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.

Update: Sunday the 21st

It's Father's Day, and Carroll got to spend several hours with Vic, his son. Vic stayed at the house while I taught Sunday School and went to church, then picked up a few things from the grocery store.

When I got back, Carroll had a room full of visitors: Vic, Edie, Courtney, Chuck and Pat.

Loads of people asked about Carroll at church, some of whom he had known since his days at the shipyard, some relatively new friends and other acquaintances. He's had loads of prayers lifted up for him.

Diane Lyles brought one of her famous pound cakes to us. She must have the best recipe in the world for pound cakes.

Lisa came by mid-afternoon; she and I gabbed enough to put Carroll to sleep.

Becky called this afternoon and he talked to her. It was brief, because he doesn't have much energy.

A little later, Edie brought by two plates of food for us. Yummy, as usual.

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?

Garden City

The Dawg, Mom and I came to Mom's condo in Garden City (Greater Myrtle Beach) so that she could see if any work or repairs needed to be done. We're also having a good time.

The Dawg has NOT lost his appetite. Look at this morning's breakfast when he was already about 1/3 through!!! He had French toast, sausage, hash browns, grits -- and maybe I'm forgetting something. Here are the three of us on the balcony and then just the two of us.

Becky came over tonight; she works at Channel 10 in Myrtle Beach. Some of her stories have been picked by stations in other markets.

He also got a call from Jeffrey tonight and was glad to hear from him.

Here's The Dawg twice! He's sitting near a mirrored wall in the condo, so his mirrored image is shown as well.

This has been enjoyable -- and it's only been a bit over 24 hours so far.

Well, mostly enjoyable. The Braves lost in overtime tonight.