Virginia (Ginger)'s Guestbook

Virginia (Ginger) French  Steven (Popeye).
Thank you for your kind words and, more than that, for the manner in which you have embraced and become a vital part of this Heart Family.
Sending love and hugs your way!
Ginger

Mary Myers  Terrie, it's your heart sis Mary. Glad you are doing well. O.went to my aqua class tonight. I love the water. Keep up the biking. Love ya! Mary (mia)

Terrie Syvertsen  Hi Mia. How was your re-entry into the water?! I can't wait but still curious how the sternum area will fare. Does the chlorine bother your scar surface? Think of you often. Hope the kids aren't running you ragged.
Have to go. Love, Terrie

Mary Myers  My re entry into the water was fantastic. The chlorine doesnot bother my scar area. My scar is healing nicely. We will have to chat on the phone again soon. The kids keep me busy. I reduce my hours when I feel exhausted. Think of you too. Its hard to believe I am eight months post op. You are seven! Take care. Love, Mia

Virginia (Ginger) French  Terrie, Any day you're up to it is a good day for me! We always seem to have plenty to talk about, and the weather is always perfect! I always enjoy the time we spend together and I know that laughter is good for the soul!
Lots of love and hugs,
Ginger

Virginia (Ginger) French  Geri,
It is so great to hear from you! Sounds like there has been a lot to deal with in your extended family. I am delighted to hear you are doing fine and have been able to get some exercise despite the weather.

My younger sister is a real yoga guru, and I think it would be a good thing just for the stretching as much as anything else. But you are smart to let your sternum heal first.

How compassionate of you to be with your sister-in-law. It is a sad situation. My Mom died of cancer when I was pregnant with my first child, and she died at home as my Dad's mom had died in our home years earlier. It is such a comfort for them to be in their own family home surroundings when possible, but not all families can handle it. I know when my father-in-law was pronounced to be terminal, he did not want to be cared for in the nursing home attached to the hospital where he had been a family physician. Although hospice was barely going back in those days, we were able to take him to his home and Jim's mom and I did most of the care. When you think about it, that is how it always used to be.

Thanks for your kind words about our family and little Grand Autumn Grace. Writing about the family just flows for me. I grew up in a wonderful family with loving, intelligent, and fun parents who had great senses of humor and really loved each other more than probably any other couple I have known all my life. It was absolutely the best atmosphere to learn in and see how they worked together and handled situations. There was rarely a harsh word, as each of them had a parent who was a Quaker. Dad was transferred around the country a lot, but that helped us to find our stability in the family itself and the faith that was evident and practiced. Quickly we learned that the town and house, neighbors and school, all would change, but God and the family were always there for us.

I have often lamented my having the traumatic brain injury when our children were only 6 and 8, but I was still there for them as much as I could be.

This next generation is such fun. Our daughter and her husband are extremely involved in every bit of Autumn's life, and she thrives in all of that love and attention. She is a joy to all of us, even my son Steven, the big Uncle! Autumn is growing and learning so much these days! Just this past week she said my name "Granna" and also got past cat and kitty to "Lacie". Our dear Lacie cat is at least 18 years old, and she tries to keep her distance from Autumn. Autumn and I were expecting one of her parents to pick her up just two weeks ago, and at 17 months, Autumn starting catching on to the word "Come". Then she added "Come soon!" Really fun to watch that strong little 17 month old as she picks up my 5 pound weights (weighing only about 20 pounds herself!) and carries around some of the large stuffed animals that belonged to her Momma, Elizabeth, initially. She hefts them into chairs and puts them on the ouch or down to "nap". And in volume they have to be at least 3 times her size!

My twin, who had the first grandchildren in our part of the family came up with "Granna" to honor our own grandmothers, both of whom were named Anna. I think it is clever and heart-warming. It makes me smile inside.

Again, so delighted to hear from you and to know you are well. I start to wonder how everyone is doing and just decided to check in!

Take care and know that I send love and hugs and prayers for all good things, Ginger

Virginia (Ginger) French  miniZ, you are really looking good and wow - you are literally going places! I am honored to be your friend. From hearing the helicopters you had mentioned and walking the loop of the hallways past the portraits, i am glad to be following your footsteps in my own way! Take care, Big Guy!

Virginia (Ginger) French  Karen, Thanks for the message! There was an overwhelming chorus of "Get a Chair" in full harmony, but, as in the past, I am not afraid to be called a Spoiler. I do very firmly believe that there are multiple perspectives, and it is easy to jump on the bandwagon, but I want to hear Truth as different people see it.

We actually have a Tempeurpedic "Clone" -- really indistinguishable from each other. So with the bilateral mastectomies, I, too, had issues that would have been minimized with a bed that was less giving. But I think you may be able to compensate for it for the short time you will need less give by getting a large piece of particle board and having help putting it between mattresses where you sleep and move on the bed. Cheaper than a new bed! Might be worth a try!

I spent two long stretches in Denver hospitals when my Dad's now widow underwent neck and back surgeries. I lived in the hospital for 7 days and nine days literally in her room, even in the ICU, when she was in her 70s. I was there every step of the learning process for moving without twisting, then the PT that came later, and I think people should routinely be told about some of these things.

I suppose I could see if Adam Pick would put a piece in the Learning Center about physical preparation for valve surgery (without marathons), proper movement in order to maximize comfort and mobility without endangering one's health after surgery, and such.

I have also written several pieces on incision care from immediate post-op through incision sensitivity while bypassing the Drive Oneself Crazy Tug and Itch. I would have no problem in their being reproduced. I know that this is a greater problem for women than for men (and Terrie agrees) because of the pulling of the breast tissue, even for those of us not well endowed! But I recall Eleanor Rebollar referring to the "Bear Claw" that would suddenly attack her operative site. It can certainly be minimized or avoided altogether.

