Staff at the Hospital

Today (August 19) is my 38 day in this hospital. I have been 1-A-E since July 23. So for 28 days I have been poised at the front of the line with two others. Since being here there have been now two transplants that have come in and been performed (all from the B- list). I need to remember that I will only get the best heart that is available for me and that while hearts may be good for others, that is okay. The other 1-A has been waiting for now more than 100 days. He is a big man needing a big heart. He is kind of a 'Santa" (complete with white beard) figure here in the hospital. Everyone loves the guy and I am cheering for him also. I refer to my friend and I as the "A-Team."

I have had noting but deep respect for the staff here at this hospital. They take a genuine concern for those under their care. Last week, a new Nurse-Practitioner was assigned to me. I have know this woman on this floor for several month of time here. She is a very cheerful person (even brings me her Seattle Times newspaper every day) and we get along fine. She told me that she requested to have my care under her supervision. She also told me that every evening she prays that a heart will come in for me. I find that for a State operated Hospital, this is amazing. My previous Nurse-Practitioner that is now taking time off to be her family also was praying for me along with friends from her Church. It does bring me comfort that I am surrounding by so many medical people that believe in the power of prayer.

I have had some issues with my keeping food down. Yesterday I was subjected to this test with an egg-yoke sandwich with a radioactive tracer added to track how food moved through my digestive system. The test from this showed everything was fine. The Doctors have me on a cough medicine to control the coughing I have been experiencing. It seems that this may be part of the answer for my issue with food. The nice thing is any little issues are being addressed until I get a heart. If I were to get an infection or get sick, I would temporarily be pulled from 1-A status, and could miss a good heart that was perfect for me. We heard of this guy who was pulled off the list for a week due to a sickness and a good heart he could have had came in. Oh that would have been terrible. The fortunate thing for him was the day after he as put back up as a 1-A, another good heart that he could have was available and he was transplanted.