Yvonne’s Challenge

What a difference a day makes, as the old tune goes!  June and I picked up Beth today, which was great since we got to go together and spend time comparing notes.  Ten days out, and I’d suggest it’s an off-the-charts rating.  Suffice to say, all reports were great, and we left feeling really great about our progress. 

Beth is feeling much better, which is great news.  Now … I didn’t say 100 percent … but much better.  And to tell you the truth, she looks like a million bucks … of course, the raw material is mighty awesome so why wouldn’t she look fab!   

My numbers looked good … and while I’d have liked to have a little less Prednisone, they’re keeping me at current levels with the goal of dropping below 30MG a day, which appears to be a magic number.  At 30, I’m still limited on contacts with people and out-and-about trips, and also stuck with a mask — a truly lovely site since you might imagine that it makes people wonder if I’m a hopeless neurotic.  (BTW — the answer is no.)

I must describe the scenario at the hospital so you can laugh with us on this one.  June and I were in my exam room, and we started laughing about the three years we spent as roommates in Atlanta.  I was holding my incision, and we were laughing so hard we were both crying.  The door was slightly open, and my doc and the transplant nurse were laughing at how hard we were laughing at ourselves.  It was a site I’m sure they don’t experience often in that neck of the woods.

Of course not to be outdone, David joined Beth in her exam room — as did June and I since we finished first – so the four of us were holding court when the transplant nurse showed up.  It was  damn near a party, if only we’d had a champagne bottle.  David opted to take Beth to Benjy’s for lunch, so off they scooted to do a little celebrating on their own.

And speaking of that … perhaps the most liberating answer I got today was I can have a couple of glasses of wine or a couple of cocktails … now that’s the limit for now, but I’ll take it.  In fact, I believe a celebratory toast is definitely in store tonight in light of all the good news!

Everyday gets a little better, with marked progress for both Beth and me.  We have so much to be thankful for in this process.  Blessings abound.

Love, Yvonne

Great news today that Beth is feeling better!  For the first time, she was able to sleep through the night, so there’s progress to report.  While not yet pain free, it looks as though there’s movement in the right direction.

Tomorrow Beth and I will join forces at St. Luke’s for our first follow-up visit.  It’s nice to know we’ll be together, and we hope to hear good news about our respective results.  

It’s been a nice restful weekend here at home.  I was able to coerce Connee to show June some of the spots near and dear for cooking and shopping, and Central Market and Bering’s were highlights on their spree.  Since both are great cooks, Connee is the perfect docent for our town’s best culinary adventure.  Debbie stood guard to mind the store, while I napped and took it very easy.  Thanks, Deb!

Fred and I were the beneficiaries of the Saturday jaunt, since June found some delicious ingredients for a little jumped-up dinner.  The quiet evening included ’No Country for Old Men’ which clearly offered insight to some of the more unsavory parts of our society.  Suffice to say that the movie of choice tonight was ‘Ratatouille,’ a lighter-hearted movie to end a nice weekend.   

Thanks for your cards, your notes and your e-mails.  We’ll let you know more tomorrow after our follow-up reports.

Love, Yvonne 

With Boston snows a distant memory here in Houston, the care team decided they needed to show June why we love our springs.  They decided a ride in the car — even without a mask! — was in order to show her our gorgeous spring flowers and wildly blooming azaleas.  Oh the fresh air and sunshine — it just doesn’t get more beautiful in our town. 

Debbie drove, with Connee in from Austin for the night and June riding shotgun, as we traversed some of our favorite Azalea Trail haunts.  I always love pointing out the message from the River Oaks Garden Club rose gardens on Lazy Lane that states quite simply ”don’t even think about cutting our roses.”  You tell ‘em Sistas!

When we got home, we sat outside on the patio to celebrate the anniversary of Week One with an afternoon cocktail.  June and Connee enjoyed cranberry juice and lime , while I nursed a Virgin Mary.  As you can tell, we’re not exactly socking ‘em back at the Donaldson home quite yet, so Happy Hour was, shall we say, not done Louisiana-style.  No cocktails quite yet. (And yes, Robert, an icy cold Kettel One, up with crystals and extra olives would be the drink of choice to celebrate my new body part!)

By contrast, my buddy Beth spent time at St. Luke’s this afternoon nursing what the docs believe is a urinary tract infection.  While I’m sure under the heading of TMI she would prefer I not share all the details, suffice to say that she’s on some heavy-duty antibiotics and pain meds to help her solve these issues.  She doesn’t feel great, which of course troubles us all. 

