Back on the List

Dick is back on the 1A list!  The 1A list is the highest position, the top of the list.  People on this list are the first ones who receive hearts; his chances now are very high to receive a heart soon.  It could have been fatal for Dick had he not been approved.  The heart valve that is leaking is usually operated on, but in Dick's case that is not anything doctors will do.  The right ventricle failure could be temporarily corrected with another Vad (heart pump) implanted into his right ventricle, but Dick will not undergo that major surgery again, so the only option we have is to get the heart.
Please keep him in your prayers.  I'll let you know.....

Prayerfully Back on the 1A List

The other day, I wrote these words to one of our nearest and dearest friends, "I pray for a heart, but unfortunately I can't go get one for him; I pray for strength for him, but he still is exhausted...  his anxiety gets so high at times, yet there is nothing I can do or say to lessen it.  Try as I will, I'm in a place where all I can do is wait upon God, rest in him and trust that He is working out things for the good." 
Today is Monday the 13th of June and Dick and Richard, our son,  left at 5:00 AM this morning for Minneapolis to see Dick's cardiologist.  Around noon I received a call from Richard telling me that they had arrived safely and that Dr. Masri, Dick's cardiologist, is going before the board tomorrow recommending that Dick be placed back on the 1A list. The reason why he is so exhausted is because his left ventricle is leaking and his right ventricle is failing; with the failed left ventricle running only by the heart pump and the right one quickly failing, it is time for the transplant team to get serious about finding Dick a new heart.  At this point I doubt if they would give him a right vad so the prayer request is for the perfect heart to come quickly.  Like I said to our friend, I can't get him one, only God can provide one for him.  The strength and peace Dick needs will come back again only though God's grace.
Thank you for your prayer support.

A Little Bundle of Joy

In the midst of our sadness after losing our Scout, Saturday, Richard, Dick and I went to the breeder in Madison SD and found our new little girl, Lillie Ree.  I have always said, there is no way to grieve around babies or puppies.  We have Eva 21 months, Anna 3 months and now Lillie 11 weeks, the time for grieving is growing dim.  The bible tell us to think on the things which are good.  During this waiting time, we are trying to think on all the good in our lives.  Wonderful family, wonderful friends, wonderful home, wonderful new patio, and our wonderful new puppy. Truly, Dick and I agree, what else could we possible want?  God is so good!

Time

I was thinking about time and how the days have grown into months and still there has been no call.  Life has not been without its challenges during this season.

In February we welcomed another baby girl, Anna Jean, into the Kelly family.  John and Ashley have two beautiful girls!  There were some problems during labor and delivery, but mom and baby are just fine.

Dick developed what is know as a plural effusion, which is sack of water inside his chest, which gives him quite a bit of pain.  He has medicine which helps; just another hurdle.

In March, Dick celebrated his 70th birthday and mostly all the kids were able to come to SF and surprise him.  We have such a wonderful family; lots of support and lots of love.  It still amazes me how this large blended family is so united! There is such a wonderful sense of family love.









Dick has changed with the season change.  Winter was long and slow in coming but with the spring there has been a resurgence of his spirit.  In April Dick had cataract surgery on both of his eyes.  I'm thankful that he went ahead and took care of them because his vision was quite impaired and now he is finally able to see clearly.  John and Richard transformed our back patio, which was quite a project but both Dick and I love the yard and it was such a blessing!  It is wonderful to finally be outside again; to be able to see all our beautiful birds and plants again.  It speaks to me about the faithfulness of God and how He does restore.

Jackson, Richard's Boston Terrier, has done a brilliant job in ridding our backyard of rabbits,  Praise God.  All the little plants planted so far are actually growing without threat!
We have given him a new name....... KILLER



On May 26th  we lost our precious four year old Springer Spaniel, Scout.  She had developed lymphoma a few months ago and had been on chemo therapy.   Glaucoma, possible caused by a tumor behind her eye, put untreatable pressure on both eyes.  Finally the combination of all these horrible things attacking  our wonderful little Scout finally took its tole.   Last October our older dog died and now in May our puppy... it just doesnt' seem right...

Dolly and Scout

Much time has passed but we still need your prayers.  Life goes on and waiting gets soooo old.   You all have been so faithful and Dick and I so appreciate your continued love and support.  Oh, how we need it.

Better Late Than Never

It has been two weeks since Dick had his Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator replaced.  In the last blog, I made the mistake of calling it a battery, but as you can see, it is more than a battery!  The doctor was very pleased how things went.  He did not have to shock Dick which might have caused another stroke; he didn't feel it was worth the risk -  Praise God!
Dick had a few days where he really didn't feel well, however that was to be expected after surgery. If you think about it, cutting into a chest cavity, removing scar tissue, removing a devise lodged into his internal tissue and replacing the empty space with a new foreign object would take a healthy person time to recover, and when you think of all Dick has been through, I'm surprised he bounced back as quickly as he did.

Since we have returned from Minneapolis, our son and wife have had their second little girl - Anna Jeanne, our oldest grandson Andrew tragically lost his dad, and our wonderful three year old Springer Spaniel Scout, has had to start chemo therapy due to a cancerous tumor removed from her neck February 8th.  All in all, February was a mentally exhausting month and I'm glad it is over!

