Last Post!!

This will probably be my last post,since things are going back to normal!! I went and saw Dr. Ward last week he thinks things are going great very promising! I have some Dr. appointments lined up for next week with my Nephrologist/kidney doc,my cardiologist and with Dr. Ward. It is going to be a busy week!! I get my port/catheter thing out in about 4-6 weeks...they want to wait and make sure my platelets and creatinine behave...which I know that they will because I serve the most high God and he has healed me...can I get an amen!!! I will write another blog next week if the doctors say something interesting!!hahah! If not this will probably be my last blog...I can't thank you enough for the love,prayers and support you have given me over the past few months. It has meant a great deal. God bless you all.
Love,
Annie

Sorry it's been a while. Things are going great, tomorrow is my last plasma treatment! I'll see Dr.Ward on Tuesday,I'm looking forward to hearing what he has to say about everything! I will let you all know what my levels are this week and what Dr. Ward says! Hopefully I can get my port/catheter taken out soon! I miss taken showers I've had to take baths because I can't get my port wet...I haven't had a shower since the end of January!!

He is risen! Glory to God! Hope everyone had a blessed Easter. I was up in Mansfield at my sister and brother-in-laws place,had a great time! Things are just going great. I am down to one day a week at Good Sam. I was there this morning for my plasma treatment and don't have to go back until next Monday!!!! I'm hoping my plasma doctor (Dr. Ward) will stop my plasma treatment soon. My creatinine is around 2.89 or 2.98 can't remember...but it's still declining! Platelets are staying up...kidneys are working!

Happy Friday! God is so good! I am truly blessed and highly favored! I have been off dialysis for one week today! My blood counts came back great this morning...creatinine is going down it was 3.54 on Wednesday it is 3.33 today!!! my platelets were around 160 Wednesday and today they are 193! I am still on a somewhat strict diet no added salt,low sodium,no potassium foods or phosphorus foods and have been doing pretty well might I add which isn't easy to do since that cuts out almost everything except chicken and salad!!! Well today the nurse said that my potassium was low, when she called the doctor who I have been seeing up at good samaritan to give him the results of my blood work, she told him about it and he said I could start eating my potassium...meaning...I can now have french fries! mashed potatoes,bananas things that contain potassium!!!! Oh Happy Day!! As I am sitting here writing this blog I am also eating my lunch which consists of a whopper jr. and a small fry!!!! and it tastes soooo good! I just want to thank you all for praying for me and keeping me in your thoughts! If there is anything I can do for you just let me know. Just remember we serve a might God! And we are kids of a King! God bless you all.

Annie

Great News!

Hello everyone! I had a good week and am excited for the weekend! I have one more rituxan treatment...it's this Thursday. I'll let you all know what the doctor wants to do next. Hopefully start weaning me off of plasma! I got some great news today!!! The doctor that I see at Good Samaritan Hospital where I get my dialysis and plasma came up to see me. He read over my chart and counts and when he was done he said "why don't we hold off on dialysis for a few days and see how you/blood counts do"!!!!! Yeah praise God!!!! So, for all you believers out there :) I want to ask you to please pray that my creatinine(kidney function)level keeps going down and that my platelets keep going up and stay there! I will keep you all up to date on what's going on! Thank you all! God Bless

Annie

Well it's been a week since my last post...a busy week at that! Things are going really well. I'm still getting dialysis on Monday,Wednesday and Friday but I have a feeling that will soon change to two days a week! Kidney levels are doing good, the creatinine level is going down it was something like 7.89 when I went into the hospital....which is crazy high/little kidney function....and now it is 3.16!The normal range should be somewhere in the 1.0-.054. A nurse told me that it doesn't have to be that low to stop dialysis. Now I know that God has already healed me but the doctors need results=test scores visual things! Now that my levels are doing good and going down I'm hoping that they will take my dialysis from 3 days down to 2. I am getting ready to leave for dialysis if I see the doctor and there is new news I will update when I get home tonight or in the morning :) Hope you all have a blessed weekend and thank you for all the thoughts and prayers! God bless

Annie

TGIF! Had my first treatment of Rituxan yesterday. It went well I got there at 8:30 and got hooked up to an iv at 11:00. Once hooked up everything went smooth. I got done at 3:00. The nurses said the next treatment won't take as long. I am getting dialysis done right now. I will be done between 2:30 and 3:00 and then that's it until Monday! Have a nice weekend

Hello! Here is the latest news...I saw Dr. Ward Tuesday and he wants to start me on an iv drug called retuckson. It is supposed to help prevent a relapse of t.t.p/h.u.s or any other autoimmune diseases. I'll get one treatment a week for four weeks starting this Thursday. I will not get plasma on Friday just dialysis...which will be a nice treat! Everything is going great kidney level is going down which is good and platelets are holding at a good level! Doctors are very pleased! Course I know the truth, that my Lord and Savior healed me!!! I'll let you know how this new treatment goes, I hear the first treatment can take up to 6 hours..oh joy!!!

