Here's the latest ....

Well, unfortunately the fluid around Dad's heart didn't drain completely and as quickly as his doctors would have liked, so the plan as of tonight is that they will remove the chest tube tomorrow morning, then wait 24 hours before they can do another echocardiogram to get a good look at his heart.  From what Dad told me tonight, the doctors will then go ahead and do the more minor of the two surgeries where they will cut a small window in his pericardial sac and insert a small drain that will remain there permanently to allow the fluid build up to drain into his body.  Because of his recent blood clots, his doctors would rather wait to do the more invasive heart surgery to remove the pericardial sac completely when his body has had more time to recover from the blood thinners and such.

So, it looks like he'll be having surgery sometime on Thursday and from there, who knows?  He thinks he'll be going home right away, but I think we need a bit more information from the doctors before we can plan on that.  If I know my dad, he'll do and say anything to get out of there in time to go to the Utah/BYU football game on September 15th.  To be honest, I'm fairly confident there are a couple hundred of his family and friends who love him enough to ban together, bust him out of there and wheel him down to the stadium ourselves!

As I was saying goodbye to him on the phone tonight, he said "I just don't want this to be how my grandkids remember me .... all hooked up to machines lyin' around in a hospital bed.  I've got stuff I need to do with them!"  He's got places to go and people to see, dang-it!  Don't worry Dad - I'm pretty sure when they think of you, years from now, the pictures in their head look a little something more like this ....

Better News Today

Bryan just emailed this update Sunday morning:

Just met with Dr McKellar up at the U who is the Cardiothorasic Surgeon. He looks very hopeful and likes the progress that he sees with Dad at this point. The swelling in legs and abdomen is continuing to go down and is breathing a little easier now. The plan looks like they will pull the drain from his pericardium tomorrow, keep him overnight and repeat the echo. If all goes well then he will go home.

IF, when Dad gets home and he feels like he is "stalling-out" again and not feeling better then they will do the Pericardectomy within the week. All of this depends on HIS symptoms and how he feels. He should be able to walk on treadmill for 20+ minutes without a problem. I really like this guy, he is definitely looking to "NOT" do the procedure unless it will make him feel a ton better. He also mentioned that the risk of this procedure is not very high with Dads condition.

Jake, Josh and Grandpa O :)

Home Is Where The Heart Is

For those of you who haven't heard yet, Dad's been back at University Hospital since Tuesday 8/28/12 because of the increased swelling in his legs that has spread into his abdomen.  It's the reason why he wasn't at the Utes season opener last Thursday - literally being in the hospital is THE ONLY thing that would keep that guy away from a game at Rice Eccles :)   (Warning:  I know I'm going to mess up the medical jargon here when I try to explain what's going on with Dad - especially since I'm here in St. George and haven't heard it first hand from the docs like Mom and Bry and Carter, but  we wanted to get something posted anyway.)

He's been feeling progressivley worse and more fatigued since his blood clots last month.  His transplant team turned him over to the cardio thorasic team at the U to try to figure out what was going on, and after coming in for a CT scan and numerous other tests, the docs found that he had a lot of fluid building up around his heart - inside the pericardial sac that holds the heart.  They were all stumped as to what was causing the fluid build up, but they said that that pressure on the heart is what's been causing his swelling, fatigue, shortness of breath and slow recovery.  He had a right/left heart cath done on Thursday morning where they were able to insert a tube to drain the fluid and also were able to get a picture of what's going on in his heart.

They found that the pericardial sac has hardened up into a shell and either needs to be removed all together, or will have to have a small window cut out of it to prevent future fluid build up. Basically, he has to have heart surgery sometime here in the next week or so. The doctors told us that this is most likely a result of the surgical complications he endured during his lung transplant almost nine months ago.  What was supposed to be a 3-4 hour surgery back on Christmas Eve ended up taking almost 11 hours because his aorta was accidentally knicked and he almost bled out on the table.  Basically, he has to have heart surgery sometime here in the next week or so :(

They're watching him now and are running tests on the fluid that's still draining which will determine how urgent the need for surgery is.  Hopefully it will stop draining altogether and he'll be able to go home for a couple of days before being readmitted for open heart surgery.  His attitude, is of course, awesome and although we're all extremely nervous about how well his frail body can endure a surgery like this, we're also relieved that finally there's an explanation as to why his recovery has been so difficult - especially when his new lung has been doing so well.  I still have questions that will hopefully be answered soon about the effects of having your pericardial sac removed, the effects of heart surgery on his new lung, etc.

