Blog Archives

Cord's Heart, Penn's Heart, A Bedroom and a Car Crash

10/26/2015

Hello Friends, a lot has happened this week. Whew!

Cord is going strong and we are in our bedroom! As of last night - thanks to Beau and Kris and Wulfgar and CJ completing the last push - we are truly home. We are short 4 boards still but the floor is wonderful! This is the first time we've ever had floor other than OSB. It is like a dream. Not long before dark - I called CJ and he came over and he and Beau and Kris and Wulfgar wrangled that crazy huge, awkward mattress out of the tent in the woods and into the back door to our bedroom. I didn't let myself believe until it finally flopped down. No pine sap either! It was precarious through the woods...
I ran to wash sheets. Bedtime was so exciting! We slept like babies so long and so peacefully that we never heard the poor home health nurse at the door!! YIKES! It was her last visit too and we missed her!
I just wanted to keep sleeping.

Car Crash?
So - the other big news sucks so bad I don't want to tell. But I have to. On Friday night we left here for New Mexico - to attend a wonderful seed event and hopefully - to stop at Ojo Caliente on the way and grab a nice, healing soak. 5 minutes down the road, cruising along at 30 miles an hour, we came up out of Dead Mule Gulch and hit some mud and started sliding. We both thought we would be fine as we were seemingly moving in slow motion. The car slid and seemed to get faster. We both thought we would end up in the ditch and be done. Instead it rolled. Then it rolled into a small ravine on it's roof. We went over 1 and a half times. So six slams - it sucked so bad. We were talking to each other the whole time. We never thought we would roll so we were so surprised when it did! I know I said, "Cord, I'm so sorry!" He was bracing himself with his hands on the roof and he yelled back, "I'm okay - I'm fine!" WE HATED IT!!
On the last slam, the roof caved in just about 6". Scared me half to death - "We need to get out!" "Right now!, I said." Cord was so calm and collected - he was fully in charge. A man had appeared immediately and asked how to help while the dust was still settling. Cord was handling it and the man called the police.
I was so worried about him - I was so upset and still hanging upside down. He released himself immediately and turned over. His Life Vest never peeped or said or did a thing - including malfunctioning or accidentally shocking him. He then released me and I fell with my legs twisted up in the pedals and my thighs hanging over the steering wheel. He reached in and untangled each foot from the pedals and helped to guide me down. He helped get me out through the glass and through the jagged windows. This is how you get cut up. Once we were out it really got surreal. We were so shocked. I was so worried about Cord. The ambulance and the firefighters seemed to get there so fast. All I could say was "Check Cord, check Cord - he needs to be checked." I was the bloody one but I barely felt it or noticed it- that came later. Cord's blood pressure was only slightly raised - he checked out perfectly. He walked away virtually unscathed. Bracing himself on the ceiling was the trick - he rode it out very well. I was thrashed back and forth because I was hanging onto the steering wheel so I am pretty torked from the waist up. Glass cuts and bruises on my left side. Ribs bruised - stuff like that. Obviously, we were protected - we are aware of God's Grace.
The Seeds
Here's another amazing part of the story - pictures to prove it too - I couldn't believe it. Once we were out of the ambulance and back at the car, the firefighters were all there and I was looking at the hundreds of seed packets that were churned in the car with every thing in there as we rolled. I was taking packaged seed to the Seed Temple in Estancia, NM as a gift, along with bags of bulk seed. I knew when the tow truck got there and flipped the car that all the seed would spew out the broken windows and get wet in the rain and I would lose it all. The firefighters said, "You want your seed?" I said, "Yes, but I can get it." He said, "No, let us, do you have a bag or something we could put them in?" I was flabbergasted as they all dived into the broken windows and started filling bags with hundreds of seed packets!! They gathered the seed while Cord was finding his medicine and I was standing there crying with amazement. Talk about 'saving seeds'!

