If you were present, then you know; if not, well mere words are inadequate.

At Flint River Memory Care Center

As you can see, Ralph & Data seem to be enjoying their new “home away from home.” To say the very least, Data was very happy that Ralph joined her. For the most part, they seem to be adjusting quite well, other than the fact that Ralph is the “finickey-est” eater I have ever known. So far, I haven’t been able to get him to change his outfit, but I am hoping for the best. It is obvious that Ralph is enjoying “take care” of Data.

Anyway, $18,500 later, they are both official residents of the Flint River Memory Care Center. It is located just off Vineville Avenue, where you turn to go to Coliseum Northside Hospital, where Beacon Point used to be located. Feel free to visit them, but please don’t let them talk you into taking them outside the facility.

Please keep them in your prayers, especially Ralph, as he makes this major adjustment in his life.

Blessings,

Mac

I just received a call from Roger Miller, informing me that his recent CAT scan is A-OK. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!! He and Barbara will join a group of us tonight to celebrate by eating “all we can eat” catfish down in Twiggs County, a trip long in the planning!

Carolyn Dailey is in surgery, as I type this, having a biopsy done. We are trusting that her report (next Tuesday!) will be A-OK also! Keep them in your prayers!

Sue Barclay is enroute to Tennessee, as her daughter just learned that there is a problem with the baby she is carrying. Sue will be there for several days, as more tests are done. Please keep them in your prayers.

The last update I had regarding Sue Wicker’s sister indicated that she is doing much better. Sue will appreciate your continued prayers.

Mildred Brandful’s daughter, Meka, is back home, but on oxygen for a while. Mildred and Meka will appreciate your continued prayers.

Blessings to each of you!

Mac

After  a brief delay due to doctor’s secretary’s failure to recert, the procedure was done. I am now the proud owner on a brand new Biometric paceaker. I suppose there will be some tweaking in a week or so. The lesion is mighty sore, but this too will pass.

One thing is for certain: I will be slow to swing my arm into acion!

I will see you on Sunday morning with more on the subject of discilpeship.

As you might imagine, my daughter, Amy, has taken the reins and arranged for a new pacemaker, Biotronic, to be installed in my chest tomorrow at 1:00 PM (thereabouts) at the Coliseum Med Center by Dr. Joseph Poku, an electrophysiologist. The one I am wearing tonight turned 9 years old on October 3, which isn’t too bad, especially when you take into consideration that it has the original battery.

The Doc said it would take about 30 minutes for him to do the procedure, and I feel sure that equates to about $30,000; $1,000 per minute! I can only hope that Medicare and UHC are well funded!

If all goes well, I will be back home later in the afternoon. I really don’t care for any flowers, as I am allergic to them, but I LOVE Lowe’s gift cards. They will be very heart-warming during my recovery! (=:

Eagerly waiting!

Keep the old heart beating!

I had my usual monthly pacemaker check this morning, and after asking my usual “How is the battery doing?” question, I was told that there was nothing to worry about, but they would have to call my Cardiologist. (It sounded like something to worry about to me, until I remembered that His disciples are not supposed to be anxious, and I calmed right on down.)  In about 15 minutes my Cardiologist’s office called and asked, “What kind of symptoms are you having?” I replied with, “None other than part-timers disease.” Vena, the pacemaker tech, knows me quite well by now, so she laughed and said, “You need to come to the office and let me see what is going on with you. I think your battery needs changing. When can you come?” I replied with, “Look up, and you will see me walking in the door!” In about 20 minutes, I did just that, and she was waiting on me. She took me directly into the little room and hooked me up to some kind of high tech machine and very soon said, “You need to have your battery changed! It only has 6 weeks left!” I  replied with, “When? I am supposed to go out of town Thursday through Saturday.” She very quickly told me to cancel my trip and not to do anything strenuous until I could see my Doc (Dr. Joe Johnson). Well, I told her that it was not my habit to do anything strenuous, not to worry. She informed me that she would get an appointment for me. About 2 hours later, Dr. Johnson’s office called to tell me that I had an appointment at the end of November. I told that young lady that by that time I would almost be out of juice, and explained the sense of urgency that I was given at Dr. Bartlett’s office. She said, “Oh, my. Let me see what I can do.” I replied with, “Please do, as a dead battery ain’t of much use to anyone, not even a dead man.” After a bit of my explaining just how dead death really is, she finally found me an 8:00 AM appointment next Tuesday (10/18/11). I am not real happy with having to wait that long, but I know that His disciples are not to be controllers, so I conceded. I can only hope that my battery will wait that long! I did learn that I will be the first of 86 patients for Dr. Johnson that day. Whew! I am glad I am not #86!

Anyway, my battery ain’t dead yet, and neither am I, but it is a bit disconcerting to know that I will have to preach un-strenously this Sunday. I am not sure I can do that, but I will give it my best shot. Maybe I could preach from a comfortable sofa or recliner.

The trip was going to be fun, free, and to St. Simons, Island with some friends.

Oh, well . . . at least my battery light is still blinking, even if it is a bit on the weak side.

Now you know as much as I know. . .

Data's New Home

This morning I signed a ream (literally!) of papers allowing for Data to move into the Flint River Memory Care Center here in Macon. After the signing of the papers and leaving $5,000 with them, with another $3,100 to be paid when she actually enters the facility, she is now on the “ready-to-move-in” list. The psych hospital will call me after 9:30 in the morning to let me know the exact day she will be dismissed, and, thus, the day she will become a full-time resident at this facility. Thankfully, FRMCC will transfer her, which is a very good thing.

It is my opinion that she will do quite well here, as she will be around lots of people, have three healthy meals per day with three healthy snacks between the meals. She will be free to walk around inside and outside (secure facility) at will. She will be taken on field trips on the very nice bus the facility owns, as well as be involved in all kinds of activities. She will be given her meds on time every day (I don’t think she has taken a single med in several years!). I have arranged for the on-site beautician to fix her hair on a weekly basis and for a podiatrist to look after her feet. Ralph will be able to visit whenever he chooses, as long as someone can drive him to the facility.

Once she is situated in the facility, please feel free to visit her whenever you like, until 9:00 PM.

It remains to be seen how Ralph will handle living alone. I do think he is relieved that Data is being cared for, but it will take some time for him to adjust to living alone. I want to be sure that he gets three healthy meals per day, has clean clothes, and lives in a clean house. Accomplishing this will take all of us working together. I will keep you posted.