jakorte's blog

It is called a “shunt.” It sees oxygen coming and decides not to let it get into my blood. I am on full time oxygen which is like a bandaid for a broken leg. It does not give my body oxygen to use, only oxygen to help me breathe. As the head of my teams says, “This is extremely complicated.”

We know what it is but we do not know where it is. The two 2.5 hour tests today were positive for shunt activity. One showed there is one but it is not in my heart. One showed there is one but it is probably not near my lung. The liver test showed an abnormality and will be followed by an ultrasound on Monday. The other 12 doctors (who were not on the team before today) have set me up with a vascular/hematologist team for Monday. And we still don’t know what they are looking for and what they will want to look into.

We are feeling a little more positive now that we know at least what it causing the shortness of breath. There is no reason for this to have happened. No travels, no flu, no unusual exposures to anything, nothing I did.

And so, we wait. What have been given permission to do anything we want to this weekend. So we have chosen the Mall of American and we are going to have some fun. We will take the wheelchair and the oxygen to use if we need them. Sunday is sort of a rest day with some time in the hotel pool. Just can’t get overtired. Already know how to do that! Walked behind the wheelchair to our room tonight. It felt so good. Now we can go to another fabulous restaurant tonight.
Will be here at least another week. Updates on Monday, if we know anything. Here the feedback is instant so maybe we will know what direction we’re headed in.

Our thanks and love to all of you for your thoughts and support. It helps us tremendously to know that you are out there pulling for us. We love you all. Judy and Walter

Post script: When I spoke with Mom @ 6:00 pm tonight (2/6), they were at the mall still. She was ordering an oreo cookie milkshake made with yogurt, and had completed some serious retail therapy – to the tune of 8 sweaters at C.J. Banks. :-)