Thanks for the update Deb- been wondering what was happening.
Give him a big kiss for me (and Joe) hahaha!
Tell him we love him and our thoughts are with you guys.
Love Sheri
Jerry LaFreniere-Surgery
Moderator: Gillespie
You GO Jerry, no matter what it is, we LOVE you and we support you and no matter what you have a body of people praying for you that cannot be matched!! And, to his wife and children, you have been a great example for those who do not realize what is going on. You should be and need to be proud and show everyone what Jerry would want, pride and courage! It's there and it's obvious!!
Update
Dad is resting well right now. He has been visited by the "pain specialists" as well as Oncology Team. We will be meeting with Radiation Specialists later this afternoon. At this point, there isn't a lot more to report except that his color is good and he is not nearly as groggy as when we brought him here. He is eating and drinking.
Apparently, one of his problems was that the type of pain medication that he was on was not the best for the type of pain that he was experiencing. Even though we were giving him massive doses of it, it was not taking away the pain. (Two of the pain specialists made the comment that the amount of medication that he was taking every day was enough to kill TWO people.) That is now MUCH better regulated.
Keep praying...for him, for us and for the fine people at the U of M hospital...
Marie, Michelle, Gerald, Debbie, Becky & Rory
Apparently, one of his problems was that the type of pain medication that he was on was not the best for the type of pain that he was experiencing. Even though we were giving him massive doses of it, it was not taking away the pain. (Two of the pain specialists made the comment that the amount of medication that he was taking every day was enough to kill TWO people.) That is now MUCH better regulated.
Keep praying...for him, for us and for the fine people at the U of M hospital...
Marie, Michelle, Gerald, Debbie, Becky & Rory
Perhaps we can use the "Warm the Smithwicks" as an update forum and this one to send best wishes as I will attempt....
Jerry, my favorite musical pictures are of those many parties in your pole barn - and many favorite memories too. The pictures I am speaking of are of me playing of course(!), but more importantly, the smiles of so many that attend - smiles that reflect a sense of family, joy, hospitality, and always a homecoming of sorts. I am proud to have some history there and I look forward to the next one. This is not to mention the short visits in that other world outside the pole barn! Godspeed a healthy recovery and a rich journey through it.
Rich Scripps
Jerry, my favorite musical pictures are of those many parties in your pole barn - and many favorite memories too. The pictures I am speaking of are of me playing of course(!), but more importantly, the smiles of so many that attend - smiles that reflect a sense of family, joy, hospitality, and always a homecoming of sorts. I am proud to have some history there and I look forward to the next one. This is not to mention the short visits in that other world outside the pole barn! Godspeed a healthy recovery and a rich journey through it.
Rich Scripps
Jerry L.
Debbie & Family,
Thanks for keeping us updated on Jerry's condition. It sounds like he is much tougher than we thought if the pain medication he was on would have killed two people. Could you post the address where we could send him cards? You all are in our thoughts and prayers. Lisa
Thanks for keeping us updated on Jerry's condition. It sounds like he is much tougher than we thought if the pain medication he was on would have killed two people. Could you post the address where we could send him cards? You all are in our thoughts and prayers. Lisa
Lisa Vance-Gillespie
Update
I'm guessing it might be better for people to send cards to the island rather than here as we aren't sure how long he will be here.
Here is the scoop for today: Dad had a fall during the night (he claims he was chasing the nurses) so was a little sore this morning. They made a mold of his head and he had his first dose of radiation today. He is sleepy from the medication. His kidney function is back to normal today and they are continuing to work on his calcium level.
They have now decided, since he is not well enough to leave here yet, that they will give him radiation today (Friday), tomorrow...skip Sunday and continue on with it on Monday, Tuesday and perhaps Wednesday.
Optimistically we are hoping that he will be well enough to travel on Wednesday. If not, there is talk of sending him to an acute rehabilitation center... This is all speculative at this point as things seem to change from day to day.
