I loved your cheery phone call. You sounded wonderful. I would love to have a phone number to call to see if it will be o.k. for Irene and I to come and see you for a short visit on Thursday. I've received voice mails on the phone from both Lisa and Karen and haven't been able to call them back. I'm usually here doing my dog duty in the yard. I'm still receiving "presents" in the house. Hugs, Judy

Hi Bev,
Glad to read that all went well. Eat & be merry.
love,
Bill, Gale, Sarah Ashley & Julianna

Hey, Bev, I have checked your journal every morning and can see that all your wonderful support group is out in full, loving support, including me! Windsongers are having their final rehearsal this afternoon,and Sunday's playing will be for you, especially Mozart's Ave Verum. Love you,
Rosellen

Irene and I want to come up and visit when you get OUT of ICU. The message is clear. If you want to see us, you need to eat. Besides, you can't stay there forever because we are all missing you, including Lucky. He wants to come home. Please have a good food day. Love, Judy

Yum. I heard about the ravioli. My girls used to call it Chef Boy R Doo Doo! Just think that soon you will be home and you can go to your favorite restaurant and have anything you want! Well, at least maybe once to celebrate being sprung. I love you and miss you. Can't wait to see your smiling self at the 8:15 service again!

Love, Mo. Lyn+

bev.....do you remember several years ago, before dan met you, i told you how i described you to him? "she is such a pull yourself up by the socks, and carry on kind of gal!" he understood that, and you have never failed to prove me right! :)
donna (az)

I'm so proud of you!! Taking all those food bites :-) Just remember, that with each one, your body is getting stronger and stronger. You're giving LIFE to those hungry little cells.

Soon you will enjoy the meals but for now just eat! Love from, Mama DeWitt

Good Morning Dear Bev, Lisa and Karen-
This journal is a wonderful tool....almost as good as "being there." Karen's latest post is so very encouraging to we who have kept you in our thoughts and prayers.
Keep up the good work, my friend. Eat all your veggies :-). I love the photo of you on this page. It is so you with that beautiful 300 watt smile.
With love and gratitude for you, Lisa and Karen.

Nancy & Dan

Great news. Every day you should feel a little better. I'm approaching week 4, I have set backs and spend the day in the recliner then the next day, I'm a mall walker rearing to go. Our thoughts are with you and we do keep up with your blogs so listen to your support team. Richard from Maine

Hi Bev, Lisa, and Karen,

One step at a time and you are getting there. The news gets better and better, and we're (the Maui Maidens) right there with you every step of the way.
After all, we have a party planned and the guest of honor has to be well by then.

Thinking of you all the time.
Love,
Gloria S.

Hi Bev (Lisa & Karen):

You have already received the word about the prayers this morning and the breakfast group so we will just wish you well tonight and hope that the move out of your special care room goes well and that it isn't too much of a comedown to have to share nurses with others. Just remember that it is a great sign of your progress when you are moved to a regular room

Much love,
Ted and Joy

Howdy do de (sp). I was off the list for awhile so Margo forwarded hers from Minneapolis. Lisa you are a wonder and you should write anIrma Bombeck book and I will help you publish it. Glad Bev's progress is so "predictable" according to Dr. C. I was afraid you had flown the coop, Lisa so I stopped by Bev's house today and left a sack for you on the bench at the front door. At church this AM everyone again asked about you and we all sang to you with our hands facing USC hospital. Did you feel the positive energy flowing your way? Watched the Olympics and continue to marvel at the training and physical fitness of the athletes. To think I grumble over my 4 x week classes. We howled over Nurse Rachet - everyone needs one, whether you are in the hospital or not!!! Tomorrow I have my blocked tear duct replaced, say a prayer for me. I asked the doctor why I had to have a general anesthetic and he said, "We don't want you to hear the grinding noise" RIGHT!! When we pulled up to the Huntington Hospital in Pasadena for the pre-opt I thought I was entering a super posh hotel/spa - absolutely stunning. My grandson, Justin, took me in his big old Ford truck and we nestled right between the limos and Rolls. Time for a good chuckle. Love all three of you musketeers. See you soon. Irene

HI Bev, Your progress is amazing and we are delighted for you. It's crowd crazy here in Vancouver for the Olympics. The sun is shining, the people are patriotic, and I yelled myself hoarse at a curling game. All our love . Isabelle and Zoob

Hi Bev,

Thught of you today, twice! Once when we sang the God Is Blessing you Now song. All hand were extended toward L.A. and again at breakfast.
Twelve of us went to the Airport. It's under new ownership. Guess what we did when the drinking straws were passed out. I said, In honor of Bev, ready, set, blow! Straw papers went flying, well sorta. Once again it was proven, nobody does it better than you.
The food was quite good. On that same note, please try to eat what is presented to you so you can come back and join the EBC, Emmanuel Breakfast Club.
We are so grateful for Lisa's posts. Know that we love and miss you and that prayers continue for your recovery and return to the fold.
Blessings, Nancy (Kent)

Bev:

Reading every single update
Praying every single night
Waiting every single day for you to come home
Believing every single minute in you.
Love you.

