Direction..

We finally have one! Yesterday mom and dad went to see Dr. Hearon. I couldn't go, but I printed off the post here about our experience with Dr. Carlton. Dad gave it to Lisa the PA first, and then she gave it to Dr. Hearon. Dad said he came in so red faced, could tell he was angry and upset. He said very little actually. Mom said before he said a word he gave her a big ole bear hug. Then told them there is a plan. He had just gotten off the phone with Dr. Hennington - partner with Dr. Carlton. He said they discussed everything and looked up at dad and said it was close to a 'Jesus talk'! Daddy said that Dr. Hearon said mom did need the surgery and really didn't have much to say about Dr. Carlton. He also said he faxed over my note to Dr. Hennington and that his office should call them and set up an appointment for today.

Well, dad called about 7:30 and said to get ready they are ready to see mom. We get there and mom and I walk in while dad is parking the car, and this short man in green scrubs is in the hall. He says hello and was so nice. His nurse puts us in a room and the door doesn't even get shut when he walks in and shakes all of our hands, greeting each of us with a big smile. From the moment he walked in I felt at ease. He talks to mom for a minute and then tells us that he isn't going to comment on Dr. Carlton but here is what he thinks. That surgery while she is in relatively good health is best, there is 97-98% chance that she will do fine with the surgery. He said after the surgery she will fell so much better. He is also going to try to get rid of her atrial fibrillation which would be soooo great as well. He talked to us for a long time, he showed us the cath video again and a model of the heart showing us where the blockages were.

But the biggest thing, most important that put us all at ease was he said something about the Lord, and mom stopped him and said "You just mentioned the Lord, are you a Christian?" He didn't hesitate and stated profoundly "YES"! That made mom light up. He said it again, I am a born again Christian! The rest...was just gravy.

God had a plan, I think he really put confusion into Dr. Carlton for a reason, God knew we needed this other doctor. God has a plan always, sometimes we just get in his way.

So, he said mom could have her surgery this week and he said he could give her up to 2 weeks. Of course mom said ooo 2 weeks. So, before we left his office I asked to schedule it. She has pre-op on May 7th and surgery on May 8th. We will know the time when she goes to pre-op.

So pray, PRAY PRAY PRAY. She will be needing them. She says God has given her perfect peace about the surgery which makes me feel better, I would hate her worrying so much.

Lighten the mood :)

This picture is strange...I took a picture of Grandpa Charlies lil cabin and then took a picture of the band somewhere else and put them together...turned out pretty cute I thought :)

Lisa and I, along with Brad, Marquita, Randall, Cara and Illan went to hear Johnny, Todd, Little John and Gary play in Marion on Saturday. It was fun and I needed the distraction! I forget how talented my brothers are sometimes. These are a couple videos from that night.

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i24/hopelail/?action=view&current=100_2811.flv

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i24/hopelail/?action=view&current=100_2817.flv

After it was over, I stopped in and saw Matthew! Ohh goodness when did he grow up??? He still has such a sweet sweet disposition and you can tell he loves the Lord. He hugged me and life just seemed to catch up with us. Though, Scott and I are planning on coming up there and having dinner soon with them...I know it won't be everyone again, but I miss Roy...Matthew and Lori so much, some of my best memories are when Uncle Elmer would hear me hit the floor rolling out of bed and him coming in and picking me up, or Lori laughing so hard she let a fizzle dizzle! haha. I want to know Holly, she sounds so precious. Really...I just want to get closer to all of my family...where would we be without our God and our family? a sad sad place I am sure. Ohh did I mention Matthew is sooooo pretty!...err I mean handsome!

Mom is doing good today, she is sad about Luc, but she sounds good. We went to church with her and ate lunch with her yesterday....great Sunday.

