Friday, February 27, 2015

Hospital Life Part III

Life settled into a routine. Tuesday morning Edward brought Joel and Simon along. I wanted the baby there too, so they brought him along, even though I couldn't really take care of him. It just seemed right to have him there. Dr. Prya was so fascinated at how the boys cared for him. She asked Joel if he would take such good care of a baby girl too. :) I held him awhile and he did seem to relax and know that I was his Mom. I was afraid he wouldn't even know who his Mother is since I couldn't take care of him. :( He was a calm, contented baby which was such a blessing. Thank God! My last three babies had been very fussy.

That morning Dr. Holmberg came into my room followed by several students with their pens and note pads. He said he is taking over for Dr. Biddle. He's one of the cardiologists that comes out to Atlantic. I'm wondering if that is why he took over. Anyway, he is a really nice doctor and I like him. He gave an outline of what would be happening the rest of my stay. On Thursday they would do a CT angiogram. I did not know what that would be except he said it's a non-invasive procedure. They wanted to check other arteries, especially the renal arteries, to make sure they all look OK.  Also, someone from physical therapy would be coming to get me out of bed and walking. The students didn't say a word, but they were taking notes. It was so interesting. I liked to keep my door open to watch the activity. These older doctors would go into a room with some students. After a while they came out, then they would stand in the hallway and he would be talking to them. I decided maybe one of our sons should become a cardiologist! I would point out to Edward different doctors that visited me regularly. Some of these always came in early before Edward came in, so he searched them out in the hall to talk with them. They said what happened to me is very unusual. They called to other university hospitals as far away as Japan and Australia to get more information. I think it was Dr. Holmberg who said that in his 20 years of practice I was his third patient with a dissection like this.
Dr. Holmberg

After a while Josh, the physical therapist (PT), came in. He was going to take me on a walk in the halls. So far I had spent all my time in bed except to use the bedside commode. My hips or lower back were badly out of shape. I could hardly stand up and get started walking. Once I was going, it didn't bother me much. This had started before I was in the hospital. Laying in bed all the time had just made it worse. It was a big ordeal to get out of bed and start walking. First he got me to sit on the edge of the bed, then he checked my heart rate and blood pressure. He kept the blood pressure cuff on my arm and had a little thing on my finger that showed how fast my heart was beating. It took a little bit to get all my wires and stuff organized. Then we were off. We stopped every few minutes so that he could check my BP and heart rate. It all stayed fine. I was up for about 10 minutes. It was amazing how tired I got! He told me I could sit out on a chair awhile if I wanted to, but I could hardly sit because of my hips, so I went back to bed. I felt so disheveled it was embarrassing to be out in the halls where everyone could see me. Sunday night my headache was so bad I took everything out of my hair except two barrettes to keep it out of my face. I of course did not have the foresight to bring a brush along, so I had been unable to do anything with it. Although my hair has thinned quite a bit it's long, well below my waist, so it was always in the way.

That afternoon Dave and Mary came again. We had asked Mary to bring along my hair brush from home. She brushed and braided my hair, which felt so good, but we had no band to put on the end of the braid. We could probably have found something somewhere in this big hospital. One of the nurses thought she might have something, but must have forgotten. 

On Sunday already I had strong desire for an anointing. So now we had an anointing service according to James 5:14-15 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
 God did not miraculously heal me right then and there, but He gave me the peace and assurance that we are in His will. I was still struggling with that monster, fear. I will talk more about that later. When I look back now and understand better some of the serious complications that could have happened there is no doubt in my mind that He kept me safe. Sometime after I came home we were studying SCAD. One source said that 90% of SCAD patients have a recurrence in the first week and 50% have one in the first two months. A recurrence is when another dissection happens in another artery. So I praise God that I am one of the 10% that did not have a recurrence.

Late afternoon Chris and Royale Charles came to visit. We were so encouraged. Royale mothered Michael for me. :) She changed his diaper and fed him his bottle. Edward and the boys were doing a good job, but they just didn't have that "mother's touch". We still hadn't figured out the bottle. It was a Nuk nipple with a vent. Which way do we hold it? Should the vent be on top or bottom? One way it seemed he couldn't get anything out. It wasn't till months later when we got the bigger bottles and read the directions on the box that we learned we were holding it upside down! :) Oh well, he got what he needed. Chris and Royale were very generous and brought a huge gift... 356 diapers, 900 wipes, and formula. They also gave large bottles of fish oil and vitamin D, supplements that are good for the heart. A mere thank you doesn't seem enough...