Marcia

Hi, Bev!

I thought of you often during the OCRS Workshop yesterday!
It was the best ever! JUST GREAT!

Rotem and Vicki gave a marvelous concert in the evening--more recorder virtuosity than I could ever have imagined!
Beautiful.

Hey, you are doing all the right things, but I will join the group nagging about eating well!

Love, Bea

Hi Bev,
All of us at OLLI-CSUF want you to know that we are wishing you a very speedy recovery. We miss your smiling face and cheery spirit.
Can't wait to see you back on campus.
Char Oliva
OLLI-CSUF Friendship Chair

Ho!! do I miss you...Do what hey say and eat even if you don't like it, so that we can get you home.

Love
Jean

C'mon, Auntie--Olivia, the Falconer piglet, would want you to be a credit to her species! Take those tasty treats in your tidy trotter and send them down the little red lane, eh? (Thanks to Elsie for reminding me of that Grannyism a while ago :-) ). We're rooting (pardon the pun...well, actually, no pardon required in THIS family...) for you, Auntie!
Lisa and Karen, y'all are gems. Make sure you're taking care of yourselves, too, ja? Love to all,
Nancy

Hi Lisa
You do whatever you have to do to get Bev out of there in one piece - well, a few extra pieces. This is where the word "caregiver" rings true. My mom can be stubborn as heck and can be a dreadful patient so I know where you are coming from. As we get older we sometimes forget the very method we used to see our loved ones get well. Say Hi to Bev and tell her I said to behave and get well soon. No doubt she is still reeling from the bus that hit her and not every day is a good one. Cheryl, Ontario

Sunday - Please start eating so that you can graduate to the upper levels of the hospital. I want to visit!

Love,Adeline

It's Sunday, but the sun is not illuminating the entire sky. Lots of black clouds. Maybe it's gonna rain.

But, you're always a ray of sunshine when we see you. You make us happy when skies are gray.

Jimbo & Jaybo :-)

Hi Bev: We are happy to see that you are doing well, and that much of the tubes, etc. are out. What is this about you not eating? Don't you want to get the h____ out of there and home to your own bed and puppy? Eat your food! See you soon.

Hugh and Deanna

So how should we address you now as Bev or as Miss piggy Bev?
Love and blessings,
Al and Pat

Hopefully things will start to improve rapidly with those tubes gone!! How much selection is there on the menu and are you able to bring in her favorite foods? Rest, eat, rest.Thinking only positive thoughts for you.
Fran Zilko

Hi to all of you!

What a helluva a way to lose weight. So glad you were able to administer potatoes and carrots! Keep eating! Keep smiling!

Love,
Adeline

Bev, it's wonderful to hear of your spunk and humor--I know how important these attributes are for recovery! I would love to borrow some. So glad to hear you are doing as well as expected. Love and prayers.
Marilyn Halamandaris

Dear Bev, Getting these up to date reports on the computer is great. The Dragonflies are always interested in how the Fish are doing. Hope all is going well and the food starts to taste like Cordon Bleu. Lisa and Karen are prizes. Love, The Big D.

Hi Bev:
Glad to hear that progress is steady. Every one of those tubes coming out is great progress. Keep at the eating. Your strength will be very important when you are up and walking about. Pretend that it is really good food!

Bless you and Lisa and Karen, too

Ted and Joy

Hi Bev- Glad to see you are in there fighting even if it is just with the mashed carrots. Can't wait for your daily news - this journal was a great idea. Waiting for a message from you.

Love and hugs, Eliz

Hello Dear Lady-bud! I so enjoy reading about your progress and to know that you are on the mend does this lady's heart good. As difficult as it may be with "hospital food," guess until your appetite returns you'll need to fake it til you make it :-). Sound familiar? I stole it from a certain 12 step program. Love to you with continued thoughts and healing prayers. Nancy (as in Kent)

Sounds like your recovery is going well. Hope today is a good day for you.
Carolyn

You're doing great, gal! Think of each bite as a strong fortress for each little cell. And each little cell is busy getting well!

This eating "business" is giving you LIFE.

