Message request from Jess

[The Kleins, Tempe, AZ]

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 to help close him were removed. Sutures from cannula openings, also removed. Catheter, removed. He is down to a drip medication “assist” for his heart and a feed tube. I must have missed the oxygen cannulas missing yesterday – also off oxygen. He has small wire pacers but he is not loaded down as he was.

A P.T. came by to work some exercises with Jess. I thought he did pretty well. He also walked him a lap around the nurses’ station on the platform walker. After exercises, that was pretty tough. Jess is exhausted and wiped out. But it is his muscles. He is not gasping for air, his heart is not pounding. His blood pressure is low, and he is weak, and that is his focus. We remind him where he was a week ago, two weeks ago. He is trying, but the weakness he feels overwhelms him.

I had planned on going into work tomorrow but when I saw that he was not ready for that I called my wonderful sub, Donna to the rescue. Since Jess just got out of CCU and this is a pivotal week with new exercises and challenges, I will be there for him. How could I not? He told me he felt selfish, but he really feels better when I am there with him.

It was a busy day.
We worked on his swallowing exercises.
He had some surprise visitors. Carol and Jim (they produce the doodle rubber stamp I drew, and many others – also doodle owners), Lisa and Jedd, friends from San Diego, Frank and Kathy, Jody, Jody’s son Phil and two of his three children, Grace and Caleb.

Friends Shari and Glenn took Phoebe for the day. I think she overstayed her welcome. At least it gave Hobbes a break.

Jess and I are grateful for all our friends and family including our Doodle Kisses family of course. This has been a very difficult journey and we have no certainty of where it is headed. We are taking a day and a time and focusing on getting Jess strong so he can gain some independence. His next goal is to get off of the hospital floor to the rehab floor, one flight below.

Thank you all for helping us face this fight. Jesse remembers that he did not want to give up. He recalls being in the ER room and willing himself to live. I thought yelling at him not to leave me may have done the trick. I threw in "we haven't seen Italy yet -- you can't go now!" Loving, I know.

Please also keep Susan and Ron in your thoughts and prayers.

Doodle Kisses and sweet dreams, J, J, P, and H.

[Missi]

Sorry I haven't been commenting as much, but I've been keeping up at work (Lizzie ate through the wiring, so no internet at home right now....) That sounds like a great day of unloading the hospital "crap"! No oxygen either? Awesome. Glad he is doing so well Janet, it makes me so hopeful. Definitely still praying for you both and Ron and Susan! Have a great Monday doing laps around the nurses!

[Carol Ramsey]

It was SO good to see Jess with my OWN EYES! He looks wonderful and I just know he will become stronger and stronger every day. What a GREAT DAY! Love to you both. Jim and Carol

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The progress Jess has made in just these last fews days is amazing...and inspiring. I will be rooting for Jess to meet his next goal...the rehab floor. Sending T, P & S (thoughts, prayers, and strength) to both of you.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am so glad that so much of the "hardware" is off. I am holding out for Ireland!