Do I Count ...

...up from 74 or down?

Doesn't matter - take your pick. Either way, I'm still around, and "...still crazy after all these years." 

First, let's get you caught up on the bad/sad news: Dondra didn't make the cut for a kidney transplant, because of numerous reasons - any one of which will disqualify a person. To be honest, I think we both knew in the backs of our minds there wasn't much of a chance, but we were hoping to get those things fixed within the time we had. Sadly, it just wasn't to be.

I received permission from my wife to tell you the reasons so that it may help one of your loved ones. Had everything been "hunky-dory", her age might not have mattered. She was 74 when we applied and she'll be 76 in July. So "Father Time" was always lurking throughout the preliminary lab work, the interviews, and decision-making process. Cut-off was age 75, so not much "wiggle-room", was it? The official reason was listed as "too many negative health factors to risk the surgery."

A while back, I told you about her stroke which caused her a balance and vision problem; she has atrial fibrillation ("a-fib") and uses a pacemaker; a bad case of chronic lymphedema; and, finally - her skin has gotten paper thin to the point where we have to be careful should she cut herself, because she's on blood thinners, and, as one might expect her skin will not hold a suture. Put all those together, and it adds up to an immunosuppressed patient, and a poor surgical risk.

"So what's the alternative?", I hear you asking.

We continue with the dialysis. That's number one. We're going on 2 years, and folks have been known to live longer on dialysis than was previously the case. Three times a week, 3 hours a day is her current schedule, and that seems to work just fine.

For the chronic lymphedema, we got her some"wraps" for her legs. If you're not familiar, these are inflatable boots, which create pressure on the legs to move the fluid out. One looks as if one is going fishing. It's pre-set at a pressure of 40 psi and one uses it for an hour three times a day. She has had it three days and  early reports indicate it is making a difference. She is able to walk with less pain, and she loves it when she gets to urinate, because that's fluid off.

Family life still just consists of the two of us being each other's caregiver. We manage, but realization has set in on yours truly and I have to now be even more careful.

For instance, I am what is comically known as "geographically challenged", which means that if I have to drive, there's a better than 85% chance I'll get lost - even in familiar territory. Recently, I couldn't get out of a damn parking garage because of the way I interpreted the arrow signs. I finally had to call security to lead me out. You're laughing, right? Perfectly fine - one of the reasons I am writing in this conversational style is so you can feel like you're here with me, and I am hoping that when I laugh, you will laugh with me. When it's appropriate, that is. It's not funny when a route that has been familiar, suddenly isn't.

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In other "Bill News", I registered to run The Peachtree Road Race coming up on July 4th. I started training 2 weeks ago, and I will see how I do with this 10K before committing to a half or whole marathon. I also need to stay "heart-healthy*, and I have an appointment to get myself checked out by my cardiologist, "Dr. Cardiogenes". That's the pet name I gave him several years ago and he likes it! He's an awesome guy, and I follow his instructions to the letter

At present, I walk 3.2 miles per hour, have lost 42 pounds and am 2 months away from the race. So --- pretty much on schedule, but...I am unsteady on my feet! By way of explanation, all I can think is that it's been about 20 years since I've been on a course, and where I chose to walk, the sidewalks are not level in some places and there are holes!

Chatting with some other folks my age, I am told that I should expect this and that my normal footing will return.

A couple of other items I need to correct are my kyphosis which worsened when I injured my shoulder. Remember the rotator cuff injury? It has caused me to walk around like Quasimodo. It makes me look at the ground or floor, and I need to work on getting my head up and looking straight ahead.has gotten worse.

I am fortunate that we have a satellite VA Clinic here in Carrollton. A physical therapist can help me get my walk and posture back where it needs to be, and I can once again become more active with less pain.

That concludes another "way too late" entry into my journal. I know --- I'm lazy, right? I wish it were otherwise, but rest assured I try my best to take the best care I can of my sweet wife, the dialysis takes up her time as well as my own and the chores around the house have become more intense and more numerous. As I have written before, we are all each other has and we do the best we can for each other,

That's it for now. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. 

We love you!!!

Still crazy after all these years? We are as well!