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From the thread on Velma, an update:
This is Kristen, Scraps’ sister. Sorry that I don’t know how to make this an entry of its own; if someone who knows how to could do so, I would be grateful.Velma (sister-in-law) update - This is what I know: (Apologies if it’s too long. I’m trying to keep a balance between too much information and not enough.)
1st surgery = Wednesday of last week. (July 23; details about that in one of my previous posts)
Velma went into that surgery in a less-than-ideal physical state - very weak, hadn’t gained back weight she had lost in the previous month. (Hospital decided to do surgery even though Velma wasn’t where they wanted her physically because Velma had been losing ground in terms of getting to a stronger place, and because one of the tumors was growing rapidly.) Although weak, Velma seemed to be recovering appropriately. (I had a good conversation with her that Friday before I went back to Portland.) At some point she was moved out of ICU.
Yesterday I received three emails from Scraps.
First: A bad news and good news kind of email.
The bad; This is from Scraps’ email. “Last night was very hard. Velma was in excruciating pain. Her time for the epidural was ended, so that came out, but her heart and lungs were still weak, so the doctors were concerned with giving her too much pain medication and having her heart stop. Unfortunately, they stopped short last night, and while they adjusted, Velma suffered.” Her pain medication was increased; doctor explained that they wanted Velma to be pain free, but they needed to be careful.
The good, again quoting Scraps: “Today she walked almost twice as far, two times. She was glowing; that was good. And the pain is definitely down. She’s been drowsy, but they’ve been watching.”
Second: A short email titled “bad update.”
In intense pain. Moved back to ICU. Temporarily put out and tubes (breathing, etc.) reinserted. (my summary)
Third: She had fluid in her belly.
Today, received three texts from my Mom. Velma had emergency surgery this afternoon, because of an infection. (Don’t have any more details than that.) Quoting Mom here: “Dr says hour by hour to pull through on this part … very low blood pressure … Reason touch and go right now is she so weak after last surgery… Crucial next few hours.”
That’s what I know. Haven’t heard anything from Mom for over three hours.
Prayers and strong healing thoughts for her please. And for my brother.
Being as I’m the praying type, my prayers are with them both, and with their families. I’m sure the affection and goodwill of the community is, too.
Update from Kristen: Velma came through the surgery fine.
Deeply sorry to hear that. My thoughts will be with both Velma and Scraps.
Likewise from here. Wishing Velma a swift improvement followed by a steady recovery.
Glrk. Prayers/thoughts/energy over thattaway.
Sympathies. Thinking good thoughts and hoping the antibiotics do their job.
Abi, thank you for bringing that up. All my best wishes and other acts of magical thinking to Velma. And to Scraps, who must be beside himself.
Christ have mercy. Velma is the one from whom I learned, "Laughter is a state of grace." Please return laughter to her.
Crazy(and not normally the kind to invoke a specific religious form - but that one touched the right chord for me)Soph
Oh, damn. I was hoping for one of those "walks away singing" sort of recoveries. I'm so sorry. Velma and Scraps have all my love and good thoughts.
Sending prayers and good energies toward Velma.
When you get the chance, tell her I said "Hello"!
Peace, John Desmond
I'm sorry to hear that. Hoping for the best.
I'll light a candle for her. Prayers and good wishes on their way.
Velma and Scraps are both in my prayers. How horrible.
Prayers submitted. GoodThoughts and HealingWishes are being FedExed.
Oh no. Thinking good thoughts in her direction
Oh no. Thinking good thoughts in her direction
Prayers and strength -- oh so much strength -- being sent to Velma and Scraps as we wait through these hard hours.
Doubling down on the good thoughts for Velma, and for Scraps.
WELLbeams for both Velma and Scraps on high.
Quick update: Velma came through the surgery fine.
Oh thank goodness. Thank you for sharing that here, Kristen. Please pass on more updates when you can without overtaxing yourself.
Kristen @ 20 - Thank you very, VERY much for the updates. I'm doing a lot of "Thanks Be!!" at the moment, and still keeping up the good thoughts and petitions that this seeker indulges in...
