OCTOBER UPDATE

Here's a couple of pictures of Tom. He still goes and works out at the gym trying to get his strength back and has dialysis 3x a week. Hopes to have the colostomy reversed soon. Glad to be home and out and about a bit and trying to help some at the shop on projects. Marilyn is busy putting some projects together. Other than that, nothing too exciting to report, just plugging away and plodding on....

AUTUMN HAS ARRIVED!

.....and we're still trucking along!









Nothing much new to report on this winding road of recovery, but we are making slow progress. Tom still goes to dialysis 3x a week. But he works out at the gym a lot and walks every day and helps some in our shop, so that is a big improvement from last spring! Hanging in there!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

SATURDAY UPDATE FROM MARILYN

If I could say it was "routine" here, I guess it is, but more than not, predictable, with dialysis schedule, etc. Each day seems better, a bit stronger, but....

.... a long road ahead yet!

Went to Benihana for Erik's birthday and had a great time -- Tom doesn't like it much, but he made it. Hard to get comfortable sitting with no body fat. He does drive his truck now quite well, and that makes him feel more independent overall.

It's another hot one here, so don't know exactly what we will do, but getting Saturday morning chores done is the first thing -- and then my usual pancakes. Hope all is well with you all.

Much love, Marilyn

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ERIK!

HAVE A GREAT BIRTHDAY, ERIK!

MONDAY UPDATE -- TOM ON THE ROAD AGAIN....

MONDAY HELLO-each day is a little better, a little more normal, eating well, walking better, and running errands with me--

...and FRIDAY morning, he was itching to try to drive his truck since he is not on pain meds, so he drove around the neighborhood, and did very fine-then drove himself to dialysis, and is gone again today at same--so that really helps-more independent, andfeeling better all around.
I lost the big bid by a squeak, as they chose a company doing more metal than we do, so that was difficult after I looked so good to get it, but got a terrific e-mail from client with great compliments and am now working on some other projects elsewhere that should come in easier-I NEED WORK!
Will help alot-
THEN, balance will set in better, and I can see beyond the next moment--
Staying close to home, and that is very good as it is in mid 90's every day! Love the rain showers to cool it down-
Love to all, and happy first day of summer-
MARILYN

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

MONDAY, JUNE 14 Update

This is Sharon giving an update for Marilyn from the brief e-mail she sent us. Nothing new to report, but wanted to let you know how things are going since Marilyn is so busy! Sharon (sister)




Tom is...
..plodding along and slowly making progress!


Monday, June 14th -- "BRIEFLY-- all is going very slowly, but I am in a big push to submit our final bid today for this big project, so I am off to meet my artist now, take Tom to dialysis, get to client, etc. --- will catch up later -- he is out walking 3 times a day --- very weak though, and not much else going on -- it is a slow road thus far.... Love, Marilyn "

WELCOME HOME, TOM!!!

GETTING INTO A ROUTINE...

WELL, slowly we are moving along-back to a minimal routine, sleeping through the night, walking around, getting the newspaper, enjoying his "freedom", getting his hair washed and cut, going to doctor here in Apopka this afternoon for follow-up and a few questions--very fatigued, very weak, 100 lbs. less of muscle and flesh, but moving slowly along. Eating pretty good, doing dialysis at a nearby clinic (hopefully temporarily) while I work on a project bid, and look forward to healthier days-Again, thanks to all who care and support-will keep touch!!

COMING HOME AT LAST!

