Below is a brief synopsis of the past month. Since I have written detailed emails, I thought I'd keep this daily recap short. As time goes on, I will try to post to the blog instead of sending out email updates. I will, however, continue to use email to request help that might be needed for Kari and the boys.
July 16, 2013 Dennis came home not feeling well. He thought he had the flu.
July 17, 2013 After fighting flu-like symptoms all evening, Dennis collapsed on the bed at 12:30 a.m. and Kari called the paramedics. The paramedics struggled to get him somewhat stable and then transported him to Little Company of Mary Medical Center(LCM). Kari was able to get a hold of both boys, who rushed to join her at LCM.
July 17, 2013 was Dennis' 62nd birthday.
Doctors discovered that ALL of Dennis' main arteries were clogged. Stents were put into the right anterior artery, but doctors questioned whether he would make it through the night. He was placed on life support.
July 18, 2013 - Dennis was still with us. Praise the Lord!
July 19, 2013 - Adjustments were made to meds. Dennis seemed more alert.
July 20, 2013 - Dennis was alert and waving and giving a thumbs up. The goal was to get him off the breathing machine. Blood pressure was still unstable.
July 21-24, 2013 - Dennis remained in LCM ICU on life support. This is a part of all the meds he was hooked up to.
 |
| There were no less than five of these medicine stands in Dennis' room! |
July 25, 2013 - Dennis was moved to Torrance Memorial Medical Center (TMMC) to have an Impella Device inserted as a temporary help to his heart. The surgeon discovered during the process, that the artery with the stents put in it, had already begun to close.
 |
| While waiting at TMMC, a comfort dog came through the waiting room to visit. This gentle dog was almost 100 lbs.! But the boys couldn't help but smile when he came through. Job well done, doggie! |
July 26, 2013 - Dennis was moved to Ronald Reagan Medical Center at UCLA (UCLA) where there were more options for someone in his condition. Dennis was unstable, but the doctors felt his best chance was to transfer him to UCLA. (There was a protest in Westwood that day that made getting to the hospital very unnerving, but everyone made it and all were happy that he was now in a place that offered him the best care possible.)
July 27, 2013 - Dennis still had an infection, fever, pancreatitis, failing kidneys and a bad heart. He was given a cat scan and an echo cardiogram and they were able to fix a problem with the Impella device. He was also given some blood. But he was much more alert this night!
July 28, 2013 - The breathing tube was taken out and Dennis was breathing on his own. He was able to speak and start eating soft foods. His pancreas was still inflamed, his kidneys still were not functioning on their own and he had a low grade fever.
July 29-31, 2013 - Discussions began about implanting a Left Ventricle Assist Device (LVAD) in Dennis since the Impella was reaching the maximum amount of time it could be used in him. The nurse came in and explained the device to Dennis and to those of us who happened to be in the room.
 |
| The LVAD nurse shows us an actual LVAD and all the equipment that goes with it. |
 |
| The nurse showed Dennis the device and explained to him how it worked. |
August 2, 2013 - Surgery to implant LVAD. Here he goes from the ICU to the surgical floor....quite an event to move him and all his equipment and machinery!
 |
| This is what the LVAD looks like |
August 3- 10, 2013 - Dennis began to recover from the LVAD surgery. The respirator came out the day after surgery, but it took a few days for him to pass the swallow test so he could begin having soft foods and liquids. By the weekend, he was standing up and taking steps with the PT and he seemed to feel a little more energized. But his kidneys still aren't working and the dialysis procedure began to wear on him.
August 11, 2013 - Dennis did not feel well this day. The dialysis was taking a toll on his body.
August 12, 2013 - Kari and Kevin met with a representative from the Joint Commission from Washington who came to check on VAD patients and their care (Vice President Cheney is a VAD patient). They also met with the dietitian who discussed dietary changes that would have to be made.
August 13, 2013 - Dennis was tired again after a dialysis treatment. He was having trouble breathing and his limbs were very swollen.
August 14, 2013 - Dennis walked 25 feet down the hallway. He ate most of his meals. But he was still having trouble breathing, running a fever and having diarrhea.
August 15, 2013 - Dennis was tired but still managed to walk 45 feet without sitting. Needed oxygen assist. He seems to be eating well and continues to struggle with the Dialysis treatments.
August 16, 2013 - Dennis took a nice walk again, this time without the oxygen assist. He ate well and again had a dialysis treatment. He is still fighting a fever.
August 17, 2013 - Dennis was tired and has been having trouble sleeping. He began having trouble breathing and speaking. It was determined that he had fluid in his lungs that would need to be drained. One liter of fluid was drained from his lungs. He felt a bit of relief, but was very tired from all the procedures.
August 18, 2013 - Dennis was a little delirious from new meds that were being administered to him. But they were able to get him to sit in the outside patio for a while.
August 19, 2013 - A tough day. Dennis was still hallucinating and they aren't sure if it's the meds or something else. And echo cardiogram was done and it was discovered that the fluid around his heart was building and putting pressure on the heart. waited all evening to see if surgery would be performed at night, but the surgeon was called into another surgery and will have to do Dennis' in the morning.