Shannon and Pete are off on spring break jaunts, so this is Beth’s chance to have some quiet time with David and continue her recovery.  This scenario certainly wasn’t in the plans.  So armed with the right meds, I’m hoping — and I know you all join me — that we’ll get a better report tomorrow about how Beth’s doing.  I’ll be sure to let everyone know too. 

We’re both due at St. Luke’s on Monday for follow-up, so we’ll  continue to keep the information flow open. 

One week ago we were both in ICU, so being at home with our friends and family surely is a wonderful way to start the weekend, despite what we expect is a temporary setback for Beth. 

Thanks once more for your cards, your notes and your wishes.  As I said to the gang this afternoon, the greatest joy and the most overwhelming sense I have is the love that has come from the incredible community of friends who have offered more than anyone could expect or imagine.  It’s a powerful message. 

Love, Yvonne 

Last night was a little difficult for Lei Lei and Shaddie, who are much accustomed to having ‘their’ way around ‘their’ house.  While Shaddie was perfectly content to sleep on her new big bed on the fireplace hearth in my bedroom, Lei Lei was none-too-happy to be swept away by Olive when she insisted that under the covers was more her cup of tea. 

By 5:00 this morning, she had escaped the confines of the guest room and found her way into mine, where she wimpered to be picked up … alas, I do understand the new rules of the road.

Nonetheless, I must admit a certain perverse pleasure in getting to sneak away this morning while Olive and June slumbered (bless their hearts, they certainly needed some rest since keeping me in line isn’t the easiest job anyone’s ever undertaken … but more on that in another post).  Armed with my face mask — which by the way fogs up glasses way too quickly — we hit the street for a quick 5:15 walk around the neighborhood.  No one was out to witness the feat, damn it … but we enjoyed our little outing and the ability for the three of us just to give our buddies a break.

Lei Lei is loving having June here since she admittedly loves dogs much like I do.  Her mom also has Shelties, so while Shaddie hasn’t warmed too terribly well, she does love the treats she’s receiving and is willing to warm up when a hand is extended with something special attached.  Oh those Milk Bones are something! 

It was so great to set up my computer at the dining room table today and work through more than 1000 e-mails.  It’s certainly no surprise that I love what do, so being able to put a toe in the water today was terrific.  And how great it felt to do some editing and to see what’s happening in the ‘real’ world.  

And what a glorious world it is to be feeling this great less than one week out after this incredible lifegift I’ve received.

I’m behind on personal e-mails so bear with me a little longer.  I promise to catch up in the next few weeks.  

Without getting maudling, I went to sleep last night still reflecting  on how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many amazing people.  You lift my spirits, make me smile and let me know that this one heck of a fine life to be living.

Love, Yvonne 

While I never quite imagined myself like a character from The Wizard of Oz, when I walked into my home today I felt like clicking my red shoes together and shouting “there’s no place like home!”  Truly, there isn’t.

When I arrived, I wanted first to hug little Lei Lei and Shaddie and then simply to walk around and look at my surroundings.  While the St. Luke’s surgical, nursing, transplant and care team were off-the -charts incredible and the results more than one could reasonably hope or expect — added to the fact that I was surrounded by my hero Beth Looney, her sweet David, Shannon and Pete, and my ”gang of four” friends support team that too was beyond anything one could dream of – how wonderful to know that I can be here in the confines of the familiar and warm. 

God knows I wouldn’t pretend to know anything about camping, but getting into my shower with really warm water and great water pressure was terrific.  Being able to reach for a cold bottle of water and my own popsicles (Yes, Ali, they are my treat of choice too!) and then to nap with a beautiful new soft blanket without interruptions … well, recovery truly has begun.

I suppose that there three things I’ve often been quoted as saying:  1) I really am the luckiest person I know; 2)  I have had more fun than the average white girl; and 3) “normal” is a setting on a washing machine.  

One and two aside, Number 3 is what I’m thinking about today.  The outpouring of your love, your notes, your well wishes, your funny posts, cards and deliveries isn’t normal. In fact, even with Clorox wipes, Purell and triple-washing action, I am humbled by what I have experienced beyond anything I could ever express.  It really, really, really brings me to the core of every feeling I could ever have — of gratitude, thanks, possibility, hope, love, kindness, generosity … the list just goes on and on.   There’s no way to say thank you enough times for each and every person who has been present with Beth and me in this process.