Once again....thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate it more than you will ever know. And to all of you on Beaver Island who are watering the plants, mowing the lawns, gathering the mail, working our jobs, caring for our children...and doing a million other things in our absence...thank you, thank you...thank you!
Michelle and Rory left for home today and Gerald will leave here late tomorrow. Marie and I will continue to post on this forum.
Again, Thanks for the prayers...
Love to all,
Marie, Michelle, Gerald, Debbie, Becky & Rory
Here is the scoop for today: Dad had a fall during the night (he claims he was chasing the nurses) so was a little sore this morning. They made a mold of his head and he had his first dose of radiation today. He is sleepy from the medication. His kidney function is back to normal today and they are continuing to work on his calcium level.
They have now decided, since he is not well enough to leave here yet, that they will give him radiation today (Friday), tomorrow...skip Sunday and continue on with it on Monday, Tuesday and perhaps Wednesday.
Optimistically we are hoping that he will be well enough to travel on Wednesday. If not, there is talk of sending him to an acute rehabilitation center... This is all speculative at this point as things seem to change from day to day.
Once again....thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate it more than you will ever know. And to all of you on Beaver Island who are watering the plants, mowing the lawns, gathering the mail, working our jobs, caring for our children...and doing a million other things in our absence...thank you, thank you...thank you!
Michelle and Rory left for home today and Gerald will leave here late tomorrow. Marie and I will continue to post on this forum.
Again, Thanks for the prayers...
Love to all,
Marie, Michelle, Gerald, Debbie, Becky & Rory
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Marie LaFreniere
- Posts: 1161
- Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2005 1:15 pm
- Location: Beaver Island
Ditto on everything Debbie said in the above message in regards to thanking everyone.
Just wanted to mention that Kathy (Crawford) Aman, Father Pat and Arthur Gallagher have stopped by to visit. We also ran into Doug and Donna Gillespie. It's nice to see familiar faces so far away from home.
With luck we'll be home sometime next week.
Marie
Just wanted to mention that Kathy (Crawford) Aman, Father Pat and Arthur Gallagher have stopped by to visit. We also ran into Doug and Donna Gillespie. It's nice to see familiar faces so far away from home.
With luck we'll be home sometime next week.
Marie
Dad
Todays scoop: Dad had a good (great actually) day today. He was awake and alert more today than he has been since he arrived. He still sleeps most of the day, but those times when he is awake are very good.
Our BIG news of the day was that he actually felt up to sitting up in his wheelchair and going for a short stroll around the "block" of his floor. That was the first time that he has even come close to doing anything like that so we are obviously thrilled.
Two radiation treatments down...probably three more to go...
Keep on praying guys...its working...
Gerald left for home today...Becky was down for several hours to sit with him and will be back tomorrow. He is a little 'miffed' that Marie and I won't get up at the crack of dawn to be back at 6:00AM like Gerald did...but he will just have to get over that one! We are more like 8:00 AM people!
As long as you all keep reading...we will keep posting....
Love to all...
Marie and Debbie
Our BIG news of the day was that he actually felt up to sitting up in his wheelchair and going for a short stroll around the "block" of his floor. That was the first time that he has even come close to doing anything like that so we are obviously thrilled.
Two radiation treatments down...probably three more to go...
Keep on praying guys...its working...
Gerald left for home today...Becky was down for several hours to sit with him and will be back tomorrow. He is a little 'miffed' that Marie and I won't get up at the crack of dawn to be back at 6:00AM like Gerald did...but he will just have to get over that one! We are more like 8:00 AM people!
As long as you all keep reading...we will keep posting....
Love to all...
Marie and Debbie
Big JER
Hi Jerry and Marie I hope all is going well I love you and miss ya. I am thinking of you each and everyday!!!You both take time to get some rest. You are two great people who have always made me feel right at home when I'am up on the Island. Who am I kidding I feel better than at home when I'am around you!!I hope to see ya sometime this year as I need a good laugh and you always make me smile. You take care and get well as I need to hear the old horn blow at the garage. All my love Nancy Marsh. As they say in England keep your pecker up. Which mean's your chin!!!!!
