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Just got cleared to go home. It will probably be an hour an a half before we’re out of here. They have lot’s of meds on the wing to dispense and paperwork to do. I’ll have some medicine to take and have a couple of follow-up visits, but I think we’re done.
Thanks for all of your prayers.
© 2011, J. M. Erickson. All rights reserved.
They gave me 2 more units of blood last night. When I came in Monday night my hemoglobin was 5.9 (extremely low). Male normal is 10-14. After Tuesday’s 3 units of blood and the EGD ulcer repair it was 8.2 so they wanted to get me up higher, thus the 2 extra units. This morning my hemo was 10.2. We’re all pleased.
Depending on what the noon reading is and what the doctors say, I may get to go home later this afternoon/evening.
Other than the cold soup and warm popsicles, I’m doing fine.
I appreciate all the prayers and well wishes. Thank you.
As many of you already know, I’m in the hospital as a result of anemia. I had dizziness, fatigue, and shortness of breath while upright on Sunday evening. After a doctors visit, where he discovered my hemoglobin was bordering on non-existant, I was admitted to the hospital where I received three units of blood.
Today, they performed an EGD.1 Which is a procedure where they stuff a scope down your throat and examine your esophagus (the E), your stomach (the G), and your duodenum (the D) for ulcers, polyps, tumors, and other sundry abnormalities. As this is done by the same doctor who does colonoscopies, the key is to get the correct scope. In my case they did. They found an ulcer in my stomach, so while they were in there, cauterized it and clamped it with a small metal clamp.2
Since they pump air into your gut so they can get a better look, one of the side effects is that I sounded like a one-man campfire scene from Blazing Saddles.
So they’re going to keep me for at least another day to make sure I don’t spring a leak and to top off my blood with a couple more quarts. Apparently I’m still a little low.
I feel much better…in fact, I feel fine. Thanks for asking.
Read in the paper this morning that a school district in Maine is giving iPads to each enrolling kindergartner. Yes, that’s kindergartner. They’re getting the $700 models. I think I’ll go back to school.
No wonder the cost per student in the US is around 10 grand each.
“According to the College Board’s Trends in College Pricing 2010, the average cost of undergraduate education at an in-state, four-year, public institution was $16,140 — a 6.1-percent increase from 2009.”1
Wow! Who can afford that? No wonder students rack up thousands in debt.
An excerpt from “The Ivy Jungle Network Campus Ministry Update September 2010″:
Princeton Seminary Professor Kendra Creasy Dean shares what she considers some depressing news in her new book, Almost Christian. As a researcher in the National Study for Youth and Religion, she helped conduct in depth interviews with more than 3300 teenagers who call themselves Christians. Her findings show that most “Christian” kids are indifferent and inarticulate about their faith. The faith they do discuss often boils down to what has been labeled “moralistic therapeutic deism” – a belief in a generally good God who exists primarily to help make people happy. This “imposter” faith contributes to the massive departure of so many young people from the church during their high school and college years. Too often parents and churches have low expectations for teenagers. Too many youth groups are designed to keep students out of trouble and simply being nice – not truly exploring the faith. However, she did find some who had a passion for their faith and an ability to talk about it in a meaningful way. These committed teenagers most often came from Mormon or evangelical backgrounds. She identified four common traits among this group: They have a personal story about God they can share, a deep connection to a faith community, a sense of purpose and a sense of hope about their future (CNN August 27, 2010)
© 2010, J. M. Erickson. All rights reserved.
According to Barna, only about 25% of teenagers are active in a youth group; a statistic that has remained relatively flat for the last decade. Lifeway Christian Resources reports that many students drop out around age 16. Their research indicates that many teens do not find church relevant or think it meets the needs of young people today. While in the past they may have come for free food and entertainment, today’s teens don’t want to be relegated to basement pizza parties. They are looking for significance and connections. Sadly, the numbers fall again when they leave for college. (USA Today August 11, 2010)1
I read in this morning’s The Villages Daily Sun that there is a move afoot in Congress to repeal the part of the health care law that requires all businesses to file paperwork on all of their vendors from whom they buy $600.00 goods or services in a year. Small businesses are up in arms because of the expense and massive amount of paperwork required to accomplish this. Democrats and Republicans are both in favor of repealing this section of the health care law.
It was allegedly incorporated originally to collect $19 billion of estimated unpaid taxes. $19 billion to help “pay” for the bill. That the health care bill would pay for itself was just plain incorrect. Now the curtain is being lifted.
I’m excited because Old Dad and Pretty Betty will be visiting for the next three days.
Hey, Old Dad, if your Prius accelerator gets stuck, point it toward Florida and come for a visit. Call ahead and we’ll get the nets put up across the highway.
Heat Lightning (Virgil Flowers, No. 2) by John Sandford
Reliquary (Pendergast, Book 2) by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
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