Chris is doing okay!

[Chris' Mom]

Hi everyone. I know I don't get here very often but I did want to let everyone know that Chris had his surgery at Mayo on Valentine's Day and the surgery went very well. It's really hard seeing your child with so many incisions and wires and tubes no matter what their age. Although he's 21, it seemed like he was two years old again. He progressed along very fast and was released from ICU on the third day and then we left the hospital on the sixth day. We stayed in Rochester one extra night just to make sure we had no problems. The trip back to Atlanta was long and Chris was white as a ghost when we got home. It was a rough trip for someone who had been through so much. He's been a real trooper though and is up and around at homenow. A little stiff and weak, but this part is easy compared to the multiple injuries and long recovery after his motorcycle accident. Plus, we were much more prepared for this. You are never prepared for a phone call from a paramedic letting you know that your child is on the way to the hospital and that it's "serious". Anyway, those days are behind us and many of our prayers have been answered. I brought our entire neighborhood and church together to pray for Chris. I even told people I didn't know his story and asked them to pray. Everywhere I go, people ask about him.
We met David and Judy and Alan and his father while we were there for this trip at Mayo. Sorry we missed his Mom but I hope to hear from her soon! It looks like David is doing very well and he's very cute and smart young man! Chris said that he would like to get in touch with Alan soon since their surgeries were only two days apart. They have a lot in common right now. I hope Alan is feeling much better. God bless everyone!

Angie

[EllenB]

Hey Angie - thanks for the update. I know how pleased you are that Chris has his appetite back, too - asking for takeout Chinese & a big glass of milk is just the beginning, I expect.

I just got off the phone talking with Brian, who just had his first checkup at Mayo after his surgery there. He is doing GREAT - and I'll tell you - it made me aware of how much progress Mayo has made in the three years since John's surgery. They did groundbreaking procedures with John (such as the phrenic transfer - their first) but I can tell they're continuing to apply all that they've learned from their own research as well as from visiting the other bpi specialists all over the world.

Keep us posted. Take care,

Ellen

[peter]

Hey Angie, we missed eachother by a few days. I was actually discharged that Monday before Valentine's day. Hope all goes well with Chris. I was in a motorcycle accident as well. Were you on the 9th floor? I was in room 960.

[Chris' Mom]

Hey Ellen. Yes, things are moving right along here at home. Chris seems to be getting out of his recliner a little easier nowadays too. I have a nurse coming over today to look at his incisions since I almost fainted trying to change them myself, as you know. Mayo has made leaps and bounds just from the imformation we've gotten from the past and present. They should progress even more...as I am told that this is just the beginning of their exploration into this surgical field. In John's case, I feel there may even be something new they can do for him in the future. Don't give up!!

Hi Peter. Chris was in room 944 on the same floor. We left on February 20. I hope you are doing well and I know what you are going through, so hang in there. Keep your chin up and I guess the best thing we have to look forward to is the physical rehab as I know it will really make a difference. Chris will have is aftercare for the first six months here in Atlanta as we are seeing Dr. Alan Peljovich, who is working at putting together a team of doctors here in Atlanta. I am hoping the six month appointment we are expecting to go to at Rochester can be done here as well. Chris is having strange sensations, but I expect it is the nerves trying to regrow and connect. Last night, he had this strange cold sensation in the area where the nerve was transferred from the left side of his neck to the right. He was worried that something was wrong, but I told him that it was probably a good thing, so not to worry. Are you having any sensations since your surgery?

Take care everyone. Time to work on my taxes. Yes Ellen, I'm still procastinating...what's the deadline again?

Angie