Crazy(and more goodthoughts to Velma, Soren, Kristen, the families...)Soph
It's good to hear that she's OK for the moment. I continue to hope for her best possible outcome.
Thank you; my thoughts are with them both.
Kristen @20: That's a huge relief. Thank you.
A load off the mind for the moment, Kristen @20. Thank you. Not stopping the good thoughts, though!
Sending prayers and healing energies.
Prayers and thoughts away. I remember Velma fondly from Liverpool when she was on her TAFF trip.
More good thoughts and healing energies. I will chant the Green Tara for her.
Kristen @20, I am very pleased to hear that Velma has come through the surgery. I will continue to hold her in my thoughts.
Love and light, good thoughts, and prayers for Velma and Soren. Thanks for keeping us updated.
I've been traveling and largely off the net, so I hadn't seen this. My best wishes to Velma and Soren.
All available digits crossed for good outcomes. And BEAMS.
I’m just back from another visit to the hospital. Velma is doing better than a few days ago, and is very pleased to be off the ventilator. She would like company, but not surprise visitors—get in touch with Soren first so they’ll know to expect you.
She is somewhat drowsy (I’m guessing both from the painkillers and because post-surgical recovery takes a lot out of the body). Also, no flowers are allowed in the unit she’s currently in, though they were talking about moving her to a “step-down” unit in the next day or so, and I don’t know what the rules are there. She’s likely to be in the hospital for about another two weeks.
Any news? In all events, much healing for both Velma and Soren.
Velma is doing significantly better than when I last posted. She's now walking around the hospital floor, without a walker. She told me yesterday that on Thursday she had been able to get up and take a shower for the first time in too long. They moved her to the step-down unit a few days ago; Scraps is still spending most of his time with her, and sleeping on a cot in her hospital room.
Velma is healing faster than the surgeon expected. Her white blood cell count is back to normal, so probably no infection, but they're keeping her on the IV antibiotics a bit longer, just in case.
As I understand it, the current plan/hope is to arrange in-home nursing care so they can send her home sometime next week, and continue to get stronger so they can do chemotherapy. (I'm not sure how much nursing she'll be getting once she's home.) She and Scraps are likely to need significant practical assistance at that point, including with shopping, laundry, and taking out the trash; when we have more details someone will post to the Vanguard list, and probably here as well.
Thank you for the update, Vicki.
Keeping them both (and their friends and family) in my thoughts.
Thanks for the update, Vicki. That's really good news.
Continuing to think good thoughts.
Oh hooray. That first shower is always such a huge morale-booster.
Best wishes for continued improvement!
Great news, Vicki. The situation sounds at least like Velma's out of the most immediate danger.
(I've been waiting for updates, but wanting not to pressure you or other friends and family, who have enough and more to worry about.)
That's great news. Bright blessings and good thoughts.
I have no words to express my gratitude for the support and good wishes you have extended....
I am home at last, with Scraps, who was as wonderful and stalwart as you might have expected, enduring weeks of hospital cafeteria food in order to be with me. I still have IV antibiotics, and a feeding tube, and about seven inches of open wound that I get to clean and re-bandage daily (human beings are made of meat -- it looks like aging steak now, rather than uncured bacon, which is a blessing), and the likelihood of chemo in the future. (Though this type of cancer doesn't always respond well to chemo.)
It's going to be an interesting autumn.
Glad to see you here, Velma! Best wishes for the autumn.
So happy to see you well enough to comment here, Velma, even with the tubes etc. Continuing good thoughts!
VELMA!
Welcome back & best wishes for continued improvement.
Velma!
Oh oh oh!
:throws biodegradable glitter everywhere:
Welcome back, Velma!
Best wishes for continued improvement.
Velma! I am so glad to see words from you. Many good thoughts streaming to you from our neck of the woods. Know that you are both loved and cared for -- wish I could bring you an expensive assortment of gorgeous pens to fondle as you heal.
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