Richard Update

Tribute to the loving care of the Almighty.  Click HERE to read "Don't Know How People Handle", written 12/30/06.

Sunday, 4:00 p.m., January 14, 2007

Richard continues to improve rapidly.  All we're fighting now is a persistent, dry (for the most part) cough, which is more than likely caused by his system trying to expel all the anesthesia he was on until being released from the hospital.  It could also be compounded by a new medication he's been prescribed, called Lisinopril.  One of the primary adverse side effects of Lisinopril is dry cough.  So today he didn't take it.  We also prayed that Father Yahweh would heal the cough in Yahshua's Name, and he's been sleeping cough-free for over an hour now!  He's due to see his surgeon Tuesday to have the staples removed, and guess who will be driving him all the way into Houston for it?  Yep, me!  That's if the weather doesn't do what the Weather Channel claims is upcoming for Tuesday... low of 33, high of 38, 70% chance of sleet!  In Houston!  It MUST be getting close to the end!  <<grins>>  Love to you all in Him!

Thursday, 5:00 p.m., January 11, 2007

Richard was doing so well, his doctors all released him last night!!!  The man is a walking, talking miracle!!!  His surgeon introduces him as such!  Of course, we think Dr. Bhatia is a miracle worker with his skilled hands, too!!!  Richard's nurses, other doctors, everyone, is shocked beyond belief that he made it through his third open-heart surgery, yet looks as good as he does!!!  And guess what else???  We had to have groceries and had to have prescriptions filled this morning, so I drove us everywhere!!!  ME... after 10 years of being afraid to drive!!!  And I wasn't even the slightest bit scared either!!!  And Father YHWH led the most precious man into Richard's hospital room!!!  He was his PCA the last two days, and guess what???  He is a Rabbi at a Messianic congregation NEAR where we live!!!  Unbelievable!!!  We had some wonderful talks, and were blessed beyond words by his visits!  He even sang Hebrew blessings over Richard, and prayed over him!!!  And is he ever so knowledgeable about the Word!!!  His congregation meets every Saturday, from 1:30 p.m. until sunset, complete with prayers, then torah readings, then Hebrew worship in dance, then Bible studies!!!  I can't WAIT until Richard is well enough for us to attend!!!  He (Rabbi Moshe) was even going to come hold Havdalah services at our home tomorrow night, but Richard is still too weak and tired this Friday... but I'll bet our Father will strengthen him enough for NEXT Friday night!  I can hardly wait!!!  And we both witnessed nonstop during the 24 days he was hospitalized to the power and glory of Yahweh El Shaddai!!!  What a privilege and joy THAT was!!!  His compassion is awe-inspiring!!!  Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your love, prayer, and concern during this trial!  He will begin rehab next week at the hospital, where he can use the machines and facilities whenever he chooses, thanks to his cardiologist!  I love you all SO much in Him!!!

Sunday, 1:27 p.m., January 7, 2007

What a blessing to serve the living Elohim!  Last night, Richard asked for and ate some chicken soup.  He sat again in the recliner for 2 hours!!!  This morning, he ate again, and was able to hold it down.  With the help of his male nurse, Jim, he was able to get out of bed by himself, then sat in the chair for another couple of hours!!!  Linda is on her way here to take me to the hospital, then to her house for the week, until Richard's in a room of his own, at which point I plan to spend the nights with him, and have coworkers pick me up from the hospital for work, then drop me off there after work.  I can hardly wait... I miss him SO much!!!  Thank You, Father, SO much for your compassion and Your lovingkindness, and thank YOU all for your MANY prayers, support, and love!  And lest I forget again, I want to thank Carol "Mom" McCracken for taking care of our children (dogs... Rusty & Kayla) all this time!  I couldn't have spent all this time with Richard without her doing so!  I love her bunches, and I love you all in Him!

