October 10 - 12

Daddy continues to improve each day. The Rehab therapists are working him very hard six days a week and right now it looks like he'll be going home on or before November 16. We are praying for before!!! We know God continues to be in control, and that Daddy's determination will make a huge difference in his recovery.

Melissa was able to fly in for a visit on Sunday, staying with Daddy overnight and seeing first hand the therapy he is receiving on Monday. I know he enjoyed having her there and I'm thinking Nelda did too, as she was able to go stay at Paula's overnight (and hopefully got some much deserved and needed rest).

Please continue to lift both Dad and Nelda up to the Lord in prayer, as he experiences the different stages of recuperation and as she is there for (and with) him every step of the way.

October 9, 2009

Daddy continues to improve! He actually called my phone today and tho' our call was cut short due to cellular connectivity issues within the hospital - it was GREAT to hear him.

Please continue to lift both he and Nelda up in prayer. We are grateful for and covet those of you that are standing in the gap.

October 6-8, 2009

What a difference real clothes and a change of environment can make!!!

The report from Harris Methodist Rehab is full speed ahead. Daddy is doing physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy on a daily basis. He's working hard and is determined to be out of there in three weeks and not take advantage of the four weeks his insurance allows. According to Nelda, he is making great strides.

We are grateful for the skilled workers taking such good care of Daddy and to God for allowing us the opportunity to have more time with him here on earth. We know everyday is a gift and this has been a reminder for all of us...that there are no guarantees. Truth is...everyday is a gift for each of us!!!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Today was a GREAT day on this journey to recovery...and we are so grateful to God for the strength, courage and grace He has provided.

Brett spent the night with Daddy last night, which it sounds like they both enjoyed. This gave Nelda the opportunity to go over to Paula and Tom's to rest and refresh.

The reports from Nelda today were totally positive and Daddy is moving toward the goal ahead (total recovery) and is determined to get there.

Today, Daddy was:

• re-evaluated to make sure he was ready for aggressive Rehab
• put through the "swallow test" again, and passed with a much better outcome
• moved from pureed to chopped food
• hungry and ate well at all three meals
• visited by both the physical and occupational therapists
• able to communicate much better verbally
• moved across the street to Rehab
• worn out after a very busy day

These are all huge steps and as Nelda said tonight..."we are really encouraged. He's going to make it."

For those who would like to drop Daddy and/or Nelda a note of encouragement, here is his current address (tho' he will be changing rooms as soon as a private room becomes available - which we will post):

Byron B. Merritt

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth

Richardson Tower - 3rd floor

Room 318A

1301 Pennsylvania Avenue

Fort Worth, TX 76104

God is so good!!!

October 4, 2009

Called this morning to check on Daddy's night - Nelda said he had a pretty good night (not near as much coughing as he's been having...so he could rest better). AND I even got to talk to him. He said he was glad I was back home with Jeff and answered a few questions, but I could understand everything he said. I truly believe his speech will return...just have to work at it and his speech therapist is really precious and so good with him.

Tomorrow is a big day...hopefully he will have been eating and drinking enough so he can be transferred to the Rehab area of the hospital (over in the main building). Nelda said he ate well at all three meals today...that's a very good sign.

Brett flew back into DFW today for business over the next couple of days. He is giving Nelda a much needed night of relief by staying at the hospital with Daddy and she has gone over to Tom and Paula's to rest and refresh! I know Dad will enjoy having Brett with him...as they watch Sunday Night Football.

While I know this is difficult (at best) for Daddy, it is also so tiring and difficult on the main care giver. Please continue to keep Daddy in your prayers, but also remember Nelda as she is there for him...making sure he has the things he needs to regain his strength and work toward life as normal AND that she will remain in good health. I am so thankful she has Tom and Paula so close, so she doesn't have to drive all the way back to Cleburne to get some real rest.

Thanks for lifting Dad and Nelda up to the Lord in prayer...it is so important to every step of his recovery.

October 3rd

Well, today is probably the most difficult for me yet...I need to get back to Seattle, but I hate leaving Daddy. Not that I don't believe he is in the best of hands and will have the best of care, but he's my daddy and right now he seems so helpless.

Today was just a so-so kind of day (at least before I left) - he worked out with the physical therapist, but then was so worn out he could barely keep his eyes open. Michael and Kara had come into town to see "PaPa" and they didn't get to see the side we have seen off and on over the past few days. He really just wanted to sleep.

