We’re gradually becoming familiar with our new home town here in Rochester, Minnesota. At 6:45 this morning, Nelson and I were sitting at a stop light on our way to one of several hospitals that make up the Mayo Clinic, going in for more appointments.
As we sat at the light, a crowd of medical people paraded past us wearing their work gear. Scrubs come in all colors, and as we watched, a rainbow of people in helping careers passed in front of us. Rochester is a medical town, and we’re really grateful, because we need lots of help.
It was a rough weekend for Nelson. His chronic problem is not being able to breathe well, never able to take a deep breath. There is fluid in his lungs making efficient breathing impossible. As the fluid builds, a little more each day, his breathing deteriorates. He can no longer lie flat without feeling like he might suffocate.
Over the weekend he called one of the many doctors on his team and asked if they couldn’t please drain at least one of his lungs so he could breathe better. Mayo Clinic responded quickly, coming to his rescue. They drained not just one but both lungs in a quick, almost-painless procedure, which brought a measure of relief. One lung had 1.6 liters of fluid in it, and the other over 1 liter—nearly 3 liters of fluid making it a struggle to get air. That’s about 3 quarts of liquid, pressing on all sides.
Nelson has had this procedure done twice before, and each time the “filling” of the lungs has happened over a shorter period of time. Yesterday they assured him they could redo the draining process whenever he felt it was needed. They even offered to put in a shunt so he could control it himself, but the accompanying risks were something he wanted to think about for a while.
In the mean time, we’re all grateful for the quick action Mayo takes. He has more appointments yet to come today, and the staff here continues to work on Nelson’s case from multiple angles. Waiting for the comprehensive, long-term plan to become known has been frustrating, and the doctors commiserate with that problem. But they want all the data before making the plan.
More later today about what they can do right now to ease Nelson’s pain….
“We hope for what we do not see. We wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:25)