Well, we are finally creeping a bit closer to getting Bob aka Irving on The List at last! Last Thursday we finally met with Dr. Hoopes, only to have him ask why we were there! Quite a letdown, to say the least. Whether it's politics, miscommunications, memory lapses, etc, that appointment was not a highlight in this long journey.
However, this week the heart tranplant committee finally made the big decision that Bob can be added to The List, as soon as they check one more time to get the very important blessing of his health insurance carrier. (We don't expect that to be a problem, but anything is possible at this point).
And then there are a few other strings attached, naturally: he will need to have a right heart catheterization every three months to keep track of his pulmonary pressures, avoid having any new incidents of artery blockages in his legs, and generally stay in as good a shape as possible.
The good news / bad news part of The List is that he is too healthy to be listed as a priority, so will be in category 2, which means a very long wait for organs. To be moved into a 1A or 1B priority, he would need to be ill enough to require hospitalization with IV medications keeping him going, or on a ventricular assist device VAD), a battery-operated machine that helps keep the heart pumping. Of course neither of these options is something we want, but on the other hand the national guidelines of the organ transplant network are the deciding factor. These guidelines were touched on many months ago when we started this process, but did not really register with us. So we need to keep working on improving our patience and optimism, and try to balance the waiting with enjoying life each day. Getting Bob / Irv's depression reduced further would be a huge positive step, but that continues to be a struggle for him.
I hope to be able to send news of being listed in the next Tribune. Until then, keep the good thoughts, jokes, visits, cards and calls coming - he appreciates them all. If anyone is so lucky to get an email from Bob, that will be a miracle! (I do share your emails with him, of course).
With hope and thanks,
Cherie / Cheryl