We are so blessed! I wondered about the other patients there in the Cardiac Care Unit. How did they cope if they did not have faith in God? Did they have caring friends and family? None of our family lives close to us, but they did very well in calling and showing their support in  that way. My mother called every day. She has Parkinson's disease and cannot travel anymore, so that made all the more special.

After Chris and Royale left Edward and the boys got ready to leave too. For some reason my heart rate was higher, around 120. I was kind of worried. Simon was very worried. The nurses didn't say anything about it, but they did increase my dose of metoprolol. Edward prayed and then they left. Irene stayed with me again. We gave Michael to Mabel Chupp for the night. :(::: I was sad. I so much wanted to be able to take care of my newborn baby. I always relished those special moments with a newborn. It seemed my body had gone into survival mode after my heart attack and I lost my motherly feelings. All those special warm and cuddly fuzzy feelings that go with snuggling your newborn - GONE! I felt robbed. I could not bring them back. They did come back to a certain extent, but it took a long time. It feels as though I missed all of that newborn bonding time. God still left that song phrase stuck in my mind - "Rejoice in the Lord HE MAKES NO MISTAKE".



Saturday, February 14, 2015

Hospital Life Part II

Where do I begin??? If this post is disorganized and confused it's because that is how I was feeling. I was just told that I had damage to my heart, I could have no more babies and couldn't nurse the baby I had. I would have to take all this medicine or I could die. I now had two stents in my heart that would stay there forever. What would that all mean? I was afraid. Would it happen again? That slight risk of complications magnified itself in my mind. I was so thankful for doctors and their knowledge and the stents they put in to save my life. At the same time I struggled with accepting all of what had happened. I did not want stents. I did not want a half working heart. I wanted to be strong and healthy. I had just come through a rough pregnancy and was looking forward to being able to do things again. So being told that I should have a full recovery in three months sounded like the rest of my life. And did the Dr. really know?! Life certainly gets a different perspective when you're flat on your back in a hospital bed!

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 
I cannot emphasize enough how the LORD helped me through this very difficult time. I see it much more clearly now than I did at the time it was happening. Even though I did not understand how this could be God's will, he gave me the grace to trust Him and to believe that all things work together for good to them that love God.

Footprints in the Sand
        One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
             Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
                  In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
                       Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
                           other times there were one set of footprints.
                                  This bothered me because I noticed
                                that during the low periods of my life,
                             when I was suffering from
                         anguish, sorrow or defeat,
                     I could see only one set of footprints.
          So I said to the Lord,
      "You promised me Lord,
         that if I followed you,
             you would walk with me always.
                   But I have noticed that during
                          the most trying periods of my life
                                 there have only been one
                                       set of footprints in the sand.
                                           Why, when I needed you most,
                                          you have not been there for me?"
                                 The Lord replied,
                          "The times when you have
                  seen only one set of footprints,
          is when I carried you."
                                                   Mary Stevenson


Everyone was so kind and helpful. The doctor had a lactation consultant come in to talk with us about the pros and cons of nursing with these medications. She thought I should at least try it. I couldn't as long as I was on Heparin, a very strong blood thinner I would be on my entire stay at the hospital. She encouraged me to keep pumping even if I would have to wait as long as several months to try nursing again. That looked like a huge mountain to me. Another option would be to nurse some and supplement with formula so that he wouldn't be getting as much of the meds. Hmmm.... There is a very good pediatrician in Omaha that could do regular blood work on the baby to make sure it's not having adverse effects on him. That did not sound very positive to us either. She had a very thick book with all medications and how safe or unsafe they are for babies. The heart meds I was on had the middle rating and she said that's because they have no studies on them. I guess there are very few mothers with tiny babies that have to take them. We would need some time to think about all this.

Pat Lowis and Carol Gavin came in, bringing Annetta and Baby Michael along. I was so encouraged when Pat told how she had a slight heart attack years ago and had a stent put in. The spunky old lady kicked up her foot to show that she's still kicking after all these years. :) She also brought a beautiful bouquet along. Thank God for friends!