Tonight Dick and I went to a movie and out for dinner.  If felt so special!  It was a night like the ones we used to have, a delightful date night.  Funny how we take for granted little things like that; life can change so quickly.  We are so blessed to snatch an evening out every once in a while and it is a true blessing that we love our home and love being together.  Praise God for a wonderful husband and a great marriage ... gifts from God.

Pacer Recharged

Winter has seemed long and cold.  Waiting for "The Phone Call" is like waiting for water to boil, which makes winter seem longer than usual.  We drove to Minneapolis this morning for a routine heart/LVAD checkup scheduled today and for a surgical procedure tomorrow.  We had hoped Dick's pacemaker/defibrillator would not have to be replace, but because the phone has not yet rung, his pacemaker's  battery is running out and must be replaced.  Thursday morning @ 8:00 AM,  Dick will have same-day surgery to remove the old pacemaker and install a new one.  It shouldn't be a difficult procedure because all the devise's connectors were fished into the heart years ago during the original surgery.    Hopefully we will return Thursday evening and next week he will be back to work.
Your thought and prayers continue to support us in ways you can't imagine.  Thank you, we are truly blessed.

Still Waiting

People are asking me, what happens now.....  We Wait.  But while we wait, life is normalizing.  Slowly but surely piles are be sorted, lists are shrinking and tasks are being checked off.  You  can't imagine how long it takes to catch up after being gone off and on for almost three months, then down time due to illness.  Dick is back into his routine; the county commission is perfect for him.  He loves it and is so good at it; in fact, he is vice-chair this year.  But when 5:00 rolls around, he is done, both of us are grateful to have early evening.
One of these days, we will get a phone call from Fairview telling us that they have a heart.  When that happens, we will get on a plane and fly to Minneapolis.  Once we are they, doctors will prep Dick for surgery and a final decision will be made as to the match, and if everything lines us, Dick will get a new heart.

Dick tending his roses the summer of 2003

I really think both Dick and I needed this extra time to heal.  It is really nice to get up in the morning, kiss Dick goodbye and welcome him back home at the end of his day.  He is able to take cat-naps and go to bed early at night.  It will be wonderful for him to have his new heart and be able to add a few more things to his minimal schedule.  He loves to help me in the garden....  it will be wonderful to see him tend his roses, bar-b-queing a family dinner, taking Scout for a walk to the park or doing any of these "normal" life opportunities.   You don't know how precious little things are until you can't do them....

No Call

It is early in the AM on the third of January and to tell you the truth, I have been kind of down in the dumps; we wait and wait for the phone to ring but there is no call.   Dick has his first place position only until January 5th, then will drop down to the normal waiting list where he will wait his turn, which could mean months or possibly years.
His pace maker is wearing out and he has till March to get that changed.  Changing the unit will involve surgery, so if a heart could become available he will need neither the pacemaker nor the surgery, which would be a really good thing!
This is almost surreal;  a heart should come sometime. but. not knowing makes me feel as if it is not going to happen.  I know Dick thinks about it a lot too but there is absolutely nothing we can do about it except Trust God.
Looking back over 2010, it is obvious to both Dick and I the enormous amount of grace we has received this year,     Dick's heart failure, stroke, shingles and my back surgery and health issues .....  it is amazing that we have survived it all!  I look forward to the day when we can have all this behind us; please pray with me that this will be soon.

Love to each of you in this new year, Mary

Waiting

Have you every stood by the stove and waited for the tea pot to whistle?  Well, this is worse!  Dick and I both are patiently waiting for "THE CALL" but so far no call. 
This morning at church they prayed for Dick's healing......   rather than praying for healing, pray for the right heart to be made available to Dick.  The clock is still ticking; we are so hoping that during this thirty day period, the perfect matched heart will be made available.
Thank you all for your continued prayer and support.
Love to each of you this Christmas season,
Mary

The Clock is Ticking Again

Dick is back on the #oneA list!  After  Dr. Zigler's report Friday morning to the transplant team, Dick was put back on the list.  Much of what was thought to be shingles, (by amateur doctors = family, was a reaction to the tape, dry weather and medications.  So, we are once again on call.
This time we are better prepared for what is coming.  The kids and I will have to be traveling back and forth due to work schedules unlike last time; taking turns.
I pray you all will have a wonderful Christmas season with your family and your friends.  Hopefully soon, Dick and I will be able to have you all to our home to celebrate the conclusion of a very long journey.

The Saga Continues

Today the "powers at be" put Dick on hold because of his shingles.  I guess the transplant team want to be sure that his shingles do not interfere with the implantation process.  This holding patterns is exactly that.  His precious 1st place spot will not be wasted during this time of evaluation.  Once it is decided the shingles will not be problematic at the time of implant, he will be reinstated.
So.....  please pray for all this.  Dick's emotions are really taking a tole and could possibly be the cause of his shingles; in fact we both are quite numb.  I guess only God knows our future.

Pray Pray Pray

I just received a call from the hospital, Dick is being put on the  "#one A"  list!!!!!  We are to have our phones on us at all time, so the clock is ticking.  He has thirty day where he will be the first one to get a heart if one comes in that matches his blood type, basic size, etc.  This will be the only opportunity for this thirty day window so please pray that the right heart will come in.   Also pray for the dear person and the family of the person giving Dick their heart - it will be a difficult time for them.
This is wonderful news for us; could this really be happening?
Lots of love,
Mary