Infinite Possibilities

Will, at least that's a reason!

2008-02-17T13:52:00.001-08:00

I finally heard, for the first time, a logical reason why I would be forbidden from driving. I don't like it, and there are arguments I could make, but least it's a reason.

It seems that the California Department of Vehicles (DMV) feels that if you are taking any medications that say "may cause drowsiness" you are driving under the influence (DUI). A drug is a drug, legal or not. So if I were to get pulled over for any reason and they found out I was on all these heart meds, I'm, DUI. Now my argument is that I may suffer from many of the side effects of many of the meds, but none of them have ever caused drowsiness, but that probably wouldn't fly.

So, since I will most likely be of some of these meds for life, the chances of me driving again just took a direct hit. Bummer.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Manning the Ropes

2008-02-16T13:55:00.000-08:00

I was reading Acts the other day...

"...but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket..." Acts 9:25

The conversion of Saul was a turning point in the church's history and God used several people to touch his life. We remember Paul but are prone to forget the people who helped him get started. Now persecuted and threatened with death, Paul has to make a quick escape from Damascus with the aid of unnamed disciples. Who were these "small actors"?

I may not be called to a prominent work as Saul was, but I can do the job God has called me to do and be an encouragement to others. I don't know the names of the brave men who smuggled Saul out of Damascus, but manning the ropes was an important job.

Dear God, help me to see and fill those "small" roles and to be an encouragement to others.

Home Again

2008-02-13T09:31:00.000-08:00

I just got home from yet another say in the hospital. Tuesday, January 22nd, I had a good dinner, watched some TV and went to bed. Everything was good. I felt fine. Wednesday morning at 3am I woke up with belly pain that felt like I was being split in two. We called 911, got me to the hospital here in Fresno and I transferred up to Stanford the next day. On discharge yesterday, the doctor summarized:

"...presented with 30cm stomach mass...underwent exploratory laparotomy and drained...bloody fluid from mass. Biopsy consistent with pseudocyst...fluid culture negative..."

So at least this was something different. Through this whole mess at least the heart continued to pound away just fine. We don't know exactly what caused this but when I do something I do it right. For those of you that missed it, it was 30cm across. Now, go grab a ruler that has centimeters on it and hold it across your belly. That's almost 12 inches across and it contained a total of almost 4 liters of fluid. Imagine two 2-liter bottles of soda. I guess that explained the pain.

Thank you for all your prayers. I will celebrate the one year anniversary with my new heart this Sunday, February 17th.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Why is sitting around so hard?

2008-01-11T15:49:00.000-08:00

Right now my muscles, all of them, are weak. Then, when you combine that with the extremely sore shoulder from that surgery, I am really limited in what I can do. I can't walk very well and I can't do much of anything right now. So I walk around the house and then I sit...

...and that's harder than anything else. The back starts to hurt. The feet go to sleep. Arghhhhhhh.

Just griping.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Support Our Troops

2008-01-09T22:16:00.000-08:00

Regardless of where you stand on the war in Iraq, I hope we can all agree to support the men and women that are there. I thought these pictures were kind of neat...

Finally Home!

2008-01-09T21:56:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I can tell y'all what's happened to me the last month...

Admitted for heart failure of the new heart.
Apparently fell multiple times but have no memory of this.
Went into cardiac arrest.
Repeat twice.
(Three arrests for the math-challenged.)
Spent a week recovering and have no recollection of that week.
Discovered that ribs were cracked during cardiac arrests.
Three more weeks recovering.
Received implantation of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD - see photo below).
Got home with extremely sore shoulder and rubber legs.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Can you say "difib"?

2008-01-06T21:56:00.000-08:00

Real quick...

They are installing an internal defibilator tomorrow morning - then I should be home Wednesday.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

I should be home soon...

2007-12-31T22:15:00.000-08:00

The doctors told me this morning, no doubt in an effort to bribe me, that if I walked around the "pod" three times today, they'd release me on Wednesday. So, just to be sure, I walked FIVE TIMES! I'll show them.

We're just putting final touches on my meds. The kidneys are working fine once again. My strength is slowly coming back. I feel much better. Any input on low-sodium, low-carb recipes are welcome. (Uh-oh, this may lead to another blog!)

Talk to you soon,
Sean

How many times can one man die?

2007-12-24T13:25:00.000-08:00

Hello friends!

It is now December 24 (Merry Christmas to you all!) and I'm checking in from the hospital. Apparently (and I've had to put this together from other people), I came in on December 8 and "coded three times". I remember none of this. It does explain why my chest hurts though. They said they probably cracked a few ribs during at least a couple of my CPR's. So, long story short, I died three more times this month.

Things are much better now. The kidneys took another huge hit and and I'm on dialysys (sp?) but my appitite is coming back, various body functions are returning, and the doctors are hinting that I could return home next week, assuming we find a dialysy lab they approve.

It's difficult typing at this angle so I'm gunna keep it short. Leave me some love.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

And Another Thought for Today...

2007-11-30T18:11:00.000-08:00

Exactly three hundred and sixty-five days ago (one year for the math challenged), doctors in Fresno told my wife I was "really sick" and that there was "nothing more we can do for him". November 30th, 2006 they loaded me up in an ambulance and transported me to Stanford Hospital.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

My Life is a Bouncy Ball

2007-11-30T17:58:00.000-08:00

A big red one. Remember those from our youth? Bouncy, bouncy, up and down, up and down.

That's how my days recently have been. The meds and the anemia continue to drag me down, but there's encouraging signs on that front and I have every confidence that that won't be a problem too much longer. I continue to struggle with what I stuff in my face. Today was much more controlled and I feel way better for it.

I was talking to somebody and they were telling me about a diabetic friend of theirs. This friend had reached a point where, to him, food was just fuel - nothing to be enjoyed, nothing to be savored. Just fuel. He ate the same things every day because he knew that's all his body needed. I wish I could reach that point. Eating the right foods would be so much easier then.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Thanksgiving Wishes

2007-11-20T20:17:00.000-08:00

It's the time of year when we're reminded to give thanks.

