Home Again

Good Afternoon Everyone,

We arrived home yesterday (Sun. Jan. 21) at 3:00 PM after driving from Williams Lake. We left Vancouver on Saturday at 10:00AM and drove to Williams Lake arriving there at 5:00PM. Both were easy drives on dry rods for the most part although we ran into rain and snow both days. We shared the driving so we were in good shape when we arrived both at Wms Lake and here.

Today I have been outside twice and found that I got winded very easily so I'm splitting up the chores into more bite size pieces. I'll go out more often for shorter periods. It is still winter here lots of snow and -4C last night. Today its up to +5C and was sunny up until a few minutes ago (it's now 4:00PM). There is +/- 3 feet of snow on the ground and huge piles on the side of the driveway to the house from the highway. It will be some time before we are golfing or sunning our selves outside.

I am in good health now and I am going to concentrate on building up my strength and weight with daily exercise and protein shakes. I lost 5 lbs while I was in the hospital in Vancouver and I must get that back. I'm a little bit worried about the surgery on April 28th it will be a tough one. I will be in the hospital for 7 to 10 days afterward. We still don't know weather I'll have to spend more time at the Jean C. Barber Lodge, after my release from the hospital, recovering.

It was good to sleep in our own bed last night and we both slept really well. I seem to be coughing more at night and I don't know why. It wakes me up from time to time but it bothers Dolores much more.

Well that's it for now. More later.

Love and Hugs,

Rick

April 27 & 28, 2011

Good Evening Everyone,

I'm back to the Jean C. Barber Cancer Lodge, 604-879-9131 extension 2534. I was released Friday afternoon at 3:00 PM. By the time we got our stuff packed up and got to the main entrance and into a cab I was exhausted. Once we were back into our room (34) I was ready for a nap. Yesterday (Sat.) I felt much better and today I am back to feeling like I'm ready to get back into the hyperbaric chamber tomorrow (Mon. Mar. 7th). I've been taking an antibiotic, Amoxi/Clavulin and it has helped to clear up my lungs. I've also been taking Sudafed extra strength cold and sinus pills and my sinuses are really clear and I'm able to clear both ears.

On April 28, I will have surgery to repair the hole between the esophagus and the wind pipe. It is a major surgery 5 to 51/2 hours and Dr. John Yee will do the main surgery while a plastic surgeon Dr. Bristol will do the skin grafts and the patch which will cover the hole between the two tubes. I will be in the hospital for 7 to 10 days after the surgery but, we don't know how much time I'll need after the discharge until I will be strong enough for the trip to Vanderhoof.

On April 27th I will have the J Tube (food tube) replaced with a more permanent tube but, it is likely that we will have to come to Vancouver every 6 months thereafter to have the tube relaced. We will have to see if this can be done in Prince George. It is a really easy procedure if the hospital has the right equipment. We will also have the pre-op meetings and tests on April 27th.

More later, stay in touch.

Love and hugs,

Rick

recent VGH visit

Well this is not Rick but Dolores posting this note. Rick unfortunately was ill on Sunday night and vomited. This proceeded to go thru the tracheo-esophogeal fistula and entered his right lung primarily. Some crackles in the left. Temp up, resps up, pulse up so 5am I called an ambulance and took him in to VGH. They were absolutley great with us. He was admitted and up to the ward.
They were very thorough with all the tests,catscan.Yesterday one nurse did not crush his meds fine enough and plugged his J tube solid. we tried all day and could not budge it. This morning they put a new tube and it works great. His surgeon was in to visit today and things are going well.
We have seen more doctors in three days than we have in Vanderhoof.We hope that he will be able to get him sprung by the week end and get back with the hyperbaric treatments on Monday.
We are both anxious to get home before the sugery date of April 28. So folks hopefully the next words you read are from Rick.Time for beddy bye for the resident nurse retired that is.