397. Our roller coaster ride for the last few months! Life as it is now with kidney dialysis!

Dear friends, all over the world!  I have put a note now and then about the health problems my dear husband Wayne has had.  Tonight I'm putting on an e mail I sent to our family and friends, many of whom haven't been aware of some of our recent challenges.  He was 84 last September, and actually his health problems mostly started with his having pneumonia in September, and coming out of the hospital a day after he turned 84, on September 18, 2014.

 This is the Wayne we have all known and loved.  This picture was taken in Menan, Idaho 3 or 4 years back on July 4th!  He has been the life of the party!

This was taken last Sept. 20th, at my 80th birthday celebration, just after he came out of the hospital after having pneumonia, us with our daughter Tacy.

This was taken the same day with our daughter Angela.  Wayne was quite well until Christmas week, when he spent 2 days before Christmas in the hospital, was home over Christmas, and then in the hospital 2 more days.

After that, from February 15th, 2015, the following is our history, briefly.

In case you didn't know Wayne has been in the hospital 3 times for 4 days each, and 1 time for 6 days, and in a rehab most of the rest of the time since Feb. 15th this year.  It has been quite a ride!  Kidney Dialysis is now our life!

After today, going to the dialysis center with Wayne, I had a strong thought, that I guess I hadn't faced before.  This is our life from now on!  While Wayne is in Kolob Rehabilitation, they have a driver who takes and picks him up.  After he comes home, it will be me. Today we left just before 11 a.m., and after 15 or 20 minutes of set up, he had dialysis until almost 4 p.m.  Some people have it 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 or even 5.  It depends on your blood chemistry, etc. I guess.  It is a really nice place, with around 10 big recliner like chairs on each side of the large spacious room.  They could have close to 20 people having dialysis at the same time, and they said often they are full!  

They have a Mon., Wed. and Fri. schedule, and some people are on Tues. Thurs. and Sat. schedule.  Wayne started the Mon. Wed. Fri. schedule.  However, he had his first sessions of dialysis in the local hospital.  He had a 2 hour session last Saturday and Sunday, and 3 hour sessions on Monday and Wednesday.  Then he went Wednesday afternoon to Kolob Care and Rehabilitation Center.

 They do 2 main sessions each day, and use most of the chairs each time!  Having dialysis makes a person cold, for some reason.  We saw others with blankets on them, and mentioned that we didn't know we should bring one, and they said they had extras.  They brought out a beautiful patchwork brand new lap quilt made by the Dixie Quilt Guild in green colors.  They said "This is yours!  You can bring it each time you have dialysis.  They were donated to the dialysis center."  Isn't that nice!  And the nurses, etc., were so kind and helpful, and explained things to us.  It does make a person very tired.  During these difficult months he has had several Priesthood blessings, which have all been very comforting.

    We did find out about a possibility in a couple or so months, there is a possibility of us having a special machine and having dialysis at home.  It would be something we would hook him up to at night, and it would work while he slept and we would empty something in the morning.  You wouldn't have to wake up in the night to do anything.  It would be something you would do 7 days a week, and it actually would make him feel better and be less stress on his heart.  We have to talk to the doctor about it, and find out if it would work in his situation.  Some people can't do it because of some physical reasons.

     In looking back on Wayne's hospital stays, we had such kind and capable nurses, and CNAs.  Most of the CNA's were young people (many returned missionaries) who were going to school to become nurses.  They all were so caring, and kind.  They took such personal interest in us.  I am so grateful for this hospital!  And Kolob Care Center!  We have truly been blessed, and several times I didn't know if Wayne would make it through that day.  It has been an emotional roller coaster.  Somehow after today and dialysis, it seems we have come to a lull, and with the kidneys getting taken care of, and not causing problems for the lungs and heart, I have a feeling Wayne may be around awhile longer! 

 I do know that I need to spend a bit more time at home now.  I have spent so many of my waking hours with him, that I'm behind on laundry, and a few other things around here, and rather tired myself. He probably will be in Kolob for a couple of weeks -- until he gets more strength.  Then when he gets home we will have home health around 3 times a week.  His COPD, in his lungs, is helped by exercise, and they do a lot of physical therapy in Kolob.  He was never a smoker, and he just had a blood test to see if COPD somehow was in his heredity.  This last hospital stay when his heart kept going fast and then slow, and in between, they did mention that if his heart went too slow because of the medicine they give him to keep his heart from going too fast, they may consider a pace maker.  That isn't on the table right now though.

   

     We hope and pray any of you dear readers are not having serious health problems, as we know from personal experience that it becomes all you do, to try to regain, and keep what health you have. 

 BUT LIFE IS PRECIOUS, AND EVEN POOR HEALTH IS BETTER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE!  WE HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED TO HAVE A GOOD LIFE.  ON SEPTEMBER 24, THIS YEAR, 2015, WE WILL HAVE OUR 60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.