HALLELUJAH!! We have been moving this week toward "DISCHARGE PLANNING" and he is scheduled to come home Friday afternoon!! If all goes as planned-- He is SO ready, has taken great strides in wellness this past week, even since Sunday, and is off all iv's, oxygen, walked 400 ft. around the halls twice day before yesterday and will probably walk more today, using his walker but quite sturdy..they tested him for "independence" with getting out of bed, getting around, brushing his teeth etc. etc. and he passed with flying colors, so now insurance won't accept him for rehab, and he probably doesn't need it as he can get "strong" on his own, and be back in the house-so much better, and eating my good cooking! So we are all a little nervous, but ready, and it does not seem too daunting, although I am sure there are tough steps ahead-still faces full surgery to close/section his bowel and GET rid of the ostomy bag! And he is still to go to dialysis clinic 3 times a week, which I greatly hope disappears SOON--he LOOKS normal, eats well and is rather BORED-they pretty much leave him alone now as there are so many other sicker people. SO LIFE MOVES on, and I shall probably pick him up tomorrow afternoon. HURRAY and good cheer!
Thinking of all-

MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day-a time to remember, and eat with family. Erik and I spent the afternoon yesterday with Tom and it was very nice-he was proud to walk with Erik down the hallway, standing pretty straight, using his walker for help, but doing quite well-still wobbly on occasion, and has a ways to go for more strength, BUT ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO, they have stabilized everything now and infections are mostly gone. They are to take trach out completely tomorrow, so that will be a major milestone, and his open wound there will automatically close within a week. AND they plan to get him over to re-start his THERAPY on Wednesday if all goes as planned-he is ready and yet will be grueling, as they say they work them on and off for up to 6 hours. So maybe this will move along now-father's day is coming, then July 4th, then Labor Day--where will we be?? Not sure, but at least we are going in right direction.
Thanks to all who keep touch, and think of us, and write us-means so much. And I continue to love all of the photos/graphics! Thanks much to Sharon!
Am baking and cooking this afternoon-will get together for eats with Erik and all-and then will share banana bread with TOM tomorrow!
Lotsa love to all, and it is good to remember..

40TH ANNIVERSARY -- MAY 30TH

HAPPY 40TH ANNIVERSARY, TOM & MARILYN!

A SPECIAL HUG

HUGS AND LOTS OF LOVE!

LOVELY WEEK-END BUT zig & zag WITH TOM'S PROGRESS...

IT'S A ZIG, then a ZAG--

just took Jon to airport-- week-end was lovely, but we are still all concerned-Tom was droopy on Sat. and having trouble breathing as they downsized his trach and plan to possibly remove it soon--we took him some cookies that he loved, plus he had a piece of pie for lunch, and when we went back later that day with Erik, he was edgy and his blood sugar had raced from normal 110 to 360! Very serious and they labeled him diabetic!! SO that is how fragile it all is-Sunday morning it was back down to 129, BUT they also had put him back in ICU to get his breathing stable, and that was greatly helped by dialysis - 3 LITERS worth again--so when Jon and I saw him later yesterday, he looked and felt better, but still was not eating again until this morning--it is a VERY DIFFICULT road, and we all three are trying to cope, sometimes in different ways--Jon tends to be practical/solid and one-day at a time, Erik does his homework and begins second-guessing what is really happening, and I am somewhere in between--
I have been called to a meeting this Wednesday in Apopka with his primary doctor as they are Concerned, so we are all interested in what transpires-Erik will go with me and Jon will be on speaker phone-we also are requesting a conference at hospital with Tom and his doctor team to further explore facts--90 days were up yesterday, and he is FAR from well--can hardly stand, but is weak from these ongoing infections probably which have to take their course..

SO, we are all preoccupied, interested to see how this week shakes out, and I am trying also to work with a very good appointment tomorrow-
Jon got the tires rotated on my car, an oil change etc. so that was so helpful too..and today the engine light came on so will have to check that out..
Hope all are well and love to all every-where!

FAMILY ALL TOGETHER!

JON is here and it is wonderful-we had a good time last night eating and talking at the house as a family,and this morning, Jon and I went to Hospital to be with Tom-again, he had little sleep as they interrupt every hour or less to test him/lab him etc., but he was so glad to see Jon. He was sitting up in chair, had eaten a good breakfast-

We plan to go back later today, with Erik too, to see him again-Jon sees the vision of "health" and that is the goal, no matter how crooked the path, how long it takes-let's hope that is all achievable. When we came down to hospital lobby, there was a bomb scare in the medical area and we were not allowed to leave with police blockades every where-but finally, we went and still do not know what nutcase caused that! One never knows these days.
So we shall venture back, and again tomorrow before Jon leaves Monday for work-cheerio to all-

ABOUT THE SAME....