Truly you must know how deeply I  know that I am the luckiest person I know.  And I thank each of you … and prayers from Beth and me to tonight to our sweet Beverly who made this improbable miracle and lifelong alliance a reality.   

Love, Yvonne 

Yvonne is all ready to go home.  Just waiting, waiting, waiting for the transplant coordinator to come by a final time with instructions and discharge papers. 

She was quite uncomfortable last night until Julie Robeson, her doc, came by and saved the day by writing orders for her iv lines and ports to come out.  Boy, did that feel better!  Now, she sounds like her ol’ self.

Home today!  With puppy dogs waiting and sun shining.  Hooray.

Beth was formally discharged a little after noon today.  Facing a fairly long wait for a transport, our girls took things into their own hands.  Olive got hold of a wheelchair to take her downstairs where David was waiting with the car.  As they left, a nurse asked, ”Who authorized this?”  Olive assured her, “Oh, it’s been authorized” and she and Beth wheeled out of there, chuckling as they went.  Way to take charge, girls.

Meanwhile, on the home front, Debbie spent the morning waiting at Yvonne’s house for the cable guy to get the cable and internet back up and running. (Done.)  She also got a handyman in to fix the dryer as it apparently got too much of a workout the day before. (Done.)  June is there now making final preparations.

Not to be outdone, Yvonne kept up her end of the deal by walking.  And walking.  She did 14 laps around the floor today, which apparently equals one mile.  Way to go, Wonnie.  Other than that, it’s pretty much driving her CRAZY to still be there.  (Yep, there’s that control thing again.)  Hopefully, all will go smoothly tomorrow and she will be out of there.

- Connee

Well, sometimes we get a reminder that we can’t control our own lives.  Despite getting up at 3:30 this morning all ready to go home, it turns out that Yvonne has to wait one more day.  Nothing serious, but the extra day will hopefully see all measures return to acceptable levels.  Yvonne is “crestfallen,” to use her own word.

Beth, on the other hand, is ready to go home today.  She is doing great.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Olive Talley.  Olive has spent the last three nights at the hospital, setting her clock for every 2 hours so she could get up and check on both patients.  (At which time she often found Yvonne at her Blackberry, by the way.)  Yesterday she left the hospital to meet Yvonne’s housekeeper, and together they cleaned the entire house to get it ready for Yvonne’s homecoming.  Sheets, pillows, duvets, blankets, just about everything got washed.  She even cleaned out the refrigerator.  Then, back to the hospital for another night’s stay.  Olive, thank you.

Debbie Woods returned from Canada on Sunday night and Yvonne’s good friend and old college roommate from Sullins, June Tauro, flew in from Boston last night to round out the care team.  They will help Olive get Yvonne home tomorrow and will take over from there.  You can imagine there will be two very happy little dogs there to greet their owner.  Hopefully, they won’t mind being banished from the bedroom for a while!

- Connee

Yvonne and Beth will both be going home tomorrow.  We know that it will be an exhausting day, as being discharged from the hospital always seems to be a long and involved process.

We are very grateful that all of you have honored our request not to visit, and ask that you continue to stay away for the next few weeks.  Now that the initial euphoria of recovery is wearing off, both our patients are tired and need a lot of time to rest.  Also, remember that Yvonne cannot have flowers, plants or fresh fruit baskets at her home because of the risk of bacterial infection.  (As Jackie Fontenot Robins said today, if she can keep from visiting, so can you.  We know how hard that is for everyone, but it is so important.)

When I spoke to Yvonne this evening, she sounded a little overwhelmed.  Tired from all the walking and from visits with doctors, nurses and transplant coordinators.  Trying to focus on next steps as she faces the delicate post-operative phase over the next few months.  Looking forward to resting in her own bed.  And most of all, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from so many.

We will continue to update this blog to keep everyone informed, and Yvonne promises to post updates once she gets home.  Of course, we will keep close tabs on Beth and let you know about her progress, too.  We had over 700 hits on the blog today, so we know it is working.

It has been an amazing few days.  Nothing short of a miracle.  Thank you all for sharing in it, and for all the well wishes and prayers.

- Connee

It’s another long story, but we have a friend who is something of a recording artist. He has a song on his latest CD, Give Yourself Away, that is entitled New Day. It is a really neat song about starting each day fresh, regardless of what the actual “physical” appearance of the day might be. One of the tag lines is that we all need “hope, coffee, and a melody” to get the day going.

Anyway, I thought it was perfect for the situation and might be fun to post on the website.

- David Looney

Give Yourself Away, The Robbie Seay Band http://www.robbieseayband.com