Remote Patient Monitoring

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Margaret

Because Nelson was diagnosed with Covid-19, he was part of a unique club of people who can track their health at home. Today he received a home monitoring kit that would include the basics of a doctor’s exam without a visit to a medical office.

Included in the kit:

A mobile device and charger
A blood pressure cuff
A pulse oximeter
A scale
A thermometer
An arm band

To start the physical, Nelson will simply push the “today” button on the mobile device, and a list from his doctors will pop onto the screen. He follows the instructions to take his own blood pressure, check his pulse and oxygen levels, weigh himself, and take his temp. He pushes “save” after each task, and once they’re all finished, his vitals will be on their way to his Mayo Clinic Care Team.

The kit also includes an arm band they want him to wear all the time except when he’s showering. Through this, Nelson’s team can monitor his health continuously. In the case of an emergency, they will let him know what to do either through a phone call or on his kit mobile device.

Nelson described this new system as “Big Brother watching me,” and said that someday we’d probably all be monitored like this, around the clock—only half joking.

He is on 4 liter oxygen all the time now and hopes to be able to lower that number while not needing to use it continually. It’s difficult to be tethered to a tank, but he’s thankful for the help it gives him. His breathing is still a problem, with his left lung producing about 700 milliliters every day. Ann Sophie continues to drain the fluid, after which he can breathe better for a few hours.

Thank you for your prayers and your concerns for Nelson. He and all of us are deeply grateful.

“With you, Lord, is the fountain of life. In your light, we see light.” (Psalm 36:9)

A Pause

Posted on July 15, 2022 by Margaret

When I was growing up, Coca Cola had a long-running ad campaign that pictured happy people enjoying Cokes under a banner that said, “The pause that refreshes.”

We’ve come to be refreshed by a whole new kind of pause—a pause in cancer crises. For example, right now Nelson is in a measure of calm, and it’s a welcome rest from sudden bad news or blood numbers that cause unexpected strategy changes.

When Nelson and I agreed today that nothing noteworthy had happened in regard to his cancer, we decided it might be a good time for a refreshing pause. Thus our communication through the blog might take a few days off.

Before we go, though, we’ll bring you up-to-date. Nelson is still technically quarantining with his family (Covid), so doctors and others are trying to meet with him virtually—all except the daily blood draws. They lift the quarantine for him to appear in the lab each morning for a poke.

His next face-to-face is scheduled for July 20, an informal decision-making meeting. Nelson’s immune system is compromised, which is why he’s not to go shopping, to meet with other people, or even to end up in the hospital. He’s been advised against any family get-togethers except with those three in his same “pool.” That includes Ann Sophie, Will, and Astrid.

So like we said, there’s not much to tell. “Ahhh. Refreshing.”

If something unanticipated should happen, we’ll get a blog out to you asap. But please don’t think that an absence of posts for several days means calamity has come. It will mean the opposite, that all is well.

Meanwhile, we appreciate your willingness to pray:

…that Nelson will stay out of the hospital.
…that swelling throughout his body will decrease.
…that doctors will know the wisest way to go.
…that we’ll all learn what God is trying to teach us.

“In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)

We’re covered.

Posted on July 14, 2022 by Margaret

Love comes down.

When Nelson was hospitalized, Ann Sophie sat nearby and sketched what she was thinking and seeing. Here’s the result.

There’s Nelson, tucked into his bed (with the plastic mattress) in a sitting position, as always. And there she is, close by with baby Will on her lap. The most fascinating part of the sketch, though, is that God is there too. His hand is covering all three of them, as well as the IV pole and the nurses’ computer, two important items. And his hand is delivering multiple gifts of love.

I think the key word might be “covering.”

I (Nelson’s mom) am back in southwest Michigan right now, since 15 of my 16 grandchildren have come to town. Meanwhile, in Minnesota, Ann Sophie’s mom is providing a third pair of hands.

But no matter where we are or what the schedule dictates on any given day, we all know we have God’s covering of love. And thanks to you, Reader, we also have your covering of prayer.

In the last two days, the Mayo doctors have been trying to figure out a wise approach for the next phase of Nelson’s care. Though they’re excited about finding the mutation that will allow immunotherapy, they can’t go blindly into that next treatment without letting his current treatment (i.e. chemotherapy) work its way out of his system.

If they move too soon, the treatment Nelson might overwhelm him. The old expression “hold your horses” seems to apply. We want immunotherapy treatment asap, but their wisdom says, “Hold on a minute.”

Complicating everything is the blood thinner Nelson’s taking to work steadily on the large blood clot beneath his collar bone. It usually takes months to dissolve a clot like that, so he won’t be off blood thinners any time soon. In the mean time, when Nelson asks, ”What can I do to help?”, he gets this answer:

“Just don’t go anywhere, don’t get sick, don’t cut yourself, and watch for anything abnormal. The second anything happens, go right to the ER.”

Though this sounds threatening, Nelson is taking it in stride, because as he often says, “It’s always too soon to panic.” He’s simply living out his own advice. And he fully believes God is, indeed, covering him, pouring love into his life steadily as Ann Sophie’s sketch shows, no matter what’s happening around him.

A college friend of mine, Pam, has been sending us pictures, laminated cards, a beautiful necklace, an umbrella coloring book, and many other umbrella-related items in an effort to say the same thing: we are covered—both by God’s love and by the prayers of many. We are thankful!