VENA CAVA FILTER

Gary is having this procedure done either tomorrow or Wednesday. The following description will help you to understand what he is having done. Dr. Barth believes that Gary would have to take too high of a dose of blood thinners and he would be at risk for excessive bleeding as a result. The filter will aid in Gary being able to take a much lower dose of cumadin(blood thinners).

What is a vena cava filter?
A vena cava filter is a small, metal device about an inch long, shaped rather like the spokes of an umbrella. The filter is placed in the vena cava, which is the large vein in the abdomen which brings blood back from the legs and pelvis, towards the heart. If there are blood clots in the veins in the legs or pelvis, these could pass up the vena cava and into the lungs. The filter will trap these blood clots and prevent them entering the lungs and causing problems.

Why does Gary need a vena cava filter?
Other tests that we have had done have shown that Gary has a clot in the vein in his leg and that the 2 he has now have passed upwards into the lungs and are causing significant problems. Generally, these problems can be treated effectively with blood thinning drugs, called anti-coagulants, but in Gary's case it is felt that a further method of dealing with the blood clots is required.

So - another day - another adventure in medicine! Gary is on the 7th floor in his own room - thank God! He has a beautiful ocean view. He will hopefully be home by the end of the week. His blood infection is under control. The clots he has in his lungs are being carefully monitored. The clot in his leg is being monitored as well. The heparin is used to help to prevent further clots. It does not dissolve the current clots. The body will break these clots down and absorb them in time.

We are so lucky that we turned around and went back to Hoag on Saturday! Pulmonary Embolisms can be fatal and many times are if not caught in time! God is always watching out for us!

Gary and I have been spending a lot of time watching Arrested Development. It is such a funny show and P&C brought the DVDs to us because the show was cancelled after 3 seasons. I can't figure out why yet because it is so funny!

I have to go now and do laundry.

PRAYER SPECIFICS:
1. Be with the radiologist who does the procedure. Pray that once inserted that the device does what it is suppose to do and protects Gary from further clots and PE (pulmonary embolisms).
2. Pray that Gary's counts climb and stay stable so that he can go through chemo next Monday.
3. Pray for patience for Gary. This time being in the hospital is a little different. He is totally coherent and not in pain. He is in NO MOOD to be in the hospital - especially since he feels fine.
4. Pray that the cancer is going BYE BYE!!!!

Our love to you all,
L