5 months

really...  it has been 5 months since Larry had teeth....   he has been such a trooper through all of this past year... He used to say he was a wimp with pain, but he isn’t any longer... I have been amazed....

He had good strong teeth, very few problems, but at a dental checkup in August, they discovered he had gum disease....  for a person with heart disease, this is a huge danger....  that bacteria can cause a heart patient to be on antibiotics for the rest of their lives...

So he and the oral surgeon decided to do it all.....   under anesthesia of course... what was to be a one night stay turned into 9 nights because his kidnies went into shock.....  but that is done.

Today he got his new teeth.....   no steak tonight, has to get used to eating and talking, but to the future......

The process in photos.....

LVAD video on local news

Even though this is not our hospital, it is a great video to explain a LVAD procedure.


KATV news LVAD video


The katv news tonight had a segment on Larry Chastain, who received a heart transplant, he was in CVICU beside Larry and got his LVAD a week before....  congrats to him and Jan....  I will post that link when it becomes available......

Sadly my Larry is not eligible for a transplant because of his diabetes.....  

Larry's dr. follow up today was good.... it has been 3 months since his last doctor visit.
Last summer when we were seeing Dr Ransom every week, I never thought this day would come...
He was in the hospital for GI bleeds, then he had to get teeth removed... it was a really long 9 months of in and outs, weekly visits, lab tests...  and concern....

 But today hus xray, labs, echocardiogram, 6 minute walk, all good...  next appointment is in 3 months......  we need lots of prayers and probably akways will....   he is good, but he still has Congestive Heart Failure, he is still insulin dependent diabetic, he still has kidney issues.....  and I still celebrate each and every day as if it is our last one together.......
one day at a time........  

first we celebrate his 1 year LVAD on March 7....

Think the new generator is a great LVAD birthday present........  for maybe the rest of his life.....  ha