It may seem like a strange title of the post today, but it seems appropriate for describing what Lee is doing today and what he has been doing for the past few days. He has been acting as supervisor for a group of neighbors who cut down some trees.
For those of you who do not know, Lee Kanipe has always been THE EXPERT in "felling trees"! That is in this neighborhood. He has certainly enjoyed all the fellowship that accompanies those events. There have been several in the group, some much younger, and some older or about his age. I'm sure this calls for remembrance of past times and the stories about the biggest tree, or the one closest to the house, or the one that took about two weeks to finish cutting up into small pieces of firewood. At the end of the work, the men usually gather in an outdoor building for some refreshments and to continue the back and forth banter that men do. I suppose I would compare it to fishing and the one who caught the biggest fish!
At any rate, it is good to see him enjoying some of the activities he was able to do over five years ago! I am cautiously aware that he is doing some things that could create complications to his lung, or place him in harm's way. I also realize that he is a man, not to be confined and that one day working with the guys doing something he enjoys is better medicine than one prescribed by the physician.
We will return to Duke the first and second week of February, Feb. 10, 11, & 12 will be routine pulmonary recheck. Feb. 16, 17, 18, 19, & 20 will be for cardiac. At that time Lee will have many tests on the 17th and a cardiac ablation on the 18th. This will require at least one overnight and possibly more if there are complications. This procedure is necessary to remove a heart medication that is interfering with his anti-rejection drugs. He had an ablation done in 2010, and I feel comfortable with this one. If all goes well, he will be able to resume those other important drugs.
Unfortunately, squamous cell continues to be a menace. He is waiting to have three more Moh's on his ears, and face. Hopefully this can be done next week!
More Later..........................................................................Brenda
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
A Better Day
I found the answer to why Lee was so "bored" on Monday. He was not bored, he was getting sick with probably the intestinal flu! It hit him shortly after midnight, and he was up the rest of the night with all his discomfort! His misery lasted for about thirty hours at which time he was not able to eat or drink. I don't know how he managed, but somehow, he was able to keep down his very important medications that must be every 12 hours!
His miserable night was followed by a miserable day yesterday! By evening, he was able to begin small sips of coke, even though running a fever. Fortunately, he was able to sleep in spite of all the sleep he had during the day. The frequent visits to the bathroom finally ceased!
This morning he was up and about and able to have coffee and toast. He has been able to eat small portions of yogurt, cottage cheese and take fluids most of the day. I believe he has conquered this bug! Now I am hoping I do not catch it. I have spent part of the day trying to decontaminate his areas! Thank Goodness for Clorox and Clorox wipes!
Just wanted to follow-up on the last blog. You would think I would know by now that when Lee gets very quiet, does not talk a lot and appears withdrawn, he usually has a physical ailment that he does not want to share with me! Sometimes he is just too strong and stoic!
Hoping you do not get visited by the intestinal virus! Stay in, use wipes on grocery and W-mart carts and stay out of public bathrooms!
Good Luck!
More Later.............................................Brenda
His miserable night was followed by a miserable day yesterday! By evening, he was able to begin small sips of coke, even though running a fever. Fortunately, he was able to sleep in spite of all the sleep he had during the day. The frequent visits to the bathroom finally ceased!
This morning he was up and about and able to have coffee and toast. He has been able to eat small portions of yogurt, cottage cheese and take fluids most of the day. I believe he has conquered this bug! Now I am hoping I do not catch it. I have spent part of the day trying to decontaminate his areas! Thank Goodness for Clorox and Clorox wipes!
Just wanted to follow-up on the last blog. You would think I would know by now that when Lee gets very quiet, does not talk a lot and appears withdrawn, he usually has a physical ailment that he does not want to share with me! Sometimes he is just too strong and stoic!
Hoping you do not get visited by the intestinal virus! Stay in, use wipes on grocery and W-mart carts and stay out of public bathrooms!
Good Luck!
More Later.............................................Brenda
Monday, January 12, 2015
Dreary Weather!
Today has been unusually foggy and dreary. One of those days when Lee would love to see the sunshine and be able to do anything outside. Unlike me, he is miserable on days like this! I can usually find some chore around the house to do, even if it is just a few drawers that need cleaning. I have kept myself busy with laundry, some cleaning of clutter, and catching up on reading. I have also taken time to clean the e-mail to trash, practice the piano, and make a few phone calls to check on some sick friends and family members.
