Hi Lee, I've been following your blog, and want you to know that I'm thinking of you every step of the way. We are keeping you in our prayers.
Love,
Margaret and Dave

Lee
Your surgery is happening as I write this.I just want you to know I am thinking about you and wish you a very quick recovery. So glad Colleen is with you. Coleen we just want you to know if your Mom needs any help when she comes home the ladies of JCC would do anything to help her. We love her and can't wait to see her dancing again.
Please give her a hug for us

Love Carol and Frank

Hi Lee,
We sent a message to Colleen's email before we found this guestbook. Cathy wanted you to know she went to Mass for you on Monday to help put you ahead of the game. Bob wanted you to know that as a Penn alumnus he's glad you're in the excellent care of HUP, and also of the University chaplain who Colleen said visited with you. We're watching the updates and keeping you in our prayers.
Love,
Bob and Cathy

Colleen,
Laura here.Thanks so much for keeping us all updated even though this must be so difficult for you. You Mom is a very, very special friend. We enjoy bridge and going out for a meal, talking and just hanging out. My friend Bob loves clasic cars like your Dad did. He is so impressed with how well your Dad restored and maintained his 57 Chevy. Bob will do the same because he fell in love with your Mom & dad's '57.Bob also adores your Mom. We enjoy her company so much and can't wait until she feels like having company and going out again. I would like to visit at the hospital Friday if see feels up to. I will let you both decide about visitors. Tell your Mom thanks for the MS meditation tape. It relaxes me so much , i fall right asleep after 5 Minutes! so I still haven't gotten through the whole tape !!! Give Lee our love, Laura & Bob

Lee....Good Luck with the surgery. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Colleen, thanks for keeping us up to date on your Moms progress.

All my best,
Connie

Colleen
Thanks for the updated blog.
Please feel free to call if need to talk.
You should have my cell and home number.
Will check back later.
Sorry she went up so late -has to be hard for you =sometimes waiting is hardest part of all.
Sure your Dad is right there..
Love,Pat

Hi Lee

We are thinking of you and hope to read tomorrow that all went well and you are beginning your road to recovery.

John and Patricia

Hi Lee,
You're in my prayers. I know you haven't gone up for surgery yet so good luck.
Love Nancy & Bobby

Hi Lee and Colleen,
Glad got to speak to both of you this morning. Was so upset missed your call last night because phone out -but fixed in time to get your message -see the angels wanted us to talk -or Tom did..
You sounded good and upbeat and relaxed - I am thrilled. Will have to try those tapes -oh and borrow Colleen =her being there is big blessing. Much love, Pat & Jack

Hi Lee I've been thinking about you a lot lately and I'm very anxious to hear that all went well and you're on your way to a fast recovery. Best luck and know that a lot of your friends are pulling for you. Bill W.

Good luck hope to see you soon,, Bradley Mason

Good Morning, Lee, Today is your surgery and I just want you to know that I am thinking of you by the minute. We'll see you on the other side ready to get back to your dancing and ballet. Love, Diane and Michael

Lee,

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Be positive and know that Colleen, her family and all of your friends are with you at this moment. May God's healing hand be upon you at all times.

Love,

Cousin Jeff.

Colleen,
Keep us posted on Mom.
Know we're here anytime = please call if need us.
Much love,
Pat & Jack

Hi Lee-My knee surgery is on Thursday 7/22 and have been praying for both of us! Although you told me on the phone that you feel "old" you are still relatively young for surgery. People in their 80's get heart surgery and modern advances are phenomenal-also U of P is premiere and I know you'll get the best of care! Thoughts and prayers are with you and next week this time it'll be all over and we'll be on the road to recovery! Love you and hope to see you soon-Remember we have to dance at Nick's wedding!!
Love Genni

nevermind I just saw that you are on wed...

Hey Lee,

I am right there with you. Getting ready for thursday. I will find out tomorrow what time surgery is. You are getting it done on thurs right?. I will see you most likely. hang in there good luck

Sean

Hey Lee,

I just had surgery on Friday. Time oN respirator. Was limited but since you are sort of out of it, you aren't watching the clock. Trick Is to relax and get through it. I got out of the hospital yesterday and it's been relatively smooth sailing. No pain just discomfort from stiff shoulders. I was very relaxed going in and I think it helped a lot!

Dear Lee,
Hope you got our phone messages yesterday.
Wanted you to try and talk to you before going in hospital but missed you.
Love you and praying daily.
Please tell Coleen to keep us posted.
Much love.
Pat & Jack

Dear Lee:
How I wish we lived closer and could help in some way! You are in our thoughts and prayers for a successful surgery and quick recovery. We are with you in spirit.
Love, Don & Mary Jo

Hi Lee,

My prayers and thoughts are with you. Just think, as soon as surgery is over you are on the road to recovery. God bless.

Elaine

Good Luck Lee,

It should go well for you. In a few days you will look back and think this all was not as bad as you had imagined it would be..

Stay positive..

Mark

Keller, TX

Lee,
Good luck From another Jersey girl. Sorry to hear about your other health issues. Good luck on your surgery......we will be praying for you. I did not like the breathing tube one bit, but I pushed to have it out and it was over before I knew it.....coming out it did not bother me.....it was such a relief. Everything else went smoothly.
Theresa Callanan
Howell NJ

Hi Lee. I too am using some guided relaxation recordings & find them very helpful. I have transferred them to a small iPod that I recently purchased & plan to take it with me to the hospital. Take yours too if they help. Best wishes - Joy Vera

Hi Lee,
Will be thinking of you and praying for a very fast recovery. Others I have talked to who have had the surgery said the anticipation is the worst. You have the best surgeon, so I know you will do well. Love Laura & Bob

Hi Lee,
If you know the time of your surgery if you would like I can send you long distance reiki at that time. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Please don't hesitate to call me when you need help.
Peace,
Marlene

Hi Lee,

Thank you for the post in my book. I'm sorry to hear you're having other non-related issues. Hopefully, this is under control before your surgery. You sure don't need another issue right now. You are in my prayers.

