The Kleins, Tempe, AZ's Blog

Weights and measures

Jess has been home for five days. Every day is getting better, with smaller hills to climb.

The second day of Jess’s return was a work day for me. Jess’s brother was due in the morning to “watch” him and assist where needed. He arrived about an hour after I left for work. Jess did not sleep well, so he took a cat nap. Upon hearing the doorbell ring, Jess got up too fast and fainted. Of course I didn’t learn this until he admitted this to the nurse that afternoon. By Thursday the home… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 26, 2009 at 7:38am — 11 Comments

Doodle Daddy comes home...

After having lots, and lots, and lots of pictures taken this morning, I will be back for a six month follow up. Jess was waiting for me and I was feeling over abused. Let's just leave it at that.

Jess was in good spirits and ready to go when I arrived. His body and mind were ready to go, nothing else. I packed up and took a few trips to the car. The discharge nurse arrives sometime after Jess's lunch and went over his twelve medications (that must be individually… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 21, 2009 at 10:35pm — 23 Comments

Tomorrow, Tomorrow....It's only a day away...

I was getting ready for work this morning and heard this awful clanging. A persistent sound of metal, repeatedly being dropped against the floor, resonating with a pitch off the high ceilings.

Here I am, thinking about tomorrow, trying to focus, thoughts about bringing home Jess, to what kind of noise is this?

Phoebe.

It was Phoebe. (Did some of you already guess that?)

She managed to grab a small Reverware measuring cup. Apart from the fact it is nearly… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 20, 2009 at 11:03pm — 13 Comments

Short leash

No loose lease for Jess.

Jess's surgeon and cardiologist stopped by this morning anticipating that Tuesday will be discharge day. We were told that they intend to keep him on a "short leash." This is fine by me.

Since Jess's heart attack was two months ago, he can most likely begin cardiac rehab the week after he returns home. We will have a nurse come to the home to give him an assessment to determine home services. Jess's brother will come up for the week to assist with… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 19, 2009 at 9:30pm — 8 Comments

The Come Back Kid

That is what my sister is calling Jess.

He had an amazing day today. The P.T. came by to give him "the six minute test." Jess had to walk for six minutes. He moved without a walker at a decent clip. It was with effort, but he was not huffing and puffing. He was so proud of himself. He asked me several times, "Did you see me?"

A coworker had come to see Jess for the first time. He was surprised, after hearing all the stories, how well he looked. (He just missed all… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 18, 2009 at 11:16pm — 7 Comments

Stairs

I remember when Phoebe was learning to climb the stairs.

I was afraid I'd have to carry her. When she finally learned to climb up, she wouldn't come down. I told Jess, "She's never going to learn how to do stairs."

Jess responded that she will if we gave her time.

Today, after a little time, Jesse climbed stairs! He was so proud of himself. Nephew Phil was there to capture the moment on his cell..

While I had a room of fifth graders shouting and filled with end of the year… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 17, 2009 at 11:18pm — 15 Comments

Wipe out

I think I am running a close second to Jess feeling wiped out.

I have stayed a little later the last couple of nights, When I enter the house the phone rings, the cell goes off, and it is a succession of calls until it is time to crash. I am so far behind on everything and feeling overwhelmed. I'm not sleeping. Hobbes CHF is getting worse and he needs to get to the vet. Yada, yada, yada....This is me venting.

Jess was not having a great day a couple of days ago, I could not even… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 17, 2009 at 5:45am — 7 Comments

Happy 11 months to Phoebe

Phoebe is eleven months old today.

Jess had a great day. He is steadier in his static standing and moves around a little more easily. He is still pacing himself on his walker walks, and added weights today. Weeks ago he handled a rigorous weight program, today he worked with two pounds. The funny thing is, his form is so good, you would think he was working with twenty times the weight. He is happy to be advancing and really motivated to get stronger.

One of the docs told… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 14, 2009 at 9:52pm — 12 Comments

Seeing the light

Jesse never saw any bright light or tunnel. I asked.

But now there is a light that we are both seeing. Jess was not feeling all that great yesterday, but today he had a little more zip in his step. (Albeit walker assisted) I worked and decided to take a day off Mayo. I only called Jess about a dozen times. He sounded optimistic with each call. He is ready to move forward having another day like he had today where progress can be felt.

Jess stayed busy. He had his swallow… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 13, 2009 at 9:23pm — 8 Comments

Patio Priviledges

Jess was anxious for me to get up to Mayo this morning. When I arrived he just completed his breakfast and announced how drained he was. If P.T. came by, he was afraid he could not do anything. He managed to shower and sat down to groom himself. He went back to bed for while. Lunch came about 11 a.m. and Jess had little interest in eating again. He picked at the inside of his sandwich and wanted to back to bed. I reminded him that he needed to stay up for at least forty minutes. Poor thing was… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 12, 2009 at 8:41pm — 9 Comments

Congestive Heart Failure

Jess has never failed anything. This terminology is difficult for him to digest. A healthy fit man seven weeks ago, CHF is added to his description of self.