UPDATE

We get to the surgeons office, sitting in the exam room waiting for almost 40 minutes. He comes in..."Mrs. Pons...hmmmm well, here is how it is". He then asks if she had had any chest pain since being in the hospital. She said...no, just a lot of shortness of breath. I told him she was put on Imdur and that nitro seems to be keeping the pain at bay...plus we are trying to keep her from doing anything. He said good good. THEN...he said, well Mrs. Pons, with your cardiac history, your serious breathing problems and all your many health issues.... IF I did surgery on you, I would kill you. You have more health issues than anyone I have ever seen!! My mouth dropped, Dads teeth nearly hit the floor...and Mom is doing the happy dance in her chair praising God that she doesn't have to do surgery. Daddy and I are sitting there with puzzled looks on our faces. I was trying to figure out what serious serious health issues she has, and trying to think what heart issues she has had prior to this except for the stents and Atrial Fibrillation. I know her breathing was mostly from the pneumonia. Mom is still just smiling and going right on with it, and I ask...what are the risks of her not having surgery. He said she wouldn't survive surgery. My face a skewed even more. I think to myself...in the hospital before you let her go home, you said bypass was necessary for her to have quality of life, necessary for her to feel better, her heart was strong and the blockages though bad - were in the best places if you were to have to have a bypass. He had gone on and on how there were risks but the risks not having the surgery were almost imminent fatal heart attack. I come out of my thoughts and ask him - Didn't the pneumonia play the biggest part on her breathing? She has never had asthma or emphysema or anything like that. Puzzled himself, he looks down at the record in front of him and with a shocked look he mumbles "I have the wrong record" and says he will be back. Now, I knew why we sat there for so long at first, he was reviewing "HER" chart and "HER" cath video. Soooo I just assumed he would be another 30 or so minutes while he viewed HER real chart and video. Nope...he stepped out grabbed the chart and walked back in. Immediately I was uncomfortable. He thumbed through the chart like one of those flip books and turned to mom and said...I really think your blockages are in tough spots and since you aren't having pain right now...we will treat you with medicines and have you lose a little weight and as much as a year or so we will do the surgery. WHAT??? WHAT???? So send her home and let her have a heart attack and permanently damage her heart and then do surgery. I was so in shock I couldn't speak. He said...do you have any questions and I asked what should she do and he said little as possible and eat healthy. I asked about cardiac rehab and he said sure...not giving us any info, nothing. I am not doctor, but something just didn't add up. 2 weeks ago, he was fresh and responsive, on task and very attentive. Today he was distracted, confused, short, standing at the door with his hand on the knob...ready to go - just not the doctor she saw 2 weeks ago. I was upset, my dad was...mom still shouting joy. Ohh and he said they would treat her with meds...he gave her NOTHING. He didn't say to follow up with anyone, he didn't have anything to say. When I asked him if she started having pain...he said call me then. He did say she could have a heart attack tonight without surgery or tomorrow during surgery - so confused!

I told my dad we were going straight to Dr. Hearon's office, her long time cardiologist who referred her. (I used to work there.) We walk in and we ask to see him and he was at the other hospital, but Judy said she would get the triage nurse to come talk to us. The triage nurse came out...I didn't know her so we started back to a room and there came Suzanne. I walked over to hug her, and there came Lisa and Justin the PA's and there was Dr. Steg and Dr. Lomboy, Margo. Got lots of hugs :) Anyways - they asked why I was there and I told them to make an appt with Dr. Hearon to discuss our issues with Dr. Carlton. They asked what...and I told them. They are completely on computers so Justin - while we were talking - pulled up moms cath films and showed them to Dr. Steg. I could see the look on his face, he gave this ohh my Gosh look at the other doc and the PA's. He said this isn't the first time, and you are sure that he said she wasn't going to have surgery. I said YES...that is why we are so confused. He had Lisa to page Dr. Hearon and while we were waiting he said they could refer us to Winston Salem or use a partner at Dr. Carltons firm...the only cardio/thoracic surgeons in the area. I told him we would discuss that with Dr. Hearon. He apologized for all of that and I stood there with Lisa while I was waiting on Dr. Hearon. She said Dr. Carlton was going through something and has been distracted...I said that I hated he was having issues, but truthfully...I don't care! He is a doctor and when he walks in that room he should be 100% thinking about my mom. Not his wife, his other patients, surgery tomorrow or his taxes...MY MOM! She said I was right. Dr. Hearon wasn't available so we scheduled an appointment to talk to him on Wednesday. They were all sympathetic and unsure really what to say about this situation.