Heroes and Angels:
These guys are heroes in every way - above and beyond. Oh - and they were cheerful and kind and supportive. I will never forget it.
Everyone on the scene treated us with kindness and respect. They had so many crashes that night they said they were spread thin and some of them were called away long before we were done. It was a nasty night. They were all so relieved we were alright. Me too. My heart was pounding in my chest - and not in the good way.
Beau was on his way home to take care of Wulfgar while we were in NM and so we managed to call him with the police phone and have him come straight to us. He helped us and brought us home. They brought me home and then went back to wait for the tow truck guy. They had a hard time getting the car out so the guys finally came home and the truck arrived here around 11pm and dropped off the car. Totaled. But the roof didn't cave in - good on ya Toyota! And also - good on ya Angels!
So how's that for a scary story? I went 35 years before I had my first wreck and now this is my second - I want to yell curse words right now so fill in as you see fit. Cord and the officer said guys have much more practice sliding in mud because they do it intentionally - for fun - women tend to avoid sliding in the mud but men like it - so they are better at it. ;)

Bedroom:
Did I say we are in our own house - our own bedroom? Cord went and got his oxygen and stuff from our neighbors and told them we were in - I will think up ways to thank them for years to come. Thank you PB and Ron!!!!

Love On The Wind:
Without of all of you - we would not be this far along. We can feel the love - I feel like miracles are happening already. I can see a change in Cord already. He is feeling it so much. He is smiling! Please don't stop sending it on the wind - it is working - it is!
We are sending love to all of you on the wind as well - I hope you can feel our gratitude and sheer amazement at the good in the world.
Many thanks,
Penn
PS - Go Angels!!
PSS - The following picture is us Facetiming with Max in Scotland just before we left for New Mexico - he liked the picture and took it while we were talking to him - it's a little blurry but you get the gist.

LOVE

Love heals.

HEROES

Firefighters Saving Seeds!!!

The Poster Child For The Seed Movement! This guy is above and beyond...

And then they were gone! They got another call and split! Thank you!!

THE SILVER LINING

The Silver Lining: Beau is home and they begin. Beau is testing the feel of the new floor - it feels great!

It went so fast. Thanks to Beau's girlfriend Kris too.

Wulfgar finishing the clean-up from the paint job. Shelbel left him with a to-do list and he cleaned up every little thing - good job Wulfgar!

Cord supervising - the meds sometimes make him lightheaded.

From the tent,

to the bedroom.

FLOP! Oh yeah!!! We are in our newly rebuilt bedroom! Thanks CJ and to all who helped!

5 Comments

Cord's Heart - Sweet Sleep and He Won't Be Stopped

10/18/2015

1 Comment

Happy Sunday To All

Cord has slept for three nights now! The first night he only thrashed for an hour, but the last two nights - he went to bed and slept - like people do! He comes home smiling.
Thank goodness - let's hope it continues. His belt has no more loops left on it to tighten. He is working on the bedroom - he is enjoying it and after 'the roof incident' - he has been working mostly on the ground. He installed a couple of working windows he had stored away - the originals didn't open so this is an awesome upgrade.
Shelbel - our mighty-mighty friend - finished the walls yesterday - she is so good and fast and super upbeat and we love her so. She came 5 times and worked for a sammy and a cup of tea!
Today, on another absolutely beautiful day on the mountain - Cord trimmed in our bedroom with the leftover beetle kill. He wants to just go and go - I presented him with a smoothie - with lots of bananas. He is enjoying getting to work on our house - he is always building greenhouses and rarely has time. This allows him to work at whatever pace he can and I can tell that this is like therapy - he enjoys building and he gets to do it without any stress.
After being on the roof - he did have sore legs - he was rubbing his thighs but was glad for the muscle improvement - it's hard to spend 9 days in the hospital - you lose muscle so fast.
He is weighing himself every day - and taking his blood pressure and his oxygen level. The home nurse has been coming - she is very helpful - but scared of bees - which means she jumps occasionally. :)
He's managing his meds - it's getting easier I think and he's getting used to a routine. Every afternoon at 3 - I have a cup of tea and this is when he needs to take a pill so I help him remember with that one. Otherwise, he is on it.
I have no doubt that in a month or two, when he gets another ECHO to see if his heart function has improved, anything better than 10% will be terrific - his numbers are going to be outstanding and once his heart is over 35-40% - he can carry on without the Life Vest. So that's what I'm asking for - that it all goes as planned and he continues to improve.

Here's some pics of our bedroom - on a high-speed build - Shelbel even told me about a paint sale in Canon City and I saved $20 per gallon - what a score! We have just the floor to go.

Oh and by the way - to our snowy friend way up north, thanks to you Annie - the ceiling is gorgeous! I can't wait to lie in bed and look at the beetle kill patterns in the wood - it's way beyond our wildest dreams!
Love on the wind to you all,
Penn

Walls are finished - thank you Shelbel!

