Terribly Unexpected

When I went out to pick any ripe tomatoes this morning I saw another of our guards. 

In case you can't see the guard below is a close up.

I decided not to pick any tomatoes this morning. Wouldn't it be great if the snake was eating the tomato worms?  I'll have to google that.

On our walk this morning we were discussing who should stay with Tim once he gets out of the hospital never dreaming of the news we were about to get. Hannah sent this text:  Dr. Voris called me this morning to talk to me about dad. He said around 6 this morning his oxygen needs started going up very quickly. By 8:00 am they had him maxed out on the optiflow. They called the ICU Pulmonologist in to take a look at the daily chest X-rays they have been getting, because his lungs looked like they have been in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)but they have just not been recovering the way they should. The Pulmonologist told them that what they have been seeing on the chest X-rays that they thought was ARDS (which is something that can be treated) is basically the Bilateral Covid progression, but basically the Covid is gone and his lungs are left as mostly scar tissue. This is why he has not been healing and this is why he was not able to tolerate being off the optiflow.  There is just not enough lung tissue left to maintain his oxygen without it. The doctor said he will never come off the optiflow. Basically his options at this point are either an attempted lung transplant up in Chicago, or going on hospice (for people with less than 6 months to live). The doctor said if he has to stay maxed out on the optiflow like he is, that he thinks his body would only be able to take it for about 2 more weeks. The reality of getting a lung transplant in that amount of time is not great.  Tim said that he would do some research on the lung transplant, but that he didn't think that would be a very realistic option.  He said he is ready to meet Jesus and that he thinks it is maybe time to give up.  The nurse told me we are probably looking about 2-3 more weeks for him to live.  They are working on pulling some strings now and trying to get him to be able to have visitors by tonight.  They said they will call me as soon as they have it sorted out.  He still cannot have visitors under 18 at the hospital so there is a possibility we could get him moved to a hospice home so the kids would be able to see him again.  We are going to work on more of those details tonight. Of course we were all shocked. Marlene, Tim's sister has started a caring bridge for him.  Click HERE for the link if you want updates. To put it mildly we are all in shock. I think we all dropped to our knees and started praying.  

When Mark got home I had him help move a bale in the middle paddock, the far paddock was locked off and Whiskey the outside mare put in there after teasing her. She is still in but was covered yesterday so I will need to try tomorrow morning.  Dahlia was brought into the stall by herself to eat her grain. She was fine as long as I was in with her but when I left she realized she was in the stall barn by herself and started calling leaving her grain. She was taken back out and I am very pleased that she lead out quietly and respectfully, not trying to barge ahead at all. All of the Coggins tests came back.