The End

This was a short-lived blog, much as my life with Carroll. It was way too short.

The blog started on May 14th as a way to update family and friends during Carroll's hospital stay at Summerville Medical Center. I thought it would be a short-lived blog because I thought he would recover during that stretch in the hospital and then go home -- and we'd live happily ever-after.

Such was not the case.

His life on earth ended and, thus, so does this blog.

Carroll was such an interesting and multi-faceted person that I could probably write about him for days and days and days. However, I'm shutting down this blog. (Note: A tree will be planted in Summerville in memory of Carroll; I will post that info when the date is set, but it should be posted on this blog as well as on mine.)

I've just added a post about him on my regular blog; that link is below.

Thanks to all of you who have helped care for him, who have prayed for him and who have just been there in so many ways when we needed you. We have appreciated your comments here as well.

God bless!

http://blondesherry.blogspot.com/2009/06/last-thursday-my-husband-died.html

Synopsis: Carroll's Last Few Weeks

Carroll Tyndell Smith

The Gentleman from Georgia

Over the last several months, Carroll had been feeling somewhat weak and tired, and was frequently short of breath. He thought it was because of a heart problem. After a visit with Dr. Crawford, open heart surgery was scheduled for May 19th to replace the aortic valve.

Just before that date, though, he was hospitalized at Summerville Medical Center with pneumonia and remained there for 9 days, then went home for a few days. During a follow-up appointment with Dr. Handshoe on June 1st, we were told he had Stage 3B lung cancer. It was in both lungs and in the fluid around the lungs. We left the doctor’s office and went to Waffle House for a late breakfast. He said one thing he did not want was to linger. He was not afraid of cancer; he was afraid of lingering. Even so, we all thought he had several months ahead of him.

The very next day, Carroll, Sherry and her mom went to Garden City and spent 5 days at the beach. He sat on the balcony, looking out at the ocean and said it was the best breathing he had done in a long time. He also said it was the best sleep he had had in quite a while. He got to spend an evening with Becky during that time also.

Returning home, he continued to have trouble breathing & was hospitalized at MUSC on June 16th following an appointment with Dr. Steinberg. On Thursday he had a procedure in which he was catheterized and a balloon was used to stretch the aortic valve, making it easier for him to breathe. That afternoon, he was breathing much better. By the next day, though, he was on oxygen. He came home on Saturday the 20th but was on oxygen 24/7.

He had visits and quality time with Lisa, Chuck & Pat, John, Vic & Edie and their family.

At about 2:00 Monday night/Tuesday morning, he said he needed to go to ER. He was transported to Summerville Medical Center and then transported a few hours later to MUSC’s critical care unit. There was a blood clot in his lungs. Because of the cancer, the doctors could not operate. He continued to weaken.

On Wednesday afternoon, there was a prayer service in his room by Pastor Briner. Several family members were present: Vic, Edie, Jeff, Laura, Courtney, Lisa, Susan, Pam, Kelly, Chelsey, Whitney and Sherry.

We all had time for some good-byes; Chelsey even made him chuckle and smile a few times. She’s the one who gave him the name “Poppy.”

Sherry slept in the hospital bed with Carroll Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night. He wrapped his arms around her. Vic and Edie slept in the hospital room also, although Vic said he couldn’t sleep because of Sherry’s snoring.

Thursday morning, at 9:30, Carroll peacefully and gently slipped away, gripping Sherry’s hand as she said “Peace be with you, Carroll.”

Carroll was a friend to many and he was loyal to his friends. He was a classy gentleman who called Savannah and Summerville his hometowns.

His friends are placing an Atlanta Braves shirt with the number “1” and the name “C. Smith” on it and hanging it in O’Lacy’s.

In the near future, a tree obtained by friend John Clark will be planted in Summerville in Carroll’s memory.

Late Morning Update - Wednesday

Carroll is on the BIPAP machine right now. It's much like the CPAP I use at night for sleep apnea. The CPAP is a big help for me and makes a tremendous difference, although I don't like it. I don't think Carroll likes the BIPAP either, but it is making a difference in the sound of his breathing. Of course, he hasn't like anything they've attached to him, put on him or around him in the last 24 - 30 hours.

