Forward movement

It has been a while, as usual.

Kris got a call from Dr. Stehlik Thursday

night. They talked about options, which are few.

Kris agreed to have a pump put in call the Jarvic 2000.

This pump is in trials, and because of his lungs, he doesn't qualify

for the trial, but they will apply to the manufacturer to get the pump

outside of the trial. (bureaucracy of paperwork) It is very small, and is able

to be put in through the left ribcage instead of cracking his sternum and peeling

his heart from it. He will still have the mechanical aortic valve, which means continued Coumadin, but there are some better blood thinners on the horizon. Kris has an appointment on September 7, but Dr. Stehlik said they may see him sooner than that. So we wait again. They said this is how it would be, but we didn't understand very well. There is a support group that meets on Thursdays once a month, and we are going to try to start going to it. The Dr.'s don't want to push to have the transplant anytime in the near future. I would imagine that it is because they want to work on getting his lungs stronger. Dr. Cahill said he had tuberculosis decades ago. Kris and his mom don't remember him ever being that sick, but the doctors say that a person can be exposed and the body fights off the infection on it's own without any symptoms, but damage is done to the lungs. So, one more hurdle to jump and a problem to solve, but forward movement is good. Life is better, but Kris is still trying to deal. He will be just fine. (Frustrated, Irritated, Nervous and Exciteable?? lol) He has made it through tough things before this and will make it through this as well.



Please keep praying for him. The prayers are felt.