Saint Agnes Medical Center

Things are well.  Kim is fine.  She's resting comfortably at Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, CA.  She is requesting NO phone calls at this time, please.

Kim has been in the hospital since Friday (January 14, 2011).

On Thursday she went to the ER in Merced in light of some chest pain.  She was given a nitroglycerin tablet to alleviate the discomfort from the chest pain--and prevent anything that could potentially be in the works.  The chest pain subsided.  Two blood draws were taken.  As the results were analyzed it was clear that something had occurred in the heart muscle.  (Enzymes are secreted when tissues are denied oxygen.  The blood vessels collapse and enzymes are present in the blood.)  These numbers continued to increase over several hours.  After being monitored for several hours she was later released under the condition that she would see her cardiologist the very next day.  She agreed.

On Friday she went directly to her cardiologist.  He looked at the numbers and admitted her to the hospital.  It was too late in the day to order an angiogram.  The UC Davis transplant team was contacted.  The on-call doctors chatted with them to make sure that the course of action they were taking was acceptable in light of her recent organ surgery.  The medical staff is all on the same page.  Everything is progressing smoothly.

What now?
Kim is resting delightfully the hospital.  Here are some pictures of her stay:

Kim enjoyed playing cards with Melissa.  It helped to pass the time.

This is seriously the menu she has in her room.

It's six pages long.  Yes, six pages! 
Just call in your order and food service brings it to you.

I joked with Kim that she was on clearance.  The nursing staff
uses UPC scanners to log patient medications and activity.

They are able to verify with certainty that they have accessed the
correct file on the computer system.  I found that to be quite fascinating--and comical!

What next?  On Monday Kim is having an angiogram.  They will examine her heart to locate the blockage.  After the blockage has been located they will then repair the blockage as needed--possibly a stent.  The medical staff has predicted that she'll get out of the hospital by Tuesday.  We'll see how things go on Monday and that should give us a clearer picture on when she is released.

Why so late in posting this?  Kim wanted to keep things under the radar on this one.  She didn't want anyone to be alarmed.  She wanted for life to be bumping along like "normal."  She doesn't want people to be concerned about her more than is necessary.  Secondly, she needed to rest.  Her phone has been quite silent and it has been excellent for her.  She has been able to lay low and rest.  Her heart needed that.

Beloved, thank you for your continued love and support for our family.  You are very dear and precious to us.  Thank you so much.

 ¹ Praise the LORD.

   Praise the LORD, you his servants;
   praise the name of the LORD.
² Let the name of the LORD be praised,
   both now and forevermore.
³ From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
   the name of the LORD is to be praised. 

Psalm 113:1-3 

Praying fervently for His plans,
Melissa Culver