Because of the level of carbon dioxide in his lungs, the BIPAP is being used to normalize his breathing. This will be used for one hour and then we'll know more. That should be at around 12:15 when they remove the BIPAP. Then the doctors will confer and talk with us later. They have to wait for the results before they confer, so I'm hoping to hear something from them around 1:00 or so.

One of the oncologists came in. They will not start any type of chemo or anything else while he is in the hospital. What they do depends on how he is when he is released.

I got such a good night's sleep in the room with Carroll last night that it's a wonder anyone else in the hospital slept at all. Some of the staff folks have already mentioned me snoring!!!

Wednesday Morning

Carroll got a good night's sleep last night - at least after midnight. Before that time, he was agitated, complaining and saying he wasn't comfortable and couldn't breathe. With the help of Benadryl and Mirapex (the latter for his restless leg problems) he was able to sleep in a recliner. He didn't wake up until about 10 AM and then not completely; he still wants to sleep, which is good - at least in some ways.

There is much more fluid build-up in his lungs. His team of doctors is consulting with the pulmonologists about draining the fluid some time today. This is the same procedure that was done over at Summerville Medical in May. It helps tremendously but only until the fluid builds up again.

A BIPAP has just been brought into his room; this will help breathe more easily. Based on the new ABG test done this morning, he is retaining a lot of gas (carbon dioxide) in his lungs, which is not good. The BIPAP will help him with this. Annette, the RT, said he would feel like he is in a wind tunnel while using it.

That's all of the news for right now. We're still in CCU at 10:45 A.M.

Guess Where We Are??????

It has been a L-O-N-G day. It started at 2 a.m. when Carroll told me he needed to go to the hospital. He called EMS and was transported to Summerville Medical Center (SMC) with me following in the car.

In the emergency room, Dr. Greaves told us it might be congestive heart failure, but he later ruled that out. After some tests and phone calls with Carroll's primary physician, Dr. Bolster, it was decided that Carroll should be transported to MUSC's Critical Care Unit. By this time, it was about 4 a.m., I think. It really scared the fool out of me when I was asked if I knew - just in case anything went wrong - if Carroll wanted to be kept alive by a ventilator! Well, I knew what he and I have talked about, but I didn't want to be the only one to make that decision, nor should I have been. I called Carroll's son and daughter-in-law -- Vic and Edie. Soon, they and their daughter, Courtney, were at SMC also.

We all left SMC around 5:30-ish a.m., with Carroll being transported by the Critical Care ambulance. Vic rode in the front.

I'm not saying any of us drive fast, but Edie, Courtney and I all beat the ambulance to MUSC.

Because Carroll was put in CCU, we had a long, anxious wait before we could see him. Around 8:30 or so, we got to take turns seeing him. By that time, Carroll's grandson, Jeffrey, was also there.

The CCU unit is what we just left a few days ago following his valvoplasty.

It was later in the morning when we learned that Carroll has a pulmonary embolism, or blood clot in his lungs. Because of several other problems, surgery was not an option. He was put on blood thinner to prevent the clot from getting bigger and with the hopes that it will dissolve.

At SMC, Carroll had a couple of things happen that he couldn't stand. For example, an ABG test was done. This is where they test the arterial blood gases or something like that. I can't remember exactly but I've had it done once and I don't ever, ever, ever want to have it done again. It is the most painful thing I know of. I'd rather have 20 children at one time than to have that done again. It's awful. He hated it -- and they had already given him morphine when he had this done.

He was also catheterized. I don't have to tell you whether or not he liked that!

He had a CAT scan at SMC and a chest x-ray at MUSC. He was hooked up to all kinds of tubes and machinery.

After hearing from the doctors, including Drs. Powers, Townsend, Schreiner and Jenkins, I made a quick trip back to Summerville for a shower and to pack clothes for several days and nights at the hospital.