Instead of waiting until next year to be reminded,

Let's make every day one of thanksgiving;

After all, each day is a unique gift.

So, give a hug for no reason;

Say I love you, just because;

Share a smile with a stranger;

Take the time to count your blessings;

Don't take anything or anyone for granted;

And end each day with no regrets.

Thank you, our friends and family,

For sharing, caring, laughing and crying with us.

Your love and support this last year was invaluable to us.

We are truly blessed to have each and every one of you in our life

And we are thankful you have allowed us

To be a part of yours.

May you and yours have a safe and memorable Thanksgiving.

Sean & Nona Cooney

Nine Months

2007-11-20T00:12:00.000-08:00

Hey, kids! Unable to sleep (once again) I figured I'd bring you up to date.

I had another full day of tests at Stanford today (well, yesterday to be technical, as it's after midnight now) and everything went hours long. I was soooo frustrated. These days consist (typically) of:

Lab (blood draw)
Radiology (chest X-ray)
Clinic (where I actually see the doctors)
Echocardiology (echo of the heart)
Biopsy (less frequently now, but where they go in through the femoral artery and take a "nibble" of the heart muscle)

Normally, I can get #1 and #2 done in less than an hour. This time, just the lab alone took over an hour. That pushed #2 to the end of the day because I didn't have time before #3. #3, which should take about an hour, took two. #4, which normally takes 30 minutes, was delayed over an hour because the previous delays pushed me all the way to lunch and the echo technologists went to lunch. I should have been done with #4 by 11:30AM. I finally got out of that at 2pm. THEN I was finally able to get to Radiology for the X-ray -- where the computers crashed!

Finally, three and a half hours late, I was done.

Things look okay. They buried me with numbers (lab results), few of which I understood but almost all of which were encouraging. A new development this time is another impact the kidneys are having. They are working better than they have been but, because they aren't "humming", they aren't telling the bone marrow to create quite enough red blood cells. This has caused me to become slightly anemic. For that, I have to take a shot of Epogen once a day, three times a week, for two weeks. That and an increase in my iron supplement should take care of that situation.

Good news came when they dropped the dosage of two of my three immunosuppressents by 25%. Hopefully that will reduce the tremors I still have and maybe the sleeplessness. For the most part, other than the frustrating delays, it was a good day and I look forward to being home for the holidays this year.

Significant dates are coming up. For example, in 10 days it will be one year since the medical profession here in Fresno gave up on me and told my wife, "He's really, really sick and there's nothing more we can do for him."

Talk to you later,
Sean

The Month before Christmas!

2007-11-17T09:36:00.000-08:00

Received in an email. Think about it.

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - No one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ' Holiday .'
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was nowhere to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, Sensitive, Diversity
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Durbin, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Reed, on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout 'MERRY CHRISTMAS', not 'Happy Holiday.'

Got DVD's?

2007-11-15T15:51:00.000-08:00

While I don't think we've paid full price for any of them (for example, the last four we bought (today) cost $20 total!), the collection grows. Is your favorite here somewhere?

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
Absolute Zero
Abyss, The
A Chorus Line
A Knight's Tale
Adventures of Pinocchio, The
Aladdin
Alice in Wonderland
All of Me
Always
Animusic (currently loaned out and MIA)
Anna and the King
Annie
Aristocats, The
A River Runs Through It
Armageddon
Atlantis - The Lost Empire
Back to the Future I
Back to the Future II
Back to the Future III
Batman - The Movie
Batteries Not Included
Bear
Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Big
Blazing Saddles
Brother Bear
Bruce Almighty
Cannonball Run
Castaway
Cars
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie's Angels
Cheaper By The Dozen
Chicago
Chicken Little
Chicken Run
Children of a Lesser God
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
City Slickers
Cocoon
Contact
Crocodile Dundee
Chronicles of Narnia, The
Dark Crystal, The
Day After Tomorrow, The
Dinosaurs
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Dragonheart
Dragonheart, A New Beginning
Driving Miss Daisy
Drumline
Eagles Farewell Tour
Elton John: Dream Ticket
Emperor's New Groove, The
Ever After
Excaliber
Fantasia 1
Fast & Furious, The
Father of the Bride
Father of the Bride 2
Fiddler on the Roof
Field of Dreams
Finding Nemo
First Knight
Five People You Meet ln Heaven, The
Flash Gordon
Fly Away Home
Footloose
Fox & The Hound, The
Forever Young
Freaky Friday
French Kiss
Fugitive, The
Ghost
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters 2
Godzilla
Gone With The Wind
Groban, Josh in Concert
Happy Feet
Harry Potter & Sorcerers Stone
Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter & Prisoner of Azkaban
Hercules
Hitch
Hook
Hoosiers
Horse Whisperer, The
Hunchback of Notre Dame, The
Hunt For Red October, The
Ice Age
Ice Age-The Meltdown
Incredibles, The
Independence Day
I Robot
Iron Eagle
Iron Giant, The
Jeff Foxworthy - Totally Committed
Jonah - A VeggieTales Movie
Jumanji
King & I, The
King Kong
Labyrinth
Lady and the Tramp
Ladyhawk
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Left Behind 1
Left Behind 2
Lilo & Stitch
Lion King, The
Little Shop of Horrors
Looney Tunes Golden Collection - Vol 1
Looney Tunes Golden Collection - Vol 2
Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship
Lord of the Ring - The Two Towers
Lord of the Ring - Return of the King
Love Bug, The
Madagascar
Man in the Iron Mask
Man Without a Face, The
Mask, The
Mask of Zorro, The
Maverick
Men in Black
Men in Black II
Milo & Otis
Miss Congeniality
Monsters, Inc.
Monty Python & the Holy Grail
Monster House
Moulin Rouge
Mr. Holland's Opus (My personal favorite!)
Mulan
Mummy, The
Mummy Returns (Mummy 2), The
Muppet Show, The (4 disks)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
National Treasure
Nativity Story, The
Norma Rae
O Brother Where Art Thou
Oliver & Company
On Golden Pond
Out of Africa
Passion of the Christ, The
Pay it Forward
Pearl Harbor
Phantom of the Opera
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean 2
Planet of the Apes
Pretty Woman
Princess Bride, The
Princess Diaries, The
Princess Diaries 2, The
Quest For Camelot
Remember the Titans
Rescuers, The
Riding in Cars With Boys
Right Stuff, The
Road to Bali
Robots
Robin Hood (Disney)
Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves
Rockford Files, The (season #1)
Roxanne
Santana - Supernatural Live
Scorpion King (Mummy 3), The
Seabiscuit
Second Hand Lions
Secret of Nihm, The
Shark Tales
Short Circuit
Shrek
Shrek II
Sister Act
Sleeping Beauty
Small Soldiers
Smokey and the Bandit
Somewhere in Time
Sound of Music
Spiderman 2
Star Trek 1
Star Trek 2
Star Trek 3
Star Trek 4
Star Wars 5 (The first one.)
Star Wars 5 (The Empire Strikes Back)
Star Wars 5 (Return of the Jedi)
St Elmos Fire
Superman - The Movie
Superman Returns
Sword & the Stone
Tarzan
Terminal, The
Three Men and a Baby
Three Musketeers, The (Disney)
Titanic
Top Gun
Toy Story
Transformers
Tron
True Lies
Turner & Hooch
Twister
Ugly Dachshund, The
Under the Tuscan Sun
VeggieTales - Sing Alongs (I Can Be Your Friend)
Victor Victoria
Wedding Planner, The
West Side Story
What Women Want
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Willow
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)
Wizard of Oz, The
X-Men
X-Men United (X2)
X-Men 3 - The Last Stand
Young Frankenstein