If I missed something and maybe they have re-thought what should be the next course of action...fine, I will trust Dr. Hearon. But, to send her home saying he would have done the surgery that day had it not been for the pneumonia and then 2 weeks later say she shouldn't have it as her body couldn't handle it????

Sorry that was a book...but needless to say I am so confused. But, you know...God might have had this happen because he know that this doctor may have his 'something else' on his mind the day of surgery. God knows...I am glad that he wouldn’t be doing the surgery.

So...we wait, we keep mom chilled and wait. I cant' imagine that this would be the permanent lifestyle for my active mother. I mean she can't walk for more than 20 seconds without being very short of breath. GRRRR...trying so hard to NOT be angry.

So please call if you have any questions. I wanted them to stay here...but they wouldn't....they want to stay at 'their' house until the surgery. I can't say I blame her.

Thank you for giving to the Lord!

Hi there! ;)

I met you at the revival last night at your church and two ladies sang the song, "Thank you for giving to the Lord" and the words were quite moving, especially when thinking of you and the many sacrifices you have given so that others would know our Lord. Here are the words:

I dreamed I went to Heaven, you were there with me.
We walked upon the streets of gold beside the Crystal Sea.
We heard the angels singing, then someone called your name.
You turned and saw this young man, and he was smiling as he came.

He said, "Friend you may not know me now," and then he said,
"But wait -You used to teach my Sunday School, when I was only eight.
And every week you would say a prayer before the class would start.
And one day when you said that prayer,I asked Jesus in my heart."

Chorus
Thank you for giving to the Lord,I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord,I am so glad you gave.

Then another man stood before you, he said "Remember the time,
A missionary came to your church, His pictures made you cry.
You didn't have much money but you gave it anyway.
Jesus took that gift you gaveAnd that's why I'm in Heaven today"

Chorus

One by one they came, far as your eyes could see.
Each life somehow touched by your generosity.
Little things that you had done, sacrifices that you made,
They were unnoticed on this earth, In Heaven now proclaimed.

Chorus

And I know up in Heaven you're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure there were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand and you stood before the Lord
He said "My child look around you,Great is your reward."

Chorus

------------------------------------------
Thank YOU for giving to the Lord, *I* am a life that was changed. I love you.

PICTURES!!!

I have posted all the pictures from the weekend HERE: http://ponspics.blogspot.com/

I thought it would be easier just to have them by theirselves. If you want a picture, let me know and I will send you the full sized one.

Love you...good night

Hello there! :)

Hello from Misti and Lily!

I remember when I first learned of you needing heart surgery. My first emotion was panic. Panic because the very thought of losing my dear grandmother sent fear through my body. You've been incredible to me since Lily came along, always giving me encouragement and words of wisdom, and always supportive of me and how I parent.

I love knowing you're there to talk to when a trial comes along and the panic I felt was pure selfishness, I know. You reminded me that when you're not here on earth anymore, that you'll be with Jesus and... well, that's a pretty awesome place to be! But the lump in my throat reminds me to pray, and I pray often for you.

I LOVED hearing Ray laugh out loud when he saw Lily and said she reminded him of you when you were her age. I don't want just memories of you to share with her; I want to hear her own memories her Gran-Gran!!

Speaking of Lily, she calls for me. Please know I cherish you.

Mom's stories about family..

Some of you know she has been writing things about each of us and I am going to start typing them and posting them here. I thought I would take my lap top with me to the hospital and while waiting and watching I could type...and maybe talk someone else that might be there into typing too :)

Mom is writing notes to everyone I think too before her surgery...you know how she is :)

Love you all...

