Doctor Changes

As you can imagine, living the quad life means I have several doctors. I have my general physician (GP), along with a variety of specialists. As the decades have passed, some of these doctors have changed due to retirement or me moving on in life from pediatric to adult care. Most of them have been around for many years though.

One of these specialists has been my pulmonologist, Dr. Hicklin. After my first pulmonary doctor retired, I was transferred to Hicklin. I don't remember the exact year, but it was somewhere around the mid to late 90's that I started seeing him.

Photo from the Iowa Clinic

For someone that can't breathe independently, I thankfully have very little trouble with my lungs. Generally, I see my pulmonologist twice a year for a general checkup. We chat for a few minutes about life in general, he listens to my lungs, and that's it. The ten-minute or less visit costs insurance a fair amount, but it's what they require.

In 2009 and 2010, Dr. Hicklin was a key part in helping me get approved for my diaphragmatic pacemaker system. Again in 2014, he was also a big help in getting nurses covered with my insurance changes. For both of these situations, he helped with a lot of research, talking with other doctors, my insurance, and working to get what I needed.

Due to virus restrictions, I visited with Dr. Hicklin in May through a virtual visit. About a month later, he helped get a prescription for a new pulse oximeter to monitor my oxygen levels. This week, I saw online that Dr. Hicklin unexpectedly passed away on July 17. I met with another one of my doctors, ENT, this week who said they exchanged text messages that day and he seemed okay.

I called the pulmonary department Friday to see what I'll need to do to get switched to another physician. After more than two decades with one person, it will take time to get used to someone new, and they with me. I pray they are as dedicated as Dr. Hicklin was and that I can feel comfortable with their care.

It also serves as a reminder that we don't know when our time will come to leave this life. We always need to be prepared, and be careful to do God's will.

Good Teeth

In 2019, I started work on getting my front tooth replaced. For the next several months, I had a gap in my mouth that made it a challenge to do any work with my mouth stick. It reminded me of being a kid, playing with my toys, and missing teeth. In March, I finally received an implant to fill the space. However, my dentist said the metal bracket that holds the fake tooth didn't adhere to the bone. Therefore, he said it needed to be redone and start the process again.

I made an appointment to see a dentist in Iowa City for late March. Before the date came, everything got cancelled due to the virus. I didn't want to go back to having a painful mouth with a hole again, so I didn't mind delaying. As the next few months passed, I didn't have any trouble with the implant and thought it felt fine.

Around June, Iowa City called to reschedule my check-up and see what needed to be done. I chose not to schedule a time and see what happened with the pandemic and how my mouth felt. This past week, I had my regular tooth cleaning along with checking how my mouth was doing.

As usual, I didn't have any cavities and plaque wasn't bad. When my dentist checked my mouth, he was surprised to see I had all my teeth. He poked around on the implant, and asked how it had been feeling. It looked like the prosthetic tooth had now adhered to the bone and was in place as it should be. The doctor said he had never seen such a thing happen before and was nothing short of a miracle.

After this entire process, I was very thankful to hear the confirmation that I thought happened. With as much as I use my mouth in the quad life, this was a blessing that will have long lasting benefits.

Now I'm back to the challenge of carefully managing time to get everything done. I can do some things while flat, but too much still results in painful gums. I pray that this will be the end of major mouth trouble for years to come, if not my entire life. Whatever comes, I'll trust God's direction and give thanks for good teeth that I can use for His will.

On the Hunt

My family doesn't get into hunting, but this week has felt like chasing after moving targets. On July 4, my parents and I normally get together with three other adults. Unfortunately, one of them has been having several medical issues and recently went to a care facility for some rehab. It didn't feel right to have our party without her, so the five of us decided to go have a window visit.

When our group got to the rehab center, we called our friend, Lynne, to get directions to the correct window. We slowly drove around the parking lot trying to not look creepy staring in residents' windows. Lynne gave a description of what she could see, but it wasn't matching what we saw. After about 15 minutes, our hunting party spotted a building that fit the described view. Dad parked the van, and walked toward the area we thought she was.

For a brief moment, dad could be seen, but then was out of sight again. Another member of our party exited the van to attempt another try. However, the same results happened again. When the third person left on the hunt, they took the cell phone with them so he could talk with Lynne. The new strategy worked and the target was found back in a corner of the building. It was odd seeing her so close, but still using cell phones to communicate. We were glad that we could find her though and be able to spend time together. However, there have been more hunting excursions this week, without leaving home.

Every month, I order supplies for my medical procedures, including different types of gloves. When I received the shipment, it had a note that I couldn't get the sterile gloves I frequently use. On Monday, I called my supply agency to see when they may come. I was told that these gloves are considered part of personal protection equipment (PPE) and are being reserved for hospitals. Therefore, it's unlikely I can get any until the pandemic clears.

I am in a couple groups for people with spinal cord injuries, so I asked what others are doing and if they have had trouble. Most of those who responded said it had been going okay, but others have also been having difficulty. At this point, I'm still deciding what is the best strategy to find my target, but have to make due until I can find some.

While this has been going on, my primary day assistant has been gone all week for family needs. It has added to the challenge with adjusting schedules for my parents and I as well as reminding myself to keep everything in mind for what I need to do. Such is the quad life at times and I have learned to take each day on its own.

This week looks to be similar in schedule and unsure what will be happening. I'm thankful that God is in control of all things and it makes for a little less concern for each day ahead.

Independence or Lacking

Yesterday was July 4, Independence Day in the United States. The day marks when the country became free from British rule in 1776 and is a reminder of all the freedoms Americans enjoy. In Ft. Madison, IA, a replica canon was fired from the old fort. I watched, and heard, several shots on a camera from Virtual Railfan. As we remembered the country's founding, are we forgetting about independence?

Virtual Railfan

First, I am very thankful for everything I have been blessed to receive in America. I can freely worship God and read the Bible without fear. I know being a Christian in some nations is very dangerous and may lead to getting arrested, beaten, or even death. With everything that has happened this year though, some are wondering if freedom is in jeopardy.

For several months, businesses, schools, and churches were closed with most people being told to stay at home and away from everyone. In Iowa, most restrictions have now been lifted, but some still remain. Churches still can't be at full capacity and several places, like doctors' offices, are requiring face masks and severely restricting how many people can attend appointments. Nursing homes also don't allow visitors, making residents feel similar to prisoners. Other states, like California, continue to not allow church services to be held. At the same time, riots with unlimited numbers, or any social distancing, were common in nearly every city.

One poll found that 34% of voters believe the U.S. is headed for another civil war within the next 4-5 years. The nation is becoming more divided in multiple areas with truth increasingly difficult to discern. A large area that is being restricted is religious freedom with simple biblical truths being deemed as hate speech.

I won't speculate on an impending civil war, but do agree life as we know it is rapidly changing. I continue to pray for a return to peace, but am afraid it may be a long time to come. The only answer is for Christians to be the salt of the earth and not try to change the culture, but spread the truth of salvation and peace in Christ. This month will be a test in going out in the world, but I pray it will go well and I can enjoy what God has provided with current freedoms allowed.