While I was stuck in the Albuquerque airport, I spoke with Nelda and she said he was having a better evening. Laughing and talking to Tom Pauley...so that makes me feel better.

Watching the man you've always looked up to, and have always considered to be your protector and strength, basically lying helpless in a hospital bed is extremely difficult. But I know God is still in the business of miracles and healing AND through the skilled help of the medical providers at Harris Hospital, Fort Worth I believe he will be back!

October 1 & 2, 2009

What an emotional roller coaster this journey can be...yesterday was not a fun day and was such a downer I couldn't even make myself get online to write about it. But today is another day, a better day! A MUCH better day!!!!

Thursday started out with the heart doctor saying he wanted Daddy to go into aggressive rehab treatment (which they have in the main part of the hospital, just across from the Heart Center). Woo Hoo! We were so excited and knew that Daddy would be up for the challenge. But as the day progressed it was apparent depression was starting to sneak in (which is understandable and part of it - I would think).

Daddy ate a good breakfast - well good is relative when your meals are pureed - but he ate well and even started feeding himself with his left had. Lunch was not quite as appetizing, but he still ate the creamy chicken soup and applesauce pretty well. After lunch the PT from rehab came in and got him into the chair and he sat up for 3 and one half hours. This apparently wore him out, because for the rest of the day he was wiped out and wouldn't coorporate with anyone from that point on.

When the doctor from Rehab came over to evaluate Daddy it was around 5 pm and by the time he left we were convinced there would be no aggressive rehab in the near future. He felt if Daddy couldn't convince them otherwise he would have to be moved to a nursing home where he would get "soft and easy" rehab until he could gain the stamina necessary for aggressive rehab. (And that rarely happens, according to what they have all said.)

UGH!!! That was not what we wanted to hear.

Today...much better! Nelda had him up at 7 am and started working his right arm and leg! I would imagine the "talking to" she gave him during the wee hours of night motivated him to not be a slacker today! Probably reminded him of National Guard Boot Camp at Fort Hood!!! God bless her, she is not going to rest until he is back on his feet and for that we are grateful. (But we are concerned about her, too). The good news is when he is moved to Rehab she will be able to stay with Tom and Paula at night and get some much needed rest.

After being evaluated by the Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist and Speech Therapist, when the physician from Rehab came by he told Daddy that "his fan club" had been letting him know how well he had done today, so Monday he will be going across the street to Rehab!!! Woo Hoo!

Please continue to join us as we pray for healing and strength for Daddy and strength for Nelda as she is taking such good care of our Dad.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

HE'S SITTING UP IN A CHAIR!!! Praise be to God...it is so good to see him in a chair. It's those little things that mean so much!!!

We are making progress and now that he's up they have realized what a strong individual he is...both physically and mentally. The physical therapist has said they will be working aggressively with him AND for that we are thankful!!!!!!

Just wanted to share...

More to come later today!!!

*************************************************************

WoW!! What a day! Lots of good news and Daddy is absolutely worn out tonight from all the activity.

After sitting this morning for about an hour, he got to go do the "swallow test" and proved us right...NO FEEDING TUBE!!! That was wonderful news, because it means he will have one less hurdle to get over on this journey to recovery.

He also traded his "digs" in Cardiac ICU for a room on the 3rd floor. So he's movin' on up!!!

Tonight Daddy is exhausted but hungry (also a good sign) - tho' not too exhausted to ask to watch football. So here we sit watching the Hawaii - LA Tech game - for no other reason than it is on.

We are so grateful for answered prayer and for prayer warriors from coast to coast. Please continue to remember Dad and Nelda when you go to our Heavenly Father in prayer...because now the real Journey begins.

• His physical therapy will be aggressive - which means three hours a day.
• His speech therapy will be frustrating because he knows what he's saying...we just can't understand. I'm sure he thinks we have gotten really stupid really fast!
• Hia recovery will take time...and whether it's 3 weeks, 3 months or 3 years it will be too long for his liking - he has wanted to go home and has been wondering what we were waiting on for several days.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Today is the day Daddy gets his permanent pacemaker, they told us it would be late this morning, but as it turns out it is scheduled at 1:00 pm (maybe they were thinking "left coast" time when they said late morning).

Actually, let me back up...Nelda's day started with a visit from the neurologist at midnight - waking her from a semi-restful sleep and telling her Daddy was not progressing as quickly as he had hoped and it would probably be two to three YEARS before he was over this. Well, we are thinking he's off by a good year and a half to two and a half years!!!

