Will, at least that's a reason!

I finally heard, for the first time, a logical reason why I would be forbidden from driving. I don't like it, and there are arguments I could make, but least it's a reason.

It seems that the California Department of Vehicles (DMV) feels that if you are taking any medications that say "may cause drowsiness" you are driving under the influence (DUI). A drug is a drug, legal or not. So if I were to get pulled over for any reason and they found out I was on all these heart meds, I'm, DUI. Now my argument is that I may suffer from many of the side effects of many of the meds, but none of them have ever caused drowsiness, but that probably wouldn't fly.

So, since I will most likely be of some of these meds for life, the chances of me driving again just took a direct hit. Bummer.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Manning the Ropes

I was reading Acts the other day...

"...but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket..." Acts 9:25

The conversion of Saul was a turning point in the church's history and God used several people to touch his life. We remember Paul but are prone to forget the people who helped him get started. Now persecuted and threatened with death, Paul has to make a quick escape from Damascus with the aid of unnamed disciples. Who were these "small actors"?

I may not be called to a prominent work as Saul was, but I can do the job God has called me to do and be an encouragement to others. I don't know the names of the brave men who smuggled Saul out of Damascus, but manning the ropes was an important job.

Dear God, help me to see and fill those "small" roles and to be an encouragement to others.

Home Again

I just got home from yet another say in the hospital. Tuesday, January 22nd, I had a good dinner, watched some TV and went to bed. Everything was good. I felt fine. Wednesday morning at 3am I woke up with belly pain that felt like I was being split in two. We called 911, got me to the hospital here in Fresno and I transferred up to Stanford the next day. On discharge yesterday, the doctor summarized:

"...presented with 30cm stomach mass...underwent exploratory laparotomy and drained...bloody fluid from mass. Biopsy consistent with pseudocyst...fluid culture negative..."

So at least this was something different. Through this whole mess at least the heart continued to pound away just fine. We don't know exactly what caused this but when I do something I do it right. For those of you that missed it, it was 30cm across. Now, go grab a ruler that has centimeters on it and hold it across your belly. That's almost 12 inches across and it contained a total of almost 4 liters of fluid. Imagine two 2-liter bottles of soda. I guess that explained the pain.

Thank you for all your prayers. I will celebrate the one year anniversary with my new heart this Sunday, February 17th.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Why is sitting around so hard?

Right now my muscles, all of them, are weak. Then, when you combine that with the extremely sore shoulder from that surgery, I am really limited in what I can do. I can't walk very well and I can't do much of anything right now. So I walk around the house and then I sit...

...and that's harder than anything else. The back starts to hurt. The feet go to sleep. Arghhhhhhh.

Just griping.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Support Our Troops

Regardless of where you stand on the war in Iraq, I hope we can all agree to support the men and women that are there. I thought these pictures were kind of neat...

Finally Home!

I don't know if I can tell y'all what's happened to me the last month...

• Admitted for heart failure of the new heart.
• Apparently fell multiple times but have no memory of this.
• Went into cardiac arrest.
• Repeat twice.
• (Three arrests for the math-challenged.)
• Spent a week recovering and have no recollection of that week.
• Discovered that ribs were cracked during cardiac arrests.
• Three more weeks recovering.
• Received implantation of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD - see photo below).
• Got home with extremely sore shoulder and rubber legs.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Can you say "difib"?

Real quick...

They are installing an internal defibilator tomorrow morning - then I should be home Wednesday.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

I should be home soon...

The doctors told me this morning, no doubt in an effort to bribe me, that if I walked around the "pod" three times today, they'd release me on Wednesday. So, just to be sure, I walked FIVE TIMES! I'll show them.

We're just putting final touches on my meds. The kidneys are working fine once again. My strength is slowly coming back. I feel much better. Any input on low-sodium, low-carb recipes are welcome. (Uh-oh, this may lead to another blog!)

Talk to you soon,
Sean

How many times can one man die?

Hello friends!

It is now December 24 (Merry Christmas to you all!) and I'm checking in from the hospital. Apparently (and I've had to put this together from other people), I came in on December 8 and "coded three times". I remember none of this. It does explain why my chest hurts though. They said they probably cracked a few ribs during at least a couple of my CPR's. So, long story short, I died three more times this month.

Things are much better now. The kidneys took another huge hit and and I'm on dialysys (sp?) but my appitite is coming back, various body functions are returning, and the doctors are hinting that I could return home next week, assuming we find a dialysy lab they approve.

It's difficult typing at this angle so I'm gunna keep it short. Leave me some love.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

And Another Thought for Today...

Exactly three hundred and sixty-five days ago (one year for the math challenged), doctors in Fresno told my wife I was "really sick" and that there was "nothing more we can do for him". November 30th, 2006 they loaded me up in an ambulance and transported me to Stanford Hospital.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

My Life is a Bouncy Ball

A big red one. Remember those from our youth? Bouncy, bouncy, up and down, up and down.

That's how my days recently have been. The meds and the anemia continue to drag me down, but there's encouraging signs on that front and I have every confidence that that won't be a problem too much longer. I continue to struggle with what I stuff in my face. Today was much more controlled and I feel way better for it.

I was talking to somebody and they were telling me about a diabetic friend of theirs. This friend had reached a point where, to him, food was just fuel - nothing to be enjoyed, nothing to be savored. Just fuel. He ate the same things every day because he knew that's all his body needed. I wish I could reach that point. Eating the right foods would be so much easier then.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Thanksgiving Wishes

It's the time of year when we're reminded to give thanks.

Instead of waiting until next year to be reminded,

Let's make every day one of thanksgiving;

After all, each day is a unique gift.

So, give a hug for no reason;

Say I love you, just because;

Share a smile with a stranger;

Take the time to count your blessings;

Don't take anything or anyone for granted;

And end each day with no regrets.

Thank you, our friends and family,

For sharing, caring, laughing and crying with us.

Your love and support this last year was invaluable to us.

We are truly blessed to have each and every one of you in our life

And we are thankful you have allowed us

To be a part of yours.

May you and yours have a safe and memorable Thanksgiving.

Sean & Nona Cooney