Hope

To Ellen and Eddie...from Ruby

You are both so loved, every day...you are loved. Eddie, I am so sorry I forgot to make you a pot of coffee, I promise I won't forget next time.

Love you so much,

Aunt Ruby

I sent emails...

To a few which will allow you to make a POST instead of a comment. If you would like that option and I haven't emailed you...please let me know.

I will be posting some pics tonight...heading out to Moms right now to clean her house.

Today...

Little background. Mom had stents placed years ago, so she has a history. She sees Dr. Hearon whom she adores. He is her cardiologist, but she feels he is a friend too...he is like that though, you can't help but love him. She saw him in January and her EKG was abnormal and she had a rhythm called Atrial Fibrillation. Dad has it, and part of the treatment is Coumadin. Atrial Fib is where the atrium isn't pumping right and it can lead to a blood clot, so a blood thinner is essential. She was having severe shortness of breath, but attributed it to the A-Fib. Then she went in for a colonoscopy and that night she started having chest pain, lots of shortness of breath but she thought it was the meds they used during the colonoscopy. The next day I called her and she couldn't speak 3 word without taking a deep breath...more like gasping. So, I told her we needed to see Dr. Hearon. She put it off and about 2 hours later Dad called and said mom was worse and he was taking her to the ER at Catawba. So I told him I would meet them there as I was in Hickory already. I get there, and she is in triage. She is ashy and her breathing is so labored. They took her back to get her hooked up on the monitors and oxygen. Her oxygen saturation was 82 on room air and that wasn't good, It should be over 90...really closer to 95-98%. So they put her on the oxygen and it helped some, they bumped it up to 3.5 liters, which is a lot. Then they tried to get the IV...ohh gosh, I know she is a hard stick but I really wanted them to just leave the tray and let me do it. They stuck her at least 5 times. Then they come in and draw blood and cultures which was 3 more sticks. She came back from x-ray and the doctor came in and said she had pneumonia. She wasn't coughing and really hasn't much at all. We asked about the EKG and he said he didn't think her chest pain was coming from her heart, more likely from coughing *DUH - she hadn't been* or from the shortness of breath. So they put her on the medical floor and that night I went home to get some clothes, and ended up spending the night. I get to the hospital early that morning and she looks so much better, but her chest pain is really bad. In the ER they had given her 4 nitro under her tongue and it eased the chest pain. That is usually a big sign that it is heart...but the ER doc didn't think so. Later that morning Dr. McDonald. Dr. Hearon's partner came in and said that since she has a history they would keep her over the weekend and do a heart cath on Monday. I was so relieved, I just had this deep down gut feeling it was heart. So I went home for a bit to get some things and while I was gone her chest pain came back and was really bad. So, they moved her up to the ICU - Telemetry and put a nitro patch on her. She had barely any pain or nausea after that.

I stayed most of the time she was there, but had to go home to shower and stuff. Sunday night, she was ready for the cath but couldn't sleep. They gave her something and finally she fell asleep. That morning they came and got her early early. Dad had just got there and Scott was on interstate. We followed her down and Scott found us, we all ate breakfast while she was getting a catheter shoved up her femoral artery. We sit in the waiting room and a little guy comes out and says PONS...PONS...we stand up and I drop my water and it went everywhere...but I didn't have time to clean it up *OOPS!*. We walk into the cath lab and there laid my sweet mom, smiling and telling me it is all gonna be alright. I told her not to tell me what they found, I wanted to hear it from the doctors. She said ok, but I knew it was either realllllly good or realllllly bad. They had pulled the catheter and that either meant no blockages or more blockages than a stent could fix. If they could have done stents they would have left the catheter in and talked to us and then went on with the stent/angioplasty.

