Freedom Is A Wonderful Thing!

Not long after I took this picture today, Mike was disconnected from all tubes and lines ... yipee! No more IVs, no more chest tubes ... he's totally free of everything! He was up three times today walking the halls (that is one of his rehab nurses with him, Jackie). The last time was this evening after dinner with me -- we had an evening stroll together "around the block" -- it was lovely.

Doesn't he look great? The red thing is his "heart pillow" which is actually oval shaped. He uses it to splint his chest when he gets up or coughs, that kind of thing. He is feeling very good, and if all goes well, they say he can come home Thursday or Friday. I am so ready for him to come home! He is going to practice stairs tomorrow morning with Jackie so that he can go upstairs here at home and sleep in his own bed.

So, all is well, and we are greatly encouraged with his swift progress this week. Dr. Kolla continues to be happy with how he is doing as well. I know it will be a challenge when he comes home, but I'm ready for it. I know the effort will exhaust him for a couple of days ... but that's to be expected. One day at a time!! Thanks for your continued interest, prayers, cards, blog comments and emails. They mean the world to us! Time to go put my feet up! Peggy

"He's Doing Great ..." says Dr. Kolla

Today was an excellent day! True to his word, "Mike the Nurse" let Mike the patient sleep last night - and he got six uninterrupted hours of sleep! That is a miracle in itself in a hospital! This morning when I saw him I immediately thought, "my husband is back!" He looked rested, he felt good, he was relaxed and peaceful. Sleep is a beautiful thing! I brought the bear Ellie made for him today, and he was showing all of the nurses and Pastor Will who came to visit ... it was very cute.

He had the PIC line put in this morning before I got there, but that didn't seem to be a big deal. He also walked all the way down the hall twice - I think the therpist said 200 feet or so. But the best part was that when he was done he didn't immediately fall asleep! He stayed up in the chair from 10:30 this morning until he got back into bed at 8:00 tonight. Oh, and he was reading the paper and magazines, too. I have been watching for his insatiable interest in reading to return. Today was the day.

So it was a VERY good day on a lot of fronts despite the negligent nurse he had today ... I was glad I was sitting there to help him with stuff - she was nowhere to be found for hours at a time! But she is not the norm at St. Elizabeth's, luckily. He has had wonderful care which has allowed me to sleep peacefully at night.

Dr. Kolla came to see him this afternoon and sat down and chatted for a while. He said they are taking things slowly but that he is very pleased with Mike's progress. He thought that mid to late week he can expect to come home. So, all is well ... God is good ... I believe in miracles ... and the power of love and prayer. I am very happy just sitting near him all day - there is no place I would rather be. I already cherished every day with him before this happened, but even more so now. Thanks be to God. Peggy

Of Visitors, Cat Naps and Tiger's Win

Greetings friends and family! Mike and I had a nice Sunday today -- I finished reading my book while Mike slept in between visitors. We also watched Tiger win again, so that was fun. I enjoyed having people stop by today - it was good to see people, and it broke up the day. Please don't be offended if you visit and Mike is sleepy ... every little thing really wears him out and he takes lots of little cat naps. His nurse for tonight (Mike the Nurse) promised to let him get a good long sleep ... which is exactly what he needs right now.

He is doing well. The cardiologist said today that he (Mike) is getting boring and that is excellent - he likes boring, he said. They took away lots of the tubes today, and more will be taken away tomorrow ... great progress is being made! Nobody has made any mention yet about when he will be going home ... so no time soon, I guess.

So, yes, he is taking visitors. Brett pointed out that I have his room number wrong in the previous blog - sorry, it was late when I wrote it. He is in room 2102. If you do come, please just stay a few minutes - that's all the energy he has right now. It exhausts him just to walk from the bed to the chair. His endurance will increase as the days go by, but right now there isn't much!

He was very glad to hear that Gloria Dei got along so well without him today - but that they missed him, too. Both wonderful things! We send blessings and much gratitude to everyone. Thank you for caring - we feel your love! Peggy

Highs and Lows

I spent most of the day with Mike today, just hanging out in his room. Hospitals are a very strange world! He didn't get much sleep last night because they kept adjusting things, according to him ... so he was agitated this morning when I got there (most of you will be amazed that Mike can ever be agitated, right?). Overall it was a pretty quiet day (his roommate went home, which was nice), although he had a few moments of distress. I think it was really sinking in to him today just how long a process this recover will be. I was glad I was there to help keep him calm and encouraged.

