Sunday, April 12, 2009

Not a recession, but a compression

We are turning to technology in the fight against the lymphedema in Mom's legs. Last week I took Mom to be fitted for the compression device you see in these photos. This system consists of a pump (the small box sitting on the glass table next to the woman) attached by hoses to vinyl inflatable sleeves that zip around both legs. As you can see in the second photo, the pump connects to each sleeve by four hoses which are attached to four separate chambers in the sleeve. The pump is programmed for a 30 second cycle during which it inflates the four chambers, starting at the foot with more pressure and moving up the leg with less pressure in each successive chamber, before releasing the pressure and repeating the cycle. This "forces" the fluid up the leg and increases the circulation in the lymph system so that fluid does not collect in the legs, ankles, and feet. After an hour of this massaging we can see definite results.



One of the reasons we looked into this system is because Mom is supposed to be doing water exercises 3-4 times each week. However, when I wrap her legs Mom is unable to be in the water because the compression wraps are supposed to stay on for two or three days. So on the one hand Mom is being encouraged to swim and on the other hand is being told to keep her legs wrapped. We hope that this device, which conveniently zips on and off, will allow Mom to get the compression treatment she needs and still be able to exercise in the water. Maybe this combination will help keep down the swelling in her legs.
This does not entirely replace the compression wrapping I must continue to do, but it will provide Mom more flexibility as to when the wrapping will need to be done. We are so grateful for the miracle of modern medicine and the treatments made possible by inventions such as this one. We are also thankful for insurance to help with the cost of the device. Without insurance, this would not be an option we could afford.
I pray that Mom will enjoy good results from this equipment.

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Welcome, Zephyr

Very early in the morning on April 3 Ben called to announce that Emily had given birth to their baby boy, named Zephyr. Apparently Ben called twice, but I remember only one call. Later that morning at work I asked myself if I had dreamed the call, but Brenda assured me that it had taken place and we were grandparents for the sixth time.

For months we have prayed for a safe birth and a healthy baby. We are so glad that everything went well and that Zephyr is finally here. We are sure that Autumn and Prairie are excited about having a baby brother and can't wait to meet him personally!

From wiki.name.com:
The name Zephyr is of Greek origin and means "west wind," from the Greek Zephyros. It may refer to the wind as an abstract force, or to the god of the west wind. It is an unusual name, and may be given to either boys or girls.

Zephyr, the god of the west wind, features in several Greek myths, such as that of Cupid and Psyche, where he transports Psyche to Cupid's cave. He is also seen in the story of Hyacinth. Both Zephyr and Apollo have fallen in love with Hyacinth, but when Zephyr sees Hyacinth and Apollo playing discus together, he uses his wind to throw the discus off course so that it severs Hyacinth's head.

Zephyr is an unusual name in the United States, and has not appeared on the top 1000 most popular names list in any recorded year. It has had a bit more popularity in other countries: in 2003, Zephyr ranked as the 365th most popular boy's name in Australia. The name, or its variant Zéphir, may have had some popularity in France.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Happy April Fools' Day!

Of all the April Fools’ Day pranks I have experienced, one stands out more clearly in my mind than all the rest. I can certainly recall a number of “smaller” pranks, some of which were repeated year after year in our family. For example, the first person at our kitchen sink the morning of April 1 would, when turning on the water, typically be squirted by the sink sprayer, which was rigged with a rubber band and pointed directly in front of the faucet. And because sugar and salt are not easily distinguished, a bowl of breakfast cereal would certainly be a different taste experience. Also, a sleepy-eyed person making the first visit of the day to the bathroom might have a plastic-wrap surprise when using the toilet. These pranks are certainly funnier to the one doing the planning than to the victim!

When we lived in Salt Lake City, I typically took the bus to and from work. Because my commute was over an hour each way, I usually was quite tired by the time I would get home. Often the highlight of my day was being met by the kids, who would watch for the bus to arrive and would run out of the house to greet me.

One day I was puzzled when I exited the bus because no one appeared to welcome me home. Upon entering the house, I was shocked to see one of the girls lying on the couch wrapped in blood-stained bandages. Everyone had very grave looks on their faces and I immediately assumed the worst, thinking that my child had been hit by a car.

Why is that the first thing I would think? When I was a young boy, about 6-7 years old, I actually was hit by a car. The “main road” near my house was in reality not a very busy street. Pick-up baseball games would often be played in the front yard of the Ortega house and the outfield would reach out into the street. One day I happened to step back just as a car was passing and I was knocked to the ground (but not seriously hurt). This experience was pretty traumatic for me (I was hit by a CAR!) and caused me to be very cautious with my own children.

After seeing my obvious distress and the shocked look on my face, everyone burst out with “April Fool!” and I realized that I had been had … hook, line, and sinker. I was so relieved that nothing was seriously wrong AND so mad that everyone had banded together to play such a vile, mean, underhanded trick on me. My next thought? How could I do even better next April 1!