HOPING FOR BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD....

WEDNESDAY NOT SO GREAT!

UH-OH--rollercoaster down-two very sleepy days after an event Monday night where his heartrate plummeted to 39, !! possibly due to some heart medicine--bad day for me; not very happy seeing him todayafter seeing him so terrific Monday--met with admission staff and case management people, nurse is very nice, but learned very little--left calls for 2 doctors and heard from neither--rather than cry, I'll stay quiet, awaiting news and perhaps better turnaround--our favorite doctors in Orlando are both on vacation this week with family, so I feel a bit lonely with no one to talk with-
so I'll stay quiet, sleep tight and hope..

CHEERY GET WELL WISHES, TOM!

MONDAY BEST DAY YET!

MOON IS FULL-as I drive back from Tampa, there is a glow and I feel quite pleased all is pleasant and he is doing much better-seemed so like his sweet self-breathing on his own at this point but may tire, smiling, gesturing, reacting-we entertained the cozy small ICU! All is stable and just hope for more and more better times. I told him all the news from the real world, including golf, and most of all news from all of his family and friends who love him. Onward and upward.

SUNDAY A BETTER DAY!

Briefly-I have been occupied in Orlando today, thinking of Tom, but as I called this morning, and again this evening at 7, he is doing better today, is alert, wants to go "home" and his heart rate is normal now after they stopped the medications-I shall trek over tomorrow morning and he should be alert and communicative, and that shall begin the week-we are having alot of rain today, but it is thoughtful as well-flowers will bloom-
Warmly, marilyn

SATURDAY -- FIRST VISIT TO TOM IN TAMPA

A very late Saturday and just got home-it is a marathon to fight the traffic all the way to Tampa and into the inner part of town, visit, and arrive back home, with a meal or two in between..reality sets in that this is a bit difficult and cannot happen every day-it is only to be temporary, but I am not sure what that word means.
When Erik and I got there, and it is new for them as well to read all the notes and grasp the complexities of a not-so-simple case, they were still asking questions, had a heart backup close by as his heart seemed irregular, and had just given him more sedation which dropped him down and even his heart rate was a bit low--so I am a little uneasy yet as to the transition, the hospital is old, small, cozy and certainly capable with a good staff that we met, but it is different, and there are still unknowns. So I will leave today as a bit of a question--the best part of the day was on the way back to Orlando when a private call arrived from our favorite Dr. Edwards, calling to get the number of exactly where he was (out of his immediate area) and asking how he was doing-he was going to call immediately to follow up and I felt much better after that.
I shall surely call in morning to see if there is any more news overall, and I do believe they will surely understand the situation fairly quickly, but after "enjoying him greatly yesterday", it seemed like a longer road again to realize the fragility of it all and wonder just how this book will finally write itself--each person is so different, and only time can tell.
---SO, Erik and I went with a few of his friends to dinner, to smile a bit and talk of other things as well, and it helped a little, and the moon is full-reminds me of the poem I wrote at age 18 in Colorado that was published nationally and has followed me all of my life--"what moon that is only half its fullness , in time, will be fully illuminated by the sun; what question that seeks half its answer, in time, will be fully illuminated by understanding." And another that was also published:
"Grasping, I missed; Discouraged, I failed; Believing, I won,; and Loving, prevailed."

TOM MOVED TO TAMPA FACILITY

WELL, it's a friday afternoon, and Erik and I hustled to hospital to spend an hour with Tom as he was finally cleared to move onward to his next step-a critical care facility in Tampa area for more intense rehab/recovery and independence from any ventilators-he was ALERT big time when we walked in and seemed glad to see us--big wonderful Erik charmed him with some funnies, and we saw his silly expressions return, Erik explained to him just what was happening as he was a little confused-he got it, seemed rather content then, and looked rather good to both of us!
He was taken in ambulance van over to Tampa and we were on the grass when he was loaded and waved our big goodbyes and he seemed quite fine. WE WILL GO OVER TO TAMPA tomorrow to see the new facility and HIM and make sure all is okay.
He says he misses food, and knows Tiger is back playing golf, and was very happy to hear that Erik sold his orange Mustang this week and has cash in his pocket for that!
So onward and upward-good night on a beautiful spring evening, almost a full moon, and we'll briefly report on what the morrow brings-
love from all of us to you

THURSDAY MAKING PLANS FOR TRANSFER TO TAMPA

Hurray-there is a plan coming together to transport Tom probably tomorrow to his new room at a critical care hospital in the Tampa area to further his rehab and recovery-it was supposed to happen today, but alas, it did not-however they got him up to take a few steps, he sat upright in bed and with his glasses on could catch some sports-he does know the health care reform has passed so I was surprised; he also was breathing on trach plug only on his own today, so they are working to strengthen him overall.
Erik hopes to stop in tonight to see him, and we will both go over tomorrow to see him settle in at his new facility. I had thought he would be moved today so was cleaning out my office today, but it looks better, and he is doing BETTER every day-onward and upward.
Warmly, marilyn and all

