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Tuesday Sept 29th I went kayaking from my house to the back side of my neighborhood checking on people's provisions and attitudes. All was well and people were actually out and about taking. Came home around 4pm and noticed a small bite on my left arm not huge but probably Nickel sized swelling.

Wednesday 7:00am wake up to more swelling across my arm. Take pictures for medical advice and antibiotics ordered. Anthony was going to grab them and meet at 11:30am, but by 11:15 I noticed it crossed me wrist and was working on my hand. Luckily the water had gone down enough there was a path out in our Acadia. I was told by an urgent care that I needed to get to an ER STAT and arrived at Methodist around 1pm where we spent about 6 hours in the waiting room miserable. Luckily some friends knew who to contact and, as I was loosing feeling In my pinkie, we were taken back and I was admitted to a room for surgery the next day. I told Cori to go home and get rest since it was going to be a crazy few days. She does.

This is where things get serious.

Somewhere around 11pm things didn't feel right. I felt awful. I hit the nurse call button and report that" I just really don't feel right". They take vitals and my BP is low like 80/40. They start working on me but things get really blurry. I remember them putting on Shock Pads as they prepped to move me to the ICU. That whole part of the night was strange and felt uncomfortable and dark.....

..... woke back up down in the ICU still not with it fully and suddenly felt more confident. The people surrounding me were working together and communicating. My RN Eric was constantly checking in with me. As the team worked They ran an Arterial line for BP, got blood gasses, secured a central line and ran more meds than I've seen down IV in a longtime. When I finally fully became conscious there were only three of us and i thanked them both for everything and ask that they pass on the message. They instructed me to get rest so I would be ready for surgery. No food or water until after surgery but that was only a few hours away at 7:30am.

Thursday 7:30am I'm hungry tired and in a ton of pain as dr after dr come in to explain what they are doing and what to expect. 9am I remember waking up and downing a water and sprite. Broth for lunch served through a straw was delicious. The rest of the day was calm and uneventful.

Friday AM more fasting this time from 12am - 8am. Similar break down surgery happens I wake up but this time I have beef stew!!!!! My mom stays this night and I'm the evening my breathing really sucks. O2 SATS in the mid 60's to low 70's. Chest X-ray add nasal cannula at 6 lpm O2.

Saturday- I might have pneumonia or endocarditis more test and breathing treatments but stable during the day. Laying down is difficult. Pain is high and I'm not 100% with it.

Sunday- feeling much better. Eating well even had some friends up to watch my Aggies Blow it. Should be out of ICU soon after surgery tomorrow.

Monday- the entire morning sucks! Fasting from 12am-2pm wasn't easy. Paul came to hang out and distracted my want of food and water by discussing great meals. Well it worked and back to surgery at 2pm. I wake up to wonderful news. Dr was able to close me up with no skin graft and they are just waiting on a room for me go to and leave the ICU which was found at 9pm after Cori and I ate smuggled BBQ!!!! Shhhhh.

Tuesday - new room isn't as comfortable feeling but the bed is 100x better! I also now have the ability to walk wherever I want to in the hospital. I walked outside 3 times today and it was great. I'm definitely swollen with water but I'll take that.

Pulmonary cleared me saying that while the CT Scan shows infection in the longs the echo didn't show any issues. It's now up to infectious disease who arrived at my room around 7pm. She wants to monitor 1 more day but might release me tomorrow. Could still need a picc line but oral antibiotics might do it for me.

So we wait. Hopeful. I plan to go back to more of my high level post going forward but wanted to speak to what happens up front.

Love to all of you and thank you for all the encouragement!