Tim's Journal

I had a great day. I feel very blessed to be feeling so well and getting stronger everyday. Dr. Coselli and his team are top notch and the hospital staff here have been very helpful and accommodating. My nurse told me I was a one in a million patient. (I will take that as a complement.) Dr. Coselli said I should be able to go home in a day or so. I forgot to ask him about the weird nighttime fever, so we will ask in the AM. Lisa came in this morning and we attended the class on do's and don'ts after heart surgery as well as a nutrition class. I also had her walk the halls and clock the mileage on her Fitbit to see how many laps would make a mile. Looks like 14 laps is my goal. I've done 13 so far and am headed out to do a couple more tonight. Still not needing any pain meds except for regular tylenol at night for my weird fever. It came back again this evening about 7:00pm. One of the interns came by and said they've checked my white blood cells and numbers are normal. No signs of infection, but that a low fever can happen after this type of surgery. Thank you for all of your prayers! Tim

Another great day! Tim should be writing these updates, but I've taken my laptop home for the night! I needed to get some items from home & run some errands, so I left Tim this evening with a few questions to ask Dr. Coselli's team in the early AM. The main question is, "When do you think I might be released"? I will return mid morning to attend (for my 2nd time) the mandatory class on heart surgery. Tim & I had plans to attend this morning, but they came in to remove the IV port in his neck & his last drain tube right as we were about to leave. I watched that procedure and let him stay so the nurse could insert another port in his forearm while I attended the class. We will both attend tomorrow. His nurse today said she didn't see any reason for Tim to be there any longer. Hopefully soon he can come home! He has not had any pain meds today! His nurse just gave him tylenol tonight for a low fever. For the last 3 nights, Tim has had between 100-101 degree temperature... Another question for the team! Praying for a continued speedy recovery and no more night time fever. Lisa

Tim is doing very well! He is off the IV and able to walk the halls easier without the IV pole. He is very much enjoying his diet of anything on the menu! Leanna and Jonathan came in this morning and stayed a few hours and have headed back home. During their visit, we had a little prayer service and communion. Charles, Debra, Marjorie, Julia & Katie all came by and visited several hours. Tim is continuing his breathing and leg exercises as well as walking laps around the hospital. I am making sure he doesn't overdo it since he has never been one to sit still for very long! Thank you for all your continued prayers and support. Lisa

Tim was moved into a room around 1:00 AM this morning. We got here around 10:00 AM and have been so happy to stay and visit with him as long as we want! Tim's nurse came in and gave some instructions on leg and breathing exercises. Mr. "Follow the Rules" has been doing them religiously every 15 minutes since! Waiting for his lunch now, still on a liquid diet today. Leanna

As of now, 10:00pm, we have gotten notice there is a room available! They are waiting on it to be cleaned so they can move Tim in tonight. When we left at 6:00pm, Tim was sitting up in a recliner chair eating dinner. He should be on a regular diet tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing him in the morning, AND being able to spend more than 30 minutes at a time with him as well!

Tim is still doing great and just waiting on a room to become available. The doctor came by and told Tim he didn't need to be in the CV Recovery Room ICU. We are hoping for a room soon. Tim had beef broth, jello, sherbet, & ice tea for lunch. He ate every bite! He is sitting up in bed, but he said he is ready to sit upright in a chair! Will post another update after 3:30 visit. Thank you for your continued prayers. Lisa,

Tim will be moving into a room as soon one is available! He is on a liquid diet and has had green jello for breakfast. Not much more to report as we are just waiting on a room. Leanna, Jonathan & I have set up "living quarters" at the beautiful atrium here. It is very quiet & relaxing compared to the over crowded waiting area. Thank you for continued prayers. Lisa

I spoke with the night nurse, Robin, and she said Tim is doing EXCELLENT!! She said she does not usually like to use that word, but he is! She said Tim had a good night & made her night easier. His tube drainage is down so if doc gives the okay, that will be removed. If all stays status quo, he should get transfer orders to be moved out of the Cardiovascular Recovery Room ICU today! Prayers are being answered! I will post another update after the next visitation @ 10:00. Thank you for your continued prayers and support! Lisa