ABC News: Match-O-Matic

2007-11-14T13:22:00.000-08:00

Okay, this time from ABC News, "Match-O-Matic" says my closest three matches are...

Current Med List

2007-11-13T19:50:00.000-08:00

As the nine month mark approaches, one of the other things they did while I was in the hospital this last time was dink around with my meds. They eliminated four of them, but replaced one of those with another and added one more. So I'm down net two, so that's good.

Cellcept: 1000mg 2X
Prednisone: 10mg AM
Mycelex: 10mg 3X
Lasix: 40mg 1X
Potassium: 30meq 1X
Magnesium: 2 tabs 2X
Bactrim: 1 tab 1X
Protonix: 40mg 1X
Colace: 250mg (as needed)
Pravachol: 20mg 1X
Ferrous Sulfate: 325mg 3X
Oscal D: 500mg or 1 tab 2X
Aspirin: 81mg 1X
Valcyte: 450 1X
Vicodin: 1 or 2 tabs (as needed)
Insulin: (types - Humulog and Humulin N (NPH)). Units dependent on blood sugar level. See below...
Prograf: 1.0MG 2X (new - replaces Gengraf)
Enalapril: 2.5MG 2X (new)

Insulin Mix (updated 4/10/07)
NPH (HumulinN): 22 units breakfast, 22 units dinner
...mixed with...
Humulog: 13 units with each meal (including lunch) plus 1 unit for every 20 points over 130.

Talk to you soon,

Sean

Meinl Siam Oak Snare Cajon with Ebony Frontplate

2007-11-13T13:02:00.000-08:00

I ordered it!! Should be here in about a week!

"...This Meinl Cajon features a Siam oak body with an ebony frontplate, innovative adjustable internal snare wires, adjustable top corners to control "snap," and padded seat..."

"...The cajon is an authentic Afro-Cuban wooden box percussion instrument. Meinl cajons are completely handmade from start to finish. Drummers and percussionists appreciate the cajon for its diversity of sound. They're also perfect for unplugged gigs or sessions..."

"...A knurled knob adjusts the amount of pressure used to press the snare wires against the frontplate. Rattling ranging from light and sensitive to very loud can be achieved through adjustment. The entire snare unit can even be turned off completely..."

"...Many drummers also use the cajon during unplugged gigs, certain songs, or spontaneous sessions as its ability to emulate many sounds serves as an excellent substitute for a complete drum set..."

Talk to you soon,

Sean

I'm getting a cajon!!

2007-11-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

I finally have the money to buy me one of these!!

I can't wait.

2008 Presidental Selector

2007-11-09T19:29:00.000-08:00

Now I'm really confused. I just answered a series of questions asking my opinions on what my "ideal" candidate should feel on certain issues like Iraq, healthcare, et cetera. What I got back was a list of candidates and how they faired against my opinions. Here's the list that came back...

Theoretical Ideal Candidate (100 %)
Christopher Dodd (67 %)
Barack Obama (66 %)
Joseph Biden (65 %)
Al Gore (not announced) (63 %)
Hillary Clinton (60 %)
John Edwards (60 %)
Michael Bloomberg (says he will not run) (60 %)
John McCain (59 %)
Alan Augustson (campaign suspended) (58 %)
Wesley Clark (not running, endorsed Clinton) (58 %)
Dennis Kucinich (56 %)
Ron Paul (48 %)
Bill Richardson (47 %)
Rudolph Giuliani (47 %)
Alan Keyes (46 %)
Mike Gravel (46 %)
Chuck Hagel (not running) (44 %)
Fred Thompson (42 %)
Mike Huckabee (42 %)
Tommy Thompson (withdrawn, endorsed Giuliani) (40 %)
Mitt R

See something startling? You have to get down to #9 before you find a Republican!! Never, in the 30 years I've been registered and voting have I sided Democrat and yet, here I am questioning my political stance.

Wierd.

Talk to you soon,

Sean

Well, boys and girls...

2007-11-08T13:34:00.000-08:00

...I'm back.