TUESDAY ANOTHER SURGERY

GOOD MORNING-yesterday was a yet better day-he was alert most of the morning, all was stable and he went through his minor surgery to close his abdomen well and even though was groggy, looked like his old self and opened his eyes to see me--all good. Today Wednesday, they would like to keep him there one more day to make sure there are no surprises, but tomorrow I believe they plan to transport him to the new facility, another critical care hospital but geared toward rehab and recovery-this will probably be in Tampa area, and depending on how fast he comes along, would be for 2-4 weeks or so-I'll be trekking the back roads abit-Erik and I plan to drive over Friday to see where it is, how it is and how HE is! All seems moving in good direction, and we are pleased.
Enjoy another spring day wherever you are-we appreciate all the love and support!
marilyn and all

MONDAY A GOOD DAY & TOM ALERT

A brighter better day for all, and most of all, TOM-after several weeks of foggy days and ups and downs, he was quite alert when I got to his room in ICU and I said WHOA when he looked at me!
We continued to communicate with nods of yes and nos to my questions to him, and it was wonderful. He is mostly breathing on his own now, will have surgery tomorrow sometime to close his abdomen and overall is reaching a good stabilization point. SO--onward to the next step. Probably by Thursday, he will have an ambulance ride to his next critical care facility, and because of his insurance contract, it will be in a nice place in TAMPA, about 70 miles from here--they will work on more intensive recovery and strengthening his independence to breathe on his own and get stronger, begin eating, therapy/rehab and onward and upward. After that, possible 2-4 weeks, depending on HIM, he will come back to Orlando, either home or if needed, a skilled facility to complete more recovery to function. Alas-we are all excited.
Much thanks and love to all who continue to cheer- and we were thrilled that newphew BRAD who was in Orlando this week for a business conference took the initiative to get to the hospital and had a nice visit communicating with his Uncle Tom, even got a wink and a hand for a shake! So we are beginning to see the real TOM! Good night and sleep tight!

A GROGGY DAY

It's a beautiful spring day and Erik and I had a good afternoon trekking down to the hospital, however after being on his own for most of yesterday and some of today, Tom was exhausted and really unable to respond or rally while we were there-I had connected yesterday so was hoping Erik could do that today, but was not meant to be at that time-I did see the Dr. on duty, a lovely smart woman, and she told me he was doing so much better in all ways and she was pleased. So barring any surprises, we may be on our way to a long recovery. They are to go into surgery again Monday to close up his abdomen, and pending any new surprises, will be moving on shortly to critical care recovery. The trach seems to be working better than the tube, and he LOOKS like his handsome self. So all is promising, and tomorrow may even be a bit better..Flowers are blooming and not a cloud in the sky-a little omen perhaps??

NEWS OF TOM'S SURGERY & CONDITION

Tom had surgery Wednesday, Feb. 24th to remove one kidney and a malignant tumor on that kidney. He came through with flying colors and was soon joking with the nurses and chatting with family. It's nice that Erik is here in Apoka as well. Jon came for the week-end of Feb. 27-28th, and it was great to all be together. Over that week-end, Tom started feeling sick and more uncomfortable. Tests showed a bowel blockage, and surgery was done to repair that Wednesday, March 3rd, resulting in a temporary colostomy. He has remained heavily sedated since then in ICU, on a respirator and receiving dialysis. He also developed an infection and retained a large amount of fluid, which placed added stress on his whole body -- heart, lungs, kidney, etc. So surgery was performed again to open the abdomen and clean out the fluids and continue to drain it. With the fluid more under control, the fever normal, infection under control, blood pressure & heart rate stabilized, things were looking up. But he continues to need the aid of the respirator, and thus must be kept sedated. So to make him more comfortable and to be able to lessen the sedation, surgery was performed again on Wednesday, March 17th to put in a trach, clean out the abodominal area again and close it a little more, and put in a feeding tube to aid in his nutrition until he is stronger. We are hoping all this will bring further improvement on his road to recovery and sunnier days

ahead....

My sister Sharon and Kent flew down and were here from Sunday night till Wednesday to give some moral support,

and my sister Donna & John in AZ have called daily as well.

We'll keep you posted on Tom's condition... Thanks for all your thought of us!

THURSDAY, MARCH 18 UPDATE ON TOM

This was not my day per se -- got there to the room and it was full of technology, and 3 different nurses were working on him. He was open-eyed, but seemed catatonic -- did not hear or respond to me, and they say after so much trauma in ICU that can sometimes happen, so I stayed abit and watched, but decided to leave, hoping for a better day -- he has a slight fever again, and is on dialysis today 4 hours, does have the trach but other than that nasty tube being gone in his throat, still seems hooked up to oh so much tubing, etc. So I will give the benefit of doubt, as they say, today that he is still recovering from another surgery and levelling off again to hopefully be more on his own-- I hope for a better tomorrow.
Spring is fine, even if it is overcast -- and the flowers still bloom in my kitchen -- today, I'd rather look at them....
Much love and thanks, and will hope for a little better tomorrow --
Night night.
love, marilyn

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!