• Why is it that a great number of medical professionals look at a patient's chart and see 81 years old (for example) and think "old person"?
• They don't know my daddy, he may be 81 years old chronologically, but he's much younger physically and mentally.
• We believe he will fight to get back to his "new norm" and get there much faster than expected.

OK - now back to the pacemaker insertion...the procedure went well and by 4:30 pm (CDT) he had a new pacemaker, plus the wiring and tube from the temporary pacemaker had been removed. We are so grateful!

The fears of aspiration and possible pneumonia were dispelled when the doctor read this morning's x-rays (one lung was completely clear and the other had a little congestion); so we're a little confused as to why they are so ready to start a feeding tube. He is going to get to be sitting up tomorrow and they will only now begin to evaluate him...so we requested he be given the chance to prove he can swallow.

This afternoon before going into surgery, we were trying to get him to use his right hand. We have been going through this exercise of "squeeze my hand - pretend it's a golf club and squeeze it" and that had worked up until today, I think he's figured us out! So I popped off and said "OK, Daddy, if you won't squeeze my hand, we'll just have to arm wrestle" (hoping he'd just try to grip my hand). Well, you can imagine my surprise when he took my hand to the mattress. AND to top that, when I started to bring it back up, he tightened his grip and took it down again. This happened four times. He's a mess!!! We have laughed at how his sense of humor and orneriness continue to show through. I love his crooked little smile!!!

So tonight he sleeps, and tomorrow the tough part begins...rehab! He's determined...we can tell because he's feisty!

Please pray for his ability to swallow and for a quick and complete healing. We are grateful for your continued prayers and support.

Friday - Monday, September 25 - 28, 2009

Daddy is holding his own and fortunately (or unfortunately for him at this time) he understands and hears EVERYTHING we say and do. (which he reminded Nelda and Hattie of this afternoon!)

But he sometimes can't communicate...I know the words are there in his head and coming out of his mouth, we just can't always understand. BUT then there are times we understand very clearly.

We know he gets a little disoriented at times and doesn't remember where he is, because he has asked...

• "who are we waiting for?"
• "where did this bed come from?"
• "what are we waiting for?" (which is what we are wanting to ask)

We also know he is getting better and agitated all at the same time, because he is ready to get out of bed...in fact, he has made numerous attempts...which scares us because he still can't move his right leg.

Five days on his back...he's a little tired of this and rightly so.

We know he's frustrated, especially when we've had to ask him, for the fifth time, to repeat what he's said. That's usually when he blurts it out.

• Like last night, when I knew he was hungry, but I wasn't sure what he was asking for and he blurted out "SANDWICH".
• Sorry, Daddy, the chocolate pudding was as good as it was going to get!

But, we also know his sense of humor is very much intact...

Yesterday, he was trying to get Nelda to understand that he wanted out of bed and she told him that he couldn't. His response...

• "Hide and watch"

And his stubborn streak...very much alive and well...

• The nurse was trying to get him to squeeze with his right hand and he wouldn't budge.
• Then I walked in a little bit later and asked him to squeeze my hand like he was gripping a golf club (sorry, nurse, you have to know your audience) and I thought he was trying to break my fingers.
• Then the added bonus...he lifted my hand halfway to his face from the bed. (It's the little things that mean so much now - I believe this has changed all our lives.)

For the most part his memory is also good...

• He remembered I had told him, last week, that James had gotten a promotion and raise.
• He said..."James...raise?" "WHEN?"
• He asked if Brett had left and when...and we think he may have been asking when he was coming back instead of when did he leave.

He enjoyed hearing from his grandchildren and great grandchildren...

• when Melissa placed the phone next to his ear for the kids to say "We love you, PaPa" - he smiled real big!
• and when Brayden told him he was praying for him...we KNOW that thrilled his soul.

He has so many friends and I think most of them have come by the hospital at least once...and he enjoys every visit (whether he's snoring or not).

His blood pressure had been elevated both yesterday and today, but they are trying to control that with meds. He has developed a cough and when you can't sit up more than 30% your chances of getting pneumonia increase. Those are two prayer requests...as we prepare for tomorrow.

The plan remains to insert the pacemaker tomorrow (Tuesday, September 29th) so we can start really working the physical therapist...please pray that both of these issues will have subsided and he can really start recovering.

We know he has a long road ahead of him, but our prayer remains for a full recovery. God hears the prayers of His people and we believe He is still in the miracle and healing business.

Thank you so much for continuing to keep Daddy in your prayers.