When I returned, I walked in with Pastor Briner from our church, St. Luke's. We had a nice chat while waiting for about 20 minutes to get to see Carroll.

Not long after she left, Carroll had more visitors, limited to two at a time in CCU: Lisa, Susan, Joanne, Kelly, Pam and Chelsey.

Dr. Steinberg came by in the afternoon, as did Dr. Townsend and Dr. Schreiner. They have all conferred with each other and with the oncologists to see what treatment is next.

Surprisingly, one of them told me they are considering letting Carroll go home tomorrow (Wednesday,) That was another shock!!!! The doc said they feel that Carroll will improve within 12 - 24 hours and then stabilize. They will likely keep him on blood thinner for several weeks and have PT at home.

Isn't it wonderful that he might be able to come home so quickly? The biggest problem will be making sure that he doesn't get worn out by phone calls and/or visitors. He will need lots of rest.

He has also suffered a minor vision problem and the cause has not yet been determined. It may be something that resolves on its own.

It's now 9 p.m. They said they would probably give Carroll Benadryl to help him sleep. They must have, because he fell asleep during the Braves game!!!

(PS - If you see a few typos in this post, I'm surprised that there are only a few! I'm only half-awake.)

Monday Around Noon

Carroll got more sleep last night than he did the night before. He went a little longer between breathing treatments after the one at 4 AM.

Pam called last night and he talked just a bit to her on the phone.

He has still had absolutely no pain in the groin area where the catheter was inserted. That's good news.

Carroll is still really weak. He isn't eating much, but he's eating a little. He doesn't seem to have much of an appetite and prefers food that doesn't require much effort to eat.

He is still having the vision problems he experienced Friday in the hospital. We think it's just the left eye but we know it's on the left side of what he's is trying to see, whether it's the TV, the newspaper or anything else. This has frustrated him a lot.

Note to anyone who calls: I am almost always in the room with him when I answer the phone. If you call and ask how he is or for an update -- especially if there has been a worsening or change -- I am not willing to say those things in front of him. And if I don't say much at all, he always wants to know what the discussion was about when I get off of the phone. In other words, you might not get the whole story on the phone.

Carroll tires easily. He doesn't mind visitors if the visits are relatively short. In fact, I believe visits are good for him, although he would never admit it. Part of his hesitation is that he doesn't want people to see him in a weakened condition. So, if you come visit, please be positive and upbeat -- and know that sometimes it's quite an effort for him to talk.

In the few minutes since a I started typing this, he seems to have gotten better than he was earlier. This is typical, though. Some good times, some that are not so good. He just talked to Vic on the phone and sounded pretty good, maybe the best since he has gotten out of the hospital. That's good news!

We just heard from MUSC regarding his follow-up appointments, so they are now scheduled.

The Day After

I wasn't allowed to stay overnight in The Dawg's room in CCU, so after seeing him twice on Thursday afternoon and after almost-no-sleeping in his room Wednesday night, I decided to go home and get a really good night's rest.

There was a phone call from the hospital at 7:30 am. It was Dr. Jenkins. She said, "Mr. Smith seems confused and agitated. He insists that we have kept you away from him for three days. He is asking for his wife." She asked if I would talk to him if she called back from his bedside. Well, of course I would.

Within moments Dr. Jenkins called back and put him on the phone. He sounded just find to me, and much better than he had sounded during the week before Thursday's procedure.

Carroll asked when I would be at MUSC; I told him it would be this morning but that I didn't want to drive in the morning traffic into Charleston, that I hadn't yet dressed, that I had a few errands to run, including going to the bank, and I needed to pick up something he had requested.
It took a bit longer than anticipated and was late morning when I arrived.

Time I walked in, Carroll asked where I had been; he said they had been treating him like a child and had put him on restriction! He said to please go let them know I was there so they would let him off of restriction and out of there. He was sitting up in a chair.

He said he wanted to get off of restriction so he could go get a beer tonight.

Carroll also said they thought he was crazy. He kept trying to figure out what he had done wrong to make them mad at him and put him on restriction.

