COLUMBUS OH

A white Christmas! Just what Lew needed to shove him out of his depression. True, Sunday is predicted to heat up a bit, which probably will melt the thin covering outside, but we will have had our first snow, and that counts for something.

But there still is a huge agonizing hole where Smokey was (still is).

We have been derelict in just general reporting, so catch up time. But no one has missed much - life in Columbus remains sedatatively routine - which may be for the best anyway. The neighbors all are very polite and pleasant, but not very active at home - the view out the front picture window rarely involves any movement. The only young children are the two across the street that belong to an orthopod and his wife. Rarely do they play outdoors - what a change from our childhood!

Movement - last spring we did have a lot of squirrels and bunnies, but in autumn few squirrels buried nuts and now there is no movement at all. We do have a large hawk and an owl in the neighborhood, so we assume nature has taken its inevitable course.

Health report? About the same, neither better nor worse. Lew does aerobic exercise every weekday for nearly an hour, about 4 mets, and that is to the positive. Paul goes to he gym for about an hour daily.

Paul also has completed the first stage of his nurse's training, so has his nurse's aide certificate and actually is able to take employment as such. His clinicals start in the spring, so he makes gratifying progress.

Bobbi continues as an unpaid correctional chaplain, accompanied by progressively increasing counselling work both within the correctional system and the diocese. And as a catholic she is discovering what it is like to be the target of biogotry. But that is alright, it gives her an outlet for her aggressions.

Bobbi also has gotten hooked on genealogy. No doubt this was reinforced when her first day of digging took her the short distance back to the mid-eighteenth century and the immigration of some Scottish royals. Since then she has been digging, digging, digging along the other ancestral lines. Most have turned out to be surprisingly intellectual. However, one line is definately of much lower social standing. Digging is slow on that branch, but we think Bobbi is hoping for some lurid scandal (as if the Scotch ancesters were not bloody enough).

Enough for now, we want to get this on the net.

Columbus OH

Another month - almost. No, it hasn't gotten any better, it still hurts just as much, the hole in the Bobbi's and Lew's lives (and spirits) is just as big as ever. Oh, there still are the two cats and the husky, and they all still are affectionate (as long as we feed them). Almost every day we dog sit for Rob's new year-old pup (a cute little beagle mix who is terribly insecure and needs constant reassurance). Bobbi especially still is very active at church. But nothing - nothing - seems to fill up that hole. Not only do they miss Smokey, but all of you as well. Being anchored to the one place Lew most despises, being unable to visit you all improves no one's disposition. Everything else is frustrating. Columbus being Columbus, nothing changes here. Bobbi and Lew's physical disabilities continue...they are adapting (sort of) slowly. Lew continues to screen his old files for photos of Smokey, but it is very slow going because he must actually look at each image, each pdf file, to be sure that Smokey does not appear anywhere in the frame. He also is trying to get things together so he can take the Airstream camping. Other than that, they watch NHK television a lot, dream of a trip to Japan, correspond a lot by email, read a lot...and wait. Until next time.

Columbus OH

Smokey in rehab at MedVet

Columbus OH

Another month (more or less). Bobbi and Lew were utterly devastated but nevertheless did keep functioning minimally. A couple of weeks ago they gathered the vet students who helped care for Smokey for a lunch, and today did the same for the two vets who were involved almost constantly. They - like everyone else - have been extremely compassionate and supportive and surprisingly intensely affected personally. All of them and many other people sent cards, one of the students made a little pillow with Smokey's photo and kind words on it, while one of the ladies from church contributed a small book with several of Smokey's photos in it. Lew is in the process of searching through his many thousands of computer files to find all the photos of Smokey that he has, and plans to publish them here.

Columbus OH

Smokey's Last Portrait
Obituary

Smokey, 12, of Columbus, Ohio passed away peacefully about 4 p.m. Thursday, July 26 at MedVet Medical & Cancer Center for Pets. He was surrounded by his loving family, friends, and veterinary staff.

