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