Saturday, 5:17 p.m., January 6, 2007

Goodness, what a LOT has happened!!!  Richard's bypass was a WEEK ago today!!!  My God, how time flies!!!  All praise be to the Almighty forever!  Richard's improving VERY quickly!  Since they removed his tubes on Thursday, they have had him sitting in a recliner in his room (he's still in SICU) for as long as he can stand it.  Yesterday, he sat for 45 minutes.  This morning, he sat for an hour, and I just called the hospital at 4:52, and his nurse said he was going to wake him and sit him in a chair again for a while to build up his strength.  While I was there today, physical therapists came by and put him in a sitting position with his legs off the side of the bed for about 30 minutes.  While he was sitting, I brushed the tangles out of his hair (he has long hair) and braided it so it would be out of his face and off his back.  He still sleeps quite a bit, but he is talking lucidly when he's awake.  I visit him every night after work, and for quite a few hours today, and call quite often to check on him.  The SICU nurses are 100% awesome, and I love them all dearly!  I've made lots of new Christian friends there since he's been in the hospital, and what a blessing they have been!  They've held me and soothed me when I would break down in tears, prayed with Richard, and waited on him hand & foot!  They are quite a blessing, and I pray Father YHWH will bless them tremendously for their love, care and support of me and Richard!  They are hoping he will be in his own room by Monday, if they can build up his strength enough by then.  I hope so, too, because in SICU, there is NO phone coverage, so he can't even call me on his cell phone.  But in the regular rooms on the other side of the hospital, there is good coverage.  I miss talking to him SO much!  He is the most precious husband on earth, not to mention a wonderful child of YHWH, and much loved by all who know him!  When he's in a regular room, I can go straight there from work, spend the night with him, and have my coworkers pick me up in the morning so I can go to work.  Once he's home, I plan to take 2+ weeks of vacation so I can care for him, and run errands.  Thank you all SO much for all your prayers and support... I couldn't make it through without you and our precious Lord's help!  My most special thanks to my precious GF, Linda, who's graciously allowed me to stay at her house all during the week, and has run me all over the countryside!  I KNOW she will be greatly blessed, as I am to have her in my life!  I love you all in Him!

Monday, 4:27 p.m., January 1, 2007

I just spoke to Richard's pulmonary specialist.  He said his vital signs, as a general rule, are better than they were yesterday, but there are a few areas of concern.  For one, his blood count and his kidney functions are a little down, so they are going to transfuse him tonight.  Also, he's still not ready to remove Richard from the breathing tube yet.  They tried weaning him from it last night, and he had trouble with his breathing.  This concerns me, because I can't talk to him, and am too upset to go in and see him, because I would "lose it", and upset him worse than ever.  Also, his fever keeps spiking.  PLEASE pray for him, and also for peace and calm for me.  I am really frustrated and scared, and I have to go back to work tomorrow, and try to keep things going on an even keel.  Love you all in Him!

Monday, 11:54 a.m., January 1, 2007

Well, I've spoken several times this morning to his SICU nurse, Joyce.  She said he's stable, but his temperature has been spiking throughout the night and morning, so they are keeping him on antibiotics, and they took blood and sputum cultures.  His surgeon is pleased with his progress, though.  I'm really saddened, however, because since his breathing was erratic on and off last night, they are going to be unable to remove his breathing tube for another 24 hours... at least that appears to be the case.  Joyce is still awaiting a visit from his pulmonary specialist's partner before she knows anything further.  But Richard has asthma, and phlegm and mucous tend to gather around the bottom of the breathing tube, which panics him, making his respiration unsteady (like hyperventilation), so they are afraid to remove it.  And I can't stand to see him panic, so I can't see him until they remove it.  When they do, and I can HEAR his voice, I will be much relieved and settled.  Please pray for these two items and ask Him to keep Richard calm until they can remove it, and me calm as well.  Love to you all in Him!

