and an update on me

[Guest guest]

Dearest ,

Years ago, I had fluid build-up around my heart and was in hospital for nearly a

weeek....no surgery, but antibiotics and steroid therapy.....three years ago

when Sir Still's moved in, I developed fluid around lungs and heart...veryy very

painful....was in hospital over one weekend and on Saturday a surgeon took a

really long needle and drained two pints of ugly fluid.....then put on

prednisone and that fluid has never come back....but...in May, I developed a

very serious Pneumonia and ended-up at the ER and in ICU on a ventilator for

about a week...my first night on the vent (I was unconcious), the Doctor told my

wife that I had three major organ systems failing (kidneys, arterial and

pulmonary)....he said he had done all he could do and gave me a 10% chance of

pulling through, but he said he believed

there was a Higher Power at work...Amen sister...I am here today...and that is

only the beginning....turns out I left the hospital a week or so later with Type

A Strep in my lungs...no one told me....so the next week, I am at my family

doctor's office and have developed Double Pneumonia...then on this past 8 July,

I am back at the ER, back in ICU on that damn vent with the doctor telling my

wife that there is nothing more he can do but just PRAY....well again prayer

works because here I am.....but ths time is much worse....The week or so I was

on that vent and then the two additional weeks I just layed in the bed, I lost

over 40 lbs. of muscle mass....couldn't sit up in bed without

support....absolutely could not stand......well, I couldn't go home because I

couldn't take care of myself...oh yeah...when I came to and off the vent,  I was

soooooo screwed-up that I couldn't talk, couldn't move and I had a severe

foot-drop on the right....docs thought i

had a stroke and did an MRI that came back negative...I think they sedated me

too heavily....

Anyway, I am now at a local Rehab Center and have been here for the past two

weeks...in fact, I have not been home in over a month now....but these people

have gotten me to walk again and stand ....use the bathroom and take a shower by

myself!!!!   Speech  has helped me get back what little bit of cognitive

abilities I have left....My mind was really screwed up too at the other

Horsinpital....However, I get a pass to go home tomorrow to see if I will be OK

to go home for good....and I go home for good on Tuesday!!!!!!  Then start

Outpatient Rehab with OT and PT on Thursday...I am looking forward to

it....(aside:  my wife and I are both therapists; she is OT and I am PT).....

Anyway, sorry to make this so long....I just felt compelled to give an

update.....

I have been through the Crying and the full Grieving process....hell, that's

normal for what we have and what we go through....But, , rest assured,

that there is another side to where you are....a place of acceptance and

sometimes a bit of serenity......but you will not lose your mind though it may

seem like it I know....all I have been through....by all medical reason, I

should have died twice now since May....I know that God brought me through for

His purpose and I am so up and happy and ready to do what He wants me to

do....my whole life and my whole perspective has changed....my poor wife has had

it tougher that me I believe and is just soooooooo exhausted!!!!  But

you are not alone....we are your family and are here for you....you may not know

it, but by you simply being here, you are loved and cared for and we are here

for you and stand by you and with you....and yes...I have and will most

definitely Pray for you...you will be

alright, girl!

Just hang loose, try to keep your mind busy with something positive, and know

you are loved and not alone!!!!!!

God Bless!

Larry from NC