Progress

Jim had his Eco-cardiogram today and some physical therapy instructions and was moved back to the Gentofte Hospital tonight.  He traveled in style and this time I was able to sit with him in the back of the ambulance...without the sirens.

This was his hospital room at Ryshospitalet, but we are glad to be back at Gentofte, It just feels more friendly and cosy and he has his own room for a few days.

Henrik, his roommate, left earlier in the day, after receiving the bad news that he has to come back and do it all over again as they found a small hole in his heart they missed and will need to patch.  They wanted him to stay and do it tomorrow, but he couldn't do it.  He wanted to go home to his wife and son for a few days.  We were so sad for him and promised to put him in our prayers.

Slow Sunday

The hospital basically shuts down for the weekend, especially Sundays.  So the visit from Elder and Sister Pilz, and the Bernskovs was very nice. He is our Area Authority and was here for CCM, which we attended as Temple President.

 I went to the Frederiksberg Ward.  We feel so blessed by the members' faith, prayers and well wishes.

Benjamin Andersen fixed Jim's computer which has cheered him up considerably.

"Must Does"

While still here in Copenhagen, today, I took advantages of some of the "must does."
Several of the Senior Missionary Couples went with Irma Warnsdorf out to the HUGE Bella Center Loppemarked.  In three hours, Irma and I only covered about 15% of it.  But we all found treasures to our liking.  Mine had to be very light-weight as they have to come home in a suitcase.

 The cute Stokholm girls came and took me out to their "happy place,"  the oldest lagerkage/konditori in Copenhagen: La Glace.  It has been in the same family since 1870 and was a must visit before I left. The layer cakes were fabulous as was the hot chocolate.

 So thanks Eva, Sophie, Kristine and Anne who we luckily ran into..

I'm afraid Jim did not have as good as day.  Non-working computers are so frustrating!

Picture This

The surgeon talked to Jim today. The marker marks the bypasses.  Don't you wonder how they sew everything in?  very tiny stitches..

This fellow was either posing for a picture or looking for lunch out the window on our 14th floor balcony..

 And Jim is doing great, his heart is now in a stable rhythm and he is able to join all the other ambulatory patients choosing their own meals.  Actually a pretty good plan.

Getting Around

I missed my bus stop this morning on the way to the Commune to sign in again, so ended up walking through the  Frederiksberg Gardens.

 The herons were all  lined up for a meeting...

 The ducks were taking it easy on the ice..

 Jim was up walking the halls a couple of times

And Karen and Anne came all the way from Esbjerg for a happy surprise.
Thanks to them and everyone else for all the many prayers, kindnesses. and help.  We are so grateful.

Rough Day for Jim and....Hillary

A pretty painful day for Jim, until they took the drain out tonight.  It was causing a lot of back pain every time he moved or breathed.  So much better when I left about 8.30.  He was even sitting up to receive guests.  Watching the election news did help take some of the pain away....

We are back on the 15th floor with the stunning view.

Som.e new additions to cheer up the room...People are so nice. Thanks!

Not As Bad As Knee Surgery..

Jim's comment in the recovery room: "It's not as bad as knee surgery."  It's a unique experience for him to be able to move after surgery with such little pain.  There were only two bypasses, one vein came from the chest and one from his leg, though the vein from the left leg wasn't usable so they had to open the right one....

They had him stand while they put clean sheets on his bed....pretty good just five hours out of surgery.

 

There is a drain taking the blood away from the surgery site. It goes through a filter and then is transfused right back into him, so he only gets his own blood back, Brilliant!

I

I sat in the waiting room with this dear family from the Faroe Islands.  The father is in for a third surgery to "unstick" his heart from the surrounding tissues.  I'm sure it is more than that, but it was touch and go. After I found I had been in the wrong waiting room for 90 minutes,  I left them with a little positive news and hope again.  The daughter is an international trend-setting hairstylist.