New windows!

Cord trimming away.

1 Comment

Cord's Heart - The Latest Progress

10/14/2015

1 Comment

Hello Cord's Friends and Family,

We want you to know we read every note, every email, we hear every message and I read them all for Cord. Thank you - it helps so much!

We have been moving along, with meds, with symptoms, with a big fat COLD, with calls to the doc, with that ever-loving' cough and with finishing our bedroom. Our friends and boys have been incredible - working their butts off to get it done. While the guys were putting in the ceiling, our friend Shelbel was prepping the drywall. "Tape and float, sand and mud. Etc. She is amazing and works so fast. Meanwhile - thank goodness for the guest room at our dear neighbors!

Cord struggles with sleep. He thrashes around coughing for the first 3-4 hours and then finally falls asleep and then sleeps late and feels groggy and out of sync. We both felt like we got a cold the day we left the hospital - and it was true. It has complicated matters for Cord of course, because when one of the meds causes a cough, it's hard to tell if its a side effect or if its the cold. No matter what - it keeps him awake for a long time. He's hoping the cough will finally subside with the change of meds. Sleep is the thing. Some other things that were bothering him are getting better - symptoms that came from the edema and were messing with his life.
He needs to weigh himself everyday so he can monitor the Lasix - the diuretic. This is one way we make the call on when it is time to back off of it - he keeps losing weight and we want the fluid off of him - but not go overboard. That has to be managed.

The home health nurse came again yesterday and is watching Cord closely about his cold. He needs to not get pneumonia. Right? He may go on an antibiotic to address it.

We see the cardiologist a month from when we left the hospital so somewhere around two weeks. That will be a good day - to make it a month on the meds and to be able to ask another million questions. Also to adjust the medicines if need be. I made it clear we wanted to see the same cardiologist - not the partner or the nurse or the on-call doc and he said he would make it so. I'm glad I asked.

Cord's color is good - and he is 'walking and talking'. On Sunday - when our friend's came over and built like crazy on our bedroom, Cord was out there measuring and cutting. Beau was carrying and helping Cord and Lex and Rob were installing the beetle kill on the ceiling. Shelbel was taping the drywall and Wulfgar was assisting her. I was non-stop cooking. Everyone was in high spirits and laughed and talked while they worked. Cord loved it. He wanted to keep going but he ended up driving to town and getting his new meds - he needed to go himself, (or I would have), and when he came back, he was pretty tired. Of course by then the meds had set in so he rested some. The boys and our friends just kept on going, and they finished it right about dark. I cooked all day and we all shared a feast afterwards.

I'm trying to bring in the seed - I have a long way to go and will need to leave him to collect it. I'm trying to talk him into coming with me, but he seems to be happiest working in the yard and the shop, and planning his next move. Wulfgar is a great helper and the weather continues to hold.
I don't even want to tell you this, but the last two days, Cord has been on the roof. I know - it is horrifying to me. He insisted on installing the ridge cap before the rain and snow come. I said, "Are you seriously going on the roof?!!!" I truly thought he was joking. At least today he waited for me to return from the Farmer's Market.
He does not listen to me. They say, "Activity as tolerated." Except chainsaws and jackhammers. That will set off the Life Vest so thankfully, we won't be doing any of that. I checked on him constantly. As soon as Wulfgar got home I sent him up there and he assisted until it was done. As if. AS IF!!!!

When Cord sleeps - there will be a celebration. I will post it immediately. Here are some pics of the progress. Can't believe how helpful our friends and family are - we are so humbled and so grateful. Thanks to all for making this possible!
Penn

Shelbel working on the drywall.

Cord and Beau measuring and cutting.

Lex and Rob installing the last boards!!

Ceiling done and walls getting textured.

Cord in clothes that no longer fit him and Wulfgar is, of course - King of the World!

1 Comment

Cord's Heart - Max Leaves - Beau Returns

10/10/2015

2 Comments

Hello Again.