We'll keep you posted as soon as we hear anymore news.  A day doesn't go by that we aren't humbled and grateful that he's still here with us and fighting for the life he loves so much.  We love all of you more that words can say and are continuously grateful for your prayers and concern!

Home Sweet Hospital

So just when we started bragging about how great Dad is doing (goes to the gym daily) and how awesome it was that he hasn't had to be re-admitted to the hospital since coming home in early Feb., here we are. Dad came in yesterday for a regularly scheduled broncoscopy and biopsy but his docs weren't able to finish when they noticed his o2 sats kept dipping during the procedure. Long story short, some ultrasounds revealed a blood clot in his calf - part of which had traveled up to his new lung. The good news is that they caught it in time and now have him on meds that will dissolve them and hopefully prevent anymore from appearing. The bad news is that he'll be in the hospital probably til Sunday morning, along with now having to add some injectible meds to his daily pile of meds as well as more frequent visits to the clinic for blood draws.

Needless to say, it's reminded all of us of how fragile his condition still is, despite his positive attitude along with the "oh, I'm fine's" and contagious smile. We'll keep you all posted and continue to be humbled and grateful for your many prayers and financial contributions that have kept him here with us a little longer.

Six Months Out

It has been a little over six months from the Christmas Eve lung transplant.  I definitely consider myself a very lucky man as I am still alive and able to enjoy, among other things, a wonderful 4th of July family reunion with our extended family this week at Draper Park.  They are simply amazing!  What a treat to get together with them all and see their families growing so beautifully.  Not only that, my daughter Jani married Brock Belliston on memorial day weekend in St. George which I was able to attend and participate in the wedding. Priceless!!!  Grand kids are the best.  Without the transplant, I would not have been here.  Yes, I am a lucky man.

I wasn't able to golf with them at Wasatch State Park on the 4th, which is our tradition, or hike, or a few other things, but I am a patient son of gun and know it will come soon.

As to my condition at this point, I tire easily and my breathing is somewhat irregular.  My weight is still possible to pass as a prisoner of war model, BUT - I am breathing on my own and every month I see progress.  I asked my Dr. last week to tell me straight of I was on target at this post operative stage and she said definitely and that she was pleased.  I'll take that.  I undergo another bronkoscopy end of the month to check for any rejection from the lung, but I think it likes me.

Life is good and it all comes down to faith, family, and friends.  Thank you all for being there.  You are all the best!!!

Dwight Osborn (Ozzie)

Gratitude

My Doctors tell me I am right on schedule for which I am very grateful.  It's been four months since surgery and I have come a long way, even though at times it doesn't seem like it.

 By the way, I have been neglectful in not thanking the amazing doctors and nurses at the "U".  They could not be any better.  They become a second family. Dr. Gomez, in surgery, Dr. Cahill, Dr. Ramon, Kelly, Tauna in Clinic,  Laurie Brewster, Molly, Spence in Clinical Trials,  Merico, Rachelle, Bill in therapy, and the kind and caring nurses who cared for me; always with a smile and a ton of patience. I can't say enough positive things about them all.

I am "graduating" from physical therapy this week eliminating my need to travel to the hospital 3-4 times a week which should simplify my life a little.  I plan on continuing therapy at the Treehouse Gymn in Draper where there are a bunch of great people and friends.  I will miss those at the "U" but you can bet I will keep in touch and always look for ways to help others with the disease and try to help in finding a cure.

I tried to see if I could do a light jog yesterday; couldn't even get two steps in and darn near fell over.  I felt like I was on to short stilts with no lift at all. That's O-K because it will come in time with effort.  I am thankful for what I have so far and the time to improve.  Life is good!

When something like this happens, it is very humbling to see how many friends one has.  Literally it brings tears to my eyes when I think about it.  Thanks for being my friend!