We learned today that his ejection fraction is 20% -- this is severe dysfunction. Our friends George and Diana were with us when the nurse came in to give us some patient education after the doctor's visit. The cardiologist says that they look at how an individual feels. Restricted diet, exercise, and medication may help this… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 11, 2009 at 10:38pm — 9 Comments

What a difference a week makes

Last week Jess was still in the ICU. Last week Jess took his first steps. Last week Jess could not eat or drink. Last week Jess could barely hold my hand, could not hold a pen, needed to be placed in his bed.

This week Jess began to eat. His voice for the most part has returned. He can squeeze my hand, pull himself up in bed, and get up with minimal assistance, and walk a couple of laps with a walker. Jess sits at the sink and shaves; he can hold a pen and sign his name. Amazing? It… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 10, 2009 at 9:16pm — 10 Comments

Good Friday

Tomorrow is Good Friday, and I hope it is just that.

Jess will have a scan to see what his heart is doing. He is being weaned off Milrinone, which is a medication to support left ventricular function .

Today was going great. Jess was motivated to do his walker walk and also spent ten minutes on a reclined elliptical machine. He work with two male P.T.s, who were talking to Jess like personal trainers. Jess felt motivated and really saw progress from his week in… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 9, 2009 at 10:20pm — 10 Comments

Why is this Night Different from all other Nights?

Tonight Jesse had his Passover in Mayo. Jess read from the Haggadah for me and his son Matt. Regina hooked me up with some items for the seder plate. I brought in a little cooler and other items in my teacher cart. Passover on wheels. I may be starting something.

As Jesse read I couldn’t help but stare at his face the entire time, thinking of what a miracle it is for him to be alive, and how much it meant to him to have some sort of Passover, even if it was more symbolic than… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 8, 2009 at 9:18pm — 6 Comments

Early stage of recovery

That is the term the doctor used today.

I had concern over the nurse's assumption that Jess would be out soon. Jess is not "medically stable" and as the social worker puts it, "the doctors still need to tweak him."

I should say, I think he has been tweaked enough.

I didn't get my morning call and was concerned.

When I phoned, Jess let me know that he was feeling very weak, although he had a decent night of sleep. He also declared that he didn't feel he would be… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 7, 2009 at 9:30pm — 13 Comments

The swallow test

Jesse has been calling me in the morning. This is when his voice is the strongest. Tough coach that I am, I made him do some vocal exercises. I thought he was sounding pretty good. Evidently the speech therapist did too – instead of exercises she tested Jess with some ice chips – he did well, reporting that the ices tasted like heaven. It was on to the swallow test to assess if his epiglottis closes.

Somehow, Jess dislodged his nose feed tube. It must have been wishful thinking. As… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 6, 2009 at 9:36pm — 6 Comments

Message request from Jess

Jess inquired about my blogging. “ I hope you have expressed how grateful I am to everyone for their prayers and thinking of me.”

He truly is deeply touched. A sincere “thank you” from the bottom of his heart. He really wanted to make sure I expressed this. He is so overwhelmed by DKers who have jumped in and carried lights for our journey.

I thought today was filled with lots of promising accomplishments. This morning Jess had his chest tubes removed. The wires that were sewn… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 5, 2009 at 9:00pm — 14 Comments

This blog is for Susan...

O.K., I’ve been busted.

I did not blog last night. Susan caught me.

Susan and I had the opportunity to meet yesterday at Mayo. Like several of you, we have exchanged messages, and I learned that Susan’s Ron was waiting for a Mayo kidney. I had a strong feeling we would meet there, but Ron did not think his kidney would come during Jess’s stay.

Was it 24 hours later that the kidney arrived with Ron’s name on it? True story, I make up very little these days.

The transplant was… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 5, 2009 at 7:00am — 9 Comments

Moving day (night)

Jess had another productive day while I was at work. He called me to report he took TWO laps around the nurses’ station! I learned later that he took another one in the afternoon. His brother reported that it wiped him out, so he was headed for nap time.

One of the heart doctors came in and told Jess he was doing well enough to leave CCU! It must be a good day for critical care, as there are five patients also ready to move upstairs. (As I type this they’ve finally got a room for him… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 3, 2009 at 9:49pm — 11 Comments

He walks

O.K. -- with the assistance of a tall wheeled walker, belted, with the O.T. and P.T. -- but hey-- it's a great start. He walked about 50 feet!

Jess had a good day today. I believe he is aware that his life will not be the same as he is grateful to be alive, with awareness of his miracle. As he strengthens, in time his heart can also grow stronger. The topic of transplant waits as his focus is to rebuild.

I am tired tonight so this will be short. I will head to Mayo after… Continue

Added by The Kleins, Tempe, AZ on April 2, 2009 at 9:59pm — 13 Comments

The Kleins, Tempe, AZ's Blog – April 2009 Archive (21)