Irene went home, or rather to Dave Grices where the other children were staying, with Pat and Carol. I tried to rest since I had not slept much the night before. Someone from the lab was coming regularly to draw blood. That all had to be done in my left hand because of the cath site on my right wrist. The pressure from the tourniquet could cause it to start bleeding. By the time I came home I had some very colorful bruises! Nurses were in and out all the time. It was very hard to find a space of uninterrupted time to fall asleep. I still had a headache... That afternoon Ryan and Kelsey Grice stopped in on their way home from Holdredge, NE. It was encouraging to have visitors, but I was too tired to enjoy it. Edward stayed till after supper then he and Annetta went home. We decided I will stay by myself. Both girls were very worn out. For the sake of the children it was best for Edward to spend the nights at home with them. Pat had offered to stay, but I didn't like the idea of asking her do to that. She's in her seventies. I knew I would receive excellent care from the nurses and there's no reason anyone has to stay with me. It did feel pretty lonely after everyone left. I didn't sleep much better than the night before. At one point my call button fell on the floor. Such a helpless feeling. I was tied down with IV and monitors and couldn't even get out of bed to pick it up!



Thursday, February 5, 2015

Hospital Life

Romans 8:38-39 (paraphrased)  For I am persuaded, that neither heart attack, nor heart muscle damage, nor headache, nor fear, nor lots of medications, nor the side effects of said medications, nor dietary restrictions, etc. etc. shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

 Revelation 1:17 ... And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not;

Sunday evening Edward and Annetta went home, leaving Irene at the hospital with me. Ever since they had put the stents in I did not have any chest pain, but I still had that throbbing headache. Finally I asked the nurse if I could have something for the headache. (I don't know why I didn't ask earlier...) She brought me Tylenol. I felt like telling her it probably wouldn't work, but didn't. I had not yet tried Tylenol. Maybe it would help. It didn't. Later in the night she gave me Percocet which is a combination of acetaminophen and oxycodone, a narcotic. She also discontinued the nitro in my IV. I still had headache. Maybe it was slightly better, but not enough that I felt much of a difference. The IV in my left arm was uncomfortable. My right arm where they had inserted the catheter was very sore. The pulse-ox taped to my finger bothered me. I tried in vain to find a comfortable position and fall asleep. I couldn't sleep because I had a headache. I had a headache because I couldn't sleep... They turned off my lights and closed the door, but I could still hear all the activity from the nurses' station. The phone was ringing, people were talking, moniters and IVs were beeping. Irene was also having a hard time getting some rest. They had brought a recliner into my room for her. She thought maybe there'd be a couch in the waiting room that would be more comfortable, but there was a strange woman out there and she felt uncomfortable, so she came back. Everyone was very kind to us. It's just hard to sleep in the hospital. We finally did sleep a little.

Monday morning the activity started. The nurses' station and hallways were swarming with doctors and students. Creighton is a university hospital. Early in the morning a lady came into my room pushing some kind of a machine. She was here to do an echocardiogram (ultrasound) of my heart. Someone from the lab was coming every six hours or so to draw blood. Another person pushed in scales to weigh me. After a while Dr. ?? (I never did hear his name) bounced into the room. He looked Asian or Middle East and had a heavy accent. Apparently he had been in the cath lab on Sunday and helped with the angiogram. I didn't remember seeing him, but he proceeded to tell me what they saw and what they did. He drew some pictures on the white board. He said the artery was stretched thin, maybe from the extra volume of blood during pregnancy, and got a tear. This is what it looked like before and after they put the stents in etc. He really stressed the fact that I HAVE to take the medications, even if it means I cannot nurse the baby. I could die if I don't take the meds. He said some cultures would say, "It's more important to nurse the baby, so I won't take the meds." Well, I didn't want to hear that I can't nurse the baby, but I knew that being here for the whole family was more important than nursing the baby.  I wish I could hear again all he said. Everything was so new to me. I thought I understood what he was saying, but now I realize how little I really did understand. I do not remember that he said anything about "spontaneous coronary artery dissection".

