December 5, 2016
Hello friends,
Things aren't going very well. Monty has been in the hospital for some time. First in a facility that we are still not sure why he was there in the first place and his health declined where he was transferred back to Tufts Medical Center for immediate medical care. When he arrived he was very sick.
Since back at Tufts, His health declined where a blood clot was found in his LVAD pump. For those in the CHF world, this is dire and scary. Typical procedure is to endure surgery to change out the pump. Monty was in a very fragile state with kidney failure, liver failure, and heart failure, so this surgery was not possible. The docs deliberated and all decided to turn off his LVAD! Oh Gosh! This was devasting to hear. When this happens it is a matter of time. Monty had gotten sick over the next couple of days and was very sick where his body was going into shock and we almost lost him. (This update is not an easy one to share friends.) Docs rushed into surgery, ECMO surgery and this was only a 50/50 chance. Monty was losing our fight. (Oh gosh this is so hard to relive!) I was losing my husband. My partner of 30 years! The love of my life. The air that I breathe, The father of our children. I just went through losing my mother 9 months ago while holding her hand and here I was faced with losing my other best friend. I was side by side my mom the whole time and even when what I could do was nothing more I was there until her last breath and here I was repeating the same helpless motions with my husband. I refused to believe that God wanted back two of my most precious people in my life so close together and so devastatingly. After the hour ecmo surgery, Monty made it. He beat the odds. While recovering Monty was stable but the next major surgery needed to happen to sustain his life. The ecmo was an immediate but temporary answer. This ecmo machine would do the functions of his heart and lungs. Two days later he was brought into surgery again to have a BI-VAD placed. The Bi-VAD if he made it through the surgery would sustain his life living in the hospital until transplant. The BI-VAD would take over the function of his heart. The surgery was a 7/8 hour planned surgery which turned into a 13 hour surgery. The surgeons were very cautious and diligent that they saw Monty through another successful, major, risky, surgery. Monty once again pushed through and survived! The next day Monty needed to go back into surgery that lasted 3 hours to remove some tubes and to close his chest which couldnt be done previously due to potential bleeding risks. Monty now recovers slowly but surely in the CTU. He is very critical. He raises his eye brows to communicate and can slighly nod his head.These are joyous moments and beautiful accomplishments! Monty will require alot of time to recover but I Know he will recover. I had an experience with God where he told me that, "Monty will be fine." He will be brought to the depths of this condition, but he will be fine." "Stay in your faith" God told me. From that moment on I had no fear and i walked stronger, walked taller in my position as caregiver, supporter, and wife. God is good and when he speaks we need to be still and listen.
Thank you friends for caring and supporting us through this journey. Your support means everything. Smoother bumps in the road, more manageable feats, and healing. We love you all.
October 24, 2016
After 48 days in Tufts, Monty is home.
He is happy to be and his mind & spirits really needed this even though his health needs tufts. We are taking things one day at a time. Watching everything closely.
October 15, 2016
October 15th and Monty is still in Tufts!
It seems like every baby step forward brings 10 giant steps back. However we are still in the fight. The current setbacks are water retention, Low then super high INR counts, Creatin levels not where they should be. All these levels and more need to be in a safe area for transplant if all are not aligned that would prevent transplant so he sits anxiously waiting for his body to work itself back to normal or his normal numbers. Monty continues to walk the halls,slight excerise in his room all to maintain movement and muscle strength. His spirits are still good but he is getting stir crazy....until next time friends.
October 5, 2016
Hello friends and supporters.
Monty is prayerfully on the mend. Docs are diureacing him taking alot of fluid out of him (8 liters ) now he can breath more freely. He is walking the halls strengthening his muscles and now the docs are busy managing his INR levels. That is measuring his blood thickness to prevent clotting, which we all know is dangerous especially with VAD patients. Hope he will be home soon until then Thank You for all the prayers and support. Monetary and emotional.
September 26, 2016
9/26/16
Monty is back in the CCU at Tufts Medical Center. Needing to bring down his creatin levels and more oxygen into his body. Fluid needs to come off so we can get better test results in order to see what is the next step.
September 24, 2016
9/11/2016....