Another good day...
Today was another good one... He took his first stroll around the hallway...a short stroll...but he was walking nonetheless. His eye is starting to look better every day. Each day, as the swelling in his face goes down, he is able to open his mouth more and more. Marie and I still aren't sure if that is a good thing or not. She said that she knew he was getting better when he starting driving her NUTS again! I told her that we didn't bring him all the way down here just so she could KILL him!
Tomorrow is another day of radiation...and strength building...
Like I said before...Keep praying...its working!
Love to all,
Marie and Debbie
Tomorrow is another day of radiation...and strength building...
Like I said before...Keep praying...its working!
Love to all,
Marie and Debbie
Update
Not much new to report today...He gets a little stronger every day... At this point we are thinking that they might let us head home on Wednesday or Thursday...but again, things seem to change every day. Marie and I got to the hospital at 7:15 AM yesterday and the doctor had already been in and gone so we never actually got to talk to him.
He had several visitors yesterday and was able to stay awake and alert through most of them...
They have moved a hospital bed into dad's livingroom for at least the first couple of weeks that we are home. Hopefully that will help him with getting in and out of bed. Apparently there is even an "Nurse's Call" button on the side of it. Obviously, it isn't hooked up to anything, but they were trying to figure out how to hook it up to the big "blow horn" on the front of the garage! God Save us All!
Love to all...
Marie and Debbie
He had several visitors yesterday and was able to stay awake and alert through most of them...
They have moved a hospital bed into dad's livingroom for at least the first couple of weeks that we are home. Hopefully that will help him with getting in and out of bed. Apparently there is even an "Nurse's Call" button on the side of it. Obviously, it isn't hooked up to anything, but they were trying to figure out how to hook it up to the big "blow horn" on the front of the garage! God Save us All!
Love to all...
Marie and Debbie
Update on the Update
Dad will be having his last radiation treatment at 12:00. He is scheduled to be released immediately after...which will still probably be two hours later... I've learned that "hospital time" is a lot like "island time"... In any event, we are going to begin our journey north. We will drive until he doesn't feel up to traveling anymore and then spend the night... If all goes well, we will be home sometime tomorrow...
I've got Ed Palmer's "Family Traditions" CD ready and waiting in the car's CD player... If that doesn't perk him up, I don't know what will...
Take care...
I AM SOOOOO EXCITED!
I've got Ed Palmer's "Family Traditions" CD ready and waiting in the car's CD player... If that doesn't perk him up, I don't know what will...
Take care...
I AM SOOOOO EXCITED!
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Sheri Timsak
- Posts: 357
- Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2006 9:38 am
- Location: Beaver Island, MI
Update
We made it as far as West Branch yesterday before he tuckered out... Can't say as I blame him though...his 12:30 departure time turned into 2:30 by the time he was released and had all of his prescriptions filled. Not only did we run into construction (by the way, the Zilwaukee bridge heading northbound is closed...) but we also had to pull off the road for about 1/2 hour during the most torrential downpour I've seen in a long time.
We will start the rest of the trip as soon as he is awake and feeling up to it. Hope to be home around lunch...
In all liklihood, it will be a few days before he is up to any visitors...but I will let Marie keep you all posted on that one. We will have someone with him 24/7 for the next couple of weeks at least. We'll have to play it by ear from that point.
Again, thank you all so much for your care and concern. We all feel so blessed...
Love to all....
Marie and Debbie
We will start the rest of the trip as soon as he is awake and feeling up to it. Hope to be home around lunch...
In all liklihood, it will be a few days before he is up to any visitors...but I will let Marie keep you all posted on that one. We will have someone with him 24/7 for the next couple of weeks at least. We'll have to play it by ear from that point.
Again, thank you all so much for your care and concern. We all feel so blessed...
Love to all....
Marie and Debbie