Updates on Dr. Michael Sisson

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Contact Info:

Michael Sisson
c/o ExtendedStayDeluxe
45 Junction Ct.
Madison, WI 53717-2159

January 9, 2010
Things are still progressing for Dad. He met with one of the three transplant surgeons at the VA hospital in Madison on Wednesday, and the meeting went well. According to the surgeon, once Dad has some dental work done then he should be cleared to be put on the transplant list!! Of course there will still be some time of waiting, but at least things are moving in the right direction. For all you college football fans, Dad is VERY pleased that Alabama beat Texas for the BCS Championship. He was able to watch the whole game!! We will continue to keep you posted as things change. Thank you SO much for your continued prayers, messages, and words of encouragement! If you only knew hom much they mean to Dad, Mom, and the family! God is good all the time! - Prov. 3:5&6

December 15, 2009
Dad and Mom met with the infectious disease department today, and they have given the green light to go ahead with the transplant process!!!!! The consesus seems to be that the CT scan was very likely showing scar tissue caused by the infection in the brain and that the infection is gone! Mom is going to talk with some people Thursday while Dad is in physical therapy, so we might know more information after that. THANK YOU to all who have been and are still praying. These results are truly a BIG, HUGE answer to prayer!! It will still be some time before the actual placement on the waiting list, transplant, etc., but we will definitely keep you posted as we can. God is good all the time!!! - Prov. 3:5&6

November 21, 2009
Dad is still doing well. He has physical therapy twice a week and lab work once a week. His next CT scan will most likely be Dec. 10, and that should tell the doctors how small the infection has gotten or, that by God's grace and goodness, it is gone!! Until then, it is pretty much a waiting game. Please keep Dad and Mom in your prayers as this will be a different type of holiday season for the next several weeks for them and us. Thank you to everyone for your prayers, cards, letters, etc.; they really mean SOOOOOO MUCH to Dad and Mom. God is good all the time! - Prov. 3:5&6

October 24, 2009
Dad received GOOD news on Thursday. The CT scan showed that the infection is less than half of what it was at the last CT scan, and the major part of the infection is gone!!! The doctors seem confident that the infection should be gone at the next CT scan in a couple of weeks. Dad and Mom do have a meeting with part of the transplant team this next week, so that is also encouraging that things are progressing and in the right direction. Thank you for your continued prayers and thoughts! Some of you have asked for an address to mail cards or letters so please use above address for now. Dad and Mom do read and greatly appreciate all the cards and letters they receive! God is good all the time! - Prov. 3:5&6

September 4, 2009
The doctors have decided to keep the antibiotics going for about three weeks and hopefully that will get rid of the infection. Dad is in good spirits and has been walking three times a day and might start four times a day very soon. He is also eating very well which is a good sign that his strength is coming back. He is doing very well mentally and has even been on the phone with the school a few times. Monday was very hard for him emotionally, as you can imagine, with his not being there for the first day of school. We all know, however, that this is all part of God's plan, and HE knows what is best!! Thank you again, again, again, and again for ALL your prayers, thoughfulness, kindness, and words of encouragement to us! We appreciate them VERY much! If you would like to send a note or card to Dad the address is on one of the previous updates, and he will GREATLY enjoy reading it! God is good all the time! - Prov. 3:5&6

August 26, 2009
Dad's CT scan was good news! The infection is going down, so the doctors plan on keeping the antibiotics going but NOT having to do any surgery! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! Dad is walking some now and is getting stronger every day. He is still very sharp in mind and spirits! Mom is staying in an Extended Stay hotel about 10 minutes from the hospital which is VERY good for her. Thank you for all your kind messages and prayers! God is good all the time! - Prov 3:5&6

August 21, 2009
Dad is doing fine in the VA hospital. He was supposed to have a CT scan today, but they postponed it until Monday. He is quite weak and the doctors want to increase his strength and nutrition. Once they perform the CT scan they will be able to better analyze what course of treatment to take for his infection. Dad is doing well mentally and is very alert and knows what is going on. In fact, he and Mom know more about his LVAD than the nurses do! They have even held training classes in Dad's room for the LVAD! Dad and Mom should definitely start charging for the classes:-)!! Thank you sooooooo much for your prayers especially at this time of year when Dad would normally be in full swing for Orientation next week and school beginning the next! We all know that the grade school will run just fine without him, but it will be missing a little something! Bro. Woosley and Bro. Singleton will do a fabulous job while Dad gets to sit in Wisconsin and watch all the baseball and football he can!!!! God is good all the time! - Prov. 3:5&6

