3-20-2025 Update:

I had a "surprise" pulmonary function test this morning. I got a call late yesterday afternoon to inform me that I had an 8:30 AM appointment at the hospital this morning. I slept later than I intended to, but I did arrive early enough at the hospital to keep my appointment. The test went well, I thought. I don't anticipate they'll find any *major* problems, but I won't know for sure until they forward the results to our primary care provider.

Daniel is continuing to improve overall. He's trying to build his strength and muscles back (he lost a lot of muscle in the 3 months before he was hospitalized), and he's been doing great with his meds. He also started taking a multivitamin, since he was severely malnourished. His recent blood work shows improvement, which we are extremely thankful for. 🙌

He has an appointment with the gastroenterologist on the 24th. This is the last specialist to see him since he was discharged on February 13th. Evidently, GI doctors are booked up for months, and while the hospital prefers to have follow-up appointments done within 2 weeks of discharge, sometimes the delay is unavoidable. We're hoping that the GI will go ahead and continue seeing him as an established patient, as well as requesting that he take me on as a new patient, since we're a bit disappointed in our current GI.

My work has been very understanding with my frequent absences, and while I'm grateful for that, we're still falling short financially, because if I don't work, I don't get paid. God has seen fit to provide for us, and we are continually praising and thanking Him for His provision, *however* He provides. ✌❤🙏🙌

3-14-2025 Update

Daniel saw his cardiologist Tuesday to discuss the results of his nuclear stress test. The cardiologist said that it looks like he has a blockage in a vein at the back of his heart, but that it's possible the blockage is not new. He recommended that Daniel have an angiogram, but since Daniel hasn't been having chest pains or other symptoms, we can schedule it after he finishes his follow-up appointments with other doctors. Another issue that popped up recently is tachycardia (high heart rate), and the doctor prescribed a low dose of metoprolol to help his heart pump more efficiently and to hopefully bring his heart rate down. He has a follow-up appointment in 6 weeks for a checkup and to schedule the angiogram.

We haven't received the results of the blood work done at our PCP yet, which is unusual. We're hoping that they will be in by Monday.

I have been having my own health concerns that I've been putting off addressing, since Daniel's issues are much more pressing. But he encouraged me to get myself seen to, because ignoring my health won't make any problems go away, and my issues aren't less important than his just because they're not as obvious. It's a struggle for me to prioritize myself, because I've always been the one to coordinate and handle everyone else's needs above my own. I'm reluctantly following through with making and keeping my own medical appointments and accepting the recommended tests. I know that my health is important, but a part of me still feels like I'm being selfish. 

I was able to fix 2/3 of our car's problems myself, so I may not have to have a mechanic look at it, and I discovered that we will not have to replace a window unit air conditioner that had suddenly stopped working (the problem was caused by excessive rain and resolved itself). For these things, I am *very* thankful! 🙌

3-10-2025 Update:

Daniel's condition is slowly improving. We're going through the second round of follow-up appointments with doctors. He had a nuclear stress test last Friday, and he saw our PCP this morning. He has an appointment with the cardiologist tomorrow afternoon to review the results of the stress test. Later this month, he has a follow-up appointment with the gastroenterologist (his first since he was discharged from the hospital).

Our main focus right now is pain control, keeping his blood sugar stable, and putting weight back on him. His pain is improving, and our PCP prescribed short-acting insulin to try and help control mealtime glucose spikes in addition to his long-acting insulin. Gaining weight is going to be a challenge, however. With the gastroparesis, he can't have a lot of fat or fiber, and with the diabetes, he can't have a lot of carbohydrates. 

I've been doing my best to put in hours at my job so that we'll still have an income. I lost 2 1/2 weeks in February because of his hospitalization and follow-up doctor appointments. We've been blessed by a few people who have donated directly, which has been a huge help with buying groceries and putting gas in the car. Our car is in need of repair, however. It's still getting us from point A to point B and back, but I need to have a mechanic look at it sooner rather than later.

We're taking each day as it comes, and we are thanking and praising God for everything He has done for us. ✌❤🙏🙌

2-24-2025 Update

After 3 follow-up appointments last week, Daniel and I get this week off from going to the doctor. I didn't realize how much there was to do *after* he was discharged from the hospital! I was able to work for a couple of days last week, and unless we have a surprise doctor appointment, I should be able to work my regular hours this week. February is already a short month, but I'm thankful that I still have a job! A few hours is better than *no* hours.

Daniel is slowly regaining his strength, and he has been able to eat regularly. Thanks to his new continuous glucose monitor, we're able to see how food affects his blood sugar, as well as determining when is the best time to take his long-acting insulin so that his blood sugar stays relatively level throughout the day and night. It's probably too soon to know for sure, but he may have to start taking a short-acting insulin in addition to the long-acting insulin, since even low-carb foods send his blood sugar over 200. We've been low-carb before, so it's mostly a matter of getting back into that way of eating and moving away from higher-carb foods that we've been eating because of the cost. 

After talking to the hematologist and doing some research after reviewing blood test results, it seems that Daniel has developed Budd-Chiari syndrome. The doctor wants to test for JAK2 gene mutation, as well, but that depends on whether our insurance will pay for the test since it's relatively new. In the meantime, Daniel's been put on Eliquis, a blood thinner, to dissolve the blood clots and prevent new ones from forming. We don't yet know if he'll be on the medication long-term (or for life). His condition causes him pain in his left side, and he was prescribed pain medication, which helps immensely. However, because of the type of pain meds he was prescribed, he's being very careful not to take them unless the pain becomes intolerable. Not only doesn't he want to become dependent on them, they can also slow down his already slow digestive tract, which is how he ended up in this condition to begin with. 

We continue to be in prayer and trust that God will provide us with what we need when we need it while we navigate on this new health journey. We ask for your continued prayers, for healing, for wisdom (for us and for his doctors), and in thanksgiving for all God has done for us thus far. ✌❤🙏🙌🤗

Megan here again with a long-overdue update.

Daniel was discharged from Lafayette General on Thursday, February 13th. There's power in prayer! 🙌

He has several follow-up appointments with his healthcare team over the next few weeks, but he's getting stronger every day. He's been able to eat real meals for the first time in about 3 months! 🙌

We're still waiting for results from biopsies and blood tests, and he has a nuclear stress test scheduled to make sure that his heart wasn't damaged.

I've returned to work in a limited capacity for now, since I have to bring him to his appointments and take care of him. We've been blessed, and we appreciate the prayers and support we've received. Thank you all SO MUCH! ✌️❤️🙏🙌🤗

Megan here, with an update. Praise and thanks to God for answered prayers! Daniel was able to be moved to a regular room on Friday, February 7th!

He's in stable condition, and the 2 major crisis issues have been resolved, however there are still a couple of significant issues that are currently being addressed. Considering the circumstances, he's in good spirits, and he's working on healing and getting stronger.

More than anything, we ask for your prayers, and we thank you!

Big thanks to Rosalee for setting this up! We love you!