Sunday, 4:55 p.m., December 31, 2006

Dear Lord, I don't know where to begin!  From December 22 until today, I have been staying either at the hospital with Richard (before they moved him to SICU) or at my GF, Linda's, house.  Linda lives MUCH closer to Richard's hospital and to my work than we do.  Richard stayed in the first hospital for 5 days, then was transferred to his current hospital.  The doctors had put in angioplasties and stents (3 in the same artery beneath his January 2006 bypass), but the pain never left him.  Yesterday, in a 7-hour surgery, Dr. Bhatia and his team performed a quadruple bypass and laser surgery again.  He came through the surgery quite well!  And once again, which never fails to shock Dr. Bhatia, his heart started on its own without needing to use the paddles to jump start it!!!  And he didn't have to be slowly weaned from the heart & lung machine like most do!!!  I have been staying at the hospital all day long every day for two weeks, but was able to come home for tonight.  His nurses on the 5th floor, and in SICU, have been nothing short of phenomenal... to him AND to me!!!  May our precious Father richly bless them all!!!  The nurses in SICU watch constantly to make sure that each patient is cared for to the utmost of their abilities, and are made as comfortable as possible.  The doctors are leaving Richard's breathing tube in for today and overnight, which would distress him greatly if they didn't keep him so greatly sedated.  If his oxygen levels reach high enough, they plan to remove his breathing tube in the morning.  They've already removed his balloon tube.  His fever was up during the night, but is going down to normal temperature.  He is stable and sleeping a considerable amount.  The cardiologist, the breathing doctor, and the surgeon have all been by to check on him this morning, and are all VERY pleased with his progress already!  As of tomorrow, I plan to return to the hospital to visit him, and then spend the night with Linda until he is in a regular room and well on his way to being healed, at which time I will begin spending the nights at the hospital until he can return home.  So I will be away from my computer until then (probably another 7 or 8 days).  I will be returning to work on Tuesday, though, and will be sending updates to 5 Doves from there.  Please pray for Richard's QUICK healing.  I miss him dreadfully!!!  The Lord has blessed me with more touches than you can imagine, and His peace and comfort and calm have been incessantly with me throughout this ordeal!  Thanks MUCH for your prayers, and keep them coming!  I love you all in Him!

Friday, 12:47 p.m., December 22, 2006

This one you would NOT believe if you didn't know our Father!  Dr. Bhatia (the surgeon) stopped by this morning.  He said things may not be as bad as the others thought.  He said most of the graphs are still OK, but there are a couple of "questionable" areas, and that open-heart surgery may not even be necessary!!!  He is going to transfer him today to NW hospital, which is where he's had his past bypasses, and Dr. Bhatia and several of the cardiologists on staff will comb over the x-rays and other tests for other options.  He THINKS perhaps an angioplasty and stents may solve the problem with NO surgery!!!!!!!!!!!!  OMG, that would be a blessing untold!!!  Keep the prayers coming, friends, because they are most definitely working!!!  Love you all in Him!

Thursday, 10:14 a.m., December 21, 2006

Well, Richard & I have been seeking Yahweh's face on where he should go for his surgery.  Dr. DiTeressa stopped by the hospital this morning and told Richard that if it was HIS Dad who needed the surgery, he would suggest St. Luke's, because they have the best cardiac care on earth.  And when I awoke this morning, I asked Him to please give me a good word from Him for my BD, then Richard called with this news minutes later, so I guess that's where he'll be going.  We still don't know when the surgery will be, but I'm here to tell you, PRAYER WORKS GREAT!!!  I have been SO calm and serene each day, and it's all due to the thousands of prayers that are going up for both of us from wonderful family like you!  I need to get ready now to go up to the hospital until they transfer Richard, so I'll update when I return home.  Thank you SO much, and I love you all in Him!

Thursday, 6:11 a.m., December 21, 2006

I don't know where to begin, friends. Sunday will be a week since he went into the hospital. I have never been more tired in my life, between work, having to depend on my GF for rides to/from everywhere (I don't drive, and Linda needs HER life back, too!), and going straight to the hospital every night, I've had NO time to think straight. Richard's cardiologist (Dr. Aslan) has been in constant contact with our Internist (our family doctor, Dr. DiTeressa) and the surgeon who has performed the last two open-heart surgeries on him (Dr. Devender Bhatia, a protoge of Dr. DeBakey). His cardiologist said that each time open-heart surgery is performed, the heart weakens, and the risk factor becomes greater. They said they COULD perform an angioplasty and put in stents, but that would be a very temporary fix. And there's a chance that a clot could break through and cause another heart attack.  So that is not an option. Then there's the the best place to transfer him for the surgery, or if they can find anyone to perform it before Christmas is over. They also don't know which surgeon(s) to use.  Dr. Bhatia is 100% awesome, and performs surgeries in NW Houston, near where I work.  But Dr. Aslan thinks that the better hospital for this surgery is St. Luke's, which is downtown Houston... WAY far away from where we live... and it would have to be a different surgeon other than Dr. Bhatia, who knows Richard's heart, etc., and whom Richard has great confidence in.