As it turns out I wasn't able to go to the coast as planned. Seems I ended up back in the hospital for a couple of weeks while they straightened out my kidney function again - oh yeah, and got rid of 35 pounds of fluid in two weeks! They thought for a bit that I was in rejection again so they plugged a couple of pipes in my neck and started a procedure called plasmapheresis. After the first treatment of that they determined that I wasn't (this time) rejecting. So that was a good thing. They spent the next two weeks playing with my meds and seeing how I reacted to different things. Let me tell you, a couple of those meds, in mega-doses, really play with your emotional state!

So everything is good once again. I need to pay a little more attention to the sodium portions of my eating habits, but at least I have good control of the diabetes portion. Drop me a note if you have a minute - I love hearing from y'all. Or leave me a comment here.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

A Day at the Coast

2007-10-19T14:47:00.000-07:00

I'm excited. Next Friday/Saturday (10/26-27) a group of us are going to Cambria and San Simeon for an overnight. Friday night is a high school football game in Cambria and then we're spending the night in San Simeon. This will be my first trip to the coast in a long time.

Talk to you soon.

Eight Months, Today

2007-10-17T13:27:00.000-07:00

It's been eight months today since I got my new heart. I would have hoped that I'd be farther along in my return to normalcy by now. I still find myself struggling more with the side-effects of the meds than the actual heart itself.

My Current Med List

Gengraf: 75 2X
Cellcept: 1000mg 2X
Prednisone: 5mg AM, 3 PM
Mycelex: 10mg 3X
Lasix: 40mg 1X
Potassium: 30meq 1X
Magnesium: 2 tabs 2X
Bactrim: 1 tab 1X
Protonix: 40mg 1X
Colace: 250mg (as needed)
Pravachol: 20mg 1X
Ferrous Sulfate: 325mg 3X
Oscal D: 500mg or 1 tab 2X
Aspirin: 81mg 1X
Valcyte: 450 1X
Vicodin: 1 or 2 tabs (as needed)
Diltiazem: 360mg 1X
Insulin: (types - Humulog and Humulin N (NPH)). Units dependent on blood sugar level. See below...
Hydrochlorot: 25 mg 1X (1/2 hour before lasix)
Amiodarone: 200 1X

Insulin Mix:

NPH (HumulinN): 22 units breakfast, 22 units dinner
...mixed with...
Humulog: 13 units with each meal (including lunch) plus 1 unit for every 20 points over 130.

As I said, I'm having more trouble with side-effects - primarily dizziness, nausea, and muscle weakness. Today I'm seeing all three. Today is not the best day. Still, all things considered, I rejoice in every new day. I'm playing bass in the praise band regulary again. I'm playing on the Song Team for another Emmaus weekend in November. I have every confidence that all the holidays and birthdays I missed last year I'll get to see this year. The diabetes is under control. The "sodium swelling" isn't as bad as it has been. I am thankful.

Talk to you soon,

Sean

"Thank You Lord" - pt 1

2007-10-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Grace Owens was always old - at least to my thinking. When I started attending First Baptist Church Clovis, she was there, and old. As the years progressed, I got older and, well, she got older too. Toward the end of her life, she wasn't 5 foot tall, walked with a cane and then a walker, and remained one the most influencial woman in my Christian life. You see, Grace exuded God's love. She was God's love. She was that old grandmother that everybody loved because she loved everybody.

Grace wrote a book of poetry that was published in 1998 and I still remember her sitting on her bench in the back of the church that Sunday and giving it to me. Entitled "Thank You Lord", I'm going to risk copywrite laws and reproduce some of her poems here. I think she would approve. Please don't steal them, okay? The "title poem", if you will...

Thank You Lord

When the sun sinks in the west
And the day's work is laid to rest,
I sink down in my easy chair
And feel God's presence there.
"Thank You, Lord, for strength to do
All the things I've had to do.
I've felt Your presence along the way
As I've worked throughout the day,
And now as the day is through
I feel that comfort that only You
Can give Your children as I say,
Thank You, Lord, for a beautiful day."

Aging Boomers? Closer and Closer.

2007-10-10T16:03:00.001-07:00

I suppose I'll just have to file it in the file marked "aging boomers" - not that I like that file at all. More and more I see signs that I, and the rest of my generation, The Boomers, are rapidly approaching the autumn of our years. I feel fairly certain, for example, that I never use to see advertisments on TV for replacement body parts. Yes, I've see ads not just for artificial hearts but for replacement hips as well. More and more restaurants are modifying their menus to include foods that we can eat. More precisely, I suppose, they are doing things like lowering sodium content. It's not just the Happy Meals at McD's anymore. The one sign that is really bothering me recently is the increasing number of my friends - people I know personally - that are getting divorces. Now I know the numbers have been high for years, 50% of marriages end in divorce I believe the last survey said. But now, they are people I know. It really needs to stop.

Since I am in Christ...

2007-09-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

Since I am in Christ, by the grace of God. . .

