A Short Letter from Patti. 2/10/07

Several people got the following email from Patti this morning.

"Hey there everyone, it's been a while and I know you all know why. I am feeling so GREAT except for the pain and the tightness in the stomach/chest from the tons of staples that are in. The doctors are amazed at my progress and they even said that I could go home today but I have to have a months supply of meds and my nebulizer and microspirometer before I can leave and that won't be resolved until about Monday or Tuesday. That should about tell you all how I'm doing.

I have so much to tell everyone about how this all feels and what an experience and blessing this has all been to me but I don't think I have the strength to write all of that right now. I'll just say though that there are major changes in my life......tons of meds (19 pills at 9AM this morning), no more oxygen (oxygen on room air is 98%), no more chest percussion, and no more bi-pap machine. Breathing feels so wonderful and weird at the same time!!!!"

So, she is on her computer and her email. But, be forwarned.... she doesn't want jokes in her email at this time. She has been dealing so much with just questions, the if anyone has her on their joke list or "forward everything" list, to please take her off that list for now.

Here is some more of the news.....

Yes, she could go home (to the hotel) today if all of the meds, etc. were set up, but they aren't so she can't. But she could! How GREAT is that?! What a blessing!?

She will probably not have to stay in Cleveland for the full 6 weeks that we anticipated. It may be as short as 3 weeks. SEE THAT? 3, THREE! Holy cow!!

She will have some limitations for a while. In addition to ALL of the medication she will have to take for a long time (some of it for the rest of her life), for the next 6 weeks she will be able to lift NOTHING over 5 pounds (a gallon of milk weighs 8 pounds), and nothing over 10 pounds for the first full year. And she will not ever be able to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice again because it absorbs some of the medication she has to take and will make it ineffective completely. Oh, and don't forget no fresh cut flowers.

Now, on to the best news -- well the other good news -- yesterday when she was woken up for her medication was the first time that she can remember in her entire life that she was NOT coughing. I've never known Patti without a cough. I can't wait to see her.

Again, from me and from Patti's Aunt Sally (and I'm sure the rest of the immediate family) to all of you out there who either don't know Patti very well, or who have never even met her. Thank you again. Thank you for your time in checking this web site for updates. Thank you for your time in prayer. Thank you for your concern. Thank you for your donations -- whether monitary or time. Thank you.