Then there's the fact that we have 2 dogs who depend on us for everything.  We love them like they are our children.  So I can't even spend nights at the hospital with Richard, so that I don't HAVE to depend on bothering others for rides.

We live FAR out in the country... if he had a heart attack here, he would be dead before help could reach him.  Please ask for Yahweh's leading... to show us where he needs to be, what surgeon to use, to continue to show His compassion on us, to continue to give us His perfect peace, and to accept my profound thanks for always being there for me, and most especially for sending His only Son, our Messiah Yahshua, to give us eternal life through Him.

And we have an elderly lady who lives on our property, Carol "Mom" McCracken, whose son, Dan, lives with her. Dan checked into the same hospital yesterday in which Richard is now staying.  His blood pressure was sky high, and something seems to have affected his brain.  He is pretty much all she has.  She doesn't drive either, so we are both in dire straits.  Please pray for them, too!

Tuesday, 10:18 p.m., December 19, 2006

Well, folks, unfortunately Richard needs at LEAST a quadruple bypass in the next day or two!!!  All 4 of the arteries they bypassed in the January surgery have multiple blockages!!!  His new cardiologist said it is probably hereditary.  His Dad died of a heart attack at 75, and his Mom died of a heart attack at 75.  He may be having his surgery on my BD... what a wonderful BD gift if YHWH would heal him and send him home healthy!  I just got home at 10:00 (with Linda), we ate and fed the dogs.  I am tired beyond words... mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually... drained!  But I've asked Father Yahweh if He would please fill me up again with His Spirit like He did last Thursday night!  And the maintenance man at our building (who is also a preacher) laid hands on me this afternoon and prayed, and our Pastor Bobby & Sister Eileen (his wife) came up to the hospital tonight and prayed over us.  Love you all in Him!

Tuesday morning, December 19, 2006

They are taking Richard into the Cath Lab this morning to perform an angiogram to determine what the problem is. If an angioplasty/stent will fix the problem, they will perform it at that time, and he should be able to come home quickly.  Worst case scenario (I PRAY NOT!!!), open-heart surgery again, meaning a much longer hospital stay and recuperation time.  PLEASE pray the first case will be sufficient!  Thanks for your prayers, and I love you in Him!

Monday, December 18, 2006

We checked Richard into the hospital last night about 6:30 p.m.  They ran x-rays and a million other tests.  Our Internist stopped by and spoke to us for a little bit, and has referred us to a cardiologist (a new one to us).  He will be by Richard's room sometime this morning to talk to him and assess the situation.  After work I will be going back to the hospital on the way home, so will be REALLY tired by the time I get home.  I will update this page as often as possible, so check back on the main page often for updates.  We have a lengthy report due to our client on Friday at work (I'm an Executive Secretary), and I really needed more than the 5 hours of sleep that I got.  Please pray Father Yahweh's Divine energy for me today, and His total peace & calm.  Thanks for your prayers, and I love you in Him!

Saturday, December 16, 2006

First of all, I want to thank all of you who have been praying for Richard & I recently!  ANY exertion causes the slight heart pains to start, and of course the nitros cause the horrible headaches.  Anyway, please pray that an angioplasty/stent will fix this problem, and that no further surgery will be needed.  And please pray for me, that I will have the Lord's total peace and comfort, that I will not worry about Richard, and that he will be able to return home by my BD (12/21)... he always makes that day very special for me; and the best gift would be to have him home and feeling good once again!  And mostly, thanks be to Father Yahweh for entering my hand Thursday night, in direct answer to my plea that He would come to me in a dream or some other way, and let me know everything was going to be fine!  What comfort that brought!