Lee is not complaining, it is just that he is an outdoors person, and a day like this is really one he dreads. On the good side, we are at home, not in the car driving in this dangerous fog. We are not having to endure another long day in the clinic at Duke. He is not having any difficulty at the moment with any medical issues, so I believe he is having a really good day!
It is hard for a person as busy as Lee has always been to be confined to the house. Even his "old easy" recliner offers no solace on a day such as this. This morning he had his monthly labs done in Lincolnton and visited some of his buddies at Bo Jangles for a sausage biscuit. This afternoon, he dove to his neighbor's for their usual afternoon meeting, but returned early because, he too, was apparently suffering from the same boredom!
The day is almost over, it is soon time for our supper
Lee is not complaining, it is just that he is an outdoors person, and a day like this is really one he dreads. On the good side, we are at home, not in the car driving in this dangerous fog. We are not having to endure another long day in the clinic at Duke. He is not having any difficulty at the moment with any medical issues, so I believe he is having a really good day!
It is hard for a person as busy as Lee has always been to be confined to the house. Even his "old easy" recliner offers no solace on a day such as this. This morning he had his monthly labs done in Lincolnton and visited some of his buddies at Bo Jangles for a sausage biscuit. This afternoon, he dove to his neighbor's for their usual afternoon meeting, but returned early because, he too, was apparently suffering from the same boredom!
The day is almost over, it is soon time for our supper
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Welcome to 2015
A Happy New Year To All!
As my friend often reminds me, "Brenda does not blog when all is well"! I will add to that "when Brenda is very busy with all the details of Holiday celebrations!" I am amazed that I am still standing!
I did remind all our children this year to please be aware that the year ahead will most likely take away even more of my ability to keep up the pace. I keep hinting and hoping one of our five children will take the hint and unload a bit of the celebrating to either their house or change our venue to include smaller gatherings with smaller meals! They are listening and some have begun to step up to the plate.
Lee and I were able to host two large gatherings at Christmas. One on Sunday evening before Christmas with 12 ( there were three absentees), and the following was on Christmas Eve, again with 12. Both of these were with a large meal followed by the sharing of the many gifts that were exchanged. It was busy and wonderful, but still very draining and exhausting. I know that this is partly due to our heavy schedule during October because we had to stay in Durham three weeks for Lee's radiation treatment. Seems as though as soon as we returned home there was much to do in preparation for seating of 20 at our house for Thanksgiving! All this with only three weeks until Christmas! In spite of the pressure ( shopping, doctor visits etc.) it was truly a magical Christmas! Our great grand daughter Alyssa was here for Christmas Eve, and Sunday before we had two-year-old Emily, and three-year-old Easton! It is always wonderful to have a baby to pass from one to another, along with others who kept us entertained! We delighted in having twelve of our thirteen grandchildren here for all the celebrations.
We count among our many blessings, our family. How fortunate we are to be surrounded by all our children , grandchildren, and now great grandchildren during these special times of the year. We are sorry the confines of this age place some restrictions on our ability to follow through with all the activities. None-the-less, we push forward, constantly reminded that life would indeed be sad if there was no one to share on these joyous occasions!
During this time, Lee had several more squamous cell carcinomas to appear on his face and chest. There were numerous pre-cancerous growths on his neck and head that were (hopefully) stopped with the topical treatment! He had a rather large squamous cell appear on his chest area. The Moh's was bypassed in favor of large area removal with a successful pathology report. He returns to the doctor tomorrow for removal of sutures.
Our calendar is already filling up with appointments in Durham from January through April. Lee now has five services and many different doctors who follow-up on his continuing history of related developments. In addition to the lung-transplant visits, he now has: Oncology, Dermatology, EENT, and Cardiology! He is now a walking medical textbook! One, I might add, that should indeed have many major chapters about his amazing resilience, his wonderful attitude and his innate ability to overcome obstacles in his path! Even as I write, he is recovering from a cold, and after five days, appears to be on the mend.