Max is on a plane right now - back to Scotland and his studies. He helped us so much - in so many ways. What a good son. Beau is here now again, much to our relief, after a week of mid-terms. He is such a good son. Today the guys prepped more materials for our bedroom - we are trying so hard to get it done as soon as we can. We have our wonderful friends coming tomorrow to put up the ceiling and prep the drywall to finish and paint. Wulfgar painted today too and then helped clean all the tools and debris out of the bedroom in preparation for tomorrow's work. What a good son. We are so lucky.
Lots of people coming tomorrow - I intend to cook and bake my brains out. Heart healthy food of course. Low salt and low fat are the name of the game - but it is a bit intimidating - hope I'm doing it right.

Cord is adjusting to the meds - it is a tricky business. They fine tune them as you go so it is good to report changes as we go along. Before, Cord couldn't sleep because his lungs would get fluid in them at night and when he laid down it was very difficult to breathe, which kept him up. The Lasix which is draining out all of the edema has worked and now his lungs are clear and he can breathe better a night. We were hopeful he'd be able to sleep after they solved that.
One of the heart drugs he is on has a side effect of coughing. The problem is - it happens at night and is a rip roarin' cough which keeps him awake for hours. He sleeps late because many hours into the night, his throat and lungs are too tired to cough anymore and he finally sleeps for a few hours. He called the heart doc a few days ago because this symptom was listed as one to call in for. We called and they didn't respond. Lesson: Why didn't we call again? Next time we will.

So we finally called today and the heart doc on call decided to switch him to another option that might not have that side effect. From what the cardiologist originally said, we will be fine tuning the drugs and increasing them gradually as we go. Everyone reacts differently so we go along each day as best we can.

But he is very tired. He wants to sleep so badly. We have been trying things like Melatonin and our main doc prescribed him some 'for adults only' cough medicine. We shall continue to try these things. Even though the on-call heart doc has changed the medicine that is causing the cough, it will stay in his system for some days. We will get the new meds tomorrow. Along with all the things we forgot at the hardware store.

I am sleeping on an air-mattress on the floor next to him so he can have all the freedom he needs to get comfortable. I'm still pretty sore from 9 days on a hospital fold-out bed with big ol' springs. Last week Max spent the night one night so I could sleep in my bed and it helped so much. Tonight Beau will do that for me too. It feels like the right thing to do to have one of us there every night. Once we are home - I'm sure we will relax into a routine. Our lovely neighbors are upstairs, but we don't want to leave them with the responsibility of the Life Vest or a middle of the night issue. So far - it's all working out and progress is happening at home.

It's been a hard couple of days because he hasn't slept well. I'm sure it will get better as they continue to respond and make adjustments. I am making adjustments with meals of course. I'm trying to be on time with three heart healthy meals a day - I need to get into my cooking chi - I always feel behind. I'm blessed with a family that cooks so we are used to taking care of ourselves - but this is different, and crucial to his recovery. Luckily it is the perfect time of year to stock the coffers with gorgeous, locally grown fruits and vegetables. I better get cookin' for tomorrow's work-day!

Until next time, thank you all - the wind is wonderful - and full of love.
Penn

Beau, Wulfgar and CJ clear coating in the afternoon sun - what a beautiful day!

2 Comments

Cord's Heart - On The Mountain

10/8/2015

4 Comments

Thursday, October 8th
Cord heart is home on the mountain. We are still settling in and getting comfortable. Max is a building machine and uses his time well - to build and build. Friends are coming to help - and will continue to until we are back in the house.
I'm trying to learn about freaking sodium. Salt, salt, salt, good grief.

Cord is fuzzy, he feels strange yet is trying to communicate what is happening to the docs so they can adjust his medicine. He just called about a dry cough is has been getting - a symptom they asked him to report. We are constantly learning and our brains are fried but we are doing our best. We're still figuring out the med management - it's a tricky amount of pills taken throughout the day. We are trying to establish a system so forgetting or second guessing is not a problem. When you are fuzzy - it doesn't help. I was away last night but when Cord has a meds question - he has no problem calling them to be sure.

Cord has lost a lot of weight taking a diuretic. It's amazing - he looks very different, and the diuretic often makes him look gaunt. I know it is working though and they will step it down once he loses the last of the edema. He weighs 191.2 as of a minute ago. He is usually 215 or more. For a while his face felt numb but that has passed. These are hard-core drugs - I imagine there will be many adjustments as time goes.

Thank you so much for those of you who have written and told us about your personal experience with this condition - and have come back to health. It helps make us feel sane. Thank you to you professionals who have answered our questions or sent us helpful information. And thanks to those who helped us ask the right questions - it's all helped so much.

