When I was allowed to see Amanda first, I was surprised to find that she wasn’t in the Critical Care ICU but in the Cardiovascular ICU. You have to get a badge and go through an intake process with the receptionist. I was glad to find I could stay in the ICU, but still planned…

Not long after I made the last post, I went to the cafeteria to get some dinner. As I was wandering around looking for something, I got a call for another update. They said the new heart was in and beating at 100 beats a minute. She was still open, but she wasn’t on any…

I started a post a few days ago to catch y’all up from Wednesday, but that’s scrapped with the good news and my expedited trip to Nashville. I did have part of that post that I will leave. I was discussing why they may reject a heart offer and how it could prolong our wait.…

Looks like our 41 came a little quicker than expected! The doctor came by late morning to tell Amanda the good news. I’m currently in the air on a flight to Nashville.  I had just gotten off work in Houston and was asleep in the hotel when Amanda called. The surgery was scheduled for 2…

This is mostly for me, but perhaps someone else can get something out of it, too. I saw a tattoo and the explanation behind it on Facebook or some other social media a while back, and it stuck with me. Ever since I’ve had an excerpt in my notes to write on this. Amanda and…

I was called to work early in the morning Monday. I went to get my grip, what railroaders call our bags, out of my Suburban, and the door wouldn’t unlock. I thought I had a repeat of what happened with the dead battery. This time I was going to work and not getting off, though.…

Friday, Amanda’s labs looked a little better, and they called the cath off. Her kidney number trended up a bit. The talk of a balloon pump was scrapped, with her high heart rate, it wouldn’t work. They may be able to try another inotropic medication like dopamine, but they hadn’t mentioned that yet. Dr. Sacks…

Well, I’ve been home working a week already, taken six trains back and forth to Houston, worked 75 hours, and driven over 1000. I’d say I’ve made the most of my time at home, even if I haven’t gotten anything done on the house yet. I got out with an engineer that I’ve previously worked…

Monday, I was called to work later than expected. I fell into an Olive Garden soup, salad, and breadstick coma, to the sound of rain pouring outside. I was pleasantly surprised to be called at 5 in the morning. The plan was to leave Amanda on the drips, both of them. They want to see…

The issue as of late had been food for Amanda. What they bring her or what she can order from the cafeteria is about it. She hadn’t felt good enough to go get anything in the last few days either. They changed her diet after the cath, when she was NPO. It’s been everything from…