I told him that morphine sometimes makes people disoriented and confused and perhaps even agitated. He said he would never take that stuff again. He continued to insist he isn't crazy.

Then he asked again where I had been before I got to the hospital and why I hadn't come to see him yesterday. (I was with him the entire time before the procedure and went into his CCU room twice afterwards. He also didn't remember that Vic, Edie and Courtney had visited.) He also didn't remember watching the Braves play ball, but later said they won, which they did.

When he dozed off, he kept saying "one day" and "restless man."

Hospital personnel told us that all of this could be attributed to the morphine and to his disorientation. Dr. Schreiner said that sometimes coming back to a different room could cause a patient to become confused, especially in CCU with all of the equipment.

Look at these beds and the surrounding equipment. It's much more intimidating than it looks in the photos.

This is Kissia, a nurse in CCU. She patiently answered all his questions.

Sam came in and touch Carroll's blood sugar level so that he could eat.

Becky took time with Carroll also. She's originally from Montana.

Kim is another friendly MUSC employee; she's with environmental services.

As of mid-afternoon, he has moved out of CCU into a room on 3rd floor.

He is still on oxygen; Dr. Schreiner tried to take him off of oxygen, but his oxygen level dropped when he took a few steps in the hall.

As the morphine is wearing off, he is becoming more oriented, but not totally.

Dr. Townsend just came in and said Carroll may be able to go home tomorrow (Saturday) but it will be with a portable oxygen tank.

Dr. Schreiner told us that they (the "team") are very pleased with the success of the procedure and believe Carroll is doing quite well. That's good news, huh?

MUSC Patient Services, Family & Superman

The Dawg's son, Vic, waiting to see the patient.

Vic's wife, Edie.

Vic with their daughter, Courtney.

All of the folks at MUSC have been wonderful, helpful and friendly.
Here are a few we met today from Patient Services.

John -

Brenda -


Suzanne -

And here is Superman a/k/a Dr. Steinberg!

Important Reminder about Visiting in CCU:

Maximum of 2 visitors at a time

Short visits: 10 - 15 minutes

No latex balloons, plants, flowers, food or drinks in the Unit

No visitors 12 or under

Wash hands before entering unit; then ring bell for entry.

Wait for permission; must always have permission to enter unit.

No visits between 6:30 am and 8:30 am or between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm.

No visits on the unit after 11 pm (or earlier if patient requests)

Relief is Getting Closer

Dr. Timothy is meeting with us right now, going over risks and the procedure itself.

Here are some of the risks he mentioned, while saying it is a moderate to high-risk procedure:

vascular damage or kidney damage

damage to organ

infection

perforation of the ventricle - 1% to 2%

stroke - 2 to 5

death - 2 to 5 per cent

heart attack - 2 to 5 per cent

allergic reaction

needing emergent surgery

needing blood transfusion

other

All of the risks listed that do not have percentages by them seem to be less than 2%.

This is a bit different from what we had been told before but Carroll says anything is better than the way he is right now.

Here are Dr. Timothy and Kelly; they are going over the risks and such with Carroll.

In the Hospital

The Dawg is in the hospital -- and so glad to be!


He had a doctor's appointment this morning at MUSC (see previous post.) Dr. Steinberg scheduled for Thursday a procedure that he anticipates will resolve Carroll's breathing problems. It's the shortness of breath that has kept him weak and unable to get around much.

Carroll was originally scheduled for open heart surgery to replace the aortic valve on May 19th but couldn't have it because he was hospitalized for pneumonia. While he was in the hospital then, one liter of fluid was removed from his lungs.

Now there is more fluid, which was expected. Part of that is because of the problem with the aortic valve.

Dr. Steinberg is not replacing the valve on Thursday but is doing what is called a valvoplasty (or something like that.) He described this as a simple procedure to open up the valve's passageway, using a catheter and a balloon. He also said Carroll will improve immediately. Steinberg said the downside of the surgery (other than the usual risks with surgery) is that this is not a permanent procedure. It lasts about 6 to 12 months typically but can be done again.

