Updates ...

Dialysis training the week of December 17, 2012. Finished up on Thursday at the center. Friday was a home visit from the nurses to make sure that we knew what we are doing. We passed! Thank you God for helping us to learn and to do all this!!!

Last Thursday was a check in at the Dialysis Center in Paris. Again, we passed! =) Thank you God for helping us so much!!! 

Rick has been struggling with a cold/cough/congestion/crud for a couple of weeks now. He has taken 2 rounds of Mucinex-D ... 2 bottles of Delsym cough syrup ... 1 round of antibiotics. And he is better - but still struggling. 
Thankfully, everything coming out of his head and chest is more white or clear in color. And no fevers. 
Now, if he can just breathe easier! Lord, please help him. 

We go back to the Dialysis Center this coming Monday, January 7. Another check in to see if we have picked up any bad habits with doing the exchanges ... blood work for the month to see how all his numbers are (praying that God will astound the doctors and nurses with these numbers! All better ... all good!!!) ... 

Rick is also having to take EPO shots every Thursday. A small vial of this is about $2000 - and one vial gives 2 shots. Lord, don't let me drop one! Help me to give these to Rick. O Lord!!! 
They are basically the hormone that the kidneys normally produce that goes to the bone marrow and tells the marrow to produce more red blood cells. 
He has taken 2 IV's of the iron again - his iron stores/saturation is not holding high enough to be without the iron IV at this point. And without a healthy level of iron - the EPO shots aren't as effective as they need to be. 

Dr. Greenwell increased Rick's blood pressure medication - from taking 2 tablets morning and night, to taking 2 tablets morning, noon and night. His blood pressure is still running a little too high - but so much better. We have another medication that he may have to start taking, but that will be Dr. Greenwell's call -if and when. 

--<<I want to say THANK YOU to the Paris Dialysis Center ... and to the PD nurses - Glenda, Misty, Autumn, and Lisa. Y'all are AWESOME!!! Thank you for your kindness, your understanding, your help! Thank you for your encouragement and your support. 
There are times that I have been overwhelmed and you seem to know those times. Thank you for the touch of support and kindness. Thank you for the words of peace. Thank you for telling me over and over again that you believe in me, in us. Thank you!!! You are all so precious to me!!! Love you ladies!!! 

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