Miss Me–But Let Me Go!

When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little–but not too long
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once shared,
Miss me–but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take
And each must go alone.
It's all a part of the Master's plan,
A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick of heart
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.
Miss Me–But Let me Go!

Edgar A. Guest

In memory of Andrea whom we all miss but who we also must let go, even if it's the hardest thing we will ever do...

Today Would Have Been Her Birthday...

Today would have been Andrea's 17th birthday (it's also a week since her funeral). She wanted so badly to be home by her birthday. But I guess she is... This is just a prayer request for all the family, friends, etc for whom today will be a tough day...

It's Been a Week

Today it's officially a week since Andrea died. It's been weighing quite heavily on my mind. And I can only imagine how Maynards are feeling. This is your reminder to keep praying. Andrea was the centre of their universe for the past 7 months or longer, their days revolved around how she was doing. To suddenly lose that "centre" would leave a huge hole behind.

By the way, thanks so much to all of you who have sent in memories, the page "The Life of Andrea" is really taking shape. I want it to be a long page though, keep sending.

Natalie

I can't wait...

This weekend, hanging out some with Andrea's cousins and hearing stories about her, I thought of about a thousand things and I think "I can't wait to tell Andrea that!" and then the next minute it hits me... She isn't waiting at the hospital for a rambling email from me, or a phone call, or a visit. She's in heaven... It made me sad every time, until I had this great thought! What if, as she's running around heaven, visiting with my grandparents and aunt and other friends who have died, she keeps thinking "I can't wait till Nebs gets here and I can tell her about this!" It's gonna be a grand old discussion when we are reunited if we're both storing things up to tell each other!

The Life of Andrea

May 23,1994-May11,2011
In nearly 17 years of life, she made a lot of memories. I have created a new email account where you can email me (please include your name and any other relevant information) and tell me your memories of her. Then I will post them here; Maynard and Faye read this blog and they will love to see your memories as well. These memories will be posted on the link above (see where it says "home" and beside that "the life of Andrea", click on "The Life of Andrea" to get to them.) I would like to have quite a few memories by May 23rd, the day that would have been her 17th birthday.
memories.of.andrea@gmail.com

Obituary

Click on any of the four pages to enlarge them.

Funeral Plans

The funeral is Monday at 11 in the "Church of God in Christ, Mennonite" near Edberg, Alberta, located 2 miles south of the 4 way stop in Edberg. If coming from Edmonton take highway 21 south all the way to the secondary highway 609, turn left and go east for about 12 kms to the 4 way stop, turn south onto a gravel road go 2 miles south till the first intersection, turn left and the church is right there on the left.

Andrea passed away at quarter to ten this morning. The battle is over and she's resting in Jesus' arms.

Just Keep Praying

I'm not sure what to say here... She's in a lot of pain and isn't doing great otherwise either. Maynard and Faye and Jeff and Twila need a lot of prayers. They're facing things no mother, father, brother, or sister(in law) should ever have to face, but they don't have to do it alone. Lets pray that God will comfort and direct them.

Sever Pain

No update this morn but there was a quick alert phone call last night requesting prayers as she has severe abdominal pain.

You've received a Message from a TELUS phone. For more information on TELUS Mobility's Picture or Video Messaging, visit telusmobility.com/snap. If you don't hear or see the file, download the Quick Time player.

Vous avez reçu un Message d'un téléphone TELUS. Pour obtenir plus d'information sur la messagerie photo ou vidéo de TELUS, allez à telusmobilite.com/clic. Si vous ne voyez ni n'entendez le fichier, veuillez télécharger QuickTime.

