I came home from the hospital last Thursday, and have now entered home hospice care. I am facing the end of my life.
We don't know when this will happen, but it is now time for me to be with my family. Over these last two and a half years, Monika and I have been blessed with the love and support we have received from all of you. What could have been a time filled with only pain, fear and uncertainty, instead became a lesson in generosity and friendship. It has carried us through the darkest of times. For this I thank you.
Now I welcome your prayers for a peaceful passage.

Peace and love,
David

New Plans

Yesterday David's operation was cancelled due to risks of complications, which would outweigh any benefit. Because his blood infection involves the stent area, the removal of the clot would be too dangerous. We are now regrouping, making new plans that will allow him to come home and do a 6 week cure of antibiotics, in order to get his bacterial infection in check. Today he is being moved out of the ICU, since his blood pressure is back to normal, and we look forward to the beautiful views of Philips House, the fancy floor of previous stays. Hopefully he will be coming home in the beginning of the week.

Peace,
Monika

Hospital transfer

Last night David finally got his transfer to Mass General, in order to get access to the specialists there. The two chubby paramedics who brought him in were like a comedy team, a modern day Abbott and Costello perhaps, cracking jokes and making David snap some zingers right back at them. I was very thankful for the ease and joy they brought to their task, and it completely broke up the angst of the moment of separation as they took him away in the ambulance.

We were very relieved that a bed was found for him at Mass General, and he is now resting in the Medical ICU until tomorrow, when Doctor Calva will clear out the clots from his vein and his TIPs stent. Today he again got tapped, with five liters of fluid being removed from his stomach. He also had a CT scan to check on his blood flow in the affected areas, and an Electrocardiagram of his heart. That doctor told him his heart is the finest and healthiest example of a heart he has seen in 20 years, and promptly left behind a series of grainy ultrasound images showing said heart. We could barely make head or tail of the pictures, they all sort of looked like cartoon characters.

The team of doctors working on David is world class. Hopefully David will be restored to his old self after tomorrow's procedure!

Peace and love,
Monika

Developments....

Yesterday David had chills and a fever. I called his MGH medical team, and they suggested I bring him in to our local hospital, Emerson Hospital, for blood tests and to tap 6 liters from the rather substantial fluid deposit in his stomach. When the triage nurses saw him shivering and shaking from fevers, he was promptly admitted into the Emergency Room. Being a holiday, it turned out that no personnel was available to tap his stomach fluid, so they decided to keep him in over night, in order to perform the tap this morning.
Today they tapped him, and they also did an ultrasound to check for blood flow in his system. By afternoon they had found out a number of things. Firstly, both his portal vein and his TIPs stent are completely blocked, presumable by blood clots. Secondly, one of the bacteria in his blood has started growing, almost to the point of turning his blood septic. Thirdly, his blood pressure started falling to near dangerous levels. Tonight Emerson hospital transferred him to their ICU, and a call is in for a transfer to MGH hospital when a bed opens up. His blood pressure had to stabilize before he could be transported. As of now, he has been put on blood pressure medication, which has raised his blood pressure to a normal range. One of his antibiotics has been changed out for a stronger one, in order to combat the breakout infection in his blood. David and I are obviously disheartened by this turn of events, but we feel confident in the care of his doctors. Good energy and prayers are most welcome.

Peace,
Monika

David is home again!

Yes!
He is once again home!
We are very pleased!

Peace and love,
Monika

One step back....

Last night David spiked a fever, and I had to bring him back to Mass General Emergency Room. His stomach is still filled with fluid, and the doctors were concerned there may be some infection in his body. Blood tests have been done, and more are to come. Tomorrow his medical team may do an ultrasound exam, and perhaps remove more liquid from his stomach. We are hanging in there, expecting more answers and solutions.

Monika