I have been justified-completely forgiven and made righteous (Rom. 5:1).
I died with Christ and died to the power of sin's rule over my life (Rom. 6:1-6).
I am free forever from condemnation (Rom. 8:1).
I have been placed into Christ by God's doing (1 Cor. 1:30).
I have received the Spirit of God into my life that I might know the things freely given to me by God (1 Cor. 2:12).
I have been given the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16).
I have been bought with a price; I am not my own; I belong to God (1 Cor. 6:19,20).
I have been established, anointed and sealed by God in Christ, and I have been given the Holy Spirit as a pledge guaranteeing our inheritance to come (2 Cor. 1:21, 22; Eph. 1:13, 14).
Since I have died, I no longer live for myself, but for Christ (2 Cor. 5:14, 15).
I have been made righteous (2 Cor. 5:21).
I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I am now living is Christ's life (Gal. 2:20).
I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3).
I was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and am without blame before Him (Eph. 1:4).
I was predestined-determined by God-to be adopted as God's son (Eph. 1:5).
I have been redeemed and forgiven, and I am a recipient of His lavish grace (Eph. 1:7,8).
I have been made alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:5).
I have been raised up and seated with Christ in heaven (Eph.2:6).
I have direct access to God through the Spirit (Eph. 2: 18).
I may approach God with boldness, freedom and confidence (Eph.3:12).
I have been rescued from the domain of Satan's rule and transferred to the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13).
I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. The debt against me has been canceled (Col. 1:14; 2:14).
Christ Himself is in me (Col. 1:27).
I am firmly rooted in Christ and am now being built in Him (Col. 2:7).
I have been made complete in Christ (Col. 2:10).
I have been spiritually circumcised (Col. 2:11).
I have been buried, raised and made alive with Christ (Col.2:12, 13).
I died with Christ and I have been raised up with Christ. My life is now hidden with Christ in God. Christ is now my life (Col. 3:1-4).
I have been given a spirit of power, love and self-discipline (2 Tim. 1:7).
I have been saved and set apart according to God's doing (2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:5).
Because I am sanctified and am one with the Sanctifier, He is not ashamed to call me brother (Heb. 2:11).
I have the right to come boldly before the throne of God to find mercy and grace in time of need (Heb. 4: 16).
I have been given exceedingly great and precious promises by God by which I am a partaker of God's divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4).[1]

Who Am I?

I am the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13). I am the light of the world (Matt. 5:14).
I am a child of God (John 1:12).
I am part of the true vine, a channel of Christ's life (John 15:1,5).
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15).
I am chosen and appointed by Christ to bear His fruit (John 15:16).
I am a slave of righteousness (Rom. 6: 18).
I am enslaved to God (Rom. 6:22).
I am a son of God; God is spiritually my Father (Rom. 8:14,15;Gal. 3:26; 4:6).
I am a joint heir with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him (Rom. 8:17).
I am a temple—a dwelling place—of God. His Spirit and His life dwell in me (1 Cor. 3:16; q:19).
I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6: 17).
I am a member of Christ's Body (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 5:30).
I am a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
I am reconciled to God and am a minister of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18,19).
I am a son of God and one in Christ (Gal. 3:26, 28).
I am an heir of God since I am a son of God (Gal. 4:6, 7).
I am a saint (1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2).
I am God's workmanship-His handiwork-born anew In Christ to do His work (Eph. 2:10).
I am a fellow citizen with the rest of God's family (Eph. 2:19).
I am a prisoner of Christ (Eph. 3:1; 4:1).
I am righteous and holy (Eph. 4:24).
I am a citizen of heaven, seated in heaven right now (Eph. 2:6; Phil. 3:20).
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).
I am an expression of the life of Christ because He is my life (Col. 3:4).
I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved (Col. 3:12; 1 Thess. 1:4).
I am a son of light and not of darkness (1 Thess. 5:5).
I am a holy partaker of a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1).
I am a partaker of Christ; I share in His life (Heb. 3:14).
I am one of God's living stones, being built up in Christ as a spiritual house (1 Pet. 2:5).
I am a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession (1 Pet. 2:9, 10).
I am an alien and stranger to this world in which I temporarily live (1 Pet. 2:11).
I am an enemy of the devil (1 Pet. 5:8).
I am a child of God and I will resemble Christ when He returns (1 John 3:1,2).
I am born of God, and the evil one—the devil—cannot touch me (1 John 5:18).
I am not the great "I am" (Exod. 3:14; John 8:24, 28, 58), but by the grace of God, I am what I am (1 Cor. 15:10).[2]

[1] Anderson, Neil T., Victory over the Darkness, p. 64-65.
[2] Anderson, Neil T., Victory over the Darkness, p. 51-53.

Hey all...

2007-09-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't written in a week, but we're still adjusting to things here. Nona is working full-time again, now for her father. He owns LGM Construction and specializes in running data and phone lines. Nona has worked for 22 years selling the electronics and now she's on the other side installing. She seems to be having fun learning how to terminate lines and such. She learned how to terminate fiber yesterday.

I've been battling allergies since Sunday. I have to be careful what I can take for that in that anything could react with the meds I'm already on. So far I haven't taken anything. I feel better today though.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Seven Months Post-Transplant

2007-09-17T13:02:00.001-07:00

Today marks seven months now with my new heart. I went into town this morning with Mrs. Bassman - just a little shopping. I'm down to one "Clinic Day" at Stanford every three months now. Clinic Day includes:

- Blood draw w/ lab work
- Chest x-rays
- Echo cardiogram
- Clinic (where I see the doctors)
- Heart biopsy

I still go in for lab work here locally every two weeks, but even that is down from every week and the heart is doing great.

I'm still on disability and unable to work. Mrs. Bassman has started working full-time for her dad (LGM Construction) pulling data and phone lines. She's sold the parts for years at an electronics parts house and now she's getting to see the other side.

I continue to struggle with the mental aspects of this ordeal more than the physical. As long as I take my meds and get some exercise, I'll get better. The mental side is tougher. I still find myself at a loss because I'm supposed to be providing for my family. I'm supposed to protect them and take care of them. Men are just wired that way. We still don't know if I'll ever return to work - depends on whether I can get health insurance. Right now we're on Blue Cross MediCal and it's working fine. If I return to work however, we don't know if anyone will insure me. No insurance = no meds = rejection = death.

Continue to pray for us.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

One Amazing Video

2007-09-10T09:50:00.001-07:00

This is one powerful skit.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Volleyball, Physical Limitations, Match Point Serve

2007-09-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

In this steady return to physical normality, I constantly look for small improvements - things I can do now that I couldn't do before. Take, for example, last Sunday...

We have, every Sunday evening, "Small Group" where a few families from church get together for more in depth study. We also have some fun and one of the things we love to do in play volleyball. I haven't, until this last week, been able to play. I just couldn't trust my legs to hold me up on the uneven grass. This last Sunday I was actually able to play. It wasn't pretty and I still can't jump or move very quick, but when the ball came right to me I was able to hit it and I scored some points serving. In fact, I served the Match Point!

