One Day at a Time

I'm really feeling sad today. As many of you know, my husband Eric had a heart attack back in August of last year. As a result of that, he lost about 50% of his heart function. His heart doctor was hoping that some of the function might return, but it has not. For that reason, he referred him to the transplant team at the University of Florida Shands hospital. At this point, it is more of a preliminary action not an immediately necessary one.

We spoke with the doctor at Shands on Tuesday. Basically he said that Eric would have to be admitted to the hospital to undergo a battery of tests to see if he would even qualify to be on the transplant list. He also told us that the antirejection drugs that Eric would have to take as a heart transplant recipient would surely put on dialysis because of his already reduced kidney function. For that reason, if he makes the transplant list it will be for both a healthy heart and kidney.

All that is enough to absorb for this week, but then yesterday we found out that his right foot has a MRSA infection. After changing the bandages on his foot last night, he also found a new wound on his left foot. He immediately went to the doctor this morning when they opened. The doctor cleaned out the wound and did a culture to see if it is also MRSA. It is likely that it is. Currently, he is still scheduled to go into Shands for his transplant tests on May 9th, but we'll have to see how this infection thing goes.

So, it's been a rough week for both of us. Eric keeps apologizing for physically "falling apart", and it just makes me sad. I keep telling him that all we can do is take one day at a time. I really try not to worry and leave it with God, but that doesn't mean I'm not sad. I'm asking that anyone who reads this keeps both Eric and I in your prayers.

First Attempt

OK I know that both Eric and my Momma tried to tell me that water was still to cold to go swimming despite how warm it is outside, but I just had to try it anyway. As silly as it seems, it was depressing me not to get to at least try my new lift. This is as far as I got before I couldn't take any more of the coldness!!

Pool Lift Installation

Thanks to our tax refund, some wonderful people I used to work with at NASA, and my incredibly generous family, my new pool lift was installed on Friday, April 1st...no joke...it really happened!! Anyway, it has to sit for a day or two to allow the concrete to fully harden, but I see a few pool parties with friends and family coming my way very soon!

Thanks again to everyone who contributed. I am truly blessed, and I love you all more than you will ever know! Stay tuned for more pictures!!

Setting up the drilling machine.

Drilling the hole.

Piece removed from the hole.

The hole.

Inserted anchor attached to temporary pole.

Leveling and cementing the anchor.

All done cementing and leveling.

Unpacking the lift.

Unpacking the lift.