Please sign my Guestbook.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Update on Ray

First I googled "stents" and bypass surgery to have a better idea of what I was talking about. The article is from the New York Times and was written in February of this year so it's up to date. If you don't want to register with the NYT (it's free including their archives now) but want to read the article, let me know. I'll do a copy and paste and email it.

Ray went in for the relatively minor stent surgery this morning. Once the surgeon took a look, he reconsidered. They're now planning coronary bypass; probably tomorrow but possibly as soon as tonight.

I did some checking with friends who have lived in this area far longer than I. The Modesto hospital has a reputation of being the best in the area for heart surgery. That's reassuring. It's also reassuring that bypass surgery has become almost commonplace these days and that most patients recover and are much improved.

I tell myself all this but I'm still frightened. We were convincing each other on the phone that it will be fine and that we're glad they've finally put a name to his ongoing illnesses. I asked if he wanted me to come in before the surgery and he said no. They haven't set a time, Modesto is 45 miles from here (probably 50 because the hospital is on the north end of town) and it made no sense for me to sit in a hospital waiting room for a day. He's right of course and I'm glad it's Modesto and not the small hospital here but I wish we were closer. I haven't had a vehicle since June (hadn't mentioned that before) and I'm depending on friends for rides when I need them.

I do have transportation lined up on short notice if I need it; otherwise I'll wait until after the surgery unless the hospital calls to come in sooner.

On a somewhat brighter note, I spent about 20 minutes on the phone with Rebecca right before Ray called me. She was her usual chatty self; telling me all about her semi-permanent grounding. I could tell them grounding doesn't work terribly well with her; she enjoys hanging around the house. Once again, Rochelle was out - at the laundromat this time. Elcie was there.

Oh, if you notice a deleted post it was just a weather report which I zapped because I looked at the post and it didn't publish like it appeared in the draft. It just said rain tomorrow and then a steady rise in temps to the high 80's by the end of next week. Don't they know it's the first day of autumn in this hemisphere?

Not much else going on here. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers and have a good weekend everyone.

14 comments:

Yondalla said...

I know that you are worried. I'll keep you in my thoughts and watch the blog.

I hope she will be okay.

grannyfiddler said...

thinking of you. sending healing prayers and blessings.

Susie said...

You're both in my thoughts and prayers. My father in law had this surgery at Stanford in 1977 by Dr. Shumway. They have made great progress since those days...
(and my father in law came through just fine, although he was extremely ill going in. He lived 10 yrs after the surgery..)
xo

Anonymous said...

Thinking of you and Ray, Ann. I hope Ray's surgery and healing goes well.

Diane@Diane's Place said...

At home or in the hospital waiting room you'd still be worrying. Hopefully the surgery will help Ray feel better in the long run.

I'll be praying, Ann. We're having cleaning day at church tomorrow to get ready for homecoming next Sunday so I'll request special prayer for Ray.

Much love,

Diane

The Future Was Yesterday said...

I have two stents, from separate occasions. If there's a "next time", it's going to be bypass all the way.

Try to stay positive. It's a relatively painless operation, and if your hospital has a good rep on heart surgery, then they've probably done hundreds of them or more, which is a good thing.

I do so hate being a practice dummy for learners!:)

The stent should give better circulation, which may actually speed his recovery process.

Carole Burant said...

As you have said, the medical field has come such a long way where coronary bypass surgery is concerned and it's practically a common thing now. You and Ray are both in my prayers, know that we're all here for you!! xox

Merle said...

Dear Ann ~~ My thoughts and prayers are with you and Ray. The bypass may be the best option and after he recovers, he should be heaps better.
You are better at home, hospitals are no fun and there is nothing you can do, so leave it to the surgeons and to God. I was so pleased you had a long talk with Rebecca and she would be too. Are they back in school now? I take it they are together, which is good. Keep your chin up dear Ann, Much love, Merle.

JunieRose2005 said...

Ann,

Thinking of you and Ray and hoping it all goes well.


Junie

Anvilcloud said...

Hopefully, this will be a very positive turn for Ray ... and you.

Blank said...

Thinking of you and Ray, Gran, and wishing for the best.

I hope the girls are well, too.

barbhap said...

Ann, I'm praying for you and Ray! Lots of hugs.

Unknown said...

Ann, you and Ray are in my prayers—special prayers.

Anonymous said...

[url=http://firgonbares.net/][img]http://firgonbares.net/img-add/euro2.jpg[/img][/url]
[b]windows vista home premium, [url=http://firgonbares.net/]buy macromedia suite[/url]
[url=http://firgonbares.net/][/url] nero dmc shop sales software
nero clean tool [url=http://firgonbares.net/]software reseller discount[/url] buy database software
[url=http://firgonbares.net/]adobe creative suite 3 web standard student licensing[/url] adobe creative suite 4 design premium for mac
[url=http://firgonbares.net/]buy dreamweaver 2004[/url] educational software awards
software at student discount [url=http://firgonbares.net/]buy software license[/b]