Another chapter in our odyssey

Dear Family and Friends,

We are finally relaxing after a very eventful day. Loree, our beloved personal assistant, office manager, book keeper, house sitter, fish feeder, dog and cat feeder, flower waterer is here visiting Nan and what a lift she has given. Not only that Loree solved a problem that Nan has faced all day. This morning her TV grew fuzzy and then quit totally and has not worked again in spite of many requests for mechanical to solve it, no luck. Loree was not content with it not working, took the hair dryer and plugged it into the power outlet for the TV in the wall, no power so she took the extension cord I always carry in my portable office and plugged the TV into that, it worked so Nan now has TV again and after a boring day with bad news on top of bad news medically she appreciates having the TV back. Thank you Loree, once more job title to add to the list mentioned above. TV repair person.

A doctor from infectious disease which we have met before over in Concord at John Muir came this morning and decided no needles to pull off fluid after all, taking a wait and see approach to that issue but was quite concerned about the discharge and infection around the left nephrostomy. Tests seem to indicate that there is a degree of infection not only around the insertion point but also up the tube inside. Therefore it has been determined that the left nephrostomy has to be replaced. Our first thoughts were that we would have to go back to UCSF where the current tubes were inserted. However after doing some research the doctor found that the replacement nephrostomy can be done right here in Antioch. The wrinkle is this, Dr. Patel wants 72 hours of antibiotic before the tube procedure so at the earliest that would mean the tube work on Saturday, that probably will not happen so it looks like she will spend Easter weekend right here in good old room 111.

Today Nan walked twice and they were long walks both times. the second walk took us out the locking door into the sunshine and breezes. Nan loves the breezes and only reluctantly turns her walker back to the interior of the hospital. The second time she settled into the recliner and commissioned me to Olive Garden for fried zucchini sticks, ranch dressing and belini ice tea. We then feasted and finally she was ready to go back to her trusty bed again. Nan has been sort of emotionally down today with the news about needing new nephrostomy surgery and antibiotics for such a long time period but to not do so could be serious, Infection without a plan is not a good thing. Now at least there is a plan.

An unusual event took place this morning. One of the kidney doctors came in and after looking at Nan told her she needed more fluid, Nan was startled and told her a kidney doctor had just removed her last evening from all extra fluid intake. At that todays kidney doctor turned and left. How she could think Nan needed more fluid when she weighs 146 today and 12 days agoshe came into the hospital at 120.5. Normal is around 130. Fortunately the kidneys have responded well to the increased fluid flow and have a creatin of 2.3, the lowest we have seen in a very long time, probably since Boston. However Nan has a hard time moving about due to all the extra fluid she is retaining, probably about 14 lbs or so at this point and she would tell you it has all settled into her posterior and feet.

I was with Nan for about an hour this morning and then left for an appointment with STeve and Keanna in San Leandro. I got to visit with Keanna while Steve did his inspection, what fun and what an imagination that girl has, we walked, we had her at the wheel driving the car, we talked and we made up nice things to say to Grammy. All too soon Steve was through and we went our own ways, he to shoot comps and then take her to the Oakland Zoo and I headed for Daly City. The GPS took me right to the door and I arrived early, the lady insisted on paying for the appraisal which was a nice surprise. When I get a check I immediatelly start thinking of what bill I can cover. After Daly City I headed back to Walnut Creek to see a home I have seen several times since it was purchased. Very nice in what we call an "infill" location. That is a developer buys a property which has a large site, usually an older home with a big lot, takes away the house and divides the parcel into several lots. In this case probably about 8 houses, all 3,000 sf or more. These are challenging to appraise because they are surrounded by existing neighborhoods of older homes with smaller living areas and lower values. We cope with the challenge by looking for other newer developments nearby which are truely comparable to the subject home. GPS to the rescue, it found all of them. Then it was time to head back to Antioch and the hospital. Using back roads and streets I avoided the terrible traffic jam that always afflicts Highway 4 and arrived to find Nan ready to eat something tasty. So out again to Olive Garden. Then out again to buy a movie in case the TV did not get repaired, Loree solved that problem but its a movie we have been wanting to see, The Pursuit of Happiness. WE'll watch it later, not tonight.
So we really need your prayers, for courage, for healing, for strength, for guidance for this group of doctors that rarely talk to each other and never quite seem to agree on what to do next.

Tomorrow I go to Sacramento, Stockton and Riverbank and then point the bugs nose to Antioch once again.

Please pray that God will keep His hands over both of us and give us His courage and Hope.

love

tim and nan