Nan Mustard's Recovery

This blog is a record of Erin (Nan) Mustard's recovery.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

A good sunday morning

Hello again,
Nan says, get me out of here!! Find a wheelchair and lets hit the road, I want to fly home with you. Those are fighting words, just what we have been waiting to hear.

When I called in this morning at 5:30 I got only good news. Blood was holding at around 30, blood loss through the colostomy was less than 1/3 of the amount lost yesterday during the same time period, fever had dropped to 98., white count was not rising, creatins were low due to the dialysis, Nan had slept most of the night, heart was still doing its strange beats but blood pressure is holding well.

When I got here Nan was more alert. Since I have been here we have read cards together and she holds them and looks at them, we got a sweet letter from a long time friend, Laurie Dunston which touched us both deeply. She asked for me to bring the pictures of Keanna over for a closer look and she repeatedly mentioned getting on a plane to head home. She does not want to hear that it is going to be awhile for her recovery to complete, she wants to go now. After we talked for a bit two doctors from Plastic Surgery came in and told me they had already been her to clip away bad skin around her incision and to repack it. So they proceeded to open up the gauze and take another look and then repacked it. In a few days they are going to use a vaccum sponge, a new creation which will help the healing process. It is cut in the exact shape of the open incision and then placed in the wound. After that vaccum is applied and it is supposed to do wonders.

Nan's primary challenge at this time is the GI bleed. While the output is much less than yesterday there is still blood coming from somewhere which needs to heal up. The GI people are willing to wait a bit to see if the body (and the Lord) can heal itself and avoid further invasive procedures like another scope attempt or if that was unsuccessful another surgery. No one wants to consider doing surgery when Nan has been through so much already.

It is not overstating to say that Nan is much more alert and healthier today. She slept well last night, has been in the chair for 45 minutes, took steps each way to and from the bed and when she returned to bed Amy rewarded her with a shampoo right here in the bed. Nan loved it. Amy was very creative but managed to do an excellent job of washing, conditioning and blow drying her hair and then styling it. Nan loved it as you can imagine. Then she rewarded herself with a nap. It was well deserved. She talked to Roxanna on the phone this morning and looks great. We are thankful that a nice day is lining up after the difficult day yesterday. So far so good. It is overcast outside and rainy but it is warm and cozy inside. Nan keeps wanting me to sit on the bed beside here and thinks there is enough room in the bed for both of us. She is feeling better!

I've had my oatmeal and juice and now need to remember to drink water, water, water. I have my medications all figured out with the local pharmacy now and am getting set. Nan and I are both moving toward a nap but right now she is sitting up pretty straight in the bed with two pillows and drooling over Harrison Ford in some movie. She might not agree with the comment.
Her skin is beautiful and they have raised the level of red cells in her body to a level that gives her much more energy and mental alertness.

The prayers you have been sending heavenward are working. At this point the bleeding is much less but Nan still needs more help until it stops completely. We appreciate the prayers that were said last evening, please keep them going.

With love and appreciation

tim and nan

6 Comments:

  • At 11:07 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Good Morning Mustards,
    We are much encouraged and lifted by Your blog this morning. Nan's progress is something to behold thru Your vivid writing abilities Tim. You truly have a gift for writing "reality".
    We continue to look for additional good news coming from Boston. Now lets hope for some sunny weather which will do wonders for Your spirits and may even help with the blood loss problem.
    Praise the Lord for the positive answers to Our Prayers.
    We continue very warm here in the weather department, 102 yesterday and they say 104 today but it is cooling off very nicely in the evenings , last night dropped to 62 and that is wonderful.
    Way to go Nan ! You go for it Girl! Tell those Dr's that You want Your "Ice Chips" Back !!
    Next on the menue , "Burger & Fries !! Would'nt that be nice?
    We will be looking for a good report this evening.

    Bob & Carrol.

     
  • At 11:54 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Uncle Tim and Aunt Nan,
    We are so happy that Nan is doing well. We will pray for continued healing. It is truly amazing and a blessing the healing that the Lord has allowed Nan. Contined blessings to you both as we keep you two in our prayers!
    Love,
    Rodney, Shay, Gunnar and Camden

     
  • At 12:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hey Tim and Nan,
    Now that sounds more like the Nan we know! "Get a wheelchair and get me out of here." Good news about her readings and the decrease in blood in her colostomy. You have an amazing lady there, Tim. Nan, you have a devoted husband who loves you dearly and would do anything for you. You are both going through a really tough time right now. I'm glad you have each other to help you through. We also love you both and continue to remember you in our prayers. Keep the good news coming! (Even the not so good news.) We love keeping up with ya'll.

    Roger and Carol

     
  • At 12:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Dear Tim & Nan,
    So good to hear the good news today. As the song says 'it's the darkest just before dawn'. Sounds like a full blown sunrise today. We are much encouraged as we are sure you are. We are pulling together our rig and leaving this wonderful 60 degree weather for the valley. This miserable wireless connection is 1-2 Mbps so takes forever to download. Look forward to your next blog. Yvonne & George

     
  • At 2:24 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hi Nan and Tim
    So good to hear good news from Nan's recovery. My prayers are with both of you. Thanks Tim for keeping us informed on how Nan is doing.
    Love Judy Mercer

     
  • At 2:40 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Keep going Nan. Pretty soon you can get out of there :) Pam

     

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