Greetings to all you friends and family!
First, my deepest love and thanks to my dear husband Pete for once again sticking by my side, for taking such good care of me, for letting me squeeze his hand so very tightly as I was in agonizing pain in the wee hours of Wed. night/am. As you know from Pete's posting Thursday night, I am back in the U Hospital after having had emergency surgery to unkink/unwind my colon/large intestine, which also involved removing/cutting out 17 inches of dead (necrotic) intestinal tissue! FYI, the large intestine is about 5 feet long, so I have plenty left!! According to my excellent surgeons, (Drs. John Langell and David Larsen), I was extremely lucky -- they were able to handle my twisted bowels just in the nick of time, i.e., before my colon/intestine ruptured, which would have made me septic, and having a compromised immune system . . . well, that would have been really really bad!!
In any event, despite the short-lived but extreme pain and agony of a couple of days ago, and despite having to be hospitalized, I am truly fortunate in having had life-saving surgery once again! I now fully understand why the core of the body is called the core - lots of muscles in there that are sore! And, I now have a lovely scar virtually the entire vertical length of my abdomen! The new incision starts a couple of inches below the bottom of my "heart scar," and travels for 7 or 8 inches. At the moment, the incision is actually partially still open - it is sewn shut in the center but remains open a few inches on top and bottom (the facia is sewed shut but the subcutaneous fat and skin layers are open). They did this to help ensure that I would have no infection between the fat and skin, as the abdominal area had a lot of "murky fluid" in it when they opened me up. Over the next few days, the docs will slowly close the wound by attaching steri-strips to seal the incision.
I was not allowed much fluid (other than IV fluids) until today (a bit of water/ice chips yesterday) and was not allowed to eat until today, when I began a liquid diet of applesauce, soup, juice, water. So far, so good! Now I await for some of the illustrious bowel activity (sound familiar Barb and Tom?!).
It is a bit lonely here, but thankfully Pete brought the boys to visit this morning! Of course they had fun playing with the bed's buttons and having a snack of juice and crackers. I feel terribly sad that my dear Pete has to deal with a sick wife once again, but he is strong, we are strong, and we'll make it through! And, once again, the irony of all of this is that my new heart is functioning very well. One of the Transplant Cardiologist's said to me today, "Well, your heart passed a huge stress test with flying colors!" Ain't that the truth.
Alas, I do not know much yet in terms of the recovery process, except that I will not be able to lift for a while, I will have to be off work for some period of time again, and we will need all your friendship, love, and support over the coming weeks! Thanks to all of you who have already called or sent messages - we appreciate it.
Thanks for being there for us/with us in the ongoing drama called life!
Lots of love and peace,
Emily
p.s. If you are so inclined, you can reach me on my cell, or by calling the U Hosp. at 801.585.8652 (direct line to my room 630).
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Back at the UofU
Emily is unfortunately back in the hospital this evening after a 2 hour surgery to untwist her colon. The good news is she did great during the procedure with no major complications and no minor inconveniences i.e. a need for a colostomy bag.
She will be in the hospital for approximately 5-7 days and be fully recovered in 8 weeks.
Needless to say we are both exhausted(the pain and acute symptoms start this morning at 2am) so this will be brief, but wanted to get the word out to provoke a positive vibe.
The boys are great, they heard her voice before going to bed, and they are eager to play with the cool beds at the hospital.
Love, Pete
She will be in the hospital for approximately 5-7 days and be fully recovered in 8 weeks.
Needless to say we are both exhausted(the pain and acute symptoms start this morning at 2am) so this will be brief, but wanted to get the word out to provoke a positive vibe.
The boys are great, they heard her voice before going to bed, and they are eager to play with the cool beds at the hospital.
Love, Pete
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Join me locals!
Hi folks (my stars and angels):
This posting is purely for locals (Utahns), unless you are so interested you want to travel here for the event described below! I invite you to please join me, Pete, Mason, and Liam next Tuesday, March 31 at an event at REI, and then later at Bryant Middle School. Details/flyer below:
A woman named Kel
ly Perkins is coming to town. She is a heart transplant recipient (1995, I think), and she is the first heart transplant recipient to have climbed major mountains, such as Fuji, Kilmanjaro, the Matterhorn, El Capitan, Half Dome, Mt. Aspiring in New Zealand, etc. She wrote a book called The Climb of My Life, and she is here to promote organ donation awareness. She will be climbing (the wall) at REI on 33rd So. that Tues. March 31 at 3:30 pm, I think (I will be there, maybe climbing though I have never done it before?!), and then Kelly will be speaking at Bryant Middle School at 7 pm that night. See attached flyer and Kelly's website - http://craigandkelly.com/ or http://www.theclimbofmylife.com/ (same site). I would love for you all to attend one or both events, both because I think Kelly will be inspiring and because Organ Donation Awareness is obviously a subject that is close to my heart (no pun intended). We will be bringing the boys to the climbing event for certain, maybe to both.