We are sleeping at our neighbors house and last night Max took a turn so I could sleep in my bed. As well as unload and put away the carload of groceries I got last night.
I started at the Westcliffe Farmer's Market and put the hurt on Lippis' Farms veggie supply! There is only one more week of market in Westcliffe - next week I will get even more heart-healthy veg to feed him. I got a small amount of Sangre's Best delicious and lean Valley grown beef - and even though we don't eat a lot of beef, I am so happy to have Elin's - I know it's healthy and pure and a little goes a long way.

Next I went to Colon Orchards in Canon City and got huge bags of apples and lot of other goodies - their winter squashes - excellent storable food - are beyond. Then I hit the grocery stores and squinted at labels for hours and hours. I thought I'd pass out when it was over. Salt! Salt!! Did I say salt!? I thought the HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) addiction was bad - it's all about salt! Everything that says "Low Fat" - has extra salt added to make up for it.
So I read and compared and read and chose and then changed my mind and then put it back and then read again. It took hours but I pushed through because I wanted to finish the list - so I didn't have to do it again for a while. I didn't get home until 10.
After being gone for 9 days - the next step was to empty the fridge to make room for the fresh groceries. So I made compost - into the night. The stars were incredible, everyone else was sleeping - it was quite soothing. I slept in the tent in our bed like a baby - it was so peaceful.
I thought about finally having a good cry in the woods yesterday - while I was having my afternoon cup of tea but the breeze was fantastic, the sky was that killer blue and I felt all of the strength, love, and support around me lift me up right then and there and fill me with resolve to keep going. I thought on my way back to the house, "What do I have to complain about? Cord is going to be okay." Thanks to so many.
Penn

Cord finding it hard to not do something! He's making a drawing for Max regarding the building. The Life Vest brain is attached to the strap you see across his chest.

Beautiful, brand new drywall!! Go Max!

4 Comments

Cord's Heart is Home!!

10/5/2015

1 Comment

We made it! We're home! We got home before dark - which I was hoping for. We ate some food my mom made us and then waited for the girl from the oxygen company to get here from Salida. It was a long journey for her and she was a little scared. She made it though and we got in the car and headed over to our dear neighbors to set up the oxygen in the guest room there. We have been friends with our neighbors since we moved here - these are very special people to us. The guest room is lovely, cozy, convenient and on the ground floor with it's own entrance - and a bathroom three steps from the bed. Ahhhhhhhh......
The oxygen was set up lickety split and Max drove us over and listened in as well to help us think. To PB and Ron - who welcomed us home - this is the best gift you could give us. No tent for Cord please.

Since he ate late, we were up late - plus we wanted to hang out with Max and Wulfgar. If only Beau was here too. I got to pet my kitties and Cord was king in his new perfectly butt-tested recliner. It was fun to buy a chair in 15 minutes. I left him sitting in the floor model and the guys at the dock loaded it in no time. We stopped one more time to get a few supplies Cord needed and then drove over the grade.
The Oak Creek Grade is the road we live on and it is spectacular - with over ten miles of National Forest on the way. When you climb the mountain, there is a steep part to come down and the valley below is so beautiful. We always think of the first time we went over the grade - 25 years or so ago and saw that wilderness for the first time. Ahhhhhhhh.......

The air is sweet - our friends are dear and our boys are the coolest people ever.
Cord is wearing the Life Vest of course and this will be the first night of sleeping with it.
Off to bed we go. Cord's Heart is back on the mountain! Ahhhhh.....
More tomorrow and thanks for listening.
Penn

