Chuck Burk, helped us clean up our back yard. We have two large sycamore trees and their leaves are very big. Our yard was a disaster. Thanks to Chuck, it looks brand new. God has truly blessed us with wonderful neighbors. The Duncans, Burks and Rick have been so good to us. Words cannot describe how truly blessed we are for the way they have reached out to help us.

We have surpassed the 200 card mark. It is wonderful to see all those cards come in and to be encouraged every single day. It is truly remarkable. We have also been blessed financially by so many who are giving to the benevolence fund and those who send gifts to us personally. Times have been tight but through so many and their generosity our cups are overflowing.

I do want to thank God Almighty for blessing Philadelphia with a wonderful eldership. They have never ceased to encourage, praise, love, care for and pray for us. We pray for Bert Tingle and Sid Williams daily. I thank you both for allowing my husband to fill the pulpit when he is able to. He is alive today because of his desire to preach and you allow him to do that even when his health fails him. I know that God will bless you for allowing him to continue to do what he loves. I pray that God will allow time for Jim to get a new heart and that he will have many more years to preach the truth. I know that Jim has something to look forward to and I have the eldership to thank for that.

I also want to thank the congregation for the way they have feed us through these difficult times. When you’re a mother and you are trying to keep up with two kids, you need all the help you can get. I thank you for the meals. It allows me to have a night off and that means a lot. I pray that God will bless us all to get closer to one another and that we will always strive to do what the Lord would have us to do.

We will be going to UMC soon for the transplant workup. It begins on the 22^nd of March. We will try to keep everyone informed. Please pray that all will be success.