15/04/2007 by Ted.

EVENING OF 14TH APRIL 2007.  MUM HAD A MUCH BETTER DAY WITHOUT THE DIGOXIN SIDE EFFECTS TO DRAG HER DOWN. HER APPETITE HAS RETURNED AND SHE HAS BEEN FEELING HUNGRY AND EATING FOOD.

SHE SENDS HER LOVE TO YOU ALL,

ME TOO,

TED.

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15/04/2007 by Ted.

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13/04/2007 by Ted.

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13/04/2007 by Ted.

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13/04/2007 by Ted.

EVENING OF 13TH APRIL 2007. TODAY THE DOCTOR VISITED MUM WITH THE RESULTS OF THE LATEST BLOOD TEST AND, BECAUSE OF THE DEGREE OF KIDNEY FAILURE WHICH WAS REVEALED BY THE TEST, SHE HAS DISCONTINUED MUM’S PRESCRIPTIONS OF DIGOXIN AND IRBESARTEN.  THE DIGOXIN WAS DISCONTINUED BECAUSE IT COULD NOW INTRODUCE TOXINS INTO MUM’S SYSTEM.  IT’S PURPOSE WAS TO INCREASE THE STRENGTH AND VIGOUR OF HER HEART MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS. THE FUNCTION OF THE IRBESARTEN WAS TO DILATE THE VEINS AND ARTERIES TO ALLOW BLOOD TO FLOW MORE EASILY IN RESPONSE TO THE HEART’S CONTRACTIONS. HOWEVER SHE IS STILL BEING PRESCRIBED ISOSORBIDE MONONITRATE WHICH SERVES THE SAME FUNCTION AS THE IBERSARTEN.

IT MEANS THAT, AS MUM HERSELF SAID, SHE IS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.

IN HERSELF SHE IS OK. AS A RESULT OF THE REIMPOSED DOSE OF FURESOMIDE SHE IS AGAIN SLEEPY AND LETHARGIC AND DOZES THE DAY AWAY. SHE IS HAPPY WITH THIS. SHE IS ALSO SLEEPING WELL AT NIGHT WITHOUT THE AID OF ORAMORPH - SHE JUST HAS THE TWO SEDATIVE PILLS WHEN SHE GETS INTO BED.

TONIGHT SHE SENDS HER LOVE TO YOU ALL AS USUAL,

ME TOO,

TED.

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12/04/2007 by Ted.

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12/04/2007 by Ted.

EVENING OF 11TH APRIL 2007.  MUM HAD AN EXCELLENT NIGHT LAST NIGHT AND FELT MUCH BETTER THIS MORNING, THOUGH DROWSY - PERHAPS THE EFFECT OF HER REINSTATED DOSAGE OF FURISOMIDE.  SHE WAS NOT TOO DROWSY TO SEND HER LOVE TO ALL.

MINE TOO,

TED.

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10/04/2007 by Ted.

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10/04/2007 by Ted.

EVENING OF 10TH APRIL 2007. MUM HAS HAD A COUPLE OF SHAKY DAYS BECAUSE OF STRESS. ON SUNDAY SHE BECAME AGITATED AND BREATHLESS AND WAS THE SAME YESTERDAY AND THIS MORNING.  TODAY THE DOCTOR CAME OUT AND EXAMINED HER AND CONCLUDED THAT HER BREATHLESSNESS WAS THE RESULT OF ANXIETY AND NOT HER HEART CONDITION. THE ANXIETIES WERE CAUSED BY A SERIES OF NORMALLY INCONSEQUENTIAL THINGS WHICH TO HER HAD GROWN OUT OF PROPORTION.

AS A RESULT OF THE DOCTOR’S VISIT HER FLUROSEMIDE DOSEAGE HAS BEEN INCREASED TO IT’S ORIGINAL LEVEL AND SHE HAS ALSO BEEN PRESCRIBED 2.5MG OF ORAMORPH WHEN REQUIRED TO SETTLE HER ANXIETIES. 

TONIGHT THE TENSION HAD ABATED AND SHE WAS HER NORMAL SELF  ONCE AGAIN.

SHE SENDS HER LOVE TO YOU ALL,

ME TOO,

TED.

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08/04/2007 by Ted.

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08/04/2007 by Ted.

John 20:1-20

Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them,’I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
NKJV

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07/04/2007 by PeterJohnson.

