Update on my wife -Chapter 2

[Tom Phillips]

Our dearest friends -

Our deepest apologies for not keeping you updated after Kathy’s surgery, however I had no web access for the unexpected, extended stay at the hospital.

Sunday after her surgery on Thursday the 20th, about 3:40 AM, I was called by the PCU nurse saying that Kathy was “somewhat anxious”. I arrived about 20 minutes later and found 13 people in her room. Her anxiety had turned to panic and that in turn caused her to hyperventilate, multiplying her respiratory distress. By 4:10 she was in ICU, had a vent tube down her throat to her lungs, a NG tube in nose and down to her stomach, 3 IV’s, restrained and wired to 6 different monitors. Fortunately, by the Grace of God, she was in the right place with the right people to save her life, for which I will be forever grateful.

It wasn’t until Tuesday I was able to understand why Kathy was so agitated and panicked. She was so sedated, she did not know what was going on with her and why all these tubes, restraints and wires were attached to her. After talking to her surgeon and the head of ICU, Wednesday, after they raised her pain level to 9 or 10, she became lucid enough to understand where she was and why, we brought her pain level back down to a 5 or so. 18 hours later, the vent tube came out, 12 hours after that, the NG tube was removed, 16 hours later they removed the chest drain tube and the catheter and 4 hours later were able to move her to PCU again.

Her doctors visited her every day and on Tuesday came with some incredible news; Surgery was a success. The surgery had removed ALL the cancerous cells, there were no cancer cells in any of the surrounding lymph nodes or tissues and she will not need to go through any chemo or radiation.

Kathy came home on Wednesday late evening, after 14 days in the hospital, with a great mental attitude, knowing that her 2 to 3 month road to recovery will be fraught with some pain and anxiety. She also knows that perseverance, prayer and the prayers of all our friends and family, she will overcome all obstacles for a full recovery.

We cannot express out heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your prayers and thoughts during Kathy’s trials, knowing that they helped her get through this ordeal. We have been so blessed with friends that truly care.

And to those who have donated to my grand-daughter's Avon's Walk against Breast Cancer, thank you. For those who wish to, here is a link to Mandy's Avon page
http://tinyurl.com/AmandaWoldWalk

All our love

Kathy and Tom

[Bob Beamesderfer]

Great news, Tom!

[Sebastian Rios]

That's great news! Well wishes for the future!

[Mako Koiwai]

Thanks for making it easy to donate via Mandy's Avon's Walk against Breast Cancer page link.

Karen & Mako ....

[Tom Berry]

Thanks for the update Tom.
Super glad to hear that things went well.
Tom

[George Schilling]

Great news Tom. Give Kathy our best wishes.

[Henry Bjoin]

Wonderful news Tom!

[Mark DeShon]

Awesome news! Glad to hear it!
Mark D.

[Kathy Teulie]

Tom,

I am so glad that her surgery went well. I hope she feels better soon. That sounded like a very scary time.

Kathy

[Q V]

That's awesome news Tom! I hope everything continues to go well for you both.

[Rick Brown]

Really great to hear things have turned out so successful! You are both in my thoughts.

[Arthur Grant]

Tom, is Kathy getting more comfortable now that she is home? Hopefully the pain is subsiding? How are you holding up?

[Renee Angel]

Tom:

Glad to hear that Kathy is doing better. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me. Give my best to Kathy.

Renee

[Steve Abbott]

That's great news Tom. Our prayers are with you guys.

Steve A.

[Arthur Grant]

Team call me a worry wart, I don't know Tom and Kathy well, but they seem like really great people. Tom has been very kind and helpful to me. I haven't heard from him since the last event with No$ at Fontana. I have sent a couple of e-mails with no respone. My hope is that Kathy is recovering well and Tom is hanging in there. Anyone know?

Tom & Kathy your in our thoughts and prayers.

Art

[Sebastian Rios]

I just happened to pass Tom on my way back to work after lunch today, so I know he is around town. Only waved, I don't think he recognized me.