Edward left home right after breakfast, so it was about 8:30 when he came in. Soon after he was there Dr. Biddle, the cardiologist, came in and sat down. He too explained what had happened and what they did. It was a "text book" case of post partum heart attack. He said my arteries were clean (no plaque build up) and this was caused by hormonal changes related to the pregnancy. The further away I get from the pregnancy the chances of it happening again grow less. He made it clear that I do not have heart disease. This is just a freak thing (more on that later) that happens to some people. He explained how they put two stents in and there is another area that they are watching. There was damage to my heart muscle. The front and tip of my heart were damaged. Normal ejection fraction is 55 - 70%. If I remember right he said mine was 25 - 30%. But he said they expect that to improve and I should have a full recovery in 3 months. They would keep me in the hospital for 4 - 5 days yet. Since this was pregnancy related he said another pregnancy would/could be life threatening, so no more babies. And I could not nurse this baby because of all the medications. He was very nice, but wow, this was a lot to process in our minds. I asked about my headache. The ER doctor in Atlantic thought it might have been angina, but Dr. Biddle said he doesn't think so. Because this was a spontaneous dissection, I most likely would not have had any symptoms before it happened.
Dr. Biddle


The Week From Annetta's Viewpoint

 July 14, is a day to be remembered forever for our family... the day of Mom's heart attack. It was a beautiful day. The sky was cloudless, and the sun blazed bright and hot. I remember standing there behind the hospital with little Michael in my arms, watching the helicopter take off for Omaha, thinking "How can the sun still shine?".
 I felt like I was walking in a dream that day. It was me that went along to the ER. I fought tears the whole way to the hospital. When we got to the ER Mom was taken back immediately, and I was left in the waiting room with a week old baby... alone. I don't know how long I was there, pacing the small room, not knowing what was going on... wondering if I'd we'd be left motherless... It seemed like hours till Dad came and said Mom had a heart attack. She would have to be life-flighted, and the helicopter was on the way. I remember thinking as I sat there alone in the waiting room, All my friends and so many other people I know are all at church... enjoying life... they have no idea what we are going through... they have no idea that I'm all alone in an ER waiting room with a tiny baby, and Mom might be dying.
 Later Dad took Michael and I back to her room to say good bye. Again I fought back the tears. Would this be the last time I see my Mother alive?? Then they loaded her onto the stretcher and wheeled her out to the waiting helicopter. The sun shone brightly and the chopping blades of the helicopter seemed to mock my crying heart. Then as if in a dream, or a story the helicopter disappeared in the distance... and we were back behind the hospital alone. My mind and emotions were a whirlwind of confusion... I was dazed. This couldn't be happening! It seemed like our happy world was shattered to millions of fragments. At the time the future looked vast and awful... so dark and unknown. I felt so desperately helpless and alone.
 After the helicopter left Dad and I and Michael went to Walmart to get a bottle for Michael. He hadn't been fed yet that morning, and so far he was still sleeping. We had sample formula at home that the hospital gave when Michael was born. I never dreamed that some day we'd have to use it. We had to stop in at home because Dad was still in his every day clothes. Usually Omaha doesn't seem that far away, but that day it took forever to get there.
 As we drove through Griswold and past our church on the way to Omaha my heart throbbed painfully. All my siblings and dear church friends were so close. And I knew they were praying for us. I wished I could see them all right then. In my heart I wished they knew we were driving past, and that we were on the way to Creighton. The sun shone on bright as ever, but, though I remained cool and collected on the outside, I was weeping and crying on the inside.
 Mom was still in the Cath lab when we got there, but we weren't in the waiting room long till she was wheeled past. After Mom was settled in her room Dad and I went down to the cafeteria for lunch. I think it was about two by then, but I wasn't hungry at all. The rest of the afternoon was a confusing whirl of medical technology, doctors and nurses.
 Dave and Mary came later in the afternoon with Irene. They prayed for us and read scriptures. I could've just cried. I was so thankful for friends like them that cared! Irene stayed with Mom that night, and Dad, Michael, and I went home. Dave and Abi brought the rest of the children over after we got home. The house looked just like it had when we left that morning. Everything from breakfast was still on the table. After Mom had started with chest pain that morning no one was hungry any more... so nobody ate.
 I had Michael with me that night. He was a very calm, laid back baby and did very well. I felt so calm and peaceful even through the turmoil of our world having been turned upsidedown. When I would wake up during the night Psalms and/or songs would go through my mind. I could feel the prayers of hundreds of friends all over the world.

 The next day, Monday, Dad went to the hospital alone right after breakfast, and the Grices took the other children to their house. Later in the morning Gram and Carol and her girls took Michael and me to the hospital, and brought Irene back to the Grices. I was at the hospital all day Monday. Later in the afternoon Ryan & Kelsey and baby Katelyn and Josh stopped by on their way home from Holdrege. Having friends visit us like that kind of calmed my heart because I knew people were thinking about us and cared for us. On Monday night we all went home for the night and Mom was at the hospital alone. Irene had Michael that night. Around two she gave him to me because he had woken up and wouldn't settle down. So I had him for the rest of the night.