Kellie (MD)

Hi Lee,

I am going into the hospital tomorrow for surgery on Tuesday. I am worried about the tube also, but trying not to worry too much. I think all will be not as bad as I might imagine. Best of luck and wishing us both a speedy recovery.

Kellie (MD)

Hi Lee. My surgery is scheduled for the same day as yours so we'll recover simultaneously. Best of luck to both of us. Joy Vera

Hi Lee
Seem the two things people tend to worry about before surgery is the intubation tube and pain. Pain management is a primary post op as you need to cough, sit up, walk and eat and you can't do much if your pain is more than you can deal with. As far as the tube, I would agree with Ricki and Mark, you will be fairly well sedated and what bothered me the most was being thirsty. Removing it was not bad at all, seriously, don't worry about it, just do what they tell you and before you know it you'll be sucking on ice chips. Prayers for a successful surgery on the 21st.
Fran

Lee,

The short answer is "not bad". I was awake when they pulled it and as Mark said, I gagged a bit but it was over quickly. After I woke up time was a bit fuzzy so I'm not sure how long it was in, but I'm guessing only an hour or 2 after I first woke. (I kept drifting in and out of sleep all that day.)

Don't worry about it. And the good news is that, at least for me, the removal of the breathing tube was absolutely the worst thing that happened to me while I was in the hospital . . . the whole experience was much easier than I could have guessed.

Ricki Shine

Lee,

it is not bad enough to worry about. In my case, after I was awakened I was on the ventilattor for about 1.5 hours before they turned it off. Then i had to breathe with the tubes still in for another hour to maintain my oxygen levels before it was removed.

Their are two tubes, one to your stomach, the other to your lungs. When they were pulled i was completely cognizant of it. it was not that bad. They are quick. the first tube came out, they pause till you the second will be pulled and then it is pulled quickly too. i had a natural gag reflex with the second tube, but that passed quickly.

You will get ice chips after that sporadically, but you will crave more. Just ask for more as you want them, suck the ice slowly and don't chomp it down.

Many people do not remember the tubes, I do and it was not as bad as feared..

Relax and you will be fine..

Mark

Keller, TX

Hi Lee,

I had a repair of the bicuspid valve, and two dacron grafts, one for an aortic aneurysm and another graft placed in the aorta arch on May 10 at the U of PA. My surgeon was Dr. Bavaria.

I too was worried about the respirator. The truth is I don't remember it all. All I remember about ICU was that I asked for more pain medication and was extremely thirsty. Before I knew it I was being moved out of ICU.

Best wishes and prayers are being sent your way. Will be looking forward to your future postings.

Elaine

Hi Lee,

My name is Jacki and I am Seans wife. I will be at the hosp with Sean all week. I will most likely see you in halls walking lol. Good Luck with everything

jacki

Lee,
Lucille and I wish you a successful operation and a speedy recovery. But you need to keep in mind that we are close by if you need any help. Do not hesitate to call on us.
Lucille & Tony

HI Lee!

Although I'm married so I don't live alone, I have been alone during the day while my husband is at work since 12 days after surgery - aortic valve replacement. I had originally arranged for friends to "babysit" me each day for several weeks but I found I could take care of myself. I agree with Mary that one key to doing that is organization . . . Making sure everything you need is within reach to minimize getting up and down. But you will be needing to walk several (or more) times a day so combine your walks with getting things you need.

I had minimally invasive surgery (3 inch incision) so that may have made it possible to get around more easily than those with bigger incisions.

I did have to rely on friends to drive me to doctors appointments and such when hubby couldn't do so. Don't hesitate to ask friends to help. They'll be happy
to do so.

Good luck with your surgery and recovery.
Ricki Shine

Dear Lee,
I just wanted to wish you a successful surgery and a quick recovery. My 19 year old son Danny just had Open Heart Surgery on July 1, 2010. He was sent home from the hospital just "3" short days after surgery. I guess because of his young age and athleticism he was able to get out quickly. I have been taking care of him since he was sent home but I know you live alone. My Mother-in-Law lives in FL and we live in MI and she had to have surgery on her hip. She told me she prepared meals ahead of time and froze them. Additionally, she made lists of things she would need to do, and things she would need and did as many things in advance as she could (buying additional supplies & food). Before she sat down in the recliner (where she nearly lived the first couple of days home (she went to a rehab center for one month); she MADE SURE she had everything she needed (i.e. pills, water, phone, heating pad etc.) before sitting down. She said she didn't want to have to get up unnecessarily. I hope these few suggestions helped. Additionally, she had a visiting nurse that visited her 2-3 times a week. Maybe when you are at the hospital you can check in to that through their home services. Make SURE you let them know you live alone and will be caring for yourself. I'm sure they encounter that situation a lot and will have even BETTER suggestions to help you. Good luck, again, and I will keep you in my prayers. Mary James

Hi Lee, I hope you get a lot of good suggestions for how to deal with the recuperation period after you are home. My tip is to not be shy about letting people know exactly what you need...laundry...food..company...books...etc,etc
You are a very special friend!! love, laura

Hi Lee,

My surgery is on Thurs July 22. I will most likly run into you. Maybe when we are walking the halls lol Take care

sean m