Everyone's cards and emails and notes have been such a wonderful support. Thank you again. He has been enjoying reading them. Megan and Luke and the boys stopped by today for a few minutes, and that certainly distracted him for awhile! It was great to see them! I think Beth is going to bring his mom up tomorrow.

I'm off to put my feet up and have a glass of wine. Yes, I have been taking care of myself, for all of you who keep asking. I've had my low moments, too, but that is to be expected. Your prayers and good thoughts are definitely holding both of us up. Bless you! Peggy

Making Great Progress - Thanks Be To God!

Mike had a sleepy day today -- probably because he hasn't slept much since Wednesday morning -- but he also had a few wonderful milestones. He was moved to a new room this morning - outside of intensive care (yea). His room number is 2108. He took two walks today - from his bed to the door in the morning, and then down the hall in the afternoon. No wonder he slept all afternoon! He also sat up in the chair most of the time he was awake today.

He is still connected to LOTS of wires and tubes, so moving around is a real challenge, but he is doing it with the help of some wonderful nurses and aides. We continue to be very happy with the care he is getting at St. Elizabeth's.

I was able to hang out with him today for longer than a few minutes at a time, so that was really nice. I made him stay awake while I was there this evening, so hopefully he will be able to sleep tonight. I read him all of the blog comments and cards he has received and he is very grateful and quite humbled by all of the prayers and good wishes. Keep them coming!! I imagine he will be in the hospital at least until next Tuesday ... don't know beyond that. We are so thankful for the many many people who have been lifting us up in prayer -- it is working!!

This blog will probably (hopefully) become more boring now that he is slowly progressing toward health ... but isn't that wonderful?? I'll report again tomorrow! Peggy

He Lives!

Ellie Jr. Visiting Dad

Ellie's working at Build-A-Bear in Columbus, OH. She sent this bear to dad in her stead since she cannot come home until Easter. Ellie is cuter, but this will do.

Slow But Steady Progress!

Sorry this is so late tonight -- this is one of the most exhausting things we've ever had to do!! Beth and I spent the day at the hospital, seeing Mike for a few minutes every hour or so. It seemed like every time we went in there they had to do something and we had to leave ... very frustrating! He is doing well ... he sat up in the chair twice today, once for two hours and then again later for five hours. Both efforts exhausted him completely and moving is very painful, but he is being a trooper! His biggest concern seems to be that I have nowhere to sit when I'm in there with him -- so he's acting pretty normal - being concerned about others instead of himself!

We're hoping he gets moved out of the cardiac recovery room tomorrow into a room with chairs! We weren't sure today if he stayed there for the great one-on-one care or because there weren't any rooms available. He's still hooked up to tons of stuff, so it takes three people to help him move, but they say he is making good progress. He seemed to have a little more energy tonight than he did this morning ... sleeping is difficult, of course (it always is in hospitals).

This seems rather disjointed - sorry. It has been a long couple of days. I've been getting plenty of opportunities to sleep, but it is fitful sleep. Megan and the boys came up to hospital this afternoon and Beth and I watched them in the waiting room while Meg went in to see Mike. It was a nice distraction to be with the three little tornadoes. We took a picture of the boys and brought it in to show Mike, and then we took a picture of Mike to show the boys (William had lots of questions - and a picture is worth a thousand words!). Beth is going to try and attached the picture to this for me.

So, thanks for your continued prayers and good thoughts. It is a tedious process to allow one's heart to recover from a shocking day such as Tuesday was. We are forever grateful for each and every one of your prayers - they are definitely holding us all up! With love, Peggy

He's Smiling and Joking!

Mike is doing great today ... I am so relieved! He is smiling and making his usual clever jokes, and was drinking juice when I left him earlier this afternoon. He is still in the Cardiac Recovery Room of the Cardiac Intensive Care, and I expect he will be through tomorrow as well. This is ok with me, because that means they are monitoring him very closely! The physicians and nursing staff have been so wonderful ... he is in very good hands. I'll be going back this evening (I had to come home to take a nap too!); I only spend a few minutes at a time with him so as not to tire him out. Once he is in a "regular" intensive care room - maybe tomorrow - I'll be able to go in and hang out with him for longer. I marvel at the miracles God can work! Thank you for your support and your prayers. Keep praying! Peggy

Quick note from Meg

Just got word that the breathing tube is out and Dad can breathe and talk on his own! Yippee!