"Pain-filled Day"

Good Evening

 

Another long day at the hospital has come to a close, back at RMH now, Andrea was not asleep when we left as she usually is.  Today was another pain filled day for her, Codeine does not agree with her and so her stomach bothered her a lot, headache seemed more intermittent today.  They were more prompt with pain medication and so she slept most of the day off and on.  Consequently her blood pressure was on the low side which also contributes to fatigue.  We did have her sit up on the edge of her bed for 5 minutes, long enough to brush her teeth and comb her hair.  She seemed a bit more upbeat than yesterday too, which is a good thing.  They also did a run of plasmapheresis today, her plasma free hemoglobin number was a lot lower than yesterday too which is a good sign.  Tomorrow the plan is to do another run of plasmapheresis again and hopefully her plasmafree number will stay down.  Tuesdaay they plan on starting her on heparin again so will have to see how that goes.  Now it is late so goodnight.

 

Thanks, Maynard

Headache Better

Good Evening

 

Today was relatively unchanged from yesterday, Andrea did say though that midafternoon she had no headache for a little while.  She also scales it at 6 out of 10, before it was always an 8 out of 10, could be that her pain management is being handled a little better.  When her headache is at it's worst it seems to make her nauseous, but not usually throwing up.  Today she was asking when she could go back upstairs to the ward that she was on earlier.  She is much more alert and awake now, but is also more affected by her situation.  There is lots of time to think and she cannot avoid that either.  If she was feeling better we could interest her in some crafts or something, but her headache is too bad for that.  They also did plasmapheresis today, and is scheduled for another run of it tomorrow.  Hopefully her plasmafree hemoglobin number comes down and stays down.  Well it is late so goodnight.

 

Regards, Maynard

Not Very Good Day

hi Everyone

 

Andrea did not have a very good day, although the pain in her head was a bit less, some medications have been switched around again, she has been getting pain killers and from previous times they don;t agree with her stomach too well.  Last night's power spike must have chewed a bit of the clot loose in her pump, after running it fast for awhile and then slower again, it settled down and I don't think it spiked again seriously since.  This morning's blood test showed that her plasma free hemoglobin number was quite high again confirming that a clot let loose, her pump chewed it up and the plasma free number went up, so she had a run of plasmaphoresis in the afternoon, so hopefully tomorrow her test will show acceptable numbers again.  Pt had her sitting up on the edge of her bed in the morning and this afternoon we had her up again.  For the first few days in CVICU she lay so still and hardly moved around in bed, now she seems a lot more active again which is good.  Sure hope her headache starts diminishing faster and she needs less pain killer from here on.  Please remember her in prayer, that her courage and hope can be increased.

 

Thanks, Maynard

Walking a Fine Line

Good Evening

 

Today Andrea's headache seemd a little less severe, she had another CT scan which indicated that her bleeding had stopped in her head.  The biggest danger right now is that she is getting no heparin to thin her blood and that increases the risk of another clot in her pump and if it breaks free where it might go.  They cannot reintroduce heparin for a few more days to give the blood vessels time to heal, so it is a very fine line to walk.  Tonight she was having power spikes from her heart pump so they changed the speed setting of the pump to increase circulation, sometimes just changing rpm settles things down.  It was hard to leave her for the night but we also need sleep too.  Please pray especially for Andrea it seems like a long road for her to take.  Now it is time to sleep at least if sleep will come.

 

Regards, Maynard

"Basically the Same"

Good Evening

 

Today was basically the same as yesterday, headache pain unchanged, not really less or more.  PT was in today and exercised her limbs in bed, then got her up sitting awhile and then stood and sat down 3 times. Later on OT came in and we got her up in her wheelchair where she sat for 1.75 hours and without being too uncomfortable.  I was pleasantly surprised when I helped her stand and move over to the wheelchair at how much strength and coordination she had, seemed better than expected.  We'll just have to see how she does, and only take one day at a time, which is all anyone has.  I've run out of inspiration and will have to close or else I will repeat myself.  Goodnight.