Anyone out there?!

I was woundering if anyone is still following my blog/updates. Please let me know by leaving me a coment. If I don't get any there is no need to keep updating this blog.

Annie

Hey everyone!!! what a beautiful day God blessed us with today! I am doing well doctors are positive! Saw doctor Ward today he is a hematology(blood)doctor....he is the one that controls how many times I get plasma treatments.....I waited in the waiting room for over an hour to see him...when I finally got called he took maybe 10 mins. to look me over and say "looks good, see you next week" seriously are these appointment necessary???! I am getting stronger and driving all over the place!!! It feels good to be independent again! Treatments are the same still 3x a week soon to be going down : ) my kidney level is going down!!...which is good! everything is good! I will keep you all updated on my status probably on a week to week basis. thank you all again for your support,love and prayers! God bless you

I'm home!!

Hi everyone!! I want to thank you all for all the love,prayers and support over the past few weeks! It has meant a lot. Jay and I are doing well...he is happy that I am home as am I!! I am getting to finally sleep through the night and I am getting go low sodium healthy dinners that actually taste....and taste good!! thank you ladies!!! As you heard I am going 3 times a week to an outpatient dialysis center/hospital to get my treatments it is a long day consisting of about 5-6 hrs it isn't painful or anything it's just very draining......but then I get a day off which is nice! my other option was to split up the treatments and go everyday....I choose 3 long days. The doctor is talking like the plasma pherisis treatments should going from 3 days to 2 then down to 1 here in the very near future! Since I am a kid of a king and know that God has healed me and my kidneys I am speaking the same about the dialysis treatments!! I am choosing not to believe what the nurses statistics are...and fully believe that God has a bigger purpose for me and that he is going to use my situation as a testimony to show just how great he is and that I am going to be a miracle story that those nurses will be telling for years to give other patients hope...just how fast I healed and how short of a time I was in dialysis unit getting treated!!

Weekly update

Well, Annie is out of the hospital, and there isn't much more to the story than that. Whitney Griggs has organized a huge outpouring of ladies doing some cooking. I know Annie is very thankful for everyone who has chipped in for some cooking. No, I am not of those people... you don't want her back in the hospital do you?

She is doing her treatments on an outpatient basis now. She goes to Good Sam 3 times a week for the plasma and dailysis. So if you would like to give her a ride sometime, I bet she would enjoy the company.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BREAKING NEWS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BREAKING NEWS!


Annie is out of the hospital! She went home around 8:30 tonight. Kim is making sure she is comfortable and well fed and then I think she will be enjoying a great night's sleep.

Stay tuned for further details about her continuing treatments. They are now being done an out patient basis. I will not be posting something everyday now, but I will update often.

THANK YOU EVERYONE !

Saturday....

Annie has both treatments on Saturday. She can have visitors after about 4pm. If you are planning on stopping by, you may want to make it then.


Chance of departure this weekend : 80%

TGIF Friday 13 Feb.

Well, how about some good news? Yesterday when I visited Ann she was getting a echocardiogram. Sounds fancy right? Well, they basically take a really cool video of your heart. Here is a cool article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echocardiography


Anyways, to get to the point, the results came back great. Everything looks good. The cardiologist is very pleased with the results. This is just another good sign that Annie will be going home soon.

Oh yeah, about all this "going home" stuff. She maybe home as early as Sunday. I know many of you would like to send a card or more Calla lillies, but the hospital may not be the best destination. How about sending them to J & Annie's apartment? I can provide the address, just email or call.

Have a great Weekend!

Oh yeah... she is done with her treatments today and will be able to take visitors after 11 am.

Thursday 12 Feb 2009

Today Annie is having both treatments. she will be available for visitors after 3pm.

Tuesday 10 Feb 2009

Here is the latest news. Annie will not be able to receive visitors until after 4:30 today. She will be getting both treatments today. She has a little discomfort and pain from the surgery yesterday, but nothing to worry about. She texted me saying she is in great spirits so that is some awesome news.

