"Remember Those Who Have Served and Given Their Lives"

05-25-2005
0445 Hours

Darlene and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a fabulous Memorial Day. We hope you have a great day of boating, county fairs, and of course the family barbeque, maybe the end of a great camping weekend.

Saturday Dar was not her perky self. Again I found Dar under the weather with yet another urinary infection. I can only believe this is directly related to the stones she has in the bladder. Thursday’s procedure was cancelled as a result of this nasty reoccurring problem I will be so thankful when this issue is gone.

As I have done almost every weekend, I dropped Dr. Doherty an email. Dr D returned my email and brought me up to speed regarding Dar’s condition. Dr. D tells me that Dar developed a low-grade fever after Tuesday’s visit to San Francisco. Urine test showed that Dar had another UTI.

Dr. D and Dr. Waters conferred with Dr. Duncan, Kentfield’s Infectious Disease authority and started Dar on an aggressive round of antibiotics. It is the hope that by Tuesday or Wednesday Dar can have her procedure to get rid of these stones.

I am told that the urologist will perform the procedure at the bedside and if possible will “snare” the stones during his evaluation of the bladder. In the event that the stones are not to be snared and eradicated an appointment will be scheduled to have them removed at Marin General.

Dr. D also told me in her email that as a precaution Dar’s speaking valve and deflation of the trach cuff had been put on hold. Again I am so thankful for Dr. D’s caution when it comes to Dar’s swallowing and ability to protect her airway. She wants Dar to be at the top of her game when it comes to this delicate situation.

Dr. D also told me of her thoughts about Dar’s recent visit to SF. After reading Dr. Courey’s report Dr. D feels that Dar’s vocal cords being stuck or in “spasm” is not a permanent condition but will preclude trach weaning at this time I guess time is what we need to allow things to return to normal. I will speak more to Dr. D about this when I see her on Wednesday.

Dar had 3 therapy sessions on Saturday and being the trooper she is even though she was not up to par, she powered through all 3 and then wanted to go for a short walk outside and see Maverick. It really is true about the healing effect our pets have on us when we are under the weather. After spending some time with Mav we strolled down the pathway to Ross. It was a cool cloudy morning and Dar enjoyed the moist cool ocean breeze as we talked and laughed about some of our trips we have taken on this Memorial weekend.

We returned to her room so that she could get her next round of “meds” about 12:30. Dar slept quite abit the rest of the day.

I am so thankful that we have had more good days than bad but I have to say that it just pulls at my heart strings to see Dar under the weather. She is so happy and perky most of the time that when she is not you can be sure that something is not quite right. In some ways this is really good because it makes it so much easier to find out what is wrong.

I sent Dr. Waters an email this morning asking her to call or send me an email about Dar’s scheduled procedure. I hope she is on call today but she as many of us may be enjoying this special holiday with friends and family. We will wait and see.

Well, I hope everyone has a great holiday today, to my immediate family, to Dar’s family, to Dar’s and my extended health family, to all of you, our friends, our supporters, our prayer partners, I just want to say again how much you mean to us and how much we appreciate your prayers and support. Thank you all.

As I sit in my chair writing this morning I feel guilty not being with Dar today, last evening I barbequed some burgers for meals this week. It was the first time I have really cooked since December, you have to understand, since Dar and I got married and even when we were dating, I have done all the cooking. I love to cook; Dar and I laugh cuz she has yet to cook a meal since we have been together, a desert or two but not a meal. I just love to cook.

It felt empty last night, it felt wrong, something was missing, my friend, my buddy was not sitting in her patio chair talking and sharing with me. I really was empty. I did not like how I felt, and I realized again how much of my everyday life Dar is. I don’t know if I will be barbequing again any too soon.

Well we love you all and hope you have a great holiday, God Bless

Dar/Danny/Mav