 

Thanks, Maynard

Bleeding Around (not in) her Brain

Good Evening

 

Today was not a good day for Andrea as her headache continued, maybe a little worse than yesterday.  When the pump doctor found out about it today he right away ordered a CT scan of her head and found that she has bled between her skull and her sack that surrounds her brain.  It likely has only seeped there and the reason being that in trying to control her pump clot her heparin level went too high.  In the late afternoon the pediatric neurosurgeon came in to see her and asked a lot of questions.  He also said that they see quite a lot of this problem in patients who have had heart surgery and are on blood thinners, so it is a fine line to walk to control and balance it out, and is extra challenging when the patient has a device installed too like Andrea has.  He said right away that he was not too concerned from a neurology point of view, 5% of patients with this problem require surgery to fix it, but he did not expect that in her case, in reviewing her CT scan he saw that she has had 2 bleeds one a week or 10 days ago, which coincides with her high heparin level at the time and again yesterday morning when her heparin level went up and they stopped it for awhile.  Unlike Coumadin another blood thinner, heparin has immediate effects and also disappears just as quick, so now they will watch heparin levels very closely.  The danger is that she may develop a serious clot in the pump, her pain is expected to persist a few days in her head maybe a week or so as the body reabsorbs the clots in her skull.  They are monitoring her very closely, every hour they will wake her up, check her pupils, ask questions like her name, the current month, where she is etc.  So far she is completely clear, answering questions promptly and correctly.  They are also watching for her reflex actions and whether she has strength in her hands and feet also.  The pump doctor was relieved that her pain came on so slowly and has not increased a lot indicating that she has likely only bled very slowly.  Fortunately it has not bled inside her brain, which would be much more serious.  The pump doctor said he had patients before with this problem, and so far they have always cleared up.  Please pray for a miracle for our dear daughter, she desperately needs a break and a turn around, although she does not seem discouraged and understands her situation well.

 

Thanks, Maynard

Back on 24 hour dialysis

Good Evening to all

 

Andrea is still in the CVICU, likely will be there a couple more days.  They put her back on the 24 hour dialysis again this morning, they think she has a little too much fluid on board yet, so will have to see how it goes.  She complained about headache a lot today which is a bit unusual for her, she hardly ever has headaches at all.  I think it is partly because she did not get enough sleep last night.  Otherwise her blood numbers are not too bad, certainly improved from a week ago.  She was asleep when we left tonight, hopefully she sleeps well this night.  Still not sure whether her clot is gone or not, her pump numbers are a little on the high side, not to the point of doing anything drastic about it yet.  Don't know what else to report so goodnight.

 

Regards, Maynard

"Normal" Dialysis Resumes

Good Evening

 

Andrea's day was similar to yesterday, awake most of the day, not sure whether she actually slept when she was to nap or not. Her plasmafree hemoglobin number was 53 yesterday morning,83 this morning and this afternoon 93, so it has gone up only marginally since her last plasmaphoresis on Friday.  She was up in the wheelchair and later on sat on the edge of her bed for 15 minutes.  She needs to keep on moving so that she does not lose more strength, we can see that she has not gone forward in that area this last 10 days or so.  Today her continuous dialysis was stopped and tomorrow she will get the regular hemodialysis in her room.  If she tolerates that well and other numbers are normal enough, she should move back up to the ward in the next few days.  Until next time, Goodnight.

 

Regards, Maynard

better day

 

We are very thankful to report that Andrea had a better day today, very alert and awake, had an hour nap in the late afternoon.  The best news was that her plasmafree hemoglobin count was down to 53 this morning from a high of 2500 a week ago.  50 and less is normal.  Hopefully it will stay down, if it does, it would indicate that maybe her clot has cleared up.  She sat up in a chair for half an hour this morning and for 5 minutes on the edge of her bed this afternoon and nearly `15 minutes tonight.  Faye was looking over the emails I posted this last week and pointed out that I had not mentioned that Andrea tested positive for strep throat 8 days ago.  her pump doctor thinks that it is likely the reason for the clot, it is the natural response of the body to fight infection this way.  She also was quite pain free today and not asking for pain killer, and says she is not nauseated or in stomach pain.  Hopefully her nausea and stomach pain are gone for good, if that would be possible she might make faster gains for recovery.  Now it is late so I had better close, goodnight.

 

Regards, Maynard