# 50 Valentine's Day as a Couple

I decided to add this collage here….the one I used on Facebook on Valentine's Day. If you did the math, Ron and I have been "a couple" since we were 17 and 19. We met when we worked as a bus boy and waitress at an Indiana Tollroad Hostess Restaurant in the summer of 1965. He entered his senior year of high school and I entered my sophomore year at Ball State University that fall. (now 18 and 19 in the fall) Both of our hometowns were near the Michigan-Indiana border. Mine in Brighton, Indiana and his in Burr Oak, Michigan. Now THAT was a loooong time ago! We married in 1970.

And what brings you to U of M today?

That opening with a new doc always takes me by surprise. (And where should I start?) We liked Ron's new Pulmonary doctor. Before the appointment with her, Ron had a pulmonary function test. I was pleasantly surprised that there has been no progression in the structural damage to Ron's lungs. That is the best case scenario; the damage can't be reversed. That being said, there is no change in his medications, and we were told that his lung infections/pneumonia will be treated in the hospital whenever he has them. Pretty much inevitable periodically, so I am to continue being vigilant about giving him his medications and get him to the ER quickly when there is a crisis. (Or call 911) His lung function is about 1/3 of what would be normal. His oxygen level is low normal at rest, and he can quickly have shortness of breath with exertion. So he doesn't have far to drop to be in crisis. He is going to have a six minute hall walk test to determine how his oxygen level changes with mild exertion. We scheduled it in March when he has his next treatments and doc appointment.
Today Ron had an immunity infusion to give him a boost. We were at the hospital 6 hours; he has a room like a hospital room and bed. That infusion took longer than usual; his blood pressure was running high, so we had to wait until it came down to 160s/80s. I am always thankful that he has his central line, so he doesn't have to have an IV. This morning I had to drive in heavy snow part of the way, so even though we allowed extra time, we were 20 minutes late. We have never skipped an appointment and only been late one other time...hundreds of appointments over the last 6 years. There were numerous slide-offs in a 30 mile stretch that really slowed things down for awhile.
The two Amish women who help clean at the lake are coming tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing them...and having a very clean house!
Feeling peaceful at Gilead Lake.
Love, Ron & Jan

Super Bowl Sunday

We have traveled to our Michigan home. Weather permitting, we will remain here for a few weeks. If Winter decides to arrive, we will head back to Bowling Green. Both of us are looking forward to watching the Super Bowl with my sister and brother-in-law, Anne and George.
We are halfway through a series of appointments for Ron at Ann Arbor. Last week he had his two extracorporeal phtopheresis treatments. ECP. He is "graduating" to 6 weeks between treatments--from 4 weeks, so the next ECP is mid-March. This upcoming week Ron will see a new pulmonary specialist at U of M Hospital. He will also have full pulmonary testing. Seeing a new doctor is quite a process. I feel like it would take a book to explain what all Ron has experienced medically since 2010. It is a real practice in summarizing! Ron's lungs are his biggest problem. He takes singulair, 3 antibiotics, an antifungal, an antiviral, and 3 different inhalers to help him avoid lung infection. The other component of his medical immune system is an immunity infusion every 5-6 weeks. He will have an IVIG Tuesday. This infusion takes about 4 hours, and the antibodies that he receives have been donated from over 1000 donors. Team Hover is immense!!
I have emailed Ron's donor who is from Sweden, and also I sent pictures. I don't know if he speaks English! If he replies, I will write a special blog entry.
Love, Ron & Jan