August 12, 2009
Dad is being transported to the VA hospital in Madison, Wisconsin!! Yes, this is good news because they will help treat the infections, finish some testing Dad was still needing for the VA, and hopefully he will be having a heart transplant in the near future!!!!! It's amazing how God works!! I am posting the address for Dad in Wisconsin. If you wish, you may send cards and letters to him; he will enjoy reading them for sure!!
Michael Sisson
William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital
Attn: Transplant Dept.
Room B5078
2500 Overlook Terrace
Madison, WI 53705
Thank you for ALL your much-treasured prayers for Dad and the family at this time! We will keep you updated as best and often as we can! God is good all the time! Prov. 3:5&6

August 12, 2009
Dad finally made it to the University of Chicago hospital late last night! He will probably be there for at least 5 days. He has pneumonia and another infection, but with antibiotics and good care he will be doing better soon! Thank you again and again for all your messages of hope and encouragement and MOST of all your prayers! We will post another update if anything changes! God is good all the time! - Prov. 3:5&6

August 11, 2009
Dad had a rough weekend and spent Monday night in the Emergency Room at the hospital. He is still there and is waiting to be transported to another hospital most likely back to University of Chicago hopefully within two hours. Due to his LVAD, no hospitals in Northwest Indiana have enough training to give Dad the extensive care he needs. The doctors are pretty sure he has an infection in the heart cavity, but, of course, in his condition this can quickly be exacerbated! We will keep you updated as much and as soon as possible. Plesase remember that God puts times like this in our lives to teach all of us about His grace and goodness to us. God is good all the time! - Prov. 3:5&6!!!

July 22, 2009
Just to quickly update you - Dad is still doing about the same. He has been having more testing and appointments at the VA in Crown Point, so that is encouraging as things keep progressing for a transplant in the future. He is still quite weak and tired, but is able to get around the house rather well. Thank you for all your continued thoughts, prayers, and words of encouragement. We are on a long journey still, but hearing and reading kind words from all of you is a GREAT help to us. "God is good all the time!" - Prov. 3:5&6

July 10, 2009
Many of you have been asking how Dad is doing, so an update seems appropriate! He is doing about the same! He does seem to have "leveled off" in his progress though. Due to all the medications and his LVAD, he is weak and tired on a regular basis. The good news is that the VA will be taking over his checkups and treatment. This is good because the VA will be overseeing the transplant in the future! Your prayers and words of encouragement still mean more than mere words could relate! "God is good all the time!" - Prov. 3:5&6

June 17, 2009
Happy Anniversary Dr. and Mrs. Sisson!!!
Dr. and Mrs. Sisson celebrated their 42nd anniversary today.

HE IS HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

June 4, 2009
Dad is at home!!!!!!!! What an answer to many, many, many prayers!! Obviously we have a long road ahead of us, but just getting home is a BIG hurdle to cross!! Dad is still weak and would not be up to any visitors yet, but your cards and prayers are GREATLY appreciated! Thank you again for all your kindnesses and prayers for Dad and the family. He will be much better off with Mom as his nurse now!! "God is good all the time!" - Prov. 3:5&6

May 30, 2009
We have been hoping that Dad would be coming home soon, but he is still having a problem with shaking badly sometimes when he sits up. The doctors thought that it was due to dehydration, but that has been treated and he had another shaking spell this morning when he sat up. Yesterday, however, he sat up and even walked up and down the hallway and had no problems at all. A representative from the company that makes the LVAD that Dad has was present Friday and has hooked up some additional monitoring equipment for the weekend to see if they might need to adjust any settings on the LVAD again. We are really praying that they will find a solution soon, since his coming home will be obviously delayed until they can solve the shaking spells. Thank you for all your prayers, concerns, and thoughtfulness for Dad and the family! "God is good all the time!" - Prov. 3:5&6

