A Visit With Jannet

I visited Janet at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital yesterday.  It was more than going to see her again because this time it was a real visit.  It was my first time to see Janet awake and able to talk to me.  There are no words to describe how much this huge change meant to me...I will leave it that it was another prayer answered to have this time with her. 

Elated, more prayers answered, her feeding tube was removed yesterday morning!

Janet is still very weak.  Although she is managing time up in a chair and is able to stand with assistance she is still unable to walk.  Her knees and ankles are still quite swollen from the fluids used when she was chilled.  The nurse told me there is really nothing for her to do about this except to try to keep them elevated.  Over the course of the past few weeks Janet has had many drugs administered and it will take time for them to wear off for this and other side affects she is experiencing.  Once again more time is the answer. 

 

Without the feeding tube, her nurses are monitoring what and how much she eats.  Counting calories!  She was munching on a lovely bowl of fruit a friend brought to her and a few almonds.  As three almonds slowly disappeared she told me how much she loves them.  But then she told me now hard it is to eat and to breathe at the same time.  She is working to manage the two together.  She also told me it is very hard to talk and to breathe too.  I could see she was reserving and managing her comments to save on air.  The nurse came in, Janet reported the three almonds for the count.

Today, perhaps tomorrow, she is going to be moved from the intensive care unit to a regular room.  Janet told me she is going from the hospital to a rehabilitation facility and in her words, “I think I need that but I know it will be hard work”.  Her nurse joined our conversation and told her of one she had personal experience with.  Janet was interested and upbeat when hearing about it.  The nurse also told her she could be moved to one even before she can walk.  Janet has said she believes exercise in a pool and using parallel bars to walk with would be a great help to her.  Later this week I am going back to Oklahoma City to spend a day with Jim looking at some possible places.

  

Janet shared with me that she is going to have to learn to write again.  Our conversation went something like this…

Janet, “I can’t write.”

Me, “you can’t?”

Janet, “No, I tried, can’t do it. I’m going to have to learn”

Me, “You will.”

Then with a big smile she said, “Yes, I will, but I can still type” 

I wondered how she knew that, but she was pleased so I was too.

I do believe Janet will learn to write again.  We also know this might be but one of the daily tasks that we all take for granted she will be working to relearn.  It will take time.  Janet knows her one job now is to get better and that it is going to be hard work.  The one thing she is not looking forward to is the bypass surgery in her future.  And who of us would look forward to that?  But she does know it is a necessary part of her over all wellness plans.

Janet relayed a conversation she had with her doctor. I believe you should know about it too.  He came into her room and said to her, “You know you are a miracle, don’t you?  You were not supposed to live.”  It was then that she told me she knew many people were praying for her and how grateful she is for their prayer.  I told her I believed it to be hundreds, maybe thousands and I asked if she knew about this blog.  She said she knows some and asked me to include some things in this posting including her gratitude for so much prayer.  She said she knows it is not only the blog, but the people she knows and even greater the wider circle of people they know and those beyond that other's know.   Janet has a strong faith and she knows, along with incredible medical care, that the power of prayer has saved her life.

I have missed her so much.  It was good to see her and to talk with her.  Yes, I have seen her a lot but this is the first time in weeks we could actually talk.  We talked about a scrapbooking event that is coming up and she said she knows she can’t go, but said that she will be back.  She talked about her Mary Kay business knowing it would be a while before she can get back there too.   Our banter was mostly just normal things for us. 

Janet did have a lot of company yesterday.   When I arrived, around 5:30, she was exhausted.  She told me she appreciated seeing those who had come by very much but said that her day had really been too much for her.  Her doctors and nurses want to put a sign on her door prohibiting any visitors and she is really hoping that does not happen.    For now, the doctors have asked that the number of people who visit and the length of time they stay be very limited.  She does not have much stamina and wears out very easily.  Wisely, Janet asked us all to leave even telling Jim to go home and feed the animals and have an early night. 

She has loved the cards she has received so I thought I would include an address for you. 

Janet Henthorn

Oklahoma Heart Hospital

4050 West Memorial Road
Oklahoma City, OK 73120

When she moves to a rehabilitation facility I will update an address for you.  Post your comments here, as it won’t be long before Janet reads this entire blog.  I know she will love seeing that you have been here for her every step of theway.

This week, I know Janet would enjoy a card or a note from you.  I know she will read each one as she regains her strength.  And one more thing I might ask.  Each time you pick up a pen to write something down, perhaps that could be a reminder to say an extra prayer.  Knowing writing is a task Janet will be working to do again, give thanks that you are able to and pray she will master this task again soon.

Prayer is powerful!  Thank you for your prayers.