The Force is DEFINITELY with him...

More update from Nurse Lynne:

Rick called a bit ago...He is in room 6779 as of last nite.  The doctors are sending him home in the morning after they make their rounds.  He walked all morning to get his gut working...he has success.  He has requested some Thai food which I am bringing to him in the early evening. His voice is more of a Rick's voice...I haven't seen him in about 24 hours but my sense is he is tired and needs some good rest at home.

 

Have a lovely day, Lynne

How bout that, boys and girls?!

Here's the latest from Nurse Lynne...

Mr Wixo is out of bed and in a chair...he walks around the bed and is eager to leave ICU.  He is totally worn out today...the 2nd and 3rd post op days are challenging.  The anesthesia has left the body and the reality of all that has occured over weeks and months hits the person.  They feel as if a Mack truck has run them over and then backed up and run over them again.

 

Rick requests NO VISITORS today.  

I visited early...6am and coordinated the nurses's AM care and out of bed in the chair with my arrival.  He is tired today and the doctors, about five of them, are visiting and prodding here and there to check his body and ask the same questions over and over.  He is on clear liquids and enjoying belching...it means that his plumbing is waking up to function status after the anesthesia.

 

Rick is in good spirits and appreciates all of your love and visits and good wishes...he beams when he tells me who has come by to visit.

 

Have a lovely day. 

Joyously,

Lynne  

Saw Rick tonight from about 8 to 9 PM. Dear friend Fabio was there pampering away when I arrived. Rick was groggy but giddy. His color was great and he really looked like healthy farm boy Rick we're all accustomed to. Still joking around. He confided that he'd had hallucinations from the Morphine and asked if what he thought he remembered about the success of the surgery was true. Yes, I told him. And told him a few more times before I left. Rick said he thought he dreamed that the surgeon had woken him up after the surgery and told him, "It's a miracle. Good call choosing to do this..." Sounded credible to me. Then Fabio left me with Rick. Night nurse Julie came in. Gorgeous Asian brainiac - and with a wry sense of humor as well! She said that Rick had shocked everyone with his progress. They expected him to be in ICU for a week but our Wixo was gonna be in a chair by 6:30 AM and moved to a regular room probably by the end of next day! Next, I made him talk to his sister Sherri on speaker phone. He lasted about three minutes as his throat was hoarse from the tube that had been taken out only that day. I took a picture of him, but even a drug-addled mind couldn't sideline the ol' vanity, "I look puffy, delete, delete!" So you get a photo of Rick's thumbs up! Anyway, Rick is groggy, sore, itchy but grateful and a little afraid to believe the good news. I read him many of the FaceBook posts and they cheered him. When I got up to go, Rick became the actor he's meant to be and laid on his thickest diva, "Go, go...don't worry about me. I've learned to go it alone..." (hand to forehead and then), "You go to work, Joe. Yes, work was always so important to you..." With that, I ate one of the lovely chocolates Fabio had brought (and that Rick wasn't allowed to eat himself) and I came home to report to you!

More good news from Nurse Lynne!

"Nurse Sue is a gem...my friend, Marian, who checked on Rick in the middle of nite knows her well...I like her and she is the nurse for Rick tonite too.  The visit with Rick started about 6:30 this morning and he wanted me to repeat the story of the surgery over and over again.  Then he said, "I saw it so clearly before the surgery".  He is joyous about all the tumors being gone as he was so clear they would. The Medical Student came while I was there and he repeated the surprise of the surgical team that scar tissue and adhesions were minimal and the cutting of tumors easier than expected by the doctors. I taught Rick some breathing exercises and the doctor reassured him that he can do no harm while in bed. I asked about being in a chair and the doctor team determines that on rounds today. He is healing and moving well in bed...no signs of bleeding.

 

He loved Fabio's visit and smiled broadly when he said, "He mothered me".  The chocolates were a smashing idea and a lovely touch.

 

I told him about all the emails and the love being sent to him...kissed him many times for the folk who asked me to deliver kisses.

I return later tonight...bringing homebaked goodies for the nurses...and checking in to witness his progress.  More for you as the postop course unfolds.

 

Rick says, "Thank you" to each of you and he had one of those million dollar smiles when he said it.