When Carroll explained how short of breath he was, Dr. Steinberg admitted him to the hospital. There is a slight - very slight - chance that he will be able to do the surgery tomorrow instead of Thursday, but probably not.

Here are some of the people we've met this afternoon - all by 4:30 pm.

Tony Singleton transported Carroll from the doctor's office to the hospital room. Tony lives on James Island.

Courtney Norris lives in Summerville. She was the first person we met in his hospital room. She's been in and out several times already and is always smiling.

Sam Wilkins is from New Jersey. She and The Dawg hit it off immediately because they've both lived in England.

This is Dr. Schreiner came in and took more history and explained more about the procedure Carroll will have.

Alexys brought The Dawg's food tray. Look at that bright smile!

Nat took Carroll for a quick x-ray. Nat is the youngest of 31 children!!!!

More later tonight.

Today's Appointments

Carroll had appointments scheduled with doctors at MUSC for today.

Doesn't he seem overjoyed while having his blood pressure checked?

This is Fredricka Frasier. She's the one who took his blood pressure, among other things. She is nice and has a great smile.
After Fredricka put us in the room to wait for the doctor. Carroll used this time to work today's crossword.

When he was tired of sitting up, he continued to work the crossword while on his back.

Ashley Sisson was the next friendly MUSC employee we saw. One can only wonder why The Dawg has on his sunglasses. Maybe it was her bright smile???

There'll be an update in an hour or so.

Saturday Update: Trivia, Friends and MUSC

The Dawg and I have been quite impressed with everyone we've met at MUSC Hospital.

He has appointments on Tuesday with two specialists, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

We hope that we'll know more as of Tuesday as to treatment and such.

He's gotten out a little more in the last two or so days. We played a bit of trivia, a favorite pasttime of ours. One thing he has learned: I don't let him win just 'cause he's been sick. When he wins (which is too often, I think), it's certainly not that anyone is letting him win.

Last night we dropped by O'Lacy's for a short while so that we could see friends we hadn't seen in a while (Chuck, Richard, Liz, Pat, Danny, Susan, Shanna, Stephanie and more.)

The Dawg still gets tired and experiences shortness of breath with just a few steps. We both hope the heart specialists at MUSC can do something about that. Even with all he's been through, he says he doesn't have any pain; it's just the shortness of breath that keeps him from doing much. If replacing/repairing/treating the heart valve helps that and if the fluid is drained from his lungs, he'll be able to get out and about more.

Testing 1, 2, 3

A day full of medical tests at MUSC. I'm tired, worn out -- and I wasn't even the one being tested. The Dawg was "it."

He had a PET scan, which took about 2 1/2 hours, then an MRI. We won't know any results until at least late Tuesday.

Thanks for all of the calls, e-mails, prayers, well-wishes, etc.

Oh, the Braves lost today. That didn't help anything!

Improvement? Tests! Food!

Today seems to have been The Dawg's best day since he got out of the hospital. Yippee!!!!
He still gets very short of breath but he's taking his breathing treatments. We learned there is still some fluid in the lungs; there are procedures to remove the fluid, thank goodness.

Part of the shortness of breath may be due to his heart valve problems. He has appointment with one of the heart specialists on Tuesday, so we're hoping something can be done about that.
He had open heart surgery to replace the valve scheduled for May 19th; that was postponed when he was hospitalized with pneumonia.

The Dawg will have more tests on Thursday at MUSC. We'll be there about five or six hours, or so we've been told. These were ordered after medical appointments on Tuesday.

He received a phone call today with a special pre-testing diet. He has to have black coffee, bacon and eggs and nothing else for breakfast on Thursday AND the exact same thing tonight for supper. Isn't that a strange pre-test diet????

That means he can't eat what he had last night:

That bowl was slap full of ice cream!!!

Tuesday night was a good one for the Braves! Hurrah!

Tonight wasn't so good for the Braves, but at least they've won 2 out of 3 in this series. There's one more game against Pittsburg on Thursday.