Thanks, and hope to see you next Tuesday,
Em
This posting is purely for locals (Utahns), unless you are so interested you want to travel here for the event described below! I invite you to please join me, Pete, Mason, and Liam next Tuesday, March 31 at an event at REI, and then later at Bryant Middle School. Details/flyer below:
A woman named Kel
ly Perkins is coming to town. She is a heart transplant recipient (1995, I think), and she is the first heart transplant recipient to have climbed major mountains, such as Fuji, Kilmanjaro, the Matterhorn, El Capitan, Half Dome, Mt. Aspiring in New Zealand, etc. She wrote a book called The Climb of My Life, and she is here to promote organ donation awareness. She will be climbing (the wall) at REI on 33rd So. that Tues. March 31 at 3:30 pm, I think (I will be there, maybe climbing though I have never done it before?!), and then Kelly will be speaking at Bryant Middle School at 7 pm that night. See attached flyer and Kelly's website - http://craigandkelly.com/ or http://www.theclimbofmylife.com/ (same site). I would love for you all to attend one or both events, both because I think Kelly will be inspiring and because Organ Donation Awareness is obviously a subject that is close to my heart (no pun intended). We will be bringing the boys to the climbing event for certain, maybe to both.Thanks, and hope to see you next Tuesday,
Em
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Happy [belated] Heart Day!
-- 
The Foehl Gang on sleigh ride on Dec. 26 (minus Whitney & Chris).
Greetings to all my stars and angels!
We wish you a very belated happy heart day/Valentine's Day, and even a very Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!!!!! We have been a bit remiss about posting, which means that things have been relatively calm and normal. I guess, too calm, so we decided to shake things up a bit!
This past Tuesday, Feb. 10, I had my 8-mon. biopsy, which went well enough . . . but my biopsies are always a bit difficult and the docs, unfortunately, punctured my right lung again (you may recall this happened on my very first biopsy, June 24, 2008, the day I was discharged from the hospital post-transplant surgery!). Alas, this time it was a complete pnuemothorax (totally collapsed right lung -- first time it was only partial). I had actually gotten all the way home from the hospital and day of appts., when I bent over to take off my boots and felt this sharp sudden pain in the middle of my chest and coughed. I immediately stood up and sat down -- at which point the pain disappeared -- but I called the transplant nurse coordinators. They called me back in about 1/2 an hour, after speaking with the docs, and asked me to come back down to the hospital to get a chest x-ray. So, I drove myself back down, relatively pain free as I was not moving and sitting upright. It was about 3:45 pm at this point. Shea was with the boys, Pete was at work. Dr. Toosi and Shirley, one of the transplant nurses, came into the radiology waiting area within minutes of my having had the xray with grim looks on their faces and asked "How are you feeling?" I knew that was not a good sign. They told me about the lung, and that I would have to be admitted to the hospital and have another chest tube put in to remove the air. It was now about 5:00 pm, Pete got to the hospital shortly thereafter, Pete arranged for the kids to go next door to Melissa and Ben's for dinner, and then for the Winkelmans - mom Patty and daughter Hannah - to put the kids to bed. Shea (our nanny) had to get back to SLC, but she kindly gathered a few items/necessities (my glasses, jammie pants, book, cell phone charger, earplugs, etc.) and meet Pete near the hospital to give us the bag). Around 6pm, I got into a semi-private room, temporarily on 4North, the cardiology floor, where my old friend Bill Wong, who was part of my transplant surgical team inserted the chest tube. This time it went above the right breast, below the collarbone -- really not so comfy. So, I spent 1 night in the hospital and the next day the xrays showed the right lung remained re-inflated, so I was able to go home in the late afternoon on Wed. After being discharged, however, we went to another hospital in SLC, St. Marks, where I got the third of three blood tests called Allomap - it is hoped that this blood test will replace biopsies. The protocol is to have 3 tests the first year post-transplant to establish a baseline. Then, assuming one has no rejections, one can use the blood test in lieu of biopsy. So, because of this latest incident, my doctors moved up the third test to correspond with the 8-month biopsy rather than the 1yr./annual biopsy, and I will hopefully have the Allomap blood test and NO biopsy in April, when I would normally have another biopsy!!! We'll keep our fingers crossed. Another piece of good news is that my biopsy last Tuesday was great -- no rejection. So, all in all, we are well, I am well, and I am thankful this little bump was indeed minor. The hardest part was being in the hospital overnight, not being with the boys and Pete. Pete relayed that Liam was very upset when he could not find me Wednesday morning - the first time he has really had a very visible reaction to my not being home. Thankfully, it was only 1 night/day.
