Meet My Dad!!

My dad, John Newton Ryland, III, (or Jack) is quite an amazing man. He and my mom Darlene have been married 54 years and live in Danville, Virginia. He is affectionately know as "Peepaw" to his three grandchildren Catharine, Emily and Jacob and "Pops", "Peeps" and "Daddy" to his four children: Jack IV, Dave, Suzanne and Kathleen. He is Uncle Jack to his nieces and nephews who are very near and dear to his heart. My dad has a great sense of humor and very quick-witted. He can also be a stubborn, strong-willed individual and needless to say is determined to recover quickly so he can return home. He is a Virginia Tech Hokie fan and is looking forward to football season! Since he missed his beach trip in July, my dad is also looking forward to some R & R at Emerald Isle in late September...maybe a birthday trip for both he and my mom!!

My dad is here at Duke because of Aortic Stenosis. Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the valve. When this happens, the heart has to push harder to get blood through the smaller opening and less blood circulates through the heart and to the rest of the body. In older patients, aortic stenosis may be caused by calcium that builds up on the valve. This buildup also hardens the valve, which can hinder its ability to open and close properly.

Monday, July 25, 2011

It Just Gets Better and Better!!

God is so good!!   Cooler weather....a little less stress....Today Dad had his last chest tube removed and is still working on being weaned off of the oxygen.  He walked three laps on his first trip this morning before we arrived and walked a quarter of a mile this afternoon.  We asked him he if he was ready to go and walk and he said "Let's get crackin'".  Someone had spilled something brown on the floor and he said it like a "leaky dog had been in here".  His lunch was a "gas station hamburger that was left in the microwave too long".  I managed to smuggle in some Lemon Loaf Pound Cake from Starbucks and needless to say no crumb trail was left behind.  Lots of laughter and jokes..good to see Dad almost back to his old self!!!!

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