May 22, 2009
Dad is still making a little progress each day. He has started having a little complication in the last week. At times when he sits up, he starts shaking. They did make an adjustment to the LVAD and also started an I.V. today thinking he might be a little dehydrated. The hospital is also contatcting the company that makes the LVAD to have them come in and test the device to see if there is any problem with the actual device and to get a read out from the device to check the log for any alarms or other pertinent information. Other than that, Dad's spirit and mind are doing well. He is still weak but continues to have mostly good days! Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts! "God is good all the time!" - Prov. 3:5&6

May 16, 2009
Just a quick update to let you know that Dad is doing a little bit better each and every day. The doctor saw him today and was pleased with the progress Dad is making. He has not had any more tachycardia since the LVAD was implanted!! Dad was able to walk from his room to the end of the hallway and back (approx. 200 feet) on Thursday with the help of a therapist!!!! So, little by little things are looking good! Thank you again for all your prayers and kindnesses to us! "God is good all the time!" - Prov. 3:5&6

May 9, 2009
Sorry we have not updated in a while, but things are pretty much the same. Dad is eating regular meals every day, and is sitting up in a chair and taking a few steps twice a day! He is getting his strength back a little more each day. The nurses have told him that the plan is for him to take an "excursion" for 30 minutes around the inside of the hospital next week Wednesday and Thursday. As long as that goes well, he will take a 5 hour "excursion" within a 5 mile radius outside the hospital!!!!! Things are definitely looking better day by day. Today a letter and notebook were in Dad's room telling him that he has been approved for a heart transplant at Univ. of Chicago and has been put on the national heart donor list as of April 30!!!!! We will still have to endure the wating game, but this is definitely GOOD news for everyone! Thank you again, again, again, and again for all your prayers and words of encouragement!! They are VERY much appreciated!! "God is good all the time!" - Prov. 3:5&6

May 4, 2009
Dad is progressing VERY well! Today he was moved to a regular room!!!!!!!! His spirit and mind are also doing much better. He is weak, but is still getting out of bed twice a day. He is also eating regular meals every day! Please continue to pray that things will continue to progress as well as they have so far. "God is good all the time!" - Prov. 3:5&6

May 2, 2009
We are seeing more and more improvement in Dad!!! All the I.V.'s are now gone, and he only has the small oxygen tubes in his nose and the LVAD, of course, attached!!!! He was able to sit in a chair for almost three hours today and even ate lunch!!!!!! The doctors are pleased with his progress and that is VERY good news! Thank you for all your prayers for Dad! God is truly still a miracle-working God!!!!!!! "God is good all the time!" - Prov. 3:5&6

May 1, 2009
Dad has seemed to be much more stabilized yesterday and today. He is still somewhat disoriented from the surgery and anesthesia, but he does know all the family and other personal information. It will come back little by little. As long as he remains stable, he might get to start some physical therapy today and maybe sit in a chair!!!! I know he will enjoy getting out of the bed for the first time in over two weeks!! We also found out that the LVAD he has is the newest model and only 25 other people in the U.S. have this model! In fact, the nurses in ICU have all been coming in just to look at the LVAD. Thanks again for the numerous, kind expressions of love, prayer, and care for Dad and the family! "God is good all the time!" - Prov. 3:5&6

April 30, 2009
Please pray for Dad! Yesterday evening his heart started into ventricular tachycardia (VTACH), and his defibrillator had to shock his heart about seven times to get it back in rhythm. He also started to bleed internally and was taken back to surgery. They were able to find the source of the bleeding in the aortic section of the heart and stop it. Even though he is on medication to help the rhythm, his heart has continued with some VTACH throughout the night, and his defibirillator went off again during the night several times to get his heart back into rhythm. We are praying that the LVAD will help regulate the pumping and help stop the VTACH. Please continue to pray for Dad and the family during these long and stressful days! We all know that everything is in the Great Physician's hands. "God is good all the time!" - Prov. 3:5&6

April 29, 2009
Dad got out of surgery about 1:30 p.m. The doctors were VERY pleased with the surgery. They said things went VERY well!!!! Dad is still recovering and should be able to see the family in about one hour. He is obviously not out of the woods yet, but this is a GOOD step in the right direction. We will continue to keep you posted as we can. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all your continued prayers and words and messages of encouragement. You have no idea how MUCH they help us at this time! "God is good all the time!" - Prov. 3:5-6

