Well, since you mentioned it, I'll comment on that "upbeat and positive" attitude we try to have, keepitreal (I think your name is Brian, but I'm not sure I'm remembering correctly).
When this whole thing with the heart began months ago, I kept thinking "they're gonna fix this", never once imagining that it would take such a long time for them to finally put in a pacemaker or that she would take a turn for the worse so many times (14 hospital admissions in one month's time - one of them lasting 20 days) or that she would wind up having a stroke.
While all of that was going on and I was keeping y'all updated with all the changes, I couldn't help but think, "What must the Chordians be thinking???? No one's luck is that bad!"
So after the pacemaker was put in and the stroke happened, I honestly didn't know what else to say to you, my friends, so I took some time off from posting here and stayed awake at night for about a week so I'd be sure to be at her bedside if she had another, worse CVA (cardiovascular accident - otherwise known as a stroke).
Luckily she did not and has not (so far), but I'm wary that it may happen again and she and I are all each other has. Again, luckily my physical health is good (although I still have the dementia stage 4) and I can help her get around if she needs it.
But yeah, we've tried our best to think positive and be upbeat, Dondra being better at it than I am. She rarely complains and is secure in the peace her religion gives her. She will also downplay her illness when family calls - that's the way she is
Yes, we've been very unlucky these last 6 months, but we've both been "through the wringer" so many times now, nothing surprises us anymore.
I've never been what you'd call "religious" (spiritual, maybe), but lately I've begun to pray very hard for her to get better, and there you have it: A bird's eye view of what goes on at Casa Craig.
After the holidays there will be another adjustment to the pacemaker. Right now it's just managing the atria of the heart - keeping its beat regular at 70 bpm. She does however still have the atrial fibrillation so the adjustment to be made will include the ventricles. What that means is that she will be totally dependent on the pacemaker to keep her heart going: something else to get used to, but hopefully she will have a better quality of life when that happens.
Yeah, people really can be this unlucky, but what's it gonna help to mope around? Nothing, right?
Thanks so much everyone! We love you!
Bill
Edited to correct spelling and to add the love! 