Smokey arrived in the world about 1 January, 2000. As a pup, he was incredibly abused by his first owner in the Linden area who fastened him with a 5 ft chain to a fence 24/7. As a result he developed severe skin infections and a severe PTSD. Fortunately, he was rescued just before Thanksgiving of that year by the Citizens for Humane Action, Inc. In turn they placed him in the canine rehabilitation program on unit D-3 at the Correctional Reception Center. An inmate in that program kenneled him in his cell and gave him loving care 24/7, as he retrained him to mitigate much of his PTSD. However, Smokey continued to avoid all humans but his trainer until about 1 April when he suddenly "adopted" Dr. Lindner. So Dr. Lindner and his wife took him into their home and family.

His new parents spoiled him unconscionably for more than ten years. He lived in their house 24/7 and slept with them. He loved to travel everywhere with them in their Airstream - Eau Claire every July, Copper Harbor every August, Greenville Michigan, Lutz Florida or Brenham Texas for another two months each year. Once he took in the Smokies, and once he crossed the Great Plains to the Olympic Peninsula. He took all of it in stride and impressed everyone he met with his sweet and gentle manner. He was generous and loving to a fault and blended in perfectly with whatever other animals might come into the house.

His misfortune was that he was medically vulnerable. He had to have orthopedic surgery to both knees, and the skin infections that he developed as a pup continued to plague him all of his life. He had degenerative disk disease which finally required neurosurgery in April of this year. He never did recover use of his rear legs after that surgery; instead he became weaker and weaker. Because both of his parents had injured backs and could not lift his rear quarters, it was necessary to hire veterinary students in order to toilet him. Finally his veterinarians discovered that he had an acute leukemia. He developed progressive respiratory distress and it became obvious to all that further treatment was only torturing him; so he was euthanized. Through it all his gentle nature won the hearts even of the veterinary professionals who cared for him. His loss is and will continue to be overwhelming to all who knew him.

He is survived by his parents, a canine sister Saphire, brothers Scott (Su Mills), Robert, and Paul; nephews George and Brian; students Nari, Allie Corey, Narry Tiao, Lauren Wagner, and Caityln Newton; Ann Bancroft DVM, Traci Adams, and Joanna Parsons DVM.

Apologies to all friends or relatives omitted. His ashes may be visited at any time by arrangement with his parents. Funeral Services have not yet been scheduled. Memorial donations are asked to be made to the MedVet Medical and Cancer Center for Pets, 300 East Wilson Bridge Road, Worthington OH, 43085. Online condolences may be left at bwlindner@yahoo.com.

"Dogs go straight to heaven"

Columbus OH

Hallelujah! At last Bobbi and Lew have *good* news.

Last Monday (the 9th) Lew went to his cardiologist for a followup on this echocardiogram. And the news was very good - much better than Lew had expected. The cardiologist told him his ejection fraction checked out at 35-40%. Such a big improvement meant no need to implant a defibrillator, no need for any surgery at all (at this time).

And on Friday (the 13th!) they brought Smokey home. Smokey still cannot bear weight on his rear legs, but he is cheerful and happy to be home with familiar people and in familiar surroundings. His appetite is good as ever. He has a bed right next to the front door where he can be taken outside for toileting easily. He was incubating a UTI, but the vet put him on antibiotics already yesterday, and we presume he will recover without complications, as he did the last time.

Now we must change our clothes and go -- so more later.

- Peace

Columbus OH

The beat goes on.

The crisis of the month = Smokey + Saphire. On top of our personal medical issues, this one has kept us very busy - and tired - and completely preoccupied with the pets.

As readers might recall from our last entry, about 25 April Smokey had fancy neurosurgery (laminectomy + at L4-5). He fared well through the procedure, and the neurosurgeon sent him home that Friday. Unfortunately, the surgeon neglected to pay any attention to aftercare. No one told us, but after surgery Smokey was unable to support weight on his rear legs. Neither did the facility supply us with either mechanical aids or instructions for coping - especially for toileting him. So the next day we took him right back and put him in what was essentially doggie nursing home.

The PT staff in the nursing home section was a lot more helpful. They kept him for a few weeks and gave him daily PT. Finally they told us he was ready and discharged him to us.

Indeed he had improved significantly, but still was unable to bear weight on the back legs. And because of their own back injuries, Bobbi, Lew, and Paul still were unable to lift him - even when the vet next door sent technicians over every day to assist. Bobbi even hired a professional dog walker, but his schedule was limited. Worse, Smokey seemed to become incontinent. So it was back to nursing care and PT.

