Thursday, October 1, 2009
Most people reading this know that Roy has had emphysema for years and increasingly over the last two years he has used oxygen at home and later even when he left the house. This wasn't an easy transition but it was increasingly necessary as he was dealing with the effects of chronic congestive heart failure.
For the past couple of weeks his CHF had been getting the better of him. His weight was elevated indicating he was retaining fluids which further prevents the heart from pumping adequately. As you would expect, this makes him even more tired and weak than usual. The prescription for this is a diuretic drug causing frequent urination. It had seemed to be doing its job as his weight came down and his strength seemed to return. But today 911 had to be called because he was unable to get himself up or dressed.
He is not doing well. His legs have swollen significantly and are causing him a great deal of pain. The cardiac doctor, Dr. Owusu, has identified an arterial fibrillation, aortic stenosis and and slightly elevated troponin levels, indicating a possible heart attack. He has ordered a heart catheterization which will take place on Monday, October 5 at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. He is quite ill.
Franny: You need us, we will be there. As usual, we will be in contact. Thinking of you and Roy constantly - Tom and Carol Loomis
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Matt. I have so many good memories of time spent with Roy. I look up to him in more ways than his height. We relived WWII and Korea often over some Kentucky whiskey as well as sharing and appreciating the genius of Bill Shakespeare. Truly a renaissance man of our time. He is loved. Bob Fox
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