Peter visited Mum today and found her looking generally well in her new bed. It seems to be ideal for her needs and she looked well settled, comfortable and contented at bedtime tonight.  Ruth (Barbara’s Mum is staying at St Georges next week) whilst the youngsters are away in Tenerife. Poppy is in kennels on Monday, but has been outside most days this week, enjoying the Barrow sunshine on the front lawn. We both hope that you all will have a very happy Easter.

All our love, and from Mum too.

Peter and Barbara 

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06/04/2007 by Ted.

EVENING OF 6TH APRIL 2007. MUM HAD A WONDERFUL NIGHT’S SLEEP LAST NIGHT IN THE NEW BED.  HER SORE BTM HAS BEEN NO TROUBLE SINCE THE DRESSING WAS APPLIED. SHE HAS ENJOYED A COMFORTABLE DAY AND TONIGHT SHE WAS, ONCE AGAIN, HAPPY AND RELAXED AS SHE SETTLED DOWN TO SLEEP.

SHE SENDS HER LOVE TO YOU ALL,

ME TOO,

TED

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05/04/2007 by Ted.

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05/04/2007 by Ted.

EVENING OF 5TH APRIL 2007. FROM THE PHOTOGRAPH (SEE BELOW) YOU WILL APPRECIATE THAT TODAY THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING.

THIS MORNING THE DISTRICT NURSE ARRIVED AND CONFIRMED THAT MUM’S BTM NEEDED SOMETHING MORE THAN BARRIER CREAM.  SHE CLEANED UP THE SORE PLACES AND THEN APPLIED A SKIN-TYPE DRESSING TO PROTECT THE AREAS AND SHE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THEM UNTIL THEY HAVE HEALED.

IN ORDER TO HELP PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF THE SORENESS A HOSPITAL BED WITH AN AIR MATTRESS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY ST. GEORGE’S FOR MUM’S USE. THIS IS A DOUBLE BLESSING BECAUSE IT HAS A REMOTE CONTROL TO RAISE AND LOWER THE HEAD AND FOOT OF THE BED.  THIS MEANS THAT MUM IS NO LONGER RELIANT ON MASSES OF PILLOWS TO KEEP HER IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN SHE SLEEPS.  USING THE REMOTE CONTROL SHE CAN NOW RAISE THE HEAD OF THE BED UNTIL IT IS AT THE ANGLE SHE REQUIRES AND THEN HAVE JUST ONE PILLOW BEHIND HER TO TO REST HER HEAD ON.

BECAUSE THE BED IS LARGER THAN THE ONE REPLACED THE ROOM HAS BEEN RE-ARRANGED SO THAT THE BED LIES ALONGSIDE THE WINDOW. THIS WILL NOW ALLOW HER TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON OUTSIDE WHETHER SHE IS IN BED OR IN HER CHAIR.

THESE EVENTS HAVE MADE A GREAT DIFFERENCE TO MUM’S COMFORT, AND THIS EVENING SHE WAS RELAXED AND HAPPY AS SHE SETTLED DOWN TO SLEEP WITH THE BED PULSATING GENTLY BENEATH HER.

SHE ASKS ME, OF COURSE, TO SEND HER LOVE TO EVERYONE.

AND MINE TOO,

TED.

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05/04/2007 by Ted.

FOR THE CURIOUS THE CONTAINERS ON THE TABLE FOR USE IN THE NIGHT ARE - FROM LEFT TO RIGHT - BEAKER OF HORLICKS, 2 DISSOLVED CO-CODOMOLS IN A RED GLASS (SO SHE CAN TELL WHICH ARE THEY). GLASS OF ICED WATER WITH A STRAW, BEAKER WITH COLD TEA FOR DRINKING DURING THE NIGHT, GLASS OF MILK (HER PART-FINISHED FOOD DRINK), AND (IN THE FOREGROUND) A NUTRITION SMOOTHIE IN A TRANSPARENT GLASS, A LARGE BEAKER OF TEA FOR DRINKING COLD DURING THE EARLY HOURS AND HER DENTURE BOX COMPLETE WITH DENTURES.

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04/04/2007 by Ted.

