Day Twenty One Part Two

3:04

Don was awake most of the morning. We have had several visitors to come by. Some have brought goodies too! Don is loving all the treats. The social worker came in sometime around 1:30 and asked us where we wanted to go for a nursing center. Don spoke up and said that he would go to a nursing center in Lincolnton. Kristi suggested Brian Center and Don agreed. The social worker said she would start the process to see what they had available and maybe he would be ready to leave as early as Friday or maybe as late as the first part of next week. This will be a blessing for all of us. I thank you all for praying and God for answering in this matter. If he can get in to Brian Center - he will be across the road from Kristi's work about 2 miles from Donnie's work and only about 7-8 miles from home. It will make things easier on me to be able to function as the kids can stay with him when their jobs allow. Both sets of parents have offered to do the same & to help out in any way possible. This is just another answer to prayer. Although I told Don's parents I wish all the things we have had to deal with could have gone that smooth and that quick. They started Don on lasiks again about 3:20 but so far it is working fine. No adverse affects - blood pressure is fine. Speaking of blood pressure, Don has had his blood pressure taken in his legs since last night (the right arm has been operated on and the left arm has the pick line so that leaves very few places to choose from). I over heard the nurse tell the nurse's assistant not to take the blood pressure in his leg anymore because of the blood clots and he should not have had the pressure cuffs for circulation put on his legs. They plan to put some type of stocking hose on his legs. So back to the blood pressure - they have to take it in his left forearm just above his bandages from the thumb/wrist surgery. He said it is very painful and made all kinds of faces while they were taking his BP. They have placed Don in two blue foam blocks for his elbow/hand. His left hand has really hurt since about 12:00 last night. I was so concerned about his thumb last night that I forgot about his right arm. He left it by his side all night and man was it swollen. These blocks should help with both arms/hands. He has been resting since about 3:00. He tried the bipap machine a little earlier but he just can't deal with it right now. Please just keep praying for those blood clots. We need them moved out of his body with no adverse affects!

Day Twenty One

9:56 AM

Don slept well last night and so did Kristi and I. We didn't get to sleep until about 1:00 AM and then the doctors were in before daylight. We finally got up when breakfast came. Don ate 2 1/2 pancakes and a chocolate covered cherry. He went back to sleep and has dozed off and on since then. The ortho docs were in early and said that surgery went well. They did repair the ligaments in his thumb and wrist and put pins in both areas. He has one pin sticking out the end of his thumb. The trauma doc came in about 9:45 and told us that the "sunburn" looking areas on his left hip and leg were due to blood clots. The clots are huge and we knew he had them since the hip surgery. However, the clots are restricting the flow of blood and causing the blood to get stagnant. We have another vicious circle going on here. Being non-mobile the blood can't circulate well and the clots can get bigger and even get new clots. However, moving him can dislodge the clots and cause serious problems - ones I don't even want to think about. He is on aggressive blood thinning medicine which can also cause him to bleed which may be the reason he is anemic. We need another divine touch from God. These clots need to go away without any danger to Don. The clots will eventually breakdown and be absorbed by his body. We need them gone - now. We are taking a huge risk ever time he moves but he needs to move to prevent the clots from getting bigger or getting new clots. Please pray that God will break down these clots but keep them from causing Don any other issues - but most of all that they stay away from his brain, lungs and heart. Please keep praying!