Lee has been fortunate to have established friendly and compassionate relationships with his health-care providers. He is the only person I know that actually receives phone calls from some of his doctors who ask about his current condition and remind him of their availability to him whenever he needs them! He is always able to form friendships that are meaningful not only to him, but to all those who get to know him. He is well established among his medical professionals as a strong determined man, who never complains and is always willing to work with them to do whatever is necessary to recover. I believe this attitude of determination and compliance has earned him the respect of all those who meet him.
We will resume his journey toward good health beginning January when Lee has to return to Duke for a check-up with his Cardiologist. This will be a day trip with no overnights until we return in February for several overnights for Pulmonary check to see if he is still in a mild form of rejection.
I would end this with a promise to be more faithful to the blog, but am afraid I will break the promise. As my friend reminds me, " assume all is well with Lee, when Brenda does not blog!"
Thanks for being there during our difficult times. That is when I need you support and prayers the most.
More Later....................................................Brenda
As my friend often reminds me, "Brenda does not blog when all is well"! I will add to that "when Brenda is very busy with all the details of Holiday celebrations!" I am amazed that I am still standing!
I did remind all our children this year to please be aware that the year ahead will most likely take away even more of my ability to keep up the pace. I keep hinting and hoping one of our five children will take the hint and unload a bit of the celebrating to either their house or change our venue to include smaller gatherings with smaller meals! They are listening and some have begun to step up to the plate.
Lee and I were able to host two large gatherings at Christmas. One on Sunday evening before Christmas with 12 ( there were three absentees), and the following was on Christmas Eve, again with 12. Both of these were with a large meal followed by the sharing of the many gifts that were exchanged. It was busy and wonderful, but still very draining and exhausting. I know that this is partly due to our heavy schedule during October because we had to stay in Durham three weeks for Lee's radiation treatment. Seems as though as soon as we returned home there was much to do in preparation for seating of 20 at our house for Thanksgiving! All this with only three weeks until Christmas! In spite of the pressure ( shopping, doctor visits etc.) it was truly a magical Christmas! Our great grand daughter Alyssa was here for Christmas Eve, and Sunday before we had two-year-old Emily, and three-year-old Easton! It is always wonderful to have a baby to pass from one to another, along with others who kept us entertained! We delighted in having twelve of our thirteen grandchildren here for all the celebrations.
We count among our many blessings, our family. How fortunate we are to be surrounded by all our children , grandchildren, and now great grandchildren during these special times of the year. We are sorry the confines of this age place some restrictions on our ability to follow through with all the activities. None-the-less, we push forward, constantly reminded that life would indeed be sad if there was no one to share on these joyous occasions!
During this time, Lee had several more squamous cell carcinomas to appear on his face and chest. There were numerous pre-cancerous growths on his neck and head that were (hopefully) stopped with the topical treatment! He had a rather large squamous cell appear on his chest area. The Moh's was bypassed in favor of large area removal with a successful pathology report. He returns to the doctor tomorrow for removal of sutures.
Our calendar is already filling up with appointments in Durham from January through April. Lee now has five services and many different doctors who follow-up on his continuing history of related developments. In addition to the lung-transplant visits, he now has: Oncology, Dermatology, EENT, and Cardiology! He is now a walking medical textbook! One, I might add, that should indeed have many major chapters about his amazing resilience, his wonderful attitude and his innate ability to overcome obstacles in his path! Even as I write, he is recovering from a cold, and after five days, appears to be on the mend.
Lee has been fortunate to have established friendly and compassionate relationships with his health-care providers. He is the only person I know that actually receives phone calls from some of his doctors who ask about his current condition and remind him of their availability to him whenever he needs them! He is always able to form friendships that are meaningful not only to him, but to all those who get to know him. He is well established among his medical professionals as a strong determined man, who never complains and is always willing to work with them to do whatever is necessary to recover. I believe this attitude of determination and compliance has earned him the respect of all those who meet him.
We will resume his journey toward good health beginning January when Lee has to return to Duke for a check-up with his Cardiologist. This will be a day trip with no overnights until we return in February for several overnights for Pulmonary check to see if he is still in a mild form of rejection.
I would end this with a promise to be more faithful to the blog, but am afraid I will break the promise. As my friend reminds me, " assume all is well with Lee, when Brenda does not blog!"
Thanks for being there during our difficult times. That is when I need you support and prayers the most.
More Later....................................................Brenda
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