EVENING OF 4TH APRIL 2007. AFTER ANOTHER NIGHT STRUGGLING WITH THE PILLOWS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BED MUM HAS HAD A REASONABLE DAY.  SHE HAS BEEN EATING SOLID FOOD AGAIN - A LITTLE PORRIDGE FOR BREAKFAST, SOUP, MINCE AND POTATOES FOR LUNCH AND A YOGHURT AND NUTRITION DRINK FOR TEA. ALSO THE DOCTOR ARRIVED YESTERDAY AND REDUCED HER DOSAGE OF FERUSOMIDE BY 25% - WITH A WARNING THAT IF HER BREATHLESSNESS RETURNS SHE MUST BE TOLD IMMEDIATELY SO THAT SHE CAN INCREASE THE DOSEAGE  TO ITS PREVIOUS LEVEL.  HOWEVER MUM HAS HAD NO RETURN OF BREATHLESSNESS WHICH WOULD BE CAUSED BY FLUID COLLECTING ON HER LUNGS AS A RESULT OF HER HEART FAILURE.

THE DOCTOR ALSO PRESCRIBED SOME BARRIER CREAM TO HELP WITH MUM’S SORE BTM.  HOWEVER TONIGHT THERE WAS BROKEN FLESH IN THE AREA, SO THE DISTRICT NURSE WILL BE CALLED IN TOMORROW TO SEE IF A DRESSING IS REQUIRED.

ALSO TONIGHT A NEW TECHNIQUE IS BEING TRIED TONIGHT TO SEE IF HER SLIDING DOWN THE BED CAN BE ELIMINATED BY STRATEGICALLY PLACED PILLOWS. THE SLIDING IS THE RESULT OF HER SLEEPING IN A SEMI-UPRIGHT POSITION INSTEAD OF A RECUMBENT ONE TO ASSIST WITH KEEPING FLUID FROM  HER LUNGS WHILST SHE IS ASLEEP.

TONIGHT SHE WAS FAIRLY CONTENT AS SHE SETTLED DOWN FOR ANOTHER NIGHT ALTHOUGH SHE FINDS THE DAILY STRUGGLE AGAINST THE ACCUMULATING PROBLEMS VERY TRYING.

SHE SENDS HER LOVE TO YOU ALL AS USUAL,

ME TOO,

TED.

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03/04/2007 by Ted.

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02/04/2007 by Ted.

3rd Adam Holliday’s 40th birthday

6th Paul and Alison Thackray’s 16th wedding anniversary

9th David Talbot’s 43rd birthday

11th Gavin Newbrook’s 32nd birthday

14th Andrew Talbot’s 57th birthday

14th Stephen Stubbs 46th birthday

 15th Katarzyna Talbot’s 30th birthday

 22nd Rebecca Smith’s 14th birthday 

23rd Adam and Rebecca Holliday’s 1st wedding anniversary

29th Harley Newbrook’s 8th birthday 

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01/04/2007 by Ted.

EVENING OF 1ST APRIL 2007. A GOOD DAY FOR MUM. SHE SPENT IT SITTING ONCE AGAIN IN  HER CHAIR AS SHE FINDS THE UPRIGHT POSITION CAUSES LESS WEAR AND TEAR ON HER BTM WHICH HAS BEEN PAINFUL OF LATE. THIS AFTERNOON SHE WAS PERSUADED TO TAKE A CAR RIDE TO SILECROFT, IT BEING A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY, BUT THE TRIP WAS DISAPPOINTING AS HER POOR EYESIGHT MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER TO SEE THE SCENERY DURING THE DRIVE OR THE SEA WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT SILECROFT. SHE SAT IN THE CAR FOR A WHILE LOOKING AT WHAT SHE DESCRIBED AS A GREY CLOUDINESS AND THEN RETURNED TO ST. GEORGES. SHE SAYS THAT IN FUTURE SHE WILL BE CONTENT TO SIT ON THE LAWN AT ST. GEORGE’S TO ENJOY THE SUNSHINE. THIS WILL BE EASIER FOR HER.

TOMORROW SHE IS EXPECTING A VISIT FROM HER OWN RETURNED-FROM-HOLIDAY DOCTOR TO DISCUSS CHANGING HER MEDICATION.  HOWEVER SINCE THE VISIT OF THE SUBSTITUTE DOCTOR LAST WEEK SHE HAS DECIDED THAT SHE WILL PUT PUT UP WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE FLURISOMIDE IN CASE A CHANGE TO HER MEDICATION INTRODUCES OTHER LESS TOLERABLE SIDE EFFECTS.

TONIGHT SHE SETTLED DOWN HAPPILY TO SLEEP. SHE IS STILL SLEEPING BETTER SINCE A DUVET REPLACED THE BLANKETS SHE HAD.  SHE, OF COURSE, SENDS HER LOVE TO YOU ALL,

ME TOO,

TED.

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