Just got a text from her this morning and she says that she will be in the hospital for the rest of the week. FYI

Well, it has been an interesting day to say the least. Annie had a minor procedure to put in a more permanent (But still temporary) port for the dialysis. She held up well, but the downside was that she couldn't eat all day. The surgery was at 6pm and she didn't eat since 8:30. Needless to say, when Jay showed up with the KFC it was a good thing.

We are still waiting on the kidneys to really kick in, so that should come any day now. My previous estimates of a midweek release may not pan out, so I am hoping for something this weekend. She is in good spirits and the nurses say that she has the most decorated room in the wing. Which really is a testament to all of you. I can speak for both J and Annie when I convey their thanks to everyone.

Keep Praying

M

Sounds Like someone has a case of the MUNdays

well, Annie is doing one treatment today and she is wanting to get out of the hospital BIG TIME. The funny thing is, a hospital is a place for rest and healing, but how can you do that when they are constantly waking you up? She will be available for visitors after 4pm.

Sunday 8 Feb 2009

Hey everyone. Annie has had her treatments for the day and will be able to see visitors after 11 am. Look out though, she is ready to be out of here! The latest results of the blood work indicate that her platelet count is on the rise and the kidneys are coming back online. So, for a beautiful Sunday morning, there is nothing but good news. Have a great day and I hope you can visit her soon.

M

Saturday 7 Feb 2009

Annie has both treatments today and should be available for visits after 3pm. Enjoy the sunny balmy 50 degree Cincinnati weather! Annie is in great spirits and is looking forward to going home soon.

and the Telephone Rang!

Hey everyone, if you are reading this, I am assuming that you have Annie's Telephone number. She has her phone with her. So if you would like to communicate via phone, call her. If she is doing a treatment or has visitors or if your gift wasn't good enough at Christmas she may not answer. To guarantee a phone answer, see the post below about Lillies.

Annie's Daily "Shout-Outs"

Annie would like to thank everyone for all their cards, flowers, balloons, and visits! She mentioned the Griggs' Family Cards and gifts and the Cargills as being very special.

Her favorite flower is the Calla Lily. I have no idea what this is... but thankfully Wikipedia does.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calla_lily

I think she was hinting by saying that....

For those of you planning to visit... she is finished with her treatment today. So anytime you would like to visit, bring it! Tomorrow she will have both treatments so, it would be a good idea to plan on an afternoon visit? I am guessing on that one. I will update tomorrow as soon as I know whats happening. I wont be able to update until around 1pm Saturday. FYI.

What are All those Treatments?

As some of you are wondering, what exactly is she doing all day in the hosptal? Well, besides watching football and working on her karate, she has two treatments she is recieving.

The first is Dialysis. This is basically where a machine does the work of the kidneys. Remember Biology 101? Well, niether did I. The kidneys are the two body parts responsible for cleaning your blood. As Annie's kidneys improve, the need for this treatment decreases. Currently, the kidneys are getting better and this treatment has been reduced to every two days. The doctors do not forsee her Dialysis continuing long term.

Here is a link for a great article :

http://www.medicinenet.com/dialysis/article.htm

The other procedure is Plasmapherisis. Which is an interesting procedure. Here is a cool article about it :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasmapheresis


Annie is no longer on a "Renal Diet". She is on a NSA No Added Salt diet. Sounds good to me. So if you bring her Wendy's Fries, be sure to lick all the salt off first.

Thursday 5 Feb 2008

Last night was an action adventure night in Annie's room. First a welcome visit by the Griggs Family. That definitely put Annie into a great mood. Jason and Whitney have two of the coolest kids... Madeline & Camille. Talk about personality! Madeline made a really cool card, be sure to check it out when you visit Annie. Camille showed up. And if you know her, you know I just said a lot. I wonder who she takes after? Liz and Erin showed up to wind the night down. So Annie definitely had her girls around her last night. Kim, after tending to James and his needs (that's a different blog) came out and helped out with everything. Be sure to ask Kim to show you the blanket she has been working on. She has come a long way. I would say that is dedication, or she is really cold.

Some news about Annie: Her mom is in town! So when you visit, you will get to meet Linda. How about some health news? Things are getting better. I apologize for being short on details, but I like to get to the bottom line. She is recovering. The docs (she has 3 doctors) are tweaking the different meds and optimizing what she is getting. She is able to walk around with a walker. Don't be surprised by that if you visit. Strength is coming back. She is working with a couple of physical therapist to help her get back to normal. One of the things the doctors are looking for is her platelet numbers to increase. So if you are praying, please include that.

