The Derek Report

Despite the madness that occurs in our world, most of us have to continue on with the things God has given us to do each day.

This Monday was a return appointment for Derek with the good Dr. L. down at University of Iowa Hospitals. I decided to accompany Loren and son and here is the report:

Derek is in a junctional rhythm. It is not a sinus rhythm, but preferable to a-fib. We had thought Derek was converted into a sinus rhythm at his cardioversion but the doctor informed us that it went from a-fib to junctional, and he is happy with that. There are occasional sinus beats but the main rhythm is junctional, meaning the SA and AV nodes compete with each other to start each heart beat. (normally the SA gives the electrical signal to begin each beat)

The Coumadin will be continued for 3 to 6 months after the cardioversion took place (March). It might have been less if Derek were in a nice sinus rhythm. For some reason I thought the anticoagulant was only needed for 6 weeks afterward but obviously I was wrong so now I am not hedging any bets for after 6 months, either.

Pacemaker implantation was also mentioned as a more definite possibility, to counteract Derek's bradycardia. (you know, sometimes I think the info is released in increments, to prevent parental freak-out)

Derek was sent home with a Holter monitor, which he just loves to wear. I told him, "Hey, look at it this way...you won't have to take a shower in the morning :-) His reply, "All things considered, I'd rather take the shower."

(that's my nice, clean boy)

Next check back is in July.

Oh yes, in slightly related news, Loren recently received word back on the genetic testing done on his blood. The results were negative. (for NKX2.5, in case you want to know what he doesn't have)

There is another doctor at the university who is willing to do a free linkage analysis study. That would entail getting some DNA samples from various relatives on Loren's side and then compare to see if there are common genes that look suspicious and shifty-eyed.

"You aren't having any family reunion soon, are you?"

*grin*

"As a matter of fact we are, in June."

Some people bring special food along to their reunions. Looks like we'll be bringing along cups to spit in.

Well anyways...

Driving home my eyes were drawn to the sky where a flock of large birds could be clearly seen, the sun glinting off their white wings. Of course I whipped out my handy camera from my over-sized Liz Claiborne purse I'd bought at Goodwill. (lest you think I go around buying designer purses from real stores)

I figured I had a shot at the birds out of the window, but it wouldn't budge!

"Loren? Do you have these windows locked?"

"Yeessss."

"Well, could you unlock them, please?"

*sigh*

Now, I realize this is not the greatest picture, but I took it out of a moving vehicle, with the camera on "moving object" mode, and I just had to guess at where the birds were in the sky, point and click...

They are pelicans :-)

American White Pelicans.

I snapped them in migration, for they do not reside in Iowa. In the winter they live down in the southernmost parts of the U.S. And when spring hits, they fly up north of us.

Is this not cool? Ma caught them flying over Iowa, land of corn, hog lots and people with obscure genetic heart arrhythmias.

Iowa: it's not just for chickens, anymore.
 

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