F
FriendForLife
Again, thank you all so much for the invaluable insight and advice you have given me with regard to caring for my friend, Deb, when she gets out of the hospital.
I talked to her right before she left for the hospital yesterday and she sounded optimistic & calm....something she hasn't been in several months. At the clinic the day before (for pre-op stuff) she ran into an old friend of hers who had a pancreas transplant. The transplant failed and she's on the list for another pancreas...and will need new kidnesy shortly after that. Deb said it really put things into perspective...there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you!
Anyway, her mother e-mailed me last night. It was brief, but good news. Here it is:
hiphiphooray! surgery is over and deb is now in icu - still under anaesthesia but doing very well. obviously we haven't spoken but assume we will be able to visit in the morning. the icu nurse has requested no one other that her immediate family call the unit. once she has moved to her own room and is no longer being monitored so closely, i'm sure deb will happily receive calls. the events of today make an interesting story which i'm sure deb will share with you in the future.
glad to be the bearer of good news. deb's mom (nancy)
p.s. as for details of the surgery, the pulmonary valve was replaced with a pig valve (in a vegan?), the tricuspid valve was repaired, and a small hole was sutured.
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Her surgeon estimated she would be in the hospital for 5-10 days...but thought it would most likely be on the lower end due to her age and fantastic health overall. So, she'll be at my house sometime Sunday or later. If I have any more questions before or while she's here, I'll definitely post.
I wish all of the very best. What strong people you all are!
Bridget - Deb's Friend for Life
I talked to her right before she left for the hospital yesterday and she sounded optimistic & calm....something she hasn't been in several months. At the clinic the day before (for pre-op stuff) she ran into an old friend of hers who had a pancreas transplant. The transplant failed and she's on the list for another pancreas...and will need new kidnesy shortly after that. Deb said it really put things into perspective...there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you!
Anyway, her mother e-mailed me last night. It was brief, but good news. Here it is:
hiphiphooray! surgery is over and deb is now in icu - still under anaesthesia but doing very well. obviously we haven't spoken but assume we will be able to visit in the morning. the icu nurse has requested no one other that her immediate family call the unit. once she has moved to her own room and is no longer being monitored so closely, i'm sure deb will happily receive calls. the events of today make an interesting story which i'm sure deb will share with you in the future.
glad to be the bearer of good news. deb's mom (nancy)
p.s. as for details of the surgery, the pulmonary valve was replaced with a pig valve (in a vegan?), the tricuspid valve was repaired, and a small hole was sutured.
****************************************************
Her surgeon estimated she would be in the hospital for 5-10 days...but thought it would most likely be on the lower end due to her age and fantastic health overall. So, she'll be at my house sometime Sunday or later. If I have any more questions before or while she's here, I'll definitely post.
I wish all of the very best. What strong people you all are!
Bridget - Deb's Friend for Life