1 Comment

Cord's Heart - DBG Restores Sanity and Going Home

10/5/2015

1 Comment

When I decide I am going to do something - I will put my head down and push through and do it. Well we love DBG (Denver Botanic Gardens), they have been our friends and supporters since Panayoti discovered us in the woods. Sarah Olson - our Program Director just called me and saved me from myself. During our conversation I realized that trying to pull off this presentation and workshop is too much. We rally because that's what you do - not because in this case - it is the best plan. I was also stuck on it because we need to work to make it through the next months. Well, as you know - the crowdfunding site has taken that worry away - and postponing won't mean we can't finish our house due to lack of funds. They rescheduled us for November 19-20 - the announcement will come soon for those of you planning to attend.
It is best that we focus on our house and getting Cord back into his own bed to rest. Max can stay on task much better this way. I needed Sarah to snap me out of my confusion and overload. I felt waves of relief flooding through me - what was I thinking? Sarah made it all seem possible - that moving this most excellent speaker series WAS totally doable.
THANK YOU Sarah - we really love you girl.
I asked greenhouse owners to start sending in their photos - as I could not go and do it myself. I will tell you - this presentation will blow your minds in November - it will be the best ever - the photos - the success - the beautiful greenhouses Cord and his crew built this year are just incredible. Stunning pictures are rolling in - I cannot wait to show you. We will knock it out of the park in November. I hope you can come - Cord will be much stronger by then too. For those of you who have to change your plans - we apologize. I told Sarah, "I guess we have a note from the doctor!"
As for going home, we are waiting - the nurses seem to be on it - someone came in from the pharmacy and went over the meds he will be taking, I've talked to the Life Vest guy, our doc is sending in the oxygen papers, Cord is sleeping, and I am pacing the halls.
Max is at home working on the house, Wulfgar and Beau are at school and I have a plan to get the chair home.
Whew! When we are truly out of here and truly on the mountain - I will write again - tonight.

Our friend Joe sent these words:
"Bad news decreases when you share it, good news increases when you share it."

Thanks for letting me share this - it has helped so much.
Be back soon with the news!
Love on the wind to all!
Penn

1 Comment

Cord's Heart - The Incredible Deflating Man!

10/4/2015

1 Comment

Hello again,

I am so late posting because twice now I have dumped the whole blog post. I am staying patient and I will write it a third time.

Okay - my favorite part about today was the conversation we had with the cardiologist. I got him a chair and greeted him with a big fat list. He was patient and kind. He continues to explain things in a non-defensive, calm and reasonable manner. He is not an alarmist even though his line of work is alarming. He and our doc seem to get along well and respect each other. Their approaches are similar.
Today I told him I needed to get behind him, believe in his abilities. I told him, "I will be your champion so you can be Cord's champion." I decided I liked him today. I decided he is smart and thoughtful. He has a lot of experience curing people with these meds, he sees it happen all the time. We also talked about greenhouses, beehives, mountain properties and even bears! It made us miss home.
Another thing I liked was the conversation about the Life Vest. The language they use when teaching about it is pretty intense but this doc helped us gain a better perspective on it today. He doesn't want us to live in fear - afraid of Cord going into cardiac arrest any minute. The chances of that happening are so slim yet it can happen. Wearing the vest in a remote area is definitely a good idea but we don't need to expect it to have to save him. He wants us to live our life. Cord can do things as he feels ready. (Except for chainsaws and jackhammers - they might set off a shock!) Cord was in terrible shape when he came in here and had been for some time and he didn't go into cardiac arrest - and he didn't have the vest then.

The doc even cleared him to go to Denver this Thursday and Friday for our presentation at DBG. He will be chilling - I wish I could take a Lazy-boy up there and let him watch the whole thing from the audience in style. He might answer a couple of questions but I will have the support of my boys - Max for sure. We will do all the heavy lifting. The first night is a lecture and the second day is a workshop. Max knows all the materials and will do demos for me. We will pull it together in time.
So last night - after I posted about the sleep test being easy and we went to bed - another cute girl from downstairs somewhere arrived, turned on the lights and said, "it's time to strap you into your sleep test." Uh Oh. We were almost in lala land. So there was much confusion and phone calls and trying to decide what to do until they finally decided he should wear BOTH tests to bed. We were wide awake by then. So when it came time to take them off - you guessed it - they came one at a time and woke him up twice to take off the devices.
Poor guy. He slept most of the morning away to make up for it. All he got today was a blood test.
He is the incredible deflating man. His legs have ankle bones again, his face is not round, but his middle still has a ways to go and is still tender and sore. The swelling and inflammation will take a while to calm down I'm sure. He is walking the floor and stretching and experiencing less pain.
There is a good possibility we go home Monday - after they check the blood tests, clear his oxygen and prescribe him his meds, we could be ready! The hospital has a pharmacy and they will deliver our meds to our room before we go so we don't have to stop on the way home. They are working on getting us a home nurse to check his vitals.

The staff here has truly been wonderful - true-blue hearts. Great care - really - we've made friends - we feel so well cared for. I know Cord is young and handsome and that doesn't hurt on this floor but across the board - they have great people working here. We will eternally be grateful for their concern and understanding. They have taken care of me as well.