There is probably lots more to write, but I will just let you know that we are having a good winter. I am back to work part-time, 3 days/week. We had wonderful Christmas holidays with all the Foehls here (14 of us in all) - it was really fun -- hectic but great. Mason, Pete, and I have been skiing quite a bit, and Liam has even been on skis once so far! We hope you are all well, happy, healthy, and enjoying life.
Here are a couple of recent photos for your enjoyment!
. . . TWO BIRDS, NO TWO PLANES, NO . . . THEY ARE SUPERBOYS aka Mason & Liam
Up on "9990" at the Canyons, the peak that is 9,990 feet that one hikes to above the lift and then skis down. A beautiful, fun day skiing with the Wiczeks (photo is Em, Pete, and Melissa, looking West at the Salt Lake Valley. Ben is taking it.) -- Mason and Hanna W. were in ski school, Grace W. was with her ski team, and Liam and Paul W. were home having fun with Sophie Winkelman.
The Foehl Gang on sleigh ride on Dec. 26 (minus Whitney & Chris).Greetings to all my stars and angels!
We wish you a very belated happy heart day/Valentine's Day, and even a very Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!!!!! We have been a bit remiss about posting, which means that things have been relatively calm and normal. I guess, too calm, so we decided to shake things up a bit!
This past Tuesday, Feb. 10, I had my 8-mon. biopsy, which went well enough . . . but my biopsies are always a bit difficult and the docs, unfortunately, punctured my right lung again (you may recall this happened on my very first biopsy, June 24, 2008, the day I was discharged from the hospital post-transplant surgery!). Alas, this time it was a complete pnuemothorax (totally collapsed right lung -- first time it was only partial). I had actually gotten all the way home from the hospital and day of appts., when I bent over to take off my boots and felt this sharp sudden pain in the middle of my chest and coughed. I immediately stood up and sat down -- at which point the pain disappeared -- but I called the transplant nurse coordinators. They called me back in about 1/2 an hour, after speaking with the docs, and asked me to come back down to the hospital to get a chest x-ray. So, I drove myself back down, relatively pain free as I was not moving and sitting upright. It was about 3:45 pm at this point. Shea was with the boys, Pete was at work. Dr. Toosi and Shirley, one of the transplant nurses, came into the radiology waiting area within minutes of my having had the xray with grim looks on their faces and asked "How are you feeling?" I knew that was not a good sign. They told me about the lung, and that I would have to be admitted to the hospital and have another chest tube put in to remove the air. It was now about 5:00 pm, Pete got to the hospital shortly thereafter, Pete arranged for the kids to go next door to Melissa and Ben's for dinner, and then for the Winkelmans - mom Patty and daughter Hannah - to put the kids to bed. Shea (our nanny) had to get back to SLC, but she kindly gathered a few items/necessities (my glasses, jammie pants, book, cell phone charger, earplugs, etc.) and meet Pete near the hospital to give us the bag). Around 6pm, I got into a semi-private room, temporarily on 4North, the cardiology floor, where my old friend Bill Wong, who was part of my transplant surgical team inserted the chest tube. This time it went above the right breast, below the collarbone -- really not so comfy. So, I spent 1 night in the hospital and the next day the xrays showed the right lung remained re-inflated, so I was able to go home in the late afternoon on Wed. After being discharged, however, we went to another hospital in SLC, St. Marks, where I got the third of three blood tests called Allomap - it is hoped that this blood test will replace biopsies. The protocol is to have 3 tests the first year post-transplant to establish a baseline. Then, assuming one has no rