Since the last email…we
have been to Alabama. We went to see our parents. Jim celebrated his 35th
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.
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