Our good friend Lex and our wonderful boys put a new roof on our bedroom today. They only called for questions a few times. Cord would whip off a drawing, take a picture of it and send it off. He likes building and I know he was with them in spirit. They worked their butts off - I could hear it in Max's voice tonight. Beau went back to college - he has an exam Monday - what a guy - doing double duty.
My dynamo mother, and don't get mad Mom, is only 87 and yesterday she came to town to get stuff from me to send home, then went running around a furniture store helping me butt-test easy-chairs for Cord, then she went back home, loaded her car with piles of delicious yummy boy food and drove to Canon City to meet Max. They have been feasting ever since. Thanks mom - you are truly an amazing person. You said, "all I did was cook." WAY more than that - thank you so much for taking care of my family - we all admire you so much.
The only thing we will do on our way home is stop at the furniture store and have Cord butt-test a new chair. He doesn't want one he hasn't butt-tested. I have three in mind and we will be in and out of there in a minute. I will arrange for someone to pick it up and bring it home for us - I don't think it will fit in my car. He will have that chair when he gets home - that's a promise.
When I get home I might cry with relief and joy but I don't do that here. There will be time for that. We are so grateful and so blessed.
To all of you - you made us stronger and braver. You showed Cord how much he is loved. Thank you for that - we really need your help and I will continue to ask for it.
Many blessings to all of you,
Penn

Beau and Lex on the roof.

1 Comment

Cord's Heart - October 3

10/3/2015

1 Comment

Hi Everybody.
Cord and I spent another long day at the hospital. The sleep test last night was not very fun - he looked like he was all tied up in some freaky torture device. They came around 5am and took it off and then he finally slept. He was very tired this morning.
Our primary doc came early and answered questions again - and we started talking about when he can go home. My guess is the cardio doc will make the final call. They worked on getting oxygen ready to go for him today but then we were informed that they ordered the wrong sleep test last night and they have to do the right one tonight! Luckily this one is much simpler - a sensor taped to his finger - one line - much easier than last night. He's at the point where his IV itches, the electrodes poke, and rolling over is no fun at all. He got cleared to take some Melatonin to help him sleep tonight.
The cardio doc came and talked to us but I didn't have my super-long list ready - I will tomorrow morning. Questions always come right after he leaves. They're like unicorns - a sighting is rare and they disappear quickly. He is not sure when Cord will leave - he says we will see how he looks tomorrow.
The best thing he said for me though was about the pain Cord feels on the right side of his gut when he walks or moves too much. As I said last night - his gallbladder is perfectly healthy too - they just checked it again. So I asked about the liver again and he nonchalantly said, "Oh yes, the liver can swell up due to congestive heart failure!" THANK YOU! What does it mean? He said the liver is encased in a kind of sack and when it gets pissed off and swells up like it might due to the edema building up from the CHF, it pushes against that sack and can cause pain! So is it possible that as his heart improves this will settle down and stop happening? YES! So - maybe it isn't something else after all - everything else is suffering due to the CHF. Makes sense. Also - this would not show up in the blood or a liver test if it is conditional due to the CHF. As far as I am concerned, that pain and pressure he feels is going to fade away as the heart picks up speed and he will just get better and better - about everything. I also asked if the lungs would improve as his heart improves. Yes. It's all about that fluid backing up while his heart is down so low.
Which brings us to the Lasix again - the diuretic. He was only taking it in the morning and then it would wear off before bed and he would feel congested in his lungs and have a hard time sleeping - feels like he is drowning. Fluid in the lungs will do that so they shifted the dosages to twice a day - the second one around 1pm (so he doesn't have to pee all night), but it will let him go to bed with his lungs NOT full of fluid. Tonight is the first night to see if it will help - I have high hopes it will - even with the other sleep test. This is all to qualify him for oxygen which I am not leaving here without.
He walked 3 times around the floor today at a faster rate than before - multiple times. It seems like all we do is sleep and eat and get checked on so we stretch and walk.
Today Cord spent time on the phone with Max and Beau as they are attacking the remodeling project at home. He made a materials list and discussed options in real time as Max shopped. Our dear friend Mitch came for a visit at the perfect time I needed to run out to find Cord the perfect easy-chair. We will go home with a brand new chair for him to recline in and to be king of all things.
I actually left the hospital today - it was strange out in the world. Tomorrow it's a week and we are holding strong. Everyday people send us so much love and care - we are so blessed.
Cord will come back to health - all the way - I can't see it going any other way. Having our boys around us is heavenly - even when they are home and we are here - it makes us feel so good knowing they are taking care of us.
Our cup runneth over - we are sending love back on the wind.
Penn

A Heartful of Wendy's - one of the sweetest tomatoes I carry - thank you Alison for this joyful picture for Cord.

