This summary was written by Susan. We pray that this is the final post on this thread. Thank you for all the support.

1-Month Post Heart Reconstruction Surgery Summary:

About this time last year, Larry had a physical exam that led to more appointments that revealed prostate cancer and a heart mummer.  He first dealt with cancer requiring 28 radiation treatments. A Cardiologist was consulted next and a failing aortic valve was identified. Surgery was Dec. 11th.  As with the radiation treatments, the surgery went well and Larry was recovering. Just before Christmas, Larry became very ill due to a bacteremic MSRA infection and was taken by ambulance to the Sioux Falls Heart Hospital. Following another week in the hospital with IV antibiotics he was sent home on oral antibiotics. Before the end of the year, he was readmitted. This time more than a liter of fluid was drained from around his heart. He arrived home on Jan. 3rd. The rest of the month he spent recovering and he went back to work in February. On March 5 at 4 PM at work, he began feeling very sick and spiked a fever. We spent the next day in the ER. He was sent home that day but Matt took him back the next day. This resulted in his 2nd ambulance ride to SF.   Blood culture tests revealed a MRSA infection and IV antibiotics were started. Further testing revealed an abscess on his aorta. This required a transfer to Mayo hospital in Rochester. Larry was at Mayo for a week before surgery. During this week, the 26 lbs. of fluid he had gained in SF, which caused him discomfort and difficulty breathing, was diuresed.  He was back to his baseline weight on March 19th, surgery day.  Surgery started at 7:30. It was a long and difficult process to reconstruct his heart.  The surgeon debrided the infection, replaced the infected valve and abscessed aortic root with artificial ones. He also placed a bovine patch where the infection had traveled to the mitral valve. The mitral valve was still intact.  His surgeon specialized in aortic surgeries but when he came out of surgery to speak to Matt and me after 6 PM, he admitted it had been difficult 11-hour surgery. The infection was so bad that his sternum had not healed from the first surgery and his chest cavity was “mushy” from the infection.  He said this was an old infection likely from the first surgery. Due to the infection and swelling during surgery, they left his chest open and went back for another surgery the next day for a washout and close, which was successful. He remained in ICU that day and they slowly woke him up, after 30+ hours. After removing the ventilator, pacemaker and other monitors he was moved to progressive care on March 21st.  Since COVID-19 was becoming more of a concern, that was the last day visitors were allowed. Matt and I headed home on the 22nd. The next few days were difficult for Larry, especially without family support. During this time, he had an episode of atrial fibrillation that required a pacemaker to be implanted. They also put in a PICC line so he could continue IV antibiotics at home. After another echocardiogram and CTangiogram, he was ready for discharge.  I picked him up on Sat. March 28th. The 4.5-hour drive home was hard on him but we were all relieved he was home.  A few days after returning home, Larry’s surgeon, who was in quarantine, called to say we should get Larry C19 tested since he had been exposed to a nurse who later tested positive. Thankfully his test was negative.

We now have to coordinate with Home Health Care for continued monitoring through Mayo clinic infectious disease for weekly blood tests and IV antibiotic levels. He is currently on Vancomycin after an allergic reaction to Daptomycin which caused shortness of breath, after he returned home, requiring another trip to the ER. His breathing improved over several days on the next antibiotic. We continue to test his blood clotting times to achieve the best level for his heart implants and adjust his warfarin levels. This will be a life long process. Larry needed twice daily heparin injections until we were able to reach his goal for PT/INR. Thankfully we have reached that goal.  Twice daily IV antibiotic infusions are scheduled at least through the end of April. He has a scheduled follow-up visit at Mayo at the end of the month but COVID-19 status will surely affect that. Since Larry is in a high-risk group, we continue to isolate as to avoid any possible exposure for him. He is getting stronger, albeit slowly. It will continue to be a long recovery with the hope of full recovery eventually. 

This started out to be a short post but it has been a long journey. We are tired and hope life will continue to get easier. During this same period, we added 450 new lambs to the farm with help from student labor. We will need some time to evaluate and prioritize as we find our new normal.  We are incredibly thankful that Larry is improving and pray there will be no more setbacks. We thank you all for your prayers, concern, and help during this journey. We are truly blessed.

Psalm 25:4-5 

Show me your ways, LORD,
    teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.