I know the big question is: When is she leaving the hospital? In talking with her last night, I will tell you that she is leading the charge to get out of there. Maybe mid next week? Not sure. But I am basing that only on gut feeling (I'm not a doctor) and the fact that I like to watch people. I am watching the doctors move her from machines doing things, to her doing things. Example: the Dialysis. She is doing that less often which to me means that the kidneys are starting to do their job. The plasmaphersis is looking like it won't have to happen everyday soon. I think those are two important factors.

I apologize for not being specific on details regarding her treatment. The doctors don't really commit to definite dates and schedules. It annoys the melancholy part of my personality, but I do understand their perspective. I know she is in good hands and will make a full recovery soon.

M

Who is Ashley?

Ashley is Annie's daytime nurse. She is a young lady orginally from the exotic West Chester. She did her nurse training at Good Samartain Hospital. Me being not too fimilar with how that works, I'm not sure if that is good or bad. But judging from her bedside manner, confidence, and intelligence, it is all good. She is a wonderful nurse that has been such a blessing to everyone.

So if anyone visits during the day, you will get to meet the "Fantastic Ashley". Tell her Matt sent you.

Wednesday 4 Feb 2008

I recieved a text from Kim P. this morning with some good new. Apparently Annie is feeling much better and getting back to her normal self. She won't be doing one of her treatments today, so feel free to visit anytime this afternoon, evening, night... anyone up for a nite owl?

Does anyone have a DREAM home magazine they can dropp off?

Update

Okay.. here is a quick update on her condition. It is all good news! She is getting better. Today apparently the weatherman decided to be about as accurate as Geraldo in opening Al Copone's vault. So the sudden snow storm defintely affected the nurse schedule. The daytime nurse is staying here tonight due to the traffic conditions out there. Her night nurse is a nice woman named Debbie. The daytime Nurse is Ashley. Bethesda North has some great nurses... just ask Paul & Jenny. Last night, she moved from the ICU to the 2nd floor Med floor (or something like that). The nurses that welcomed her last night were really sharp. One went to nursing school at Malone College in Canton. But she has settled in and right now she is sleeping. For those of you who visited her in ICU, the room will look fimilar to you. It is a private room with a couch for someone to sleep. Nice wood floors it is a little bit cozier than the ICU room. (Thats what Kim says).

Kim would like to say hello to everyone out there and that she is happy to be here and happy to help out any way she can. She is crocheting a blanket for herself because she is really cold in the room right now.

I will keep everyone posted as well as I can. That will include daily updates as to when the best time to visit will be. Let me know if you have any questions. Call or Email.
crownvic01@yahoo.com

Keep on Praying.

About those visits.....

Visits are fun and so are visitors! The reason behind the calling ahead is simple. Annie will be doing a couple of treatments that will not allow her to have visitors during them. You could end up waiting for up to 4 hours to see her. So, please call ahead before you visit, but please visit.

Here is a link for directions and a map:
http://www.trihealth.com/BNH/Directions/directions_index.aspx?id=100300

Here is a link for the regs concerning visitors:
https://www.trihealth.com/BNH/VisitorInfo/visitorinfo_index.aspx?id=100300

Annie is in room 2320. Which is a looooooonnnnnnnnnngggg way from the front door. So bring a Sherpa and Magellan.. You will get there.

Whats Goin On?

Thank you for stopping by the blog about Annie.

How about Question & Answer Forum (FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions)

Why Is Annie in the Hospital?

Annie has HUS. Check here for more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemolytic-uremic_syndrome


When will she get out?

Right now the doctors are doing several treatments. The treatments are working, however, it will take some time. We are optimistic that a full recovery is coming very soon.

Can I visit?
Sure! I will post a quick article on the procedure for visits.

Why hasn't Jay/ Annie called me back?
As you can imagine, this is quite unexpected. Jay is beside Annie pretty much all day. Except for a few dinner breaks (Hey, you can only eat so much vending machine food). If Jay and Annie could express their deep appreciation for every prayer, call, or visit through a website, they could. Unfortunately, through this medium this isn't possible. This website is set up to convey information in a timely manner to a large group of people. Please don't take it as an insult if you haven't recieved a phone call back. From my experience of spending some time with them, there is never a dull moment. Among all the tests, nurses, doctors, janitors, interns, etc it is quite hectic. Each one of you is an important part in Annie's healing. Your prayers are important!

I hope this helps! Please call Matt Springer for the latest updates.

Thanks!