Gorgeous Cord!

1 Comment

Cord's Heart - Continued

10/2/2015

2 Comments

Hello
Thanks for all of the love and thoughts coming in to us here in the hospital via the sweet Colorado air. There is much to tell so I'll get right to it.

Update:
Another long day in the hospital but some progress happened again. We see our primary care doc every morning at the crack - he is very consistent. We asked a lot of questions. The first test of the day was an ultrasound to check the gallbladder. Of course the test came back normal. That's how he rolls - everything we check - comes back good.

The cardiologist returned today - he thought we'd gone home so we hadn't seen him for a couple of days. The cardiologist was good to talk to today, he was engaged and seemed more human.
The Life Vest either gets taken off in three months or you can have it renewed for another round if your heart is slow to recover. This doctor seems hopeful - like we do, that the medication approach is the way to go and that Cord will respond well. My guess is that he will kick butt and improve right on schedule or before just based on how otherwise healthy he is. This doctor is not the kind to recommend going from a Life Vest straight into an implanted defibrillator unless you have to. Instead we want him to use the vest until he doesn't need it anymore and then continue to get better until he doesn't need an implanted one either - that's the plan! Sometimes people get the implanted one too soon, they get better and then they don't need it and have to live with it. However, if that's what it takes - that's what we do.
One step at a time. Patience.

Max brought Wulfgar down to see us and we all had dinner together in our room - it was so nice. Beau was on his way to our house from college so they are all there together now. We had a great visit - and Max and Cord went over the materials list and the details about rebuilding the bedroom. It's so cool to hear them - our boys are young men and they were taught by Cord so they know what to do.

Late tonight he will get hooked up for a sleep test to check for Sleep Apnea. This might also qualify him for oxygen which we want to go home with. I told the cardiologist we were trying to get oxygen approved by the insurance and he assured me that when you have congestive heart failure - you can have oxygen when you go home to 8,000'. As if.

We also signed up for home visits by a nurse to come by and check his vitals. That will be awesome - makes me feel better. This is pretty intimidating stuff but we will rise to the challenge.

Cord is taking walks around the floor regularly to help his body clear of edema. He is deflating - which is better than inflating, he is on a drug called Lasix (s), a diuretic helping him to shed the swelling. They are working on his dosage to help him sleep better as each night his lungs get congested again and he struggles with his breathing. Sleep is the thing - the Holy Grail - what if it were easy?
I am not in a hurry to go home, the staff at Parkview is great - no doubt. Once we are home I will be watching him like an ever-lovin' hawk and will drive him crazy.
It could be tomorrow I guess but I'm not counting on it. We shall see.

Our friends are so wonderful and plans are underway at home. The Rally For Cord Website - (https://www.youcaring.com/penn-and-cord-parmenter-442947) - the one our friend Buffy set up is absolutely amazing. I also want to thank my dear friend Shelbel so much - it was her idea to find a way to raise funds for us - we never would have thought of such a thing - and Buffy was in a position to take care of the logistics - what a team! It all happened so fast and now it is already helping Cord's peace of mind greatly. Did I say thank you Shelbel?
Thanks to all - for listening - for caring and contributing and for being a part of this amazing collective consciousness. GO CORD!!

2 Comments

<<Previous

Author

Penn Parmenter is a high altitude gardener, seedswoman and student of the earth. She is married to Cord Parmenter - an awesome gardener, gorgeous man and a master blacksmith. Together they own and run a sustainable greenhouse design company, Smart Greenhouses LLC and Penn grows seed for her seed business, Miss Penn's Mountain Seeds. She is a mother of three sons and an outdoorswoman. Penn forages wild food, hunts big game, fishes, preserves, maintains a huge organic forest garden and occasionally makes dinner. At home you can find her in her greenhouses as well as in the wilderness - nose to the ground, butt in the air, trying to identify Colorado natives.