Tim is doing WONDERFUL! The three of us and Jonathan were all able to visit with him and he was very alert and talking with us the entire time. We can thank God and everyone's prayers for the progress he has made in such a short amount of time! This was the last visiting time today and Tim will be resting for the remainder of the night. We are hoping to be in a room by tomorrow! We will keep up with updates as Tim continues to recover and gain his strength back. Thank you again for all of the positive thoughts and prayers for Tim. We are so very blessed! Lisa, Leanna, & Tanner

We went in for the 5:30 visit and Tim was already almost fully awake! He was very alert and able to open his eyes wide, shake hands, and raise his feet. The doctor said he was doing very well and the surgery went perfectly. The nurse said they do not typically take out the breathing tube on the first night, but the doctor said Tim was doing great and was ready to take it out. Once this was removed we were able to go back in and talk to Tim. His throat was sore, but he was able to make out some sentences. He said "Thank you God! Thank you for all the Prayers!" :) The nurse was then calling the pharmacy to get him started on his pain medicaitons. Tim said, "Yay!" Lol! Tim's siblings just headed home a few minutes ago. We were so happy to have them here with us today to keep us company and keep our minds off the surgery. Tim and the three of us are so very blessed by amazing family and friends! Jonathan (Leanna's Fiancé) is en route to the hospital from Dallas and should be here within the hour to see Tim at the 8:30 visit. Thank you to all of our loved ones for the many texts, calls, and prayers! Lisa, Leanna, & Tanner

Tim is now in Recovery and looking really good. All of the family was able to go in and see him. He was snoozing away! The nurse said he is doing great. He should be waking up in the next 3-5 hours. We can go back in to see him at 5:30. Hopefully he will be awake by 8:30pm as this is the last visitation of the night.

The anesthesiologist came by and let us know that Tim is finished and is now in recovery for the next 4-6 hours. The surgery was a success! He said that Tim gave them no problems at all and he did great during the entire surgery. He will be slowly coming off of the sedation meds. The nurse also came by and we will soon be able to go see him. Thanks again for all your love, support, & prayers!

The nurse came by and let us know that Tim is being stitched up now! He came off the heart and lung machine with no problems and and should be heading to recovery in about 30-45 minutes. Yay! The nurse said that at our 3:00 PM update, we should be able to start heading back to see Tim. We thank God for watching over Tim during his surgery and as he heads to recovery. Thank you to everyone for keeping Tim in your thoughts and prayers! With Love, Lisa, Leanna, & Tanner

Just spoke with the nurse, and everything is going wonderful. She let us know that all of the repairs are all done! They have repaired the aneurism and replaced his aortic valve with a tissue valve. Now Tim is in the drying and warming stage prior to coming off the heart and lung machine. She said the warming stage can take anywhere from 45 minutes to a couple hours. Tim's surgeon is very particular and going make sure everything is in perfect condition before sewing him up. We will see her again at 1:30 for the next update. Thank you for the continued prayers! With Love, Lisa, Leanna, & Tanner

We just spoke with the nurse and everything is right on track. They started by repairing the aneurism and then will go into replacing the valve. She said Tim is doing great! Tim's brother Jody and his wife Monica got here about 30 minutes ago and Lisa's close friend Kim Gebhart came by for a visit as well! We thank you all again for the thoughts and prayers! With Love, Lisa, Leanna, & Tanner

We just received our first update from the nurse about 20 minutes ago. She said that they started with the anesthesia a little after 7:30 AM and Tim went to sleep well once it kicked in! Around 8:45 AM, they started the incision. Tanner (of course!) had to ask some detailed questions on how that process worked. Lol! Other than that, the nurse said that everything is looking good and she will see us again around 10:30 AM. We are praying now for the surgeon and his team to disregard any personal distractions and to focus completely on Tim. Thank you again for all of your thoughts and prayers! With Love, Lisa, Leanna, & Tanner

Tim has headed back and surgery should be beginning any minute now! The nurses will give us the first update at about 9:00 AM, and then after that we will get an updated every hour and a half. We have a pager, just like if we were waiting at a restaurant for our table! Here in the waiting room this morning are Lisa, Leanna, and Tanner along with four of Tim's siblings-- Charles, Margie, Linda, and Julie. We are having a classic "Czech breakfast" of kolaches thanks to Julie! Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. We will update again around 9:00! With Love, Lisa, Leanna, & Tanner

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