Fall 2010

Hello friends..well, we are beginning to see signs of Fall...the leaves are turning & it's sweater weather here in Tulsa! Things are going well for Jerry in terms of regaining his strength & exercise. The only major glitch we had this past week was with his blood thinner. His levels were way too high so the doctor took him completely off of that med for a few days. He felt tired quite a bit but he is getting back to normal again. They are going to retake his blood this Friday & we will know sometime early next week if he has acceptable levels. This will be a process of trial & error until they can figure out how much his body can tolerate. Other than that he is really happy to begin accepting business calls starting tomorrow and will begin his work transition from home! I have never seen anyone so anxious to return to work...he truly loves it lol Anyways...I thought I would post a pic of Jerry & I that our youngest son Jason snapped at sunset today...there is nothing like an Oklahoma sunset :) As you can see, Jerry is looking like himself again. His color is great & he is looking so much healthier & happier:)) Much love to all. The Garlands

Week 4 update!

Friday will be four weeks post op & Jerry is doing great!!! He is walking about 4 miles each day without getting very tired. The only glitch we have at the moment is the medication. His blood thinner levels are way too high so they have taken him off of that med for a couple of days & then they will decrease the dosage when they start it back up again. This is an important aspect of cardiac care since Jerry not only has a blood condition that causes blood clots, but he must maintain a certain level with the mechanical valve in order to avoid blood clotting. The doctor is confident that they can get the levels regulated so we are just waiting to find the right balance. Otherwise things are going well. We made our first trip to the lake last Saturday to join about 25 of our friends...we just relaxed on one of the "low Key" boats while the kids were swimming & wakeboarding. It was nice to get out in the sunshine & fresh air...seems like the summer just got away from us. The family is all doing great...I appreciate those of you that messaged me & asked about my blood pressure...everything appears to have returned to normal now that Jerry is doing better. The kids are doing great...they are all back in school & doing very well :) Jason played his first game Monday & they won! Aaron will have his first game on Friday & they are pretty nervous about it. Holly changed her college major of special education to nursing but she will be working toward her RN & plans to continue her work with children at St. Francis Children's Hospital. Here are a couple of pics of Jason in his first game (# 9 Chieftains) & Holly on her first day of nursing classes. We hope everyone is having a great summer :)) May God bless each of you richly :) Much love to all!

Getting better...

It's been a few days since I last posted but all is well. Jerry's blood thinner levels are in range & he is adjusting to the meds nicely. He also started walking at the park yesterday...he actually walked over a mile & didn't feel tired!!! He still has good & bad days but his energy levels are returning & he is anxious to work again. He doesn't like me driving him everywhere & is ready to take that role back over but we have a few more days to wait on that one. The big highlight lately was the boys starting football. Jerry really wanted to watch both of their first scrimmages...it tired him out but he made it through them both :)) Here are a few pics of Jerry & our kids... hope u enjoy!

Doctor's Visit :)

Today is 2 weeks post op & Jerry had his family doctor's visit today. He has lost 19 pounds since surgery!!! He is happy about losing weight but we don't like how he has lost it. He doesn't have an appetite & he in sensitive to certain foods. He only eats about 1/4 to 1/2 of a normal meal. We are going to try a diet plan called Eat Clean...we have used it before & the food is very tasty but also very healthy with minimal fat, salt, etc.. We are hoping this will restore some of the nutrients that he is losing. Jerry is out for his first walk alone...I'm not too happy about that but he wants to start doing more on his own. He wants to get back to work & is frustrated that he can't drive. He informed me this morning that he plans to start driving next week...but the doctor & I say no way!! I guess I'll let you all know who wins that battle. lol All in all...he is doing remarkable and we are excited about the progress that we see so far. Hope everyone has a fantastic week...God bless you all :))

Much love.... The Garlands

Week 2 post op

The weekend went well. We made a quick trip back to the hospital because a large knot appeared above Jerry's chest incision. They said this is normal & should go back down over time. Jerry attended church yesterday morning & ate breakfast with friends but that wiped him out for the rest of the day. He has good days & bad days but he is getting stronger. He gets a little frustrated with how quickly he gets tired after basic tasks but that is normal and will get better as we go along. Our dog Buddy has been wonderful with Jerry. He won't leave his side & appears to sense that he needs to be careful around him. Buddy nudged Jerry to the door today...carrying his favorite toy & wanting to play lol so Jerry gave in & went outside with him for about 5 minutes...Buddy was so excited. I thought everyone might enjoy seeing a pic of them. Thanks for the continued calls, texts, cards & gifts. Jerry still isn't strong enough to talk on the phone very much but I'm sure he will be in touch with all of you soon. We hope everyone has a blessed day.

A Personal Message From Jerry

I wanted to take a quick moment while I had a little strength to personally thank each and every friend and family member who has helped me to appreciate the value of love, kindness, faith and the overall greatness of the human spirit during what has been a critical turning point for me and my family!

For the wife who never left my side, I am humbled to have made such a great choice, so long ago, in asking you to be my best friend! Your commitment to me during this difficult moment means you took your "vows" very seriously...for better or worse, in sickness and health. I love you now more than ever before. I will forever be unable to articulate the strength that you have shown to me. I admire you so dearly.

For those 3 great kids of mine that have been so strong, for so long, Dad loves you so much! You let me know through this that maybe I'm doing something right as a father.

For all the countless calls, texts, and emails offering your support, I owe you a debt of gratitude that I cannot repay.

For the weary travelers who came so far to be here just so that I felt their support, my love for you is immeasurable.

For the countless prayers from so many friends that crossed a wide variety of religious beliefs, I believe it's safe to say that you reached God on my behalf. I will continually ask Him to richly bless your lives.

For those that camped out for days at the hospital providing my family with so much support, you are the salt of the earth.

For all the many flowers, gifts, cards, "treats" and otherwise, I wish you to know that they all seem to come at a point when a special lift was so important.

I look forward to reaching out to each and everyone once my strength returns, to thank you in person. For now, I send my sincerest love and gratitude to "life changing" friends!

Thursday...not a great day but getting better.

Well, Jerry slept better last night!!! He has experienced a series of negative symptoms that we have been concerned about so we called the doctor today. They said the night sweats are a reaction to being on life support during the surgery & should subside within a few days. The headaches are from the fluid restrictions that the doctor imposed but they have lifted that so hopefully he will get some relief once he gets enough water intake. His lack of appetite will probably continue for a couple more weeks. I can tell that he is losing weight & I'm sure the lack of food, specifically protein, is hindering his energy levels. The doctor stressed the importance of protein for the healing process so I'm going to do my best to incorporate as much as possible into his diet. Jerry is very quiet and his color isn't too good today & he refuses to lay down because he says it makes him feel worse. The nurses & doctors encouraged him to get showered & dressed in the morning & stay up all day with small resting periods from time to time. I think the key is to push through because exercise increases your strength & gets you on the road to recovery faster. We are trusting that God will bring everything together & Jerry will be back to himself very soon :) God bless all of you.

Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.