This time it was the PT staff that wised up. They found a 2-wheel cart that seems to fit him pretty well, and the whole picture has changed. Smokey loves the cart, looks forward to getting into it, and has taken to going all over (indoors and out) with his new toy. His incontinence cleared up when a UTI was treated. 2 days ago Bobbi and Lew took Saphire up the the clinic for her surgery (excision of tumors in her liver and on her foot). They staff gave her a cage adjacent to Smokey, and they went ape to see one another (and to see Bobbi and Lew as well). Hopefully this time it will be possible to get enough starving vet students so that it will be possible to keep Smokey at home.

While Smokey has had the more spectacular story, Saphire also has had her drama. Medically she is ancient: fifteen years old. So when an xray showed a large circular tumor in her liver, we all assumed this was the end. However, when the vet evaluated her, the aspirate drew out only benign cells. So everyone arranged to excise the mass (to prevent intra-abdominal hemmorhage) on Friday, along with another large but apparantly benign tumor between the central toes on her right rear paw. Latest word is that both came off successfully.

So both dogs should be coming home soon.

Human medicine? No real change. Bobbi continues with her work in prison and her church. Lew supports and does a lot of reading and dreams of travel. So the next month? No plans. We hope Scott's family will visit. Until later......

Columbus OH

Another month, and as usual, nothing exciting to report.

The sense of continuous crisis has lessened a bit. Nevertheless Bobbi and Lew's chronic medical problems remain, which continue to mandate continuous visits to a broad variety of doctors. Bobbi continues to consult her doctors for the continuing left hip pain and reflux (they change her med brands), and Lew's doctors (Lew got a new one, a heart failure specialist) have been modifying his medication doses, but that is as exciting as it has been. Toward the end of the month, Lew did overdo his exercise on a couple of days and has had to lay off due to muscle pain. Nevertheless, even in the absence of excitement, Lew still has plenty of anxiety.

The patient of the month has been Smokey. For some time he has had progressively increasing trouble using his hind legs. Our friendly neighborhood vet referred him to a neurologist who thought he most likely had a spinal cord tumor. Fortunately, an MRI showed he had "only" some bad discs (Lew thought only humans had bad discs). At least it was not necessary to euthanize him - but he did require some fantastically expensive neurosurgery. And the expense is not yet over, because he is convalescing and getting PT in a doggie nursing home.

Non-medical activity? Bobbi does a lot of church + internet, Lew does internet + a little church, Paul does homework, we do not know what Rob does, the dogs sleep around the clock, and the cats sleep at night - until it is time for their breakfast feeding (they are very precise little furry alarm clocks). Lew tries to check in with Luther and Scott weekly, and both Aggie and Irene occasionally. However, since her fall Aggie has experienced difficulty with the phone in her room, so Lew has not been able to speak to her.

Columbus OH

Again, a long time. But we have reasons.

Medical Report (a rather ghoulish prospect, but people keep on asking): indeed Lew is having more problems. In spite of that, his heart failure could be improving with the new meds - we'll know when he has another echocardiogram.

What did happen is that last August his "joint" pain seemed to resolve quite a bit, but returned around thanksgiving - this time accompanied by difficulty breathing without obvious cause - asthma again????? After 50 years????? apparently the pain was NOT "joint" pain, but rather, muscle pain. It appears that many of his muscles have atrophied. This may be due to disuse over the winter - or not. Anyway, he has adjusted his diet and his exercise regimen - let's see what happens.

It is equally important that Lew got rid of the doctors who could not identify the multiple warning signs of failure over a period of several years. He already has replaced them with others who take the subject more seriously.

Bobbi had her 60th birthday on the first of April. To add insult to injury, she received her "Golden Buckeye" card and discovered that she has lost 2 in of height since her surgeries. But with the help of her PT she slowly continues to gain strength to decrease her pain. She has been able to reduce the strength of her pain medications progressively so that she now uses only a low dose of lidocaine patches.