Love and hugs,
Anne

Love you, Bev.
Please let me know who is who.
Who is Karen w the messages?
Who is the talented writer who makes your recovery notes so vivid and fun to read?
I am praying for you each day.
Marci is also doing well. She's like you:
"Can't tie that lady Down!"
Love you much,
Carolyn Cardamis

Good to hear that loyal daughter is force feeding you. You're almost ready for force practicing the recorder. I'll have the current Windsong music for you. Pucker up.

Jimbo

OK Mom,
Your food cannot be as bad as the Italian hospital food. I expect you to get strong and you cannot get strong without food!
Thinking about you always!
Ciao!
G and L

You're on your way, girlfriend. May you get home soon. with much love bobbie

Many thanks to all of you for keeping us well informed! Needness to say, you are all constantly on our minds and in our prayers. If drinking milkshakes is the cure, drink up! We want you back with us soon.
Much Love and Hugs,
Janet and Ken

Hi, Bev!
Hans and I are so proud of you, your doctors, and your recovery. You've been so much in our thoughts and prayers, and we want you back with us at Windsong as soon as possible.
Hooray for you!
God is good.
Love,
Sylvia

Everything is sounding really good.
Keep up the good work, Bev. We love you
and are looking forward to be good visit
when you are home and mended.
Love to you, Dean and Fran

Dear Bev,

Thanks to Lisa, Karen, and your medical staff to keep us informed. It is wonderful news to know that you are doing so well.

I think about you all the time and am really anxious to see you when you are up to it.

God bless!

Love,
Adeline

Wonderful news. You mean to tell me Beverly is in her 80's? If her photo is a recent one, she looks great! I will be 71 in a few months and began to think there was no one over 70 having valve surgery (in these heart valve journals, anyway). I have to wait till March 18th, but will be following Beverly's progress.
Fran Zilko

Hi Bev:
It is wonderful to have these updates from your able crew of 2. You continue to be in our prayers. We missed you Sunday at breakfast and will be missiong you again for a few weeks. It sounds like they are looking after everything very well. That is what we thought about the ICU/CCU staff when Ken Frutchey had his session a year and a half ago. They are amazing nurses and it was a far cry from my nursing days. Florence Nightingale and I had much simpler tasks.

God bless,
Ted and Joy.

Keep up the good work, Miss Piggy!

Marta :)

Dear Bev,
I'm so happy to hear how well you're recovering. It's wonderful to get the daily updates.
My prayers continue to be with yo.
Love amd blessings,
Marje

Hi Bev (aka Miss Piggy!) - Left LA on a 6 a.m. flight Tues. and sure was thinking about you! Was so glad when I talked w/ Irene that evening to learn that everything went so well. Now as I've been reading Lisa and Karen's posts, it's great to learn that your recuperation is speeding right along.
Lee had lots of snow to deal w/ while I was in LA,d but since I've returned have had gorgeous late winter weather--upper 20s/low 30s w/ brilliant sunshine. Irene shivers at that but I'm sure Lisa will nod in agreement:-) Thoughts and prayers are with you!!!!! Margo

Hi Bev, aka Miss Piggy,

I've been following your daily progress and am hearten to read of your recovery, slow but sure, just the way it should be.

I check in daily. Know that I think of you and only wish you the best, and it seems you are getting it.

Keep up your good spirits!

Love and good wishes,

Gloria S.

Hi, Miss Piggy. Dawn e-mailed an update on Lucky. He loves them and they love him. He sits on her lap at night and watches t.v. and has decided she needs to stand by his bowl when he eats. All is well at doggie day care. Hope that each day is bringing improvement and know that you are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. With love, Judy

Hi to gorgeous Bev from the Kamarillo Kids.I read all this with prayers for you and with great interest.Chuck has had the same heart condition since a mild bout with typhoid fever when a Boy Scout in Berkeley. Navy calisthentics brought it out, resulting in a medical discharge and dashing his hopes for a naval military career. He is not a candidate for surgery. alas, bec of major stroke risk and dementia. In 1954, we were told he would not live long enough to see his grand-children. We are grateful for every day of our 55yrs of marriage, enjoying six grand-children, thanks to modern medicine. Our love & prayers to you, Bev, from Chuck and Rita.

Hi Lisa
Glad to hear Bev is okay. If you read some of the other journals you'll see that the external pacemaker is usually attached to the patient "in case" it needs to kick in and keep the heart at the right rhythm while the heart is getting over the surgery. Mine was in use up until almost the end. There are little lead wires going in under the skin and they just yank it out. Ouch - not at all. Taking tape off hurts more. She won't feel it. I'm praying for Bev's continued and speedy recovery. Cheryl, Ontario