 

Joyously, Lynne"

This blog, intended to be an updated chronicle of Rick's medical condition has already come to a good result! The following message was sent to me by Lynne, a retired nurse and close friend of Rick's who has been by his side through all of his health ordeal from the start:

"OK...the surgeon came to speak with me five hours after the surgery.  All the tumors were encapsulated...little scar tissue or adhesions from previous surgery...the two surgeons went into this surgery expecting many complications and complexity...Dr Kaswick stated, "it turned out to be the best scenario"  and we got all the tumors.  Rick is in recovery and should be in his room tonite about 7PM.

I am home for a respite and returning to the hospital this evening.

I know Rick is fine...the surgeons were quick and thorough...anesthesia was one of the best MDs, I worked with her on open heart cases...your prayers worked...Rick is in the hospital for about 5 days and then slow and easy for 4-6 weeks.

THANK YOU SO MUCH...RICK IS BLESSED WITH A CARING, SUPPORTIVE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS...HE IS A WINNER ON ALL FRONTS.

Joyously, Lynne"

As if Lynne wasn't enough of a saint already, she's also one of the most killer cookie-makers you'd ever want to know! Rick is out of the weeds and on his way to recovery and good health. 

Now Lynne deserves a luxury vacation and perpetual flowers. Hopefully she'll settle for endless gratitude and hugs!

Joe

Rick checked into the hospital at 5:30 this morning, Monday, Feb. 6th to have surgery performed to remove a cancerous tumor from a major artery. This is a condition that Rick has been attending to for the better part of a year. He has tried alternative, holistic methods of treatment as well as new innovations in conventional medicine for his specific type of cancer. While some treatments have been more successful than others, none have completely halted the growth of the disease so far. The good news is that treatments have positively affected Rick's condition and he's done everything in his power to be in the best shape possible for today's surgery. Rick has also been thankful that he's had so many options to choose from in his battle. If you know Rick, you know he's a fighter and has been keeping himself physically and mentally strong and positive in preparation for this big day. In their due diligence, the doctors said some pretty scary things about the precarious nature of the tumor and the danger in operating. But it's their job to lay out worst case scenarios. Rick listened, weighed his options carefully and chose surgery with absolute conviction. What can we do to help? Well, more than anything else, Rick has requested that friends send him "funny stuff" as he recovers from this serious procedure (he's expected to be in the hospital for most of the week). I'll be posting here and on FaceBook regularly to keep you all in the loop. If I was ever in distress, danger, or need, I would feel incredibly fortunate to have the kinds of friends that Rick has in all of us!

Love,

Joe Moe

If you're reading this post, it means you're a dear friend, family member, or at the very least you care enough to check out my FaceBook page. Here's the story...

For the better part of a year I've been battling a rare form of cancer. I've put up a good fight. I've had my ups and downs. I know the "C word" scares people and nobody has been more scared than me. But I'm here to tell you I've kept myself extremely healthy and happy thanks to the love and support of so many of you. I've tried not to burden the world with my personal battle up to now, but the time has come to let all of you know that my journey has lead me to a hopeful but dangerous opportunity to beat this disease. On Monday Feb. 6th I'll be having major surgery to remove a tumor from a precarious place on a major artery. The best surgeons will be attending to this, but I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that the location of the tumor is worrisome and that there are no guarantees surgery will be possible to be performed, or that it will be successful. In life, it's times like these that we need the people who matter the most to know the critical risks and rewards we're facing. It's also a time for us to appreciate and express how much we love each other. And let's face it. Your good thoughts, energy and prayers couldn't hurt either! I have a great support system set up to take care of me, my business and to keep all of you informed of my progress. My good friend Joe Moe will be in contact with my family who will fill him in so that he can pass info on to all of you through postings here on FaceBook. I'm looking forward to a healthy and prosperous 2012. No matter what, please know that your presence in my life is a constant blessing and I never take it for granted. With that said, let's lighten it up! Please send me anything funny. A joke or funny video. Laughter is the best medicine and it's the only medicine I'm addicted to! I love to laugh!! 

Post funny stuff here or on my FaceBook page!

Love,

Rick