So I was happy!

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Another Full Day of Tests

2007-08-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

I had another full day of tests in Stanford Monday and got all the results back yesterday. Most everything looks good. "1A" on the heart biopsy which means no serious signs of rejection. They're still watching my kidney function real close, as they've failed three times. They're okay right now, but we're keeping an eye on them. Glucose levels still a little high, but when I eat what I'm supposed to eat, avoid what I'm supposed to avoid, and not run out of insulin again, the numbers are good.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

This Whole Dizziness Thing...

2007-08-22T15:42:00.001-07:00

... has started to lose it's luster. I mean, it was kind of fun for a while. Now it's not. I fell again in the kitchen yesterday and it took three tries to get up from the couch and down the hall to my office just now. I have a regularly scheduled day of tests at Stanford on Monday so we're going to ask about that. We know it's caused by the meds I'm on, maybe there's some way to ease the side affects some. I'll let you know.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Cobra? AC ACE?

2007-08-14T12:36:00.001-07:00

The seventh car down in the previous blog is a Cobra, but can you see the resemblance to the 1958 A. C. ACE Bristol, D-2, Stage 2 I used to ride around in? (Yes, that's me in the car and my mom standing beside me.) Click on the image to enlarge.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

A Car Show in Madera

2007-08-12T14:26:00.001-07:00

Don and I combined a little car show/Christian concert with a little geocaching in Madera last Saturday. Snapped a couple of shots...

My Personality Type

2007-08-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

Must be fairly accurate - this is the same personality type I tested as years ago while still in the corporate world...

You Are An ISTJ

The Duty Fulfiller

You are responsible, reliable, and hardworking - you get the job done. You prefer productive hobbies, like woodworking or knittings.

Quiet and serious, you are well prepared for whatever life hands you. Conservative and down-to-earth, you hardly ever do anything crazy.

In love, you are loyal and honest. If you commit yourself to someone, then you're fully committed. For you, love is something that happens naturally. And you don't need romantic gestures to feel loved.

At work, you remember details well and are happy to take on any responsibility. You would make a great business executive, accountant, or lawyer.

How you see yourself: Decisive, stable, and dependable

When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, conservative, and egotistical

What's Your Personality Type?

A Medical Experiment

2007-08-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it came about as a result of my poor planning.

I'm on insulin - at least 83 units per day - and it has been steadily lowering my blood glucose levels. What I wanted to do was back those units off and see if my body adjusted to the lower levels of insulin. What I didn't plan was to completely run out of insulin. I went two days with none...

...and watched my levels climb steadily. Not to the crazy levels they were a few months ago, but definitely higher than they had been when taking my regular doses of insulin. Then I got a new supply and started up again and instantly, my glucose levels were back down to normal.

So the lesson learned is that I still need to continue with the insulin.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Where Has Bassman Been?

2007-07-31T16:29:00.000-07:00

Here are the states my travels have taken me so far....
Talk to you soon,
Sean

One Transplant Patient's Meds

2007-07-31T14:07:00.000-07:00

Lest you think all is easy now that I have my new heart, I figured I'd post my daily meds - many of which I will be on for life....

Current Meds (7/20/07)

Gengraf: 100mg AM, 100mg PM
Cellcept: 1000mg 2X
Prednisone: 5mg 2X
Mycelex: 10mg 3X
Lasix: 60mg 2X
Potassium: 30meq 1X
Magnesium: 2 tabs 2X
Bactrim: 1 tab 1X
Protonix: 40mg 1X
Colace: 250mg (as needed)
Pravachol: 20mg 1X
Ferrous Sulfate: 325mg 3X
Oscal D: 500mg or 1 tab 2X
Aspirin: 81mg 1X
Valcyte: 900 1X (declines over time)
Vicodin: 1 or 2 tabs (as needed)
Diltiazem: 360mg 1X
Insulin: (types - Humulog and Humulin N (NPH)). Units dependent on blood sugar level. See below...
Hydrochlorot: 25 mg 1X (1/2 hour before lasix)
Amiodarone: 200 1X

Insulin Mix (updated 4/10/07)

NPH (HumulinN)
22 units breakfast
22 units dinner

...mixed with...

Humulog
13 units with each meal (including lunch) plus
1 unit for every 20 points over 130. See below…

< 130 = 0 units
131-150 = 1 unit
151-170 = 2 units
171-190 = 3 units
191-210 = 4 units
211-230 = 5 units
231-250 = 6 units
251-270 = 7 units
271-290 = 8 units
291-310 = 9 units
311-330 = 10 units
331-350 = 11 units
351-370 = 12 units
371-390 = 13 units
391-410 = 14 units
> 410 = 15 units

'Tis a great mountain of meds each day.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

A Day in the Mountains

2007-07-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

Spent the day yesterday at Shaver Lake...

...for my daughters birthday. Maybe thirteen of us. The adults sat in the shade and talked while the kids swam in the lake. Yes, it was cold, but they swam anyway. I was pleased to see that I was able to get up and down a fairly steep embankment without help. It was a good day. I left early so I could be back in town for a concert. If you haven't ever heard of Alan G. Yerxa. I've had the privilege of serving on a couple of Song Teams and playing a couple of concerts with him and he rocks!!! You need to check him out.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

There has to be a "cheat" for this game...

2007-07-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

This whole "medically-induced diabetes" game is irritating. My lunchtime glucose number was 168. High, but certainly not terrible for me. So I had a turkey sandwich for lunch. Just bread, mayo, turkey, and lettuce. Then I didn't eat anything all afternoon and the dinnertime number was 88.

I keep coming back to the observation that the only way to keep the diabetes under control is to eat what I'm supposed to eat and not eat what I'm not supposed to eat.

I hate that. There has to be a "cheat" where I can eat whatever I want. Right? Right?

Boh.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Healthy Eating

2007-07-25T21:50:00.001-07:00

I found this funny, given the recent demands my transplant has made of my eating habits.....

