Fred heart valve

Rick and I left on Sun and returned yesterday from Indiana (we had to get up at 3:30 am to catch our flight!). Fred needed a new valve for his heart. It is absolutely incredible how advanced medicine is. His heart valve was not opening and closing properly and needed to be replaced. This is usually done with open heart surgery, but Fred was part of the clinical trial for a new way to replace this valve. Docs go in thro both veins down by the groin, then connect back up by the stomach (or wherever they connect), pushing thro a new valve, somehow drop it into place, and voila! a new valve without open heart surgery, the risk and recovery.

All seemed to be going well, then late last night they discovered his kidney's had shut down completely. That was always a concern because his kidney's were only functioning at 40% or something low like that. His spirits are still good, but he might have to start on dialysis. He was hoping to be dismissed today, but that will not be happening. Rick will probably fly back out there.

We also saw Ginger and family while there; she is not doing well. So sad with the 3 young girls. She is such a positive, upbeat person. She has accepted that this might be close to the end for her, but worries so much about Mallory 12, Kaitland 7, and Kristen 5 (ages for 2014).

I forgot to post these pics from our trip in Oct with Chris and Alyona. I have always loved the location of Fred's house, with all the woods.