How Can You Anticipate the Velociraptor Attacks?

I'm not very big on SciFi-ish type movies (Joe is a FANatic), but in 1993 when Jurassic Park hit the big screen, the thing that stuck in my mind were those awful little Velciraptors who were so freaking smart - they sent one out in front so that their victims minds were occupied with fearing them, while the rest would come from the side - right off of the peripheral vision - the victims had not a chance.  They were attacked visciously and the outcome was not good for the human kind. 
Long story short, we feel as if we have been through the viscious sideways attack by a gaggle of velociraptors.
I did not think I would ever be able to write this chapter of our lives, or maybe even ever write again, but here I am, once again.
Velociraptor Attack Number One:
I must tell you that changing transplant/implant centers is one of the most stressful things you will ever do, if it becomes necessary for you to do so.  In our case, we built up such a rapport with our "LVAD Team", that moving away from them was like moving away from family.  The people (from the surgeons to the housekeepers) were so perfect for us - we were so well taken care of, spoiled you may say.  We can honestly say, "If you find yourselves in Salt Lake City at the Intermountain Medical Center - you are in very good hands."....and now we're at the new center.  The differences are many, and it's hard to adjust, but like the troopers we are we are trying to give it our best.  Our reason for changing centers was because my folks health was not the best, and we thought we could take care of them too.
Velociraptor Attack Number Two:

Mom with our first son, Bobby (he's 35 now)

As alot of you know we lost my Mom on November 21st, and this is where it gets hard for me to continue my good fight....I got lost in such a fog, and my poor Joe was right there in that fog with me.  My mother was my best friend, my rock, my mentor and in a blink of an eye she was gone.  She was the strongest and most wonderful influence in my life.  My mother was also Joe's "Mom".  He lost his own mother as a very young man and my mom and my husband "loved each other from first sight".   Her health had been failing for a few years now, and she took her continuing lack of independence as a personal affront - one she could not tolerate.  She was in the early stages of altzheimer's, along with suffering from a very painful and debilitating disease, and just couldn't bear being a burden to anyone.  I understand why she's gone - but I will never, ever adjust to her not being here to influence my life, or my childrens lives, or our grandchildrens lives.  What I miss the most, right now, is her telling me, "Breathe Jenny, just breathe".

January 11, 1952

Velociraptor Attack Number Three: 
We have not had the time it takes to grieve her loss, because my father was also ill and needed care (also a dignity he could not bear) and the grief that he was going through, blocked me completely from attempting to deal with circumstances, and a very short 5 weeks later we woke up one morning and he was horribly ill.  We took him in an aid car to the ER and an after an agonizing 7 days of coma, assuring him in his ear that I understood and it was ok, in the ICU we lost him too.  The only way we all have been able to deal with this is that he died on their 60th wedding anniversary - a goal they were both looking forward to, so much.  Even though our hearts are broken with the loss you have to admit - it was almost the ultimate in romantic, for him to miss her so much that he had to leave on their special day - so they could be together forever.

In the aid car dad made Joe and I promise that no matter what we would go on with the "Celebration of Life" that was planned for mom.  It quickly turned into a "Double Celebration of Life".  We only had days before the celebration, so I'm sorry to say some of my parent's friends arrived to celebrate mom's life and found out that day, that they had both passed.  To those people, I apologize profusely.
Velociraptor Attack Number Four:

Dad was a proud member of the "Red Warriors, Alpha" 66-67

A snow and ice storm hit the little town of Lakewood, WA, on the day we were supposed to have graveside services for dad, with full military honors.  (You see dad was a strapping example of a United States Military Veteran.)  He was, and is "Our Hero".  I remember the day he came home from Vietnam, Michael and I glued to a window at SeaTac airport to see our father again.  It is a day I will remember always.  What a joyous day, a hero had come home, but back to my blog ....it was the worst ice storm in 15 years here.  I must admit from the inside looking out it was beautiful at first - all the branches encased in ice, but if you ventured outside you  knew the area was in deep trouble.  Just stood there and listened as branches, limbs and even trees were popping and cracking - it was a winterland symphony, that would soon turn into utter chaos.   And it didn't take long - everything was shut down, including the bases and forts in the area.  Dad was being interred next to mom at the Ft. Lewis Pioneer Cemetery, with mom's grandfather near.  They had always known they would be there someday and they loved the spot.  Number four attack was that we couldn't get him buried.  First it was Friday - too dangerous, then Monday - turned out also too dangerous, then Tuesday - my son and I walked outside, looked to the sky, and I said, "OK Dad, we know you didn't want any pomp and circumstance - but damn it, you deserve it - so lighten up on the weather just a little, please....and it happened.  Thank you so much, to Mortuary Services at the Fort for taking such good care of us, and ensuring that our folks wishes were answered perfectly. Time to maybe breathe now................Nope.
Velociraptor Attack Number Five: 
Seems trivial, but the same day that dad died my beautiful Yorkshire Terrier, that I had had for 12 years, passed away also.  We had to leave him in Idaho when we were lifeflighted away and our children were taking care of him.  Toby was attached to my right hip and I miss him horribly.

Velociraptor Attack Number Six:
While we were in our fog we ate, drank and did whatever we could, when we could.....so we came out of the fog....and Joe had put 20 pounds back on.....OH SHIT SEYMOUR.........Yep, the salt and fat does not give you a break when your grieving...it comes, and brings friends.  So now we've gone from our beautiful 1B status in Salt Lake - had to go through a very frustrating new batch of tests for U of W - and come out unlisted until he gets the weight down and is less edemic (retaining fluids)?   Once again, understand, but doesn't make it less mind boggling.  Back in the world of up and down INR numbers - getting used to another climate change and the sinus problems that go along with that and being away from our house and bulk of our family, once again.  So when we land on the other side of this - and analyze it - we'll have known that it was a gamble coming up here - but never in a million years thought we'd go through the loss that we have and the hoops we've had to jump through. 

So now it's time to get together a set of tools to get through the velociraptor attacks and blog them.  When I come up for air, I'll try to do that - so it'll be easier on others who get attacked by those nasty little velociraptors. 

Even one unexpected happening can uproot your life totally and throw LVAD Warriors into a tailspin, I have no idea why we had so very many all at once.  But I will say, that once again we have survived storm after storm and will continue to do so.  I just hope the powers that be see fit to leave us be - for just a little while.

Here's to better times Warriors - Cheers

This chapter is dedicated to Bob and Ruth Crouch