The Kleins, Tempe, AZ's Blog (54)

Yesterday was a hard day for me. It was the three week anniversary I did not want to remember. Filled with fear, I came across card after card that Jess had written me over the years and felt how much this man loves me and how we need to continue our story. Phoebe must have sensed it as she crawled into bed with me for the night and stayed close. (Maybe it is because she is shaved, but I am going for the compassion angle)



I was getting ready to leave this morning and my friend called… Continue

My dear friend of 31 years spent the night and took me up to Mayo today. It was great therapy. Good friends know what you need.



Jess had a fever again in the morning but I am seeing the cycle -- it seems to go up after being in the OR and the poking around. He is cultured every day with results returning three days later, so far, no infection.

Ambient air and Tylenol took the fever down, but he is a little elevated tonight yet not enough to begin to treat. Latest report as of… Continue

The good: Jesse does not have a temperature today. The bad: his heart did not work by itself. The machine is a BiVad Missi, I did not hear that term before but I get it now. He will stay on it. They will try to wean him off again next week, but the doctor really believes now that there is too much damage. So I won't get any hopes up and think positively for a successful transplant and getting him ready for that. The doc said getting a heart can take many months. There are bridge… Continue

Sí, se puede Jesse!!!!!

1:00 today Jess will get his "clean-out" -- this has been routine, a trip to OR every other day along with the nine million other trips for various reasons. The nurse just told me they may take out the rotary pump -- I ask "to replace with WHAT???" She said the doctor wants to check to see if his own heart is coming back enough --- two days ago he was very grim and said no way --- the fact that they are looking to do this again must mean they are able to see some… Continue

Today was awful. I can barely bring myself to type this. Jess could not be closed today and his heart is not showing enough improvement to give life. The doctor painted a very grim picture with his chance for infection and the high risk he is at. He repeated that it is "up to you." -- What a frightening statement. He also suggested that he may not "be there" but the nurse and I disagree, as he has responded when the sedation is slightly lifted. The second doctor concurred. He could be a… Continue

We are on day sixteen -- how did I get here?

Jess looked great today, albeit, sedated and attached to lots of medical equipment. Temp is going down and he lost and additional three liters of fluid -- medically induced, but his kidney function continues to be strong. Coloring is getting better and you can see he is less swollen. He knows when I am there. I came with a friend he had not seen in a long time and when I mentioned her name his eyebrows went up!!! So cute! I just called and had… Continue

Wow -- I actually gave myself permission to NOT go to Mayo today. After last nights ordeal Jess was going to be left under heavier sedation today to allow the fluids to leave his body and the heart heal. Tomorrow will be much of the same.

I began the day walking Phoebe and her older brother Hobbes. We walked to visit Phoebe's little Schnauzer-poo pal who is 1/3rd her size. I wish we had close Doodle pals for her. Gosh is she so social!

I was able to get lots of accounts squared… Continue

Mayo just called and Jess has to be taken back into the OR -- one of the pumps is not giving Jess the proper blood flow. Why is this is hard? Why is this perfect man being challenged so? I pray this is a routine thing that they can fix.

Today was rather unexpected. Jess was not quite as sedated. He knew I was there, he tried very hard to lift his hands and blink. He had a stream of tears when I told him to remember how much I loved him and how my heart is strong enough for the both of us right now. He tried to move his mouth and was obviously very uncomfortable with tape and tubes. I asked him to blink if he realized it was his wife holding his hand – and he did.

Doctors feel he is still way too swollen to try to close… Continue

Hi all --

Many of you have been so wonderful to send well wishes for the recovery of my husband Jess. He chuckled weeks ago when I stumbled upon this site gazing at all your doodles when I had my own adorable little love always there to make me smile. Jess was hooked too...as we viewed your exquisite pets, many of them seeming to be long lost sisters and brothers to our little nutball, Phoebe. No matter how busy he was, he would always come over to me and my PC to look at other doodles… Continue

Jess was taken off life support yesterday. His heart and lungs are working at a very low output, but working with assist of medication. He is watched closely from the fine medical team at Mayo. He has had some scares but each one has been managed. His chest had to be left open as the heart did not respond as well when they tried to close him -- he has a "skin" like Saran Wrap that is keeping him together.

PSA numbers are way up but a recent… Continue

First I'd like to thank all the prayers out there -- it really helps. Jess loves his doodle and she is getting into everything....her way of wanting him home. The excellent team at Mayo is working hard around the clock on Jess. There is less "hovering." Kidney function has been back and lungs clearing, although still not great and more fluid removal is needed. The ECMO (heart lung support) will be turned down on Monday to see what his heart is doing.… Continue

Jess is Phoebe's Daddy. He was walking her when his attack came on. Jess exercised regularly, enjoying running and spin classes. He ate right, never abused his body.

He is now fighting for his life at Mayo in Scottsdale. His body will be scanned tomorrow to see if there is brain/organ damage and if he is a candidate for a heart transplant. There is a 10% his own heart may become “un-stunned.” (my wish)

Our Phoebe Doo loves this man,… Continue

Our little Phoebe Doo will have her image produced into a rubber stamp! Stampotique will be adding an image of Phoebe to their new line coming out at the end of the month and debuting at the CHA trade show!