The pets? Saphire is 15! But shows very few signs of it - a little clumsy, and certainly not less intellectually challenged than the last time. She still is the same scavenger. But everyone loves her, even though she is so frustrating. Smokey (our prison dog) - 11 years old now - remains the same multi-brown-colored fuzzy unruly lovable over-sized powder puff as always; but recently we learned that he has a tumor of his spinal cord which soon will take him out. Kitty-poo our calico - 5 or 6 - continues to rule the roost, dominating not only the other cat (2-3 times her size), but also both dogs and all 3 humans. Last but not least, Luckey, Audrey's large completely black Tom who every night jumps into the bed in the corner next to Lew's feet, has gone from holy terror to the softest and most gentle of furry things (though he still bites - gently - if you disagree with him).

Lew's son Scott is still living very comfortably, thank you, near Tampa, with his wife and 2 sons. He continues to guide a Lutheran congregation that grows slowly but surely, despite the extra-depressed economy in Florida. His wife Su remains quite active in the musical activities for the congregation and in housekeeping. Laid-back son George the curve-breaker is preparing to graduate in June and move on (where?), while Brian is just a year behind him. Now all together now, say "where did the time go?"

Lew's sister Linda had her 74th birthday on St Patrick's day. She continues to reside in a nursing home in Bryan. She still is recovering slowly, and Luther says he intends to move her to a less intensive place this week. She called Lew on the phone today and was cheerful even when Lew did not agree she should have all the candy she wanted.

As mentioned before, Luther joined the ranks of the retired last year. He seems to be enjoying himself except for having to run back and forth to sister Linda and son James, who remains in an institution in San Antonio. Daughter Mary has surprised Luther and Liz (pleasantly) by graduating from a local college. And younger daughter Martha is still keeping house, raising her son, and social working in Seattle.

Columbus OH

Almost a month. To some extent Bobbi and Lew have been paralyzed. But they are still here - to some extent. Of course they have been preoccupied with health and pursuing interventions - appointments here and appointments there. Lew wears a monitor 24/7 for another 5 days, and Paul takes his vital signs every evening. Lasix is an impressively powerful medication. It's not like it's ever possible to forget, even briefly. Adjusting is difficult - but Lew is putting an exercise program together and *feels* significantly better.

Still being unable to resolve the conflict over travel, Bobbi and Lew still remained in Columbus throughout this period. Lew spent most of his time watching NHK and slowly testing his exercise tolerance. Went out last Friday to a traditional fish dinner.

Columbus OH

This time something significant did happen, but it hasn't gotten these Lindners any closer to mailing their Christmas cards.

Lew's back had improved progressively since August, and with the absence of acute pain he definitely was feeling better. However, after Christmas he began to notice an itchy throat and some difficulty breathing. He made an appointment with their PCP, who measured his VC = 75%. This did not seem to alarm the PCP, even after additional emails advised him of additional symptoms. Finally Lew developed 3-pillow orthopnea (classic symptom of congestive heart failure), so the PCP suggested that he go into the ER if things got any worse - which they did in less than 24 hr.

The ER took one look at Lew and admitted him to the cardiac monitoring unit. Quick testing revealed that both his mitral and tricuspid valves were leaking, and his ejection fraction was only 20%. A couple of days of additional testing found nothing more (this was enough), so the cardiologist medicated him and released him back home, planning to build up his ejection fraction for possible later surgery. So that is where Lew is at at the moment.

Bobbi, on the other hand, continues to do relatively well, except for her chronic and slowly resolving left hip pain.

Columbus OH

Confession is good for the soul.

After nearly a month, Bobbi and Lew remain delinquent. Not the first card has gone out, or even been worked on. In the meantime, Bobbi has continued to work on the hygiene items she takes to her inmates, functions (dinners, readings, visitation, etc.), endless email. Similarly, Lew has been consumed entirely with editing financial records and his memoirs.

Cousin Michael did send Lew a very nice email detailing the current status of grandmomma's little house in New Braunfels - everything seems to be doing well despite the recent drought, and the house is (temporarily) occupied.

Medically Bobbi and Lew are little changed. Both continue to improve slowly - Bobbi because of her PT, Lew for non discernible reason. Lew seems quite ready (and eager) to travel, while Bobbi continues to find that her replacement hip does not tolerate riding in the car for more than a half hour.

Once again Rob has flown to Thailand to visit his girl friend. He expects to be there for a month. And Paul continues his nurse's training at Columbus State.