It has been a long standing Memorial day tradition for Joy's brother Fred and his wife Shirley plus their children Laraine, Steve, Danny and Chris to visit Montpelier, Ohio to decorate the graves of family and friends. Joy and I were not able to go last year due to her illness and scheduling at Duke but I don't think anything was going to stop her this year. Fred, Shirley, Steve and wife Trina and Danny drove over from Pennsylvania and Joy, Kayce and I convened at the family compound for a weekend at Hamilton Lake, Indiana. We were also able to visit with my mother, brother Don and some dear high school friends. Sharon has been a real trooper with her communications and thoughtfulness. Trina and Wayne talked photography and Joy and Fred talked illnesses and how to survive the rat race. Oh yah, Steve cooked the steaks!
The drive coupled with the activity and continued pain and soreness in Joy's stomach kept her down for the best part of one day but she recovered enough to battle it out. Continued weight gain meets with the doctors approval but not from Joy's vanity perspective. She feels she worked so hard to lose a lot of weight and now to gain it back a "can" at a time is ridiculous. But, the problem is, she cannot eat enough without the cans to sustain, so we wait to see. The "stomach and eating" is still an unresolved issue. We will be leaving for Duke around June 19 th for a series of tests and appointments and hoping for some resolve. Her daily spirometry (breathing) testing continue to show declining numbers which "may" be indicative of ongoing or increasing rejection.
Thanks to everyone that continue their interest in her struggle to regain some quality of life and I will do my best to keep you posted.
Just as our family did, so did the Kennedy family by looking far and wide to find the best solution and treatment for Ted Kennedy's medical condition. Apparently, they found what we found and that was selecting Duke University Medical Center as the best place in the world that offered the best chance for survival. We wish Ted and his family the very best as well.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Dear Joy and Wayne
We are glad that you were able to visit with family and friends in Indiana and Ohio. It must feel good to go on a road trip in another direction than Duke. Wayne the month of May is over and no trip to Duke. Hooray. We know that you and Joy are happy about that.
Joy, we wanted to let you know that our son Bill secured a new job so the wolf will not be at his door.
We will continue to pray for your health and that the June visit to Duke will reveal new information or approaches that will help you right away.
Love
Kitty and Bill
Dear Wayne & Joy,
Glad you could be a part of the tradition. We all had a great time at the lake. We were pleasantly surprised to see Joy up and around, and pretty much her 'ol self. We hear a lot about all that medical treatment -- and we all know there's still a ways to go -- but Joy is really doing well! Yeaaa Joy!! Wayne, you've inspired Trina to start pestering me for more photo gear--thanks a lot! :( Thanks for keeping us posted. Hope we'll all be able to get together again soon.
Love to all,
Steve & Trina
Dear Joy & Wayne - I'm glad to hear that you both are holding up. My father is going on 11 years out from his double lung transplant and doing well. Hang in there Joy, be obsessive about your medications and health and you'll be just fine.
June 16 - No recent posting from you. That worries me. Hope all is well.
I'm exhausted. I've worked the first of 3 twelve-hour days this week and I'm already exhausted. Does not bode well for the rest of the week.
Spent the weekend with the daughters and had a great time! It was a relief to not have to worry about mowing the grass or doing housework. Just play, play, play! They do know how to have fun.
Must go and get some sleep! Hugs to you both!!
Love,
Jackie Rose
Circleville, Ohio
Post a Comment