Stephanie’s Story

Site created on June 27, 2018

 Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
Hi everyone, as you can already tell I am not a computer nut so I’m learning how to use this site as I use it each day.
Mike is doing great.  Right after I sent a group email, about 12:30 a.m. last Friday and Saturday at the exact same time, Mike started to experience dramatic and severe symptoms causing us to bring him to Washington Hospital ER.  Thy quickly admitted him.  Long story short; staff thinks he had a germ on the Pik-Line creating a blood infection.  He is doing well now; they removed the pik-line, replaced it as well as accelerating tests/exams/procedures to get him onto transplant list.  His heart condition is the same; no further progression but staff had to admit him and chose to run tests while he was here for the week.  Tests including:  colonoscopy, counseling, social  worker, nutritionist, lung and heart tests-even a DENTAL exam at 9 pm.  
Mike plans to return to work Friday June 28.
As Mike goes for “the ride” he says; social worker 2 days ago “interviewed” me and gave me a few suggestions.  If you want to and able to help... I’m gathering a list for particular people to take on the responsibility. 
They are: grocery run, be my personal driver, (house cleaner,/yard work), website director, cat feeder/sitter.  
I have been told that I will be exhausted but to not worry about being at hospital everyday and ALL day.   Therefore I may not need to stay in hotel here in the area. 
There are parking pass coupons and can take a photo of that for people if they wish to purchase.
I need to ROW, SLEEP, AND WORK. 


PLEASE CHECK THIS WEBSITE FOR ANY UPDATES ON HIS HEALTH OR STATUS FOR HEART TRANSPLANT LIST.
He was notified that his case would be presented to cardiac staff and put on list, “pending certain tests.”
We are to keep cell phones turned on, in areas of reception. 
There are no pagers, ankle or wrist bracelets....

Newest Update

Journal entry by Stephanie Ashton

he is on antibiotic for C-diff. I'm cleaning house today with bleach wipes. 
No longer contagious but doctors made it very clear that I'm not even at risk because I do have immune system (as weak as it is for upper respiratory).

Cleaning house today, paying bills and "may" be able to take a day trip to St. Michaels tomorrow. 

We are 6 weeks post-op now. Another 3-4 weeks to go and we should be out of the first 3 month "critical" stage of all of this. Meaning any minor "hit-up" that we have should be less severe to worry about. 
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