Greg Covid - Day 3

 Starting today, at the end of each blog entry about Greg, I'll be writing about what's happening around the Mik Homestead so when Greg comes home, he can read all about what was going on while he was healing.   If you're not interested in that part, I understand, and you can just skip it and it won't hurt my feelings; however, I would ask that everyone please leave a comment on each and every entry you read giving support, love and prayers to Greg so that he knows how much he is loved.   

I received a phone call around 2:30 a.m. today from Greg's doctors.  The Vapotherm was not working and they wanted to know if I wanted him intubated and put on a vent.  After a lot of tears and questions, I told the doctor yes.  We had no choice in the matter, and if there is a chance that Greg will recuperate, we have to take it.  That is what he wanted and what we discussed quite a bit since his last hospitalization back at the end of June.  The doctor only had information based on other patients with similar conditions, so she did not hold out a lot of hope for Greg.  She gave him about a 30% chance of being able to come off the vent.  Anyone who knows Greg knows he is a fighter and has fought more battles than anyone I know with his cancer diagnoses (3 times), his congestive heart failure, his paralyzed diaphragm, his constant pain from shingles, and of course, his back issues from degenerative and bulging disks, and I firmly believe that he will fight this as well and I have to do everything I can to advocate for him to give him that chance.  

When I spoke to the doctor, I asked that Greg be put on the lowest amount of anesthesia as possible, because I want his lungs to have to work some, rather than have the vent do all the work.  In my opinion, this will help him with his healing, because his lungs are not totally dependent on the vent to breathe for him.  She agreed and said that although it's a very fine line, they would use as little anesthesia as possible.  

Around 1 p.m. today, I called Greg's doctor to see how he was doing.  This doctor sounded much more hopeful, I think because now they could actually see how Greg was doing and weren't just relying on how other patients have responded.  They had Greg on 80% oxygen (not full support), so his lungs did still have to do some work, which is good.   He said they were going to roll him onto his stomach, because you can breathe better on your stomach than your back.  (Did you know that?  I didn't!).  He was hopeful that they would be able to reduce the oxygen again once he was on his stomach for a while.  They will check every day to see if they can remove the vent, but it is a long process and most patients are on the vent for at least a week or two.  His kidneys are functioning well and he is peeing on his own (yay!).  

We need to pray that his organs continue to function properly and don't start shutting down because of the virus.  We also need to pray that he is getting the rest he needs to heal and his lungs are getting the rest they need, but that they are going to get stronger every day.   

I am much more hopeful after talking to Greg's doctor than I was at 2:30 this morning.  I know in my heart that God has not saved him all these times, only to take him home due to this virus.  Greg has more testimony to give!  

On the home front, it's been a little rough.  Aaron was here yesterday and built me a new door for the chicken coop!  It may sound silly, but just like any other animal, they rely on us to keep them safe and protected and healthy and that door has needed to be replaced for a few years now and it was not something Greg was really able to do.  It took him a few hours to build it out the supplies we bought yesterday, but I must say it's the best door I've had on there in 17 years!  Oh, and it should be noted, this is the third door we've had to put on!  No matter what we do, they tend to warp and then I have big gaps that bitter cold winter air can get in and leave the coop drafty (cold drafts are deadly to chickens), or raccoons could get in from the gap.  So, I'm super happy with the new door!  

Aaron also cleaned out the garage quite a bit so we could fit our car, my mom's SUV and our ATV in there for the winter.  I still have some stuff to do, but for now, they all fit!  Erica left work early on Tuesday and was over here keeping me company and cleaning our house.  She was very worried about me being alone.  I'm pretty sure it was the first time she ever cleaned this house without complaining!  Ha!  (Just teasing, Erica!)  She did a wonderful job and surprised me at every turn at the things she was cleaning.  Abby was over here on Tuesday and Wednesday, as well.  She had to work all day so wasn't able to spend too much time here, but she was here and helping and keeping me company.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful, loving, and caring children and love them with every fiber of our being!    

The dogs are all very confused.  This morning, after letting the dogs out and going to work (I have been working from home for four years now), I could hear Sophie crying and scratching at the door to Greg's room.  She didn't understand that he wasn't there.  😢   The boys (Mater and Minnow) actually spent most of the day sleeping in my office, which is something they never did when Greg was home.  

I'm now doing things that Greg always did, and I'm finding it a bit difficult at times.  In the past, when he's been in the hospital for any length of time, I could at least call him and talk to him.  That's impossible now, so I can't even ask him any questions, like where do you put all the dog poop?????  Seriously, I have NO clue where he always put the dog poop that he always cleaned up!   I'm going to have to figure something out, because with three dogs, you can't exactly wait too long to clean it up.  Especially when you have a dog a big as Sophie that has cow pile size poop!!!!   I also realized I had to clean out the litter boxes!  Greg always did that, too, because he has had very little sense of smell since his bone marrow transplant.  Sure is nice to clean a litter box without having to smell it!  As long as I'm talking about poop, might as well add this:  Mom texted me that she was going outside to clean up Charlie's poop, so I texted her back and said "wanna do mine?"  She actually responded and asked what Greg uses and where he puts it.  I was only kidding!  The last thing I expect my 86 year old mom to do is clean up my dog's poop!  So, there you have it in all it's glory.  Just some of the things I have to deal with when Greg is not around.  (This is meant to be lighthearted, so please take it that way.  There are too many times that if you don't laugh, you'll cry.)

Work was a little rough today, and I had my moments of weeping, but managed to pull it together and get a lot of work done.  I'm on mandatory overtime now, but worked a little longer than planned, from 5:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  It's just so busy for my department at this time of year, and I'll be on mandatory OT probably until March.  I'm going to apply for FMLA again, so I can take off for Greg when I need to, without having to worry about job security.  

I can't think of anything else right now.  I'm sure I will later.   If you've taken the time to read all this, thank you!  Please just remember to leave a comment for Greg to see.  Once he's off the vent and I can visit him, I'll be sure to bring my laptop so he can read everyone's comments!  

When Greg had his blog during his transplant, he always ended his entries with "Love, peace and prayers," so I am going to do the same.   

Love, Peace and Prayers to all.