Always jam tomorrow and never jam today

I waited and Ray waited for the doctor to discharge him today,but they're keeping him one more day. Tomorrow. I'm a little relieved because they have better equipment and knowledge there should things run amok,but on the whole,he's doing really well.

I think it's Thursday

It's funny how you lose track of time. Anyway, John and I went to see Ray this morning and he was much better. He was looking awake and had eaten some toast. He doesn't remember any of our visits. He showed us his incision and it looks tidy and dry.They have to finish weaning him off the drug to raise his blood pressure and then make sure he's stable and move him back upstairs.Don't know when he'll be coming home.It's too soon to tell.

okay

They got his blood pressure up to a more normal place.He's feeling better now and isn't so clammy,nauseous and dizzy.He's in CCU.

okay

They got his blood pressure up to a more normal place.He's feeling better now and isn't so clammy,nauseous and dizzy.He's in CCU.

More news

The hospital phoned this morning to say that Ray's blood pressure was too low and they are moving him back to CCU or ICU as they are better able to give hiom the meds he needs.He is dizzy and nauseous.Poor guy.

The Day After

I went up to see Ray this morning and then this afternoon. He is doing well, and had a bit to eat. They had him sit up a couple of times. Matt and I were working on the garden this morning so it doesn't look so much like a bomb site. We're prepared for a garage to be built as soon as the building permit comes through. Thankfully we have a company coming to just built the thing.It's going to be big-I was teasing Ray that you'll be able to see it from outer space. Anyway,Matt and I thought we'd try to make it look nice enough that he'll actually want to sit out there to watch them build later. He may be home as early as this weekend.

Day is Done

Ray had his surgery as planned today. He is still pretty doped up and full of tubes and wires. He had a quadruple bypass. I saw him after the surgery with my son Tom and I'll go again in the morning. We were blessed to have Paulette Stein(my daughter-in-law's mother) there as she is an O.R. nurse in cardiology and spent time with us as Ray was brought in and phoned us regularly to assure us things were going as planned and what to expect after. Our friends Briaan and JoAnne and Laurie and Mike had a supper ready for any of the Hickeys who needed one-of course everyone showed up for that. The Hickeys are a noisy bunch- even when you don't count the babies. We got shushed at the hospital a couple of times.Thank you all for your prayers and please keep it up as the next 24 hours are critical.

Today

Glenn Hilton is often talking about living in the moment. I've come to a point with Ray's health care that I say to myself each morning"Okay.What do I have to do today?" I can't think much farther ahead than that. We had a good day yesterday. We took Ray to mass at the hospital in his wheelchair and then back on the ward we had a priest friend come and have annointing of the sick for us-the kids and what friends that were visiting at the time. It was very moving and emotional. After that the kids came over for comfort food-spaghetti and meatballs. My neighbour Ari made the meatballs and Laurie sent over the salad and dessert. We are spoiled,happily, with the wonderful support we have.Good friends, People of Praise,close family,even friends of friends,and of course our parish.
This afternoon Ray goes for his surgery. It takes 4 hours. We'll be at the hospital this morning to wait with him,then wait......Then when it's over I'll go up and see him,hopefully. Then the phone calls to everyone. That's what I have to do today.

Well-wishes

If you Google the Saskatoon Health Region their website will come up and on the left-hand side of their homepage you will see a box marked Well-Wishes. If you click on that you will be able to send Ray a message that they will deliver to his bed. He is in Royal University Hospital, room 6012.

All the News...All the time...

Hi everyone . Ray heard today that he is having his surgery Monday afternoon. The cardiologist said he is the second one booked for that day, but that if an emergency comes up he will postpone Ray. Pray that all goes according to schedule! He is to have a quadruple bypass and maybe 5(what's the word for five,I forget?)Quintuple? As he is a non-smoker, and is only 55 and isn't diabetic, it makes the side -effect list a lot shorter, but there is a SMALL chance of a stroke, so please pray that all would go well. He should be home by next weekend to begin the looong recovery.

Yikes!

The resullts from the angiogram were that Ray needs open-heart bypass surgery. I'm in a bit of a daze and today we hear from the cardio team as to what the plan is. Please pray for him!

Still Waiting

Another day has passed and Ray is still waiting. Sometimes it's a big lineup for angiograms and sometimes not,apparently. He's comfortable,in the meantime, and being monitored and eating heart-smart hospital food. He's read 2 Agatha Christie novels and has started a Bourne novel.

Broken Heart

It's been too long since my last blog. Lately I have been doing a lot of communicating by phone with everyone since Ray's health issues became news. He has angina. He has been having symptoms for about a month and a half now. He can't even walk to the coffee room at work without shortness of breath and his chest burning,etc. He's had a stress test and is now at City hospital waiting for an angiogram,which should happen today.If he needs an angioplasty or a stent they will do that right away. I'll keep you posted.