Our Longest Hospital Stay Yet

August 12, 2012

Thanks for all your love, support, and prayers. Jim remains in the hospital and will until Tuesday, unless the docs change their minds. Got to sleep in a real bed at home with my children. Wow, it was nice. Going to worship God today and then see my hubby. So thankful that it is church day.

August 13, 2012

Jim had a rough weekend. The place where they went in to do the cath started bleeding yesterday and they couldn't get it stopped until about 4a.m. this morning. He has been making pit stops in the room. Going for one test after another. I can't believe what all his body is going through. He is doing it all for me and the children. WOW. They have to do a pic line today and he is presently gone on his second test of the morning. Thankful to Jim’s mom for her staying with Jim so I could see my children and go to church. Thankful for my church family who gave me hugs, encouraging words and some monetary gift. It is so expensive to eat in Birmingham. Got an awesome snack bag from Alice and Billy and Brandi Hayes. I am snacking it up. God WILL provide. He is my strong deliverer.

More tests...picc line went in good. IV out. Docs came by and said there are still several tests to go. May get to go home either tomorrow or Wednesday. May have to come back to Bham to do more tests as an outpatient. Docs are trying to get everything finished so they can put him on the list as soon as possible. Chris and Melissa Clevenger and Phillip, Amy, Kelsey and Tyler Gallahar all came by to see us. What a great visit. Made Jim's day. Jim is trying to rest. I have been doing word searches and reading. Thankful for all the prayers. Thank God for my church family.

August 14, 2012

Good day so far. It has been a long one. Docs about to come by. picc site won't stop bleeding. Trying to figure out what is going on. Thanks for all your prayers and support. We couldn't do this without our faith in the true and living God and our wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ. Thankful for the brethren at Logan Martin church of Christ for their visit, monetary gift, and my chic-fil-a sandwich:D
Hold me fast, let me stand,
In the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.

August 15, 2012

11:30 p.m. HOME SWEET HOME. Julianna's sick but at least we are all together again. God is so good to us. Thanks to all for your love, prayers, visits...words are not adequate enough.
Lam 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

Jim has just been released after nine days in the UAB hospital. His increased fatigue and dizziness were of great concern to us and the doctors. A new heart cath was performed on Friday August 11^th and revealed what we had already feared. The right side of Jim’s heart has become much weaker to the point the doctors stated it was hardly working at all. Because of this they immediately placed Jim on an IV medication 24/7 (via home health) that forces his heart to squeeze harder. This medication is considered only a short term treatment intended to extend his chances of survival until transplant. This brings up the next important milestone. The doctors have now agreed that now is the time to proceed with transplant. Jim will be formally be added to the list soon and willl be awaiting an available donor match. This is something we have tried to put off for some time but have taken the doctor’s advice with highest regard and trust. Please pray for us in the coming days as we will encounter the most trying and expensive part of our journey.