The Journey : Day 9

Tues 9/23 @ 1pm : Hi Everyone !

A VIEW OF DOWNTOWN CHARLOTTE

   Day 5 in Charlotte now at Presbyterian Hospital. Day 9 in the Hospital overall. They put my Dad on Xarelto and Cardezen for his heartbeat, he has been in Atril Fibrilation (a-fib) pretty much since he's been here, it fluctuates from 80 to 160 bpm, it's crazy, it will be in the 80's, 90's, and then a few hours later, jump into the 120's and 130's, with spurts up to 140-150, even up to 160 bpm. Both Mom & Dad went all night without sleeping, with pain and anxiety.

   They hope these med's will regulate the heartbeat, so we can go home. When back home, we will meet with the local oncologist, as well as the cardiologist, to get a complete and full diagnosis of his lung cancer, and hear their ideas for a plan of treatment. We are still hoping and praying for healing, and believe God is able! (Eph. 3:20)

VIEW OF CHARLOTTE FROM OUR WINDOW

  The cardiologist just came in while I was typing this post, and he is adding Digoxin to my Dad's meds, along with the Xarelto and Cardezen, plus Lopressor, and drugs for pain and anxiety at times. One positive- those of you that know about CoQ10, my parents are major believers in it, and they increased his dose of it from 30mg to 300mg. I gave Dad some green tea awhile ago. They also took out his drain tube from the heart, and patched up the opening. One of the nurses also put him into the shower, and he's all cleaned up now & feeling much better.


  Dad also walked a complete lap around the 5D wing here, which is like four hallways. He did it for the second time, he went out & did it at midnight, and then did it again this morning. The first time he walked, a couple of days ago, he didn't even get to the end of the first hallway, and had to turn around and come back to the room. So it seems his strength and endurance are getting better with time. 

A VIEW OF THE CHARLOTTE SKYLINE

  The skies are overcast, and it is going to rain today. Yesterday it was sunny, and I got out for a second walk. The first one was only a mile or two. I left Monday afternoon with the idea of walking downtown. I've been in Charlotte many times, but the last time I was here, it was for a Panthers game, and we went directly to the stadium, ate dinner two blocks away, and then drove back home. It is amazing walking underneath those skyscrapers. I've never been to NYC in my life, been to Philadelphia once, but it is a thrill to look straight up at a building called the Bank of America Center, which is 60 stories high. I continued walking to the Carolina Panthers stadium, and then back to the hospital, round trip was around 5-6 miles. Great walk and got back just as the sun was setting!