In the ER in Newport... Looks like we will heading to tufts. 7:00 pm transported to tufts.
9/12/2016.....
Well Monty has double pneumonia and is in the CCU.
9/14/2016.....
Inctubated this morning because the pneumonia wont quit or subside.Breathing/feeding tubes go in at 11:00 am Monty is very heavily sedated and remains this way for the next 7 days! (very stressful and unpredictable) INR spikes up to 5 his normal is 2.5 Two days later the docs get it back to 2.5, This INR measures his blood to prevent blood clots.
9/20/2016.....
Thank you for all your prayers Thank you thank you thank you.
September 13, 2016
Well Folks,
Monty some how has gotten pneumonia. That means he is back at tufts in Boston. Its been 3 days. He showed signs of getting better then a setback occurred. His spirits are still very high. He is a true fighter and very strong willed. We will keep you posted. Prayers are so welcomed!
September 8, 2016
Hello Friends....
Its been a while since we have been able to update here on Helphopelive. Monty has spent most of the summer in the hospital. There was a four week stay due to an infection contraction. Which settled in his knee replacement that warranted a knee reconstruction.The infection spread through his blood that left him in the CICU (cardiac intensive care unit) for nearly 3 of the four weeks! The persistant fever that he could not shake was a sign of the infection still present in his body. Finally he was moved to Pratt8 (Floor for heart patients) There he battled recovery, rehab, and a conversation that covered a possible amputation of his leg !!! Oh my Godness!!! What !!?? Well after that fiasco Monty was well enough to go home or mentally ready anyway.He was released with med changes and an antibiotic infusion. Boy, that antibiotic was NOT working for him! He blewup from retaining so much water, he looked like he was standing on Sequoia trees! Never the less he ended up back in the hospital.He spent the next three weeks trying new meds, getting his levels to normal,measuring the new numbers,All was well and he was released again. Then came a regular clinic visit which we usually pack a bag just incase the docs keep him and yes... They kept him! This time it was our mishap. We brought all his meds for the day because a clinic visit for us usually is an all day affair. Well we forgot one of his meds. The one that has to be infused through his piccline 24/7 ! So the docs couldnt chance sending him home on a two hour ride without that med. So it was overnight in the ER but that even turned into another hospital stay! this time it was just 3 days.Which actually turned out to be a good thing. The docs were able to monitor him with his new meds and cleared him to go, all was well. But then.... He had a knee check up appointment which was the day after he was released. Now mind you we live two hours away and the knee team couldn't visit him while he was in the hospital !? No. We had to go home and comeback again. But all was good because we found a FREE parking space for the day !! YEAH !!! So now Monty has been home for 5 days and they have been good days.So you learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly, on a journey like this, but when you wake up the next morning......it's A BRAND NEW DAY !!! Thank you God !!!
Have a wonderful day friends, and smile!
From The Scott Family
July 1, 2016
They say, The waiting is the hardest part. Well today is day 21 in the hospital and we are waiting. Waiting for Monty's levels get right, waiting for test results to come back, waiting for the nurse to bring the meds, waiting to see when he can come home. Yes! Tufts still has my husband!!! :) But its really all good. His care team at Tufts is PHENOMENAL!!!
and he is getting the care that he needs at the moment. It's the waiting. It's just the hardest part.
June 21, 2016
Hello family, friends, and supporters!!!
Hope your days are bright and full of life. Life is good even though Monty has been in the hospital for the past 10 days and what a whirlwind it has been.
June 10 - We bring Monty to the ER in Newport.
His knee had become inflamed and hurt
terribly. Tests were done and he was
transported to Tufts in Boston.
June 11 -The docs determine that an
infection has developed on his knee and perform reconstructive surgery. Monty in the meantime has been running a fever which only broke after seven days.
June 15 - Without any spike in temperature the docs move him out of C.I.C.U. which is the cardiac intensive care unit up to the famous Pratt 8, a floor dedicated to the care of heart patients.
June 16 -There the doctors reconsider and readjust meds, schedule another procedure, The port.