Karen, my Mom often told us that if we remained flexible we would be less likely to break. That is so true in so many instances.

I appreciate your friendship and am glad you are a part of this Heart Family.
Warm hugs,
Ginger

  Thank you again Ginger. I am going to try the piece of wood. I was talking to a man who does odd jobs for me around the house sometimes and he's going to get me a piece of wood like described and help me with that. Money is tight so if I don't have to buy a piece of furniture just because it might help for a short period of time, then I would prefer to not spend that kind of money.

By the way, I practiced getting up and down, in and out of my recliner that I already have and I saw that it might not be much of a problem since the recliner is a rocker and whenever I get up from the recliner anyway, the front leans forward and touches the floor. I think this will work just fine. It's not a power recliner and not sure if I'll be able to reach down and use the handle, but I'll figure something out. Besides, it's not like it's going to be forever. And I have to believe that not everyone has a power lift chair. Some people don't even have a recliner. As I said earlier, I know people personally who have had OHS and they didn't buy or rent a chair. In fact, all I heard from them was that they missed the adjustable hospital bed because it was easier than propping themselves up in bed at night. So while it wasn't as nice as the hospital bed, they made it work. And during the day, when I visited the two I was closest to, they were sitting on their couch. So I feel better about the chair deal.

As for the mattress, I'm going to try the wood soon even if I'm not ready to have surgery because I find the mattress to be too giving anyway and I wake up with a backache in the morning. So I'm thinking maybe that will work even now. Thanks!

Mary Myers  Sounds like a plan Karen. I did use a electric recliner and it worked great for me. I slept in it for the first two weeks. It made it easier for me to get up and down. I found that a body pillow helped me to be comfortable in the recliner and then when I moved to my bed. Drop a line when you can Karen. How are you doing? Miss you! Mia

Virginia (Ginger) French  Pam, Glad you reached out. I tried to find you a few days ago and don't know why I could not, but there are so many people now compared to when I first came on. I'll send you an e-mail. And if you want to know more about me, feel free to go through my Journal. And don't miss the photos because the family I adore is rather prominently featured!
Soon, Ginger

Virginia (Ginger) French  Hey, Little Sis! Great to hear from you! I will put up a post about my energy level problem, but steps have been taken to step it up. Good for you to think of your safety. I was going through the same decision-making yesterday. I received a call from a friend saying the weather had turned to freezing drizzle or sleet, and to please stay home from cardiac rehab. I called my husband, who left at 6 AM for a case. He had not been out since then so couldn't judge. But when he left the hospital in the next hour he called to say "Wet roads, no ice, but dense fog. Use your lights, watch out for others who do not, and give yourself extra time." Yes, that sounds like a surgeon who was on two trauma teams for 18 years of his career. And I had called rehab just before he called and they said if I want to come to one of the later sessions, that would be fine - things were supposed to get warmer. I was glad to get to my regular time with 20 minutes to spare, and they had opened the doors early so people could get in and out. Very thoughtful.

I have way too much mail to go through and wish had more free time, but did receive my first answer to the "What do you want for Christmas?" e-mail sent this past week. My son Steven is always great at this. He sends a detailed list, often with links so one can click and get all info, prices, and even buy. He has been in the home he built for about three weeks now, and most of his requests are along those lines.

Autumn whispered her wishes in my ear weeks and weeks ago. She is a bit more aware this year, and knows about presents from her late September birthday. Her gifts have already arrived. As with your almost grandson, those birthdays are really fun!

I have not been on much lately, but ask that you keep a close friend of mine, Jan, in your prayers. She is almost surely going to need surgery soon for her mitral valve, and we have been sharing information and she has my newest copy of Adam's book. She helped me pack for Cleveland, and we did some picking and choosing and she headed home Wednesday afternoon after we had spent about three hours making choices on robes that zip up the front, pants with drawstrings of different weights (cool to warm), even the bandages for the Post-heart cath care and my second BP cuff. Some of what I sent with her will not be needed until she is back home, but she is going to be as comfortable as possible if I can help it. She is smaller than me, but looser is better post-op in my opinion. As we all do on that point in the path, there are so many questions and doubts, but she is otherwise healthy and takes good care of herself and she has not only a supportive husband, but great faith and many who will be (if not already) praying for her. Timing looks to be post-Thanksgiving early December, but without some testing yet to be done, those decisions have yet to be nailed down.

So glad you are enjoying the children at school and all you have going on.

I send you warm wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for this year, for we have been gifted with a new life and are all headed toward better health. I have been calling this "The Year of the Heart", and will continue to.

Three more rehab sessions for me! and looking forward to time with my family, as I know you are.

Butterfly kisses and Eskimo pies and every other good thing! Sending warm hugs and great love and prayers that you continue to be blessed with good things!
Back soon, I hope, Ginger ;o)

Virginia (Ginger) French  Karen, Thanks so much! The heart valve replacement was, I think you know, the fifth major surgery in four years for me. I would say that my identical twin has fared a bit better, but she and her husband lost their incredibly beautiful home from a direct hit by a tornado on Mother's Day. So while they had a large family gathering at her oldest daughter's this evening, Patty spent much of the day on the house to do list. They hope to be back in by May first. We are just so grateful she and her husband Cliff had included a safe room (totally concrete with steel door opening into the room) when they built the house over seven years ago. We are both delighted to have these big events behind us and to be looking forward knowing God has reasons for all of this and stepping out in Faith!

Take good care of YOU! You are in my prayers! Love and hugs, Ginger

Eleanor R  Happy Birthday to you today, Ginger. I wish you a year filled with love and happiness and continued good health. Bless you. Eleanor