Tom was sleepy yesterday, but about the same -- SO today Jon is coming and we'll see if we can "make a difference" over the week-end -- He has slipped from all these infections. BUT he is eating pretty well, so that should help soon --

I am on my way to airport to pick up Jon.

SUNDAY TURNING A CORNER....

TURNING A CORNER??

-that is what he said when he called me tonight after seeing him today-they did a small procedure on him in surgery this morning, but it was local anesthetic and all else is stable-he is in ICU yet back in Orlando, BUT they were to step him down this evening to a regular private room-hurray--I met my Jersey friends, John and Ginny, at Hyatt Grand Cypress and we all went to see Tom in downtown Orlando and we had a GREAT time-I have such dear friends. Then they treated me back in hotel for dinner, conversation and lotsa love reminiscing and some future plans for Tom to look forward to as well--I believe now he can start therapy again and be up and about much better-he is eating, and even with such great weight loss, he can stand and walk, turn around etc. without feeling dizzy-so off we go!!

There are many unknowns yet, but we are taking one day at a time, and there are many hopeful thoughts surrounding us- Enjoy the beautiful spring day, and I am getting shingled tomorrow with my new roof-another hooray..More to come-

CAN YOU USE A HUG TODAY?

TOM BACK IN ICU WITH INFECTION

Tom was moved back into ICU with an infection, but hopefully will get on top of that quickly and get back to rehab and on his feet again. A bump in the road on this recovery journey...

KEEP CHEER & HANG IN THERE!

MOVED FROM TAMPA TO ORLANDO!

Tom got back to Orlando late yesterday (Orlando Regional Medical Center) -was put in a nice room to start rehab (Lucerne Pavillion), but hospital discovered his blood pressure was a little low, he had a slight fever, and his labs were "screwy", so they moved him to another regular hospital room to stabilize that before rehab-he is tired all this week, probably a little sad and depressed, which is understandable, but the first we have seen really-SO I am headed there this morning to see him, cheer him, and see the situation-it is on other side of town, but very nice and affiliated with the big Orlando Hospital there-will write later to update-meanwhile, roof materials are to arrive, hopefully today, and start tomorrow--a little crazy, but rolling any way-LATER-


"Feel like resting this week!
It's been a long journey to get this far! Will gear up to truck on again. Hear they're goin' to work me hard at this new place!"

MOTHER'S DAY VISIT WITH TOM

ROCKING IN PLACE-Saw Tom yesterday with Erik for a lovely mother's day--beautiful sunny florida--he was a bit sleepy and quiet, but we had a nice time and we are awaiting anxiously any word hopefully even today on the next step of moving him for more thorough rehab-he is quite bored now where he is, and it is TIME-he told me today his current weight now is 215 pounds-and that is amazing, and also a bit scary--he has not weighed that since a senior in high school!! -- he needs to eat my chicken kiev etc.!! No real other news, so just rocking in place. Will be so nice to see our Jersey friends John and Ginny Lord later this week who are vacationing in Florida now! Getting work done on house, little chores as well, and new roof this week! Love to all-will let you know!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Have a wonderful day!

STARTING TO EAT AGAIN!!!

AND EATING-he started soft foods yesterday morning and said the applesauce tasted like something from the fields--am sure he has no sense of taste or smell after all this, so it will take time!!No more extra thousand island dressing!!

Continues to progress, and we talk 3-4 times a day-I am homebound as there is a new roof coming and tilework done, and some millwork-and now that we can talk, it surely saves the LONG ride over--he is doing so well that they may move him on soon, closer to Orlando, for more therapy etc. I called him yesterday morning at 10:A.m. and he said to call back in 20 minues-he was stark naked, and he had "20 nurses lined up!"-Still funny as ever, and he will be a bit of a celebrity when he moves on-everyone stops in

to see him!

Onward and upward-
Love to all, Marilyn