For somebody who has been blessed with pretty good health, and never spent much time in the hospital, going into my 3rd week at Duke has been an interesting experience. Beth said yesterday that I was pretty frustrated and she was right but everyday has some new perspective that seems to remind me to be patient and to realize these folks are trying so hard to help me. An interesting experience has been that the nurses from CICU have come by and visited and checked on me to be sure I was doing okay. Sometimes when they come by to see the folks they had gotten close they learn that they did not survived, so it made me thankful that they came to visit me and that I was still kicking!!! I'll never lose the reality I have now of how precious your health is and how quickly it can be gone. Just like you should treat everyday as a precious gift, appreciating the fact that you can lift something, mow the grass, or wash the dishes is just as much a gift. A really cool guy is my doctor, Dr. Zubin, who I don't have any doubt has my best interest at heart. He is excited that this is going well. Between a cholesterol med, heart regulator, diuretic, blood thinner, now he wants to tweak it with a baby dose of a beta blocker. Nice guy, but that's why those folks at Duke never get anything done micromanaging everything!! Guess he knows if left to my own vices, it won't be that long before I cause all those problems all over again. So I am really treating this as a life style and nutrition change so that maybe this won't happen again. Not sure of when I will be home, just wanted to let you know I am still here. But I do hope to be home soon. It is going to take some recovery time, some days I feel weak as a little boy, other days I feel pretty strong, but that's just when Beth is around.
Thanks for all of your kind comments on the blog, and all the cards. It means so much to me that you care and support us all so well. Nothing good about a heart attack, but on the other hand, I don't know that I would have ever understood the magnitude of all the friendships that I have. In the years I have left, this will be a gift that I will always treasure probably in ways I would never have understood had this not have happened. Thank you all for sharing a part of your life with me and allowing me to share a part of mine with you. Talk to you soon, Reid
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So, this means you won't be mowing my lawn next week?? Dadgummit!
ReplyDeleteHang in, old buddy.
Steve
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the delete. I need to proof before I post. Lets try again.
ReplyDeleteReid, when you have friends who have been through what you and your family has, its a definite reminder of how precious life is and how much the small things we can do are taken for granted.
Keep sending those updates and its always great to hear from the patient himself.
Ron
Reid,
ReplyDeleteI was thinking since you may not be able to mow Steve's lawn, what about helping me under a house?
Ron
Reid and Beth,
ReplyDeleteClaude and I have just learned of your hospitalization. Thank goodness Connie sent the link to the blog site so that we can keep up with all of your activities. We have all of your family and your doctors in our prayers.
By the way, when you are released will you be wearing Duke blue?
Hugs, Pam and Claude Pardue