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?

A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! .... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more ve getables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?

A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?

A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?

A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?

A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

AND......

For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Am I "trapped" or "freed"?

2007-07-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest things I've had to adjust to is the lack of "freedom". When I had my own car (I miss my little "Zippy")...

... and an 8-5 job, I could get out. See people. See things. Do things. Now, lacking either of those two things (we sold my car to put together the money for a newer van conversion capable of making the Stanford runs) I find myself "trapped" at home. Yes, there is plenty to keep me busy. No, that's not quite enough. If I want to go somewhere, I typically have to find someone to take me there. Now I have proven that I am capable of driving but usually my daughter has the one car and I'm not insured on the van. That, and gas is just too darned expensive to go anywhere non-essential.

It's tough not having a job. We, as men, are so wired and trained as providers that it's a shock to not be in that role. Now, we're trying to find out if I will ever work again as it's entirely possible that no employer will provide me with insurance. As it is now, officially disabled and unemployed, we have fairly decent coverage with Blue Cross/Medi-Cal. The SDI checks that come in aren't that much less than I was making at my last job, and SS is scheduled to start when SDI stops. The idea of being retired at 47 is odd.

The future is fuzzy. As The Magic Eight Ball says, "Cannot predict now".

Medically, I'm doing fine. Still a lot of fluid to get rid of, but I'm walking normal now and can get up most steps. I still have trouble getting out of the pool, but when it's 108° who wants to get out? The "significant signs of rejection" that were detected in June are gone now and I can breath normal. I look forward to August 17 - that will be the six month anniversary of my new heart.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Another Stanford Stay

2007-07-21T00:06:00.000-07:00

Having just returned from another five day stay at Stanford Hospital I find myself unable to sleep. This stay was as a result of fluid build-up in my legs - they were huge again. They admitted me on Monday (7/16) and I got home at 7pm this evening.

Lest anyone fret, the heart is doing just fine this time; the fluid build-up was my own fault. It seems that the body, when confronted with sodium, wraps each molecule of sodium in water and packs that package away - in my case, in the feet and lower legs. They hammered me hard with Lasix...

Lasix is a loop diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt, allowing the salt to instead be passed in your urine.
Lasix treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, liver disease, or a kidney disorder such as nephrotic syndrome. Lasix is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

...and I lost 18 pounds the first three days. Now the ball, as they say, is in my court.

It's tough though. At first the focus was on sodium, so I learned to watch for sodium. I found recipes. I did research. Then, as a result of a couple of the meds I'm on, my blood sugar went out of control - so we started focusing on sugar to get the blood sugar back in line. Unfortunately, in shifting my focus to sugar I lost focus on the sodium. Now that the blood sugar is under control, and I thoroughly understand the importance of limiting the sodium, I need to focus on the sodium without losing sight of the sugars.

Argh.

Pray for me.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

I'm tired

2007-07-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

The men's retreat weekend went great - but then they always do. I was a Table Leader and Speaker this time. I'll be on the Song Team in November and then, I believe, the Song Boss next March. I worked Security for the women's Walk last night and didn't get home until after 2am. I'm sleepy.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Boat Charger - Pt 2

2007-07-11T10:37:00.001-07:00

Whoo-hoo!!! I found my charger!

Boat Charger

2007-07-10T15:52:00.001-07:00

Boh, I just found out that a replacement charger for my RC boat is going to run me $30. I guess that's not too bad considering I get a new battery with it. So I'd have two batteries and one charger. That'll work.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Great Weekend

2007-07-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

Had a great weekend at the Walk to Emmaus weekend. This time I was a Table Leader and gave a talk on "The Body of Christ". I used to say that I didn't have a testimony - boy I do now. The pilgrims at our table were great, and it was awesome to have Manny as my Silent Table Leader. He added hugely to the entire weekend.

The next Walk is in November and I'm on the Song Team for that one. The following one in March of '08, I think I'm the Song Boss. I love it!!

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Gone for the Weekend

2007-07-05T10:40:00.000-07:00

I think I have most of my stuff ready - at least the printed material. I'll be gone this weekend for another Walk to Emmaus weekend (my 19th in a row) - this time as a Table Leader and Speaker. I am very excited about this Walk as it's the first one I've worked since my transplant. Pray that I'm am the leader God wants me to be this weekend as I help guide the discussions following each Talk. Pray that the words I use when I speak are the ones God wants me to speak.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

This is going to hurt...

2007-07-03T21:14:00.000-07:00

I know I said I was going to start yesterday but I started today. You have to remember that, at one point, I was almost 290 pounds. During a four-month stay in the hospital and then two more months of inactivity I lost 80 of those - much of it water, but much of it muscle too. Then, of course, there were years of inactivity prior to all that. Anyway, the point is that this exercise regimen that I designed for myself is very simple, very minimal -- and I was barely able to complete today's workout. I'm gunna be sore tomorrow.

Have a safe and good 4th of July. We're having a few close friends over, but nothing fancy.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

24 Years

2007-07-02T20:18:00.000-07:00

Today was our 24th Anniversary - Mrs. Bassman and I. We didn't do anything fancier than lunch at Marie Callendars and a movie (Ratatouille) with our son. The two girls are in Mexico on a mission trip and I'm leaving Thursday to help lead a men's Christian retreat.

So anyway, 24 years. Not bad huh?

Talk to you soon,
Sean

If you've tried to leave a comment...

2007-07-02T17:08:00.001-07:00

...and it required entering an ID and password, I've fixed that. Anyone can now leave a comment.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Exercise...

2007-07-01T21:39:00.000-07:00

I shudder at the very thought but have, unfortunately, come to the realization that as much as a new heart was necessary to live, so is exercise - perhaps more so now than ever before. Sooooo......

Those of you that know me know that I'm a detail person. I have to have a plan, research, procedures. In that vein, I've designed an exercise program for myself and will begin it tomorrow. It is not extreme. Some would barely call it a "workout" but, for me, it will be aggressive in that I've had no exercise since last summer really.