 Tuesday morning Dad took Joel, Simon, and Michael to the hospital, and us girls stayed home to do the laundry, and cleaning. The little children were at the Grices for the day. It was so odd being at home with no one around. That afternoon Carol and her girls took Irene and I to the thrift store in Atlantic to shop for baby clothes for Michael. Later she took us to the Grices where we had supper and spent the evening. Mary and Josh took us home later. Irene was with Mom that night and the Chupps had Michael. It was hard for me to leave Michael with someone else for the night. It did not seem right to have him away from the rest of the family. Plus I felt responsible for him. I was very glad to have him back with me the next day. :)

 On Wednesday Dad took Jonathan with him to the hospital and the rest of us stayed home. We were so ready for life to get back to normal! I don't remember a whole lot from that day except after supper we all went out to the back field lane and played on the neighbor's hay bales. I guess it was a good way to relieve the stress and mixed emotions. After Dad and Jonathan came home we just sat outside and talked. But there was a big hole in the family circle... Mom was missing. Gram stayed with Mom that night. Irene and I took care of Michael with her having him the first half of the night and me the second part.

 Thursday morning Dad took Marian, Michael, and I with him to the hospital where we spent another long day. That day the Grices were finishing the work at Dad's job site in Lewis which was a tremendous blessing! Rita and Mary Pratt visited us that afternoon. Later that day Mom was moved to another room just down the hall. Towards evening we were sitting in the room with Mom when a nurse tapped on the door and said we have visitors. In walked Teresa, Emily, Nathan, and Sophia Smidt! What a surprise! It was so nice seeing them and talking with them. They were such a sweet blessing! Again I was overwhelmed with the knowledge that people were thinking about us. The Smidts had driven those 4 1/2 hours just to visit us.
 Marian was going to stay with Mom that night, but after we had left Mom called up and said the nurses said Marian is too young to stay there. So we had to go back and pick her up again. Poor Marian... she was in tears. She said she can't sleep as well when Mom isn't home. We left Michael with the Pratt's that night. Rita was so happy to help us! By that evening I was so tired and worn out I didn't even care that Michael wasn't with me. All of us were so worn out and tired from all the changes that had suddenly taken place. I think I was kind of in shock that week because looking back I don't know how I did it. God was so faithful! And His presence was so close! The peace we felt over the time was tremendous! Everyone's prayers were felt in every little way. We are so blessed to have so many caring friends and neighbors.

 That Friday Dad went to the hospital alone. Mom's brother Joseph and his family came down for the day. Uncle Joe installed a large window air conditioner for us and helped the boys work in the garden while Aunt Anna Mary helped us girls with cleaning and stuff. They were such a blessing! We picked two 5 gallon buckets of green beans that day! Mom was discharged from the hospital that afternoon, and they came home late afternoon. It was so good to be together as a family again!

 Mom was still too weak to do much, and Irene and I basically took over the house. We also took care of Michael night and day for several weeks after she came home because she was too weak to do it.
 Over the time Mom was in the hospital wasn't as stressful for me as later when we had all the harvesting and canning to do. We were so blessed to have Emily Smidt with us for several weeks. She was such a blessing and encouragement to us, and I will always cherish the memories she made with us. She was a great help!
 Another day I will always remember is when Elvin and Rachel visited us one evening. We were so blessed and encouraged by their visit! They prayed with us and shared scriptures. We had a sweet evening with them.
 There were some evenings where I would just reflect over the past days and weeks, and look into the future and everything would just look so dark and hopeless. It was probably partly because of the stress and mixed emotions and just everything else that had taken place. I had to learn to just give everything to Christ. When I'd do that the peace of God would come back. Through the experiences from last year I've grown a lot in my relationship with God and with my family. Though it was a trying year, and we experienced many stressful times it was so worth it. God was so faithful. He always is! I am so thankful to God for sparing my Mother's life! I feel I've grown up a lot since that awful day in July. I couldn't be more grateful to have grown up in a Christian family, and having that hope... Jesus Christ. He is a faithful Friend! The following song went through my mind the entire week Mom was in the hospital...