One of Dr. Hearon's other associates did the cath, and he came in...he looked like Screech from Saved by the Bell :). He said the good news is..."Your mom's heart is strong, there is no damage from a heart attack so she is a great candidate for surgery" The bad news he said "She has at the least 4 major blockages that will need bypassed." My heart sank, I knew it could be that bad...but hoped, prayed it wouldn't be. I didn't cry then, I talked to mom told her it would be fine and that I loved her. We all stepped out after kissing her sweet cheeks and forehead and in the hall I all but fell into Scott's arms. This was going to be so hard on her. But she is tough Scott said...she will do fine. God will get her through this! *SUPER SWEET HUSBAND!

We all get up to her room and I start making the calls. Knowing all her brothers would get upset if I didn't call. I called my brothers as well. Dad called Todd I think. The family knew, and now was the hard part waiting to talk to the surgeon. And of course he came while I was out. But, because of the pneumonia they would send her home to get over it and then schedule her surgery. She is over it now, and feels pretty good. Gets tired easily, but that is expected.She had been staying with me, but she really wanted to spend some time with Ellen and Eddie so she went home on Friday and is staying until her surgery as long she she doesn't do too much.

She loves her house I know, but after the surgery she is staying with me for as long as she needs.

I just talked to her and she sounds pretty good. The weekend was long but not long enough I don't think. She had all her family around her. Eddie and Ellen came in to see her, which she would have been happy to have had them to herself, but I must admit...I used them as a guise to have a dinner and invite all her brothers and family. I know that her brothers would want to see Eddie and Ellen, their niece and nephew...but I also know how much her tender hearted brothers would love to see their sister. They all know the trials that are around the corner for her, and boy oh boy do they love their sister.

I get to moms and there is Eddie and Ellen and as I walk in, even though we hadn't seen each other really in 10+ years - there was no awkwardness and I felt like we had spoken just recently. That is how it is supposed to be with families. We all hugged and I had made them a family picture album and gave that to them and I really think they loved it!

We all cooked and was ready for people to start showing up and first in was Elmer and Louise. Lori was with them and always when mom sees Lori her eyes light up. Then came Ed and Gladys with their basket of food. Lastly came Ray and Nancy and they brought Jay and his daughter Sarah...boy she has grown!

I think they all cried and hugged, Ellen and Eddie really got a family gathering worth remembering I think. I sat back a few times and watched my family smiling and laughing and I wondered why we have never really done this before. The highlight of the night was yet to come though. After a great meal, we all went out on the porch and there was Gary...one of many men Mom wants to set Ellen up with *smiles*. He was hooking up his banjo, Todd and Johnny had their guitars in hand tuning and pickin a little. Little John was on the drum and then I look and there is Eddie with his guitar...I didn't know he played. They all start pickin' and grinnin' (literally) I don't think there was a minute that nearly everyone wasn't smiling. I hate Ray left early he would have played with them I am sure. But Elmer and Ed sat back and enjoyed the show I think. Johnny and Todd were singing then I step our for a minute and I hear someone singing Amazing Grace and it is sooooo beautiful, it was Ellen...I knew she could sing, but hadn't heard her in a long time. Her mom sang at my wedding, her mom had the most beautiful voice. But, I could close my eyes and hear Audrey in her voice. It was so soothing to the soul. She sang a couple others and then we all kind of started singing...it was the best of times.

We stayed singing a long time, it ended up just being Johnny, Little John, Ellen, Eddy and me...mom was in and out but most had left. But this was some of the best, we all kinda let go and just sang whatever. Ellen and Johnny and I would switch off singing lead and harmony...was so much fun.

Ellen and Eddie stayed at moms and Sunday we all went to church and Ellen sang and Eddie played the guitar for her. It was beautiful. We came back to moms and ate lunch and talked and talked. It felt so good. I know mom hated to see them go, but we know they had to.

There won't be another 10 years before seeing them again. Lori is already wanting to have a get together at their house, and I can't wait!

I will post as often as I can what is going on with her. I don't have to tell you what kind of woman my sweet sweet momma is. But if you want to tell others that might read this what you think about her...please do. I am sure that will bless her heart and I know it will mine.

She loves her family so much, she never meets a stranger and will show so much love to anyone who needs it.

Love you all too...

Hope