Update from Megan

Hello everyone! I just got off the phone with Mom. She just visited Dad and things are going pretty well. The pump that was helping his heart adjust last night was removed this morning. He is still on the ventilator, but is breathing on his own. We are hopeful he can be taken off of that sometime today. He was alert and responding (via smiles, nods and head shakes) during the visit.

My mom requests that the prayers keep coming as we are still in a critical time. But the prayers have certainly helped thus far! We have quite the crowd praying and sending good wishes. Thank you all so much!

I'll update again as I'm able!
Megan

Out Of Surgery, But Not Out of the Woods

Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who has been praying for Mike, me, the surgery team, etc. today ... your prayers have made a HUGE difference!! Please don't stop .. the next 24-48 hours are critical!

Here's the long and short of it: the surgeon said that his heart was in even worse condition than he thought before the surgery, but he was very pleased and "relieved" that Mike did as well in surgery as he did ... 5 bypasses and a mitral valve repair ... 10 hours ... a very long day!

We were able to see him this evening and he recognized my voice immediately and was aware of our being there, moving his arms and legs on command. The problem was, he still has the ventilator tube in tonight and a heart pump to help his heart heal and slowly get used to all the new blood flowing to it. They will keep him sedated tonight and hopefully will be able to pull the tube and heart pump in the morning. So he was frustrated tonight that he couldn't talk yet, but they will keep him very comfortably sedated tonight.

The next 24-48 hours are critical, so please keep up the wonderful prayer vigil. I think the surgeon is amazed at how well he is doing ... I'm not ... miracles happen with prayer. We will all get through this together ... thank you so much for your support ... my heart is full! Special thanks to all of the pastors who stopped by today to offer support and prayers, and for Megan, Beth and Ellie and my sister, Tricia, for being such pillars of support today. I'm planning on being at the hospital most of the day tomorrow again. Feel free to call Meg if you need an update ... and Beth has been Twittering, if you want to follow that. You can follow it at twitter.com/bethcrawford04 -- I think Twitter is weird, but she says is it is great??!! I'll report again tomorrow night.

Thanks again. As Mike would say, "God is great! All the time!" Peggy

Contact Information

Lots of people have been asking information about the hospital, who to phone, that kind of thing. So here's a little information that may help: Mike will be at St. Elizabeth Regional Hospital, 1501 Hartford Street, Lafayette, IN 47904 (765)423-6011. He will be entering the hospital at 5:00 a.m. (yikes) Tuesday, March 24th. We expect him to be in surgery Tuesday, then intensive care for one to two days, then in a regular room for an additional 3-5 days.

If you want to talk to someone about his progress, you can call Irma Schiery from Gloria Dei (765) 296-2098 - she'll be sending information along the prayer chain; or Megan Crawford Bickel (317) 295-0676; or Beth Crawford (317) 529-2082. Beth will be with me in the hospital on Tuesday, so she won't be available to answer her phone. My lovely sister, Tricia will also be with me on Tuesday - she is a nurse, so she can be our interpreter when they are speaking medicalese.

We remain in good spirits and Mike has been taking it easy, as he has been directed. I hope he continues to be a good patient all week ... I'll let you know if he isn't!! :) Thanks for your continued prayers and positive thoughts! I'll be in touch. Peggy

Word came from the surgeon's office this afternoon that the pre-operative tests results were all good and we can move forward. They did, however, reschedule the surgery for Tuesday the 24th. The times remain the same: be there at 5:00 a.m., enter the operating room at 7:00 a.m.

Peggy and I are doing well. We were psyched up for Monday so the delay is a little disappointing. I am trying to limit my work activity to a half day in the office and doing whatever else is required at home via phone or the internet. I do have some pastoral visits I hope to accomplish too. I plan to preach this Sunday then let parish responsibilities go for awhile. The people of Gloria Dei are doing a great job in making arrangements for my absence. The church, especially in its expression as Gloria Dei, is really quite remarkable. Thanks be to God.

-Mike

We're Blogging .... We're Blogging

Some very wise person suggested we start a blog to keep everyone up-to-date on Mike's progress through this journey of the heart. I really liked the idea since I had already encouraged him to journal during the next couple of months and to maybe even share those journals with others. He can't be actively involved at Gloria Dei and with the other pastors in the deanery, but he can still write ... so this could be a great way for him to do that.

So, it is begun. We'll keep you posted. Thanks for caring and for your prayers! Peggy