"Rejoice In the Lord"

God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying His servant, or molding a man.
Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long;
In darkness He giveth a song.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Saviour instead.
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came and tears fled away.

Now I can see testing comes from above;
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.

Chorus:
O rejoice in the Lord. He makes no mistake.
He knoweth the end of each path that I take.
For when I am tried and purified,
 I shall come forth as gold.


~Annetta

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

The First Day-Guest Post By Irene

Okay, I've been given the assignment to write how it went that fateful Sunday of Mom's heart attack. I never wrote any of it down, so my memory has become a bit sketchy in some places. But it was significant that I think I remember most of it. Some of what I will write here are specifics that others remembered and I didn't.
*********************************************************************************
After Dad, Mom, Annetta, and Michael left for the hospital and even before, the food on the table lay untouched, including what was already on the plates. We'd made baked oatmeal for something a bit different, but no one ate any of it that morning. We couldn't really settle down to anything. It was totally up in the air as to what we were going to do that day. Would we go to church or not? Add to that the fact that we absolutely didn't know what was going to be happening with Mom. Was it the heart or the stomach or what?
I think the children just kind of wandered around; one or  so might have read a book. I did some research on heart attacks and blood clots, and found that especially the heart attack symptoms matched Mom's symptoms, but not so much the blood clot symptoms. I also sent out emails and text messages, and received a flurry of replies. I talked with Dad several times, and, after he knew, he told me it was her heart, though what exactly it was they didn't know at that time. They were flying her to Omaha.
Dad made arrangements for the Grices to take us to church. They came very soon after that. I still had to get the little girls ready for church, or at least finish getting them ready. And I still had to finish getting ready myself. The Grices waited patiently for us, bless their hearts. Finally, we were off. All the food was left on the table. It was a different church service in more ways than one. I, for once, had to take care of all the little ones, which wasn't difficult, just different. And the air conditioning in the church wasn't working, so it was loud with fans, and warm and stuffy. I have no idea what was preached. After church I talked with Dad several times. Mom had had a catheterization, he said, and would need to be in the hospital for observation  a few days. I was relieved; that didn't sound so very terrible. I think at that point we still didn't really understand the situation or the gravity of it so well. But we did know that Mom would likely be okay, and that was what mattered (at that point, anyway).
The Grices took us to their almost-cold air conditioned home for lunch and for the afternoon and for who knew how long? Emily took me home for some things. In my inexperience of  motherhood, I had forgotten diapers for Rhoda. At home, the food still sat on the table; I put a bit of it away, but left most of it.
Later that afternoon it was decided that I would go to the hospital to be with Mom for the night. Dave and Mary Grice took me in. Of all things, the nurse on duty in that large hospital was one that Mary had had a little over eight years earlier in a small town hospital when she had a blood clot. Mom was in a crowded little room, just off the nurses' station, the hub of activity and noise.
Dad, Annetta, and Michael went home, and the rest of the children were brought home from the Grices.
Ironically, I enjoyed staying at the hospital. I love hospitals. I'm sure, though, if I could have I would have chosen different conditions to stay at a hospital overnight, especially a large city hospital. It was definitely a different experience, and certainly not very restful. For my sleeping quarters, I had this very firm recliner, in the which I had the choices of sitting up halfway or sitting up all the way.
Sometime, maybe around one something in the night, I was pointed out the door for a time, for hospitals require a great lack of privacy for their patients. I went to the small waiting room, and was disappointed to find that I wouldn't be by myself. And if my memory is correct, I do believe that woman was reading a newspaper, at  maybe one something in the night. Later, someone said something about homeless people coming to the hospital for a place to stay nights. And it could well have been, for this was North Omaha, the area where you would find the majority of homelessness and poverty, as well as crime. I regret now that I didn't talk to her at all. What a chance to  witness. Anyhow, I sat and looked out the large window at the lack of traffic and busyness. It was a unique night, and certainly not altogether a bad one. I must say, though, that the day before wasn't so unique (in a nice way at least), but God's grace was sufficient for our need.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Link to More SCAD Info

I came across this article and thought I would share it. Mayo Clinic is doing some research on spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Up to now it has been poorly understood, because it's so rare. They are finding out that maybe it isn't quite as rare as previously thought. Chances are that it was misdiagnosed sometimes, especially in women.

http://thij.org/doi/full/10.14503/THIJ-14-4089

My daughter is working on her post. She should have it ready soon. :)