Pray for me!

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Playing the Bass

2007-06-30T15:49:00.000-07:00

I've been playing now for almost ten years now and I was talking to an online friend about what kind of equipment I had and what I've used in the past. He commented that he wished he lived closer because he thought I could teach him a lot. My response was...

"Pfft. I have no formal training (other than piano a long time ago), but I play what I think sounds goods, blends well, and lays down a beat without being overpowering. I've been blessed to play with a number of local professional musicians and recording artists and their input has been worth as much as any training."

That's all true. God has richly blessed my music ministry and I can only hope that I've some sort of impact on somebody through my playing and singing.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

Final Update From the Past

2007-06-29T21:39:00.002-07:00

(Everything from here forward is "real time".)

June 29, 2007 4:31pm

Just heard from Stanford and every test came back clear. No more signs of rejection!!! Yeah!!!! I don't have to be back up there for a month. Ain't God great?

Talk to you soon,
Sean

2007-06-29T21:39:00.001-07:00

June 29, 2007 8:45am

As we wait for "the phone call" with all the results from yesterday's tests, we do know two things - one is that my lungs are completely clear of fluid, and two that my final wound has been declared "watertight" which means I can hit the pool finally!!! Yeah!!!

I'll let you know the rest of the results when I get them.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

2007-06-29T21:38:00.000-07:00

June 28, 2007

Okay, another full day of tests. (Lab, X-Ray, Echocardiogram, Clinic, Biopsy). Tomorrow will be an important phone call as we learn the results of all those tests? Did the eight days in the hospital this month knock down the rejection? Sure hope so. All prayers cheerfully accepted. I'll let you know.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

My Personal Mission Statement

2007-06-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

June 27, 2007

In the summer of 2005, God revealed to me my Personal Mission Statement:

"Following the example of love and service modeled by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and acknowledging that all gifts come from God, I exist to spread the love of God and His message through the gift of music. I will freely and cheerfully share my gifts wherever and whenever possible."

Proving once again that He isn't done with me, a few weeks ago, He made me understand that that doesn't necessarily mean playing and singing. There are other ways to fulfill that mission such as building up other musicians. For example, if one person comes to a "CD Release Party/Concert" (driving christian rock) as a result of an email I sent out and comes to a greater understanding of God through Alan's music, God's kingdom increases.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

2007-06-29T21:36:00.000-07:00

A more recent medical update...

June 26, 2007

Hey, all. I haven't posted up in a while and thought I'd just say hi, tell you I'm feeling good, and that I have another day of tests up in Stanford this Thursday. That should tell us whether they knocked down the aggresive rejection of my heart that they detected two weeks ago. Then, on Friday, I see the endocrinologist again about my wacked out blood sugars. Any prayers would be awesome.

Talk to you soon,
Sean

More Catching Up...

2007-06-29T21:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, because we're stepping in in the middle as it were, I'm going to make a few posts here that I wrote in the past couple of months. I'll date them so you know when they originally were written....

May 13, 2007

Everything that God has created is potentially holy. Our task as humans is to find that holiness in what appear to be unholy situations. When we learn to do this, we will have learned to nurture our souls. It's easy to see God's beauty in a beautiful sunrise, a snow-capped mountain, the smile of a healthy child, or in ocean waves crashing on a sandy beach. But can we learn to find the holiness in seemingly ugly circumstances – difficult life lessons, a family tragedy, or a struggle for life?

When our life is filled with the desire to see the holiness in everyday things, something magical begins to happen. A feeling of peace emerges. We begin to see nurturing aspects of daily living that were previously hidden to us. When we remember that everything has God's fingerprints on it, that alone makes it special. If we remember this spiritual fact while we are dealing with a difficult person, or struggling to pay our bills, it broadens our perspective. It helps us to remember that God also created the person you are dealing with or that, despite your struggle to pay your bills, you are truly blessed to have all that you do.

Somewhere, in the back of your mind, try to remember that everything has God's fingerprints on it. The fact that we can't see the beauty in something doesn't suggest that it's not there. Rather, it suggests that we are not looking carefully enough or with a broad enough perspective to see it.

- Richard Carlson

Catching up on old news....

2007-06-29T21:29:00.000-07:00

Hey all!

Just a quick update to let everyone know that I'm doing great. As far as the actual heart transplant and the surgery for that, everything is healing up without complication. My heart rate and blood pressure are good. All the labs and x-rays and ultrasounds and biopsies and clinic checkups have come back clear. They've warned me that everyone experiences some level of rejection in the first six to twelve months, so we are watching for that closely, but nothing yet.

Many of the physical hurdles caused by the fatigue and muscle loss/weakness are being overcome, though climbing steps and ladders still remain a challenge because of the weakness of my quads. Being flat on my back for two months and losing almost 80 pounds definitely won't be overcome quickly.

The meds, many as they are (21 of them at last count) have been surprisingly side-effect free. The "big" one, Prednisone, has caused some problems but even those were not unexpected so we were prepared for them. It causes much of my muscle weakness, has made me overly sensitive to the sun, and has caused "medication induced diabetes". That one is fun! I'm testing my blood sugar constantly and take two kinds of insulin three times a day. What a pain! The good news is that I'm on a "taper" which means that the dosage of the Prednisone is dropping every four day now. Instead of 50mg twice a day, I'm already down to 15mg twice a day. At that dosage continues to drop, my side-effects will too.

Okay, long enough. For those of you who haven't seen a recent picture, you can see one here. It was taken a couple of weeks ago while a friend of mine and I were out geocaching.

Sean <><

Begin Blog Here...

2007-06-29T21:27:00.000-07:00

With the "letting go" of my personal site, I'm going to commit to keeping this blog up to date. Probably not everyday, but at least every couple of days I'll post up what's going on with me medically, maybe something inspirational, maybe just something I thought was funny or thoughtful. I hope you enjoy it.

Talk to you soon,
Sean <><