Sunshiny day!

When I ended Saturday's blog I said that Tomorrow would bring the sunshine.............or something to that effect.  Just wanted you to know that is exactly what happened.  Lee called me @ 8:00 this morning to let me know that he was able to walk four rounds Saturday night @ 9:00 without stopping one time to rest!  Each round is 300 feet.  His heart rate remained stable throughout the evening and night and he was feeling GOOD this morning.  He said he ate every bite of his breakfast.  We were both very excited about his progress.

His doctor came by and seemed delighted that Lee had done so well and had responded favorably to the medication to correct his arrythmia.  He said that if he continued with no more irregularities of the heart and if the chest tube stopped draining there was a good chance of being discharged by the middle of the week.  I asked him what did he think caused this episode of atrial fibrillation and flutter with atrial tachycardia.  He said that it could have been the chest tube or just the fluid in the pleural cavity.  He said it did not take much to "tickle the heart", thus causing the problem.  He added that hopefully with time that would go away.  Boy, do we ever hope that is true!

Lee did have a good day all day today.  He walked three different times and his total for the day was 2700 feet.  He is on his way!  Once again we are seeing the light at the end of this very long and very dark tunnel.  We have to remember that Lee has been a patient now entering his 9th month.  That is a long time to be under the care of physicians, nurses and ME!  Even the 2 1/2 months home in Vale to prepare to come to Duke, he was still a patient and restricted to his mobility around the house.  Other than the trips to the hospital, the Center for The Living, the clinic and the condo, he has virtually had no independence.  He has been dependent upon  me and others for his care.  That has to be a very hard thing for a strong, resilient person like Lee to accept.

Accept it he has......................and he has done this with great courage and dignitiy.  I want you to know that he does not complain......................ever.  I have been amazed at his patience and his tolerance during this entire process.  He is an amazing man and he is our hero.

We will sleep well tonight.

More Later...............................................................Brenda