April 28, 2009
We would like to share some progrees on Dad's case! The doctors and hospital have scheduled Dad for an LVAD implant tomorrow morning!!!! Thanks to God and some not-so-small miracle working people on this side of Heaven everything got approved this afternoon!!!!!!! Since you are probably now asking what LVAD means and for those of you not Google-adept yet, it is a Left Ventricular Assist Device. This will help Dad's heart pump out the blood since it cannot do it well enough on its own! This will help improve his condition to stabilize him until he can get a heart transplant. We will know more about the transplant scenario in days and/or weeks to come, and we will definitely keep everyone updated! We wil post an update as soon as we are able tomorrow after the surgery. The surgery will be approx. 4 - 6 hours long and begin approx. 8:00 a.m. Thank you again for ALL your kind words, prayers, thoughts, messages, letters, etc. for Dad and the family! In times like these, we see how many lives one man can touch in his lifetime and how many people have touchd our lives also! WOW!!! We do serve a MIGHTY GOD! "God is good all the time!" - Prov. 3:5-6

April 25, 2009
Thursday and Friday were relatively good days for Dad. He ate a peanut buter & jelly sandwich both days!! However, last night things took a downturn and have continued that way today. Dad is back on a ventillator, so he is sedated, and they inserted a balloon pump back in because his heart was just not pumping well at all. His defibrillator did go off a few times today, but being sedated now will help relieve the pain in case it goes off more. Please pray as this will be a difficult weekend for Dad and the family. As of now, the doctors are talking of starting the process for a transplant on Monday. That, of course, will take some time, and even then after all the meetings, paperwork, etc. we will have to wait and find a donor heart that is a match. Dad's blood type is O+ so he can only take an O+ heart which, according to the doctors, is the rarest. We have always known that Dad had a special "heart," but know we now that his physical heart is also special! God can still do a miracle and heal Dad completely, and God can even find a heart quicker than all the doctors can!! HE is the Great Physician!! We covet your prayers GREATLY at this time! And we also know that, "God is still good all the time!!!!!!!!!" - Prov. 3:5-6

April 20, 2009
We do have a little good news to share regarding Dad's progress. We are seeing a little sign of improvement in his condition and more specifically in his personal demeanor. He rememebers our being there yesterday!! I think that is good:-)!! The doctors did perform an angioplasty and inserted three stents. The blood flow is looking good after this, and the doctors said, "He was a champ during the whole procedure!" The doctors would like to remove the balloon pump that was inserted last Monday. This has been helping stabilize his blood pressure. They have already started to wean him off this for 3 - 5 minute intervals, and so far things are looking good! There is a slight possibility that this will help him enough to recover without further surgery. The greater possibilty though is that he will need a heart transplant. The doctors talked with Dad and the family today and feel that this is the best and only route to take for the best interest of Dad. Of course, this will be a somewhat lengthy process, but medicine has made great strides in this area. As we have more information in a couple of days or so, we will continue to post updates. Please continue to pray, as sooooo many of you have, and know that "God is good all the time!!!!" - Prov. 3:5-6

April 19, 2009
We are gald to say that we were able to see some improvements in Dad today. He is able to recognize people and even shake his head to answer questions. We were even able to make him smile and laugh! They took the ventilator tube out of his throat and just have him on a regular oxygen mask for now. He is also down to three I.V.'s rather than seven a day or two ago. We are still hoping that the doctors will be able to meet tomorrow and come up with a game plan. We cannot say enough how much we appreciate all your prayers and thoughtfulness for Dad and us at this time. God is still good all the time! - Prov. 3:5-6

April 15, 2009
Dad is now at University of Chicago Medical Center. Of course, he got to take the 6-minute helicopter route instead of fighting traffic on the Dan Ryan, but we decided to overlook his taking the easy way out this time!! Dad is stablizied and is still sedated from the transport up there. He was showing some reactionary signs to pain stimulus when the nurse was gettting some of the many tubes adjusted, retaped, etc. The doctors should come by tomorrow morning and evaluate his condition. We will keep you updated as best and often as we are able as things progress. Every prayer and message is MUCH appreciated! We read through the messages tonight while waiting to see Dad and were truly blessed and feel GREATLY loved! Please always remember that through every good and tough time God is good all the time! As you think of and pray for Dad, please be reminded of his life's verses, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. " - Prov. 3:5-6

Updates by Bro. Dave Sisson