Part 6 of Vicky's Progress

June 29, 2004 and perhaps the reader may wish further updates.

Let's start with a fast run through of the last few months of what we may hopefully call the Post Factor VIII Inhibitor Era.

Vicky's perforated intestine is healed! Vicky's blood tests are done on a bimonthly basis now. Her Factor VIII Level (the good stuff that allows normal clotting) remains at a very respectable level. It is actually in the high normal range. That bad stuff, the inhibitor that was destroying her Factor VIII remains at zero.

Remaining problems? For some reason Vicky has developed a significant hearing loss. She has had several appointments with a specialist regarding this. At the end of this week she goes in for an appointment to learn about hearing aids.

At the moment she is needing a hearing aid for the left ear, but the specialist wants to hold off on one for her right ear until the hearing stabilizes in that ear. We have learned hearing aids are much more expensive than we imagined, and also learned that our insurance will not pay even one cent towards hearing aids, no matter how necessary it is.

What has Vicky been up to? Vicky can crochet again! She has obviously progressed a lot in use of her hands!

Our weather has been unusually cool for June the last couple weeks. Vicky has been baking bananna bread, zucchinni bread, chocolate raspberry bread, and other items this month.

Vicky is able to garden again. Not feeling quite up to gardening at first, she planted two tomato plants, saying that would be all she could handle this year. This has since increased to Vicky's usual garden size with additions of green peppers, pimiento peppers, yard long beans, assorted flowers, and perhaps another half dozen tomato plants.

Our gardening space is limited, but Vicky has a a very nice garden. Generally, every day she will do a bit of gardening.

Vicky is happy being able to do things again. Her energy level is high, but it is not unusual now for her to need a short afternoon nap in her recliner.

A trip to the Missouri River Front this month was a pleasure for both Vicky and I. Vicky's walking stamina has increased (or mine has decreased) to a level where we both were tired of walking at about the same time.

That day we both worked up quite an appetite, and a stop by the deli on the way home was needed.