June 20 - The port which actually I forget what it is called really is another picc line looking thing inserted in his upper left chest to administer his milrinone meds and antibiotics whenever he comes home. So now they watch his progress like a hawk and tell him he isn't going home anytime soon or plan for Friday anyway.
Sheesh....Well his spirits are good and his mind is right, He is a strong person. This is just another bump in the road, another hurdle to get over, and another test to share a testimony! God is good.
June 19, 2016
Happy Father's day!
June 11, 2016
Good news and not so good news.
Monty had a clinic visit on Tuesday. Dr. D told him things look good for a transplant to be ready. That this year so far they have done 22 transplants. Dr. L says the same thing 3 days later. Be ready we are going to get you stable and ready for a heart.
Then Thursday night Monty's knee swells up.
We wait in the ER all day Friday then he is transported to Tufts. Get to Tufts and they take fluid off his knee and find he has developed a staff infection! Right when things are so close for a transplant.
Now they are going to do two knee replacements this afternoon!
God please go into that CICU room touch Monty. Lay your healing hands Father God and do what only you can do. Father God go and guide the hands and minds of the surgeons, bless and sanitize all the instruments Lord, and the nurses that will care for Monty after surgery, guide them in his care. Father God you know what Monty needs today. Be with him Father God. In your son Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Friends, keep Monty in your prayers. Thank you.
June 3, 2016
*** LEND A HAND FOR A HEART ! ***
Last night's fundraiser was AWESOME !
Thank you St. Michael's Country Day School and to the Ladies who spearheaded the evening. Bethany, Marjorie, Elizabeth, Amy, Tamara, Nikki V, & Sheila. You are the best!
Check out the photos from the night in Monty's photo album section.
May 30, 2016
Watch this cute little video I found on youtube! Its all about Helphopelive and what they do. Little do they know, They do a WHOLE LOT more than the video shows. They are a great group of people, who some have also experienced major health tribulations, that help beyond what they know. Glad we found Helphopelive!
May 30, 2016
Spending the holiday in the ER. Experiencing shortness of breath, sweating, chest pressure and chest pains not felt before traveling down his left arm. Following protocol, call to Tufts, xrays, bloodwork, EKG, blood pressure, etc. Numbers all coming back "his normal" At least it's not another trip to Boston. Monty is home now.
Dr. Gaines at NPT Hospital is AWESOME !!!
May 30, 2016
Here are some words from Dr. David DeNofrio. Head of the transplant center at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.
Enjoy.
May 30, 2016
Here is a great source of information. If you are a heart patient or care giver to a heart patient and are looking for information on resources available, or knowledge from survivors, or just plain support, Check out his site.
http://heartbrothers.org/who-we-are/
The founders of this site and foundation are both heart transplant survivors.
May 27, 2016
DID YOU KNOW ?
A heart can remain viable outside of a human body for up to 4 hours?
Click on the link, See how doctors are learning how to sustain the heart outside the body longer. This could make all the difference to a waiting patient in the transportation of organs. Some organs do not make it in time for transplant.
May 27, 2016
Parents of St. Michael's Country Day School, Newport RI, are hosting a fabulous fundraiser for Monty !
Click on the link for more info. Hope to see you there!
May 20, 2016
Hello Friends! We want to thank everyone for the monumental outpouring of support, well wishes, contributions, and more. Its amazing to feel so much love. We Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts.
~Love, The Scott Family~
P.s. soon we will posting dates on fabulous fun fundraisers that we hope that you might enjoy attending with us. Stay tuned and we hope to see you soon!
May 14, 2016
Monty's clinic visit went ok. His retention of water in his mid section was concerning hence another change in his meds. Bump up the potassium and torosimide! That makes 23 pills in the morning, 14 in the afternoon, 20 at night. "Breakfast of champions!"
May 10, 2016
While Monty waits for a transplant he is considered in medical terms, " a bridge to transplant." This means he currently is an lvad patient. Lvad is short for left ventricular assist device. This machine is implanted in the chest connected to his heart and assists the left side of his heart to circulate blood to the right side. Then the right side pumps blood to the rest of the body. Check out the link below to see the lvad in place and in action. There are three known lvad patients on Aquidneck Island.
