Jello never tasted so good!!!

To say it has been a whirlwind of events and information this week would be the understatement of the year!! Dan has recieved so many sweet notes, cards, phone calls, visits, etc and countless prayers have been said on our behalf. From the bottom of our hearts- THANK YOU!! You will never know how much it all means to us, and we will be eternally grateful to you. We have been so blessed!! Here's a rundown on Dan so far...
Monday- I got to the hospital around 9am. We talked to Brantley Eske, NP for the gastroenterologist who said we would begin prep for a colonoscopy in a few hours. The prep would involved ingesting some contrast, which they would put through his NG Tube, and that in the morning, Dr. L (I can't even begin to spell the last name! sorry!) would do a colonoscopy, take a biopsy of the blockage and tissues, and make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. We'd be leaving the hospital in about 3 days. I stepped in the hall to call family to let them know, and she came back and said that Dr. L had decided against the c'scopy. He said Dan's system wasn't strong enough to handle the prep for it, and that we would treat him with steroids for about 2-3 days, and then try the c'scopy. I called family to tell them the new news. When I walked back to the room, our nurse stopped me and said she'd recieved an order for steroids, which I expected, and an order for a PICC line, which I did not. I was not happy. Neither was Dan. I explained to Dan that they were giving him a PICC line, and that it was a great thing, because he could recieve nutrients through it that would keep him strong while we were waiting for the c'scopy. He was too high on morphine to understand. A few hours later, two nurses came in with equipment for a line, and the process began. It's a long, detailed process, guided by an ultrasound and followed up by a chest xray. Dan tolerated it like a trooper though. Never once complained! I would have been such a baby about it, but he was soo brave and cooperative! They began the TPN (nutrients) and I left to go to work.
Around 5, my MIL was walking around and came to see me in the waiting room. She said he was doing well, and would probably start some clear liquids in the morning. Great news! Two hours later, she called and said "Trudy, don't panic. He's gonna be okay...". I was immediately scared. They had to call a Code Rapid Response on him,.. he was on his way to CCU (Coronary Care Unit) and something showed up on his EKG that the doc didn't like. I know, why are they doing an EKG on him? A thousand questions hit me all at once and I broke down. I managed to get out of the waiting room and get to CCU as fast as I could. When we met the cardiologist, Dr. Shah, he said that the PICC line went in too far and actually was touching Dan's heart (right atrium). This disturbed his natural cardiac rhythm, and sent him into atrial fibrillation. He was in danger of having a stroke, blood clot, pulmonary embolism, and even cardiac failure. Dan had apparently told the nurse that his heart felt funny, and she paged Dr. James, who thankfully ordered a cardiac enzymes screening, EKG (so that's why they took one) and a chest xray, STAT. This saved Dan's life. (I'm choking up as I type this. I never, never, never want to relive that feeling).
He spent the night in CCU, and was alert, oriented, and miserable, but stable.
Tuesday- I snuck into CCU at 6am (visiting hours begin at 9). We sat in the dark, while he tried to rest, and listened to all the beeps and whirrs and hums of his machines. Now he had a nasogastric tube, an IV, a foley catheter, a PICC line, and they were checking his sugar (he's been anywhere from 179- 224!!!!) every six hours, and giving him insulin shots in his non PICC line arm- not to mention he had at least 8 or 9 monitor pads on him checking his heart!!! Dr.Shah said he could go to a regular bed as soon as Dr. James signed some papers. This was around 8am. Dr. James came around 4pm, and signed him off. I called admissions to find out his new room #, and it was 422 (a regular bed). Then they called me back and said Dr. Shah changed his mind and wanted a monitored bed, #612, just to be on the safe side. It was about 7:30 when they wheeled Dan into 612. NOw he has a portable heart monitor on top of everything else. And he was NPO (No Pas Os- "Nothing By Mouth") since he got here Sunday morning. Not even water. After a few hours on the floor, Dr. James came by and said he could start some clear liquids, and if tolerated well, he could take out the NG Tube in the morning. He also took out the foley cath. With help walking, Dan could get up and go to the bathroom or take a shower. It was the first shower he'd had since Saturday afternoon!!!! And the clear liquids were great.
Wednesday- Dr. James came by this morning around 8am. He asked Dan if he was tolerating liquids well. He was. So he let Dan do the honors of pulling out his own NG Tube!! It's in the trash can, people!! He has been working up to a full diet with no restrictions, and in a little while, he will be eating some homemade chicken soup from my mother. God answers prayer!
Dr. James let us know how seriously dangerous surgery would be for Dan right now, but that as a surgeon, he knows it's on of the fastest ways to find out what's wrong. He said "Guys, I have to tell you that there were many times I almost pulled the trigger and said let's go to the OR, but I know now that would have been a devasting thing. I prayed for God to give me wisdom and guidance on your case, Dan, and He blessed me in that. I'm so thankful for that, because now you are getting better!!". I will always feel like I owe Dr. James my husband's life. And I will always be thankful to God for guiding him in his care.
As I type, I'm waiting on Dr. L to come check on Dan and let us know what's next. We've spent the past 2 days trying to get his heart back to where it needs to be, and now that it's stable again, we can begin focussing on his colon again. Right now, the plan is to go home maybe on Saturday. We're not really sure yet, but I've learned to just hold on tight, because this is a bumpy ride with alot of quick turns, but with prayers and good family and friends, we're making it through. Thank you all again so much.

AS a side note, please include the Tracy family and the Tesnear family in your prayers when you remember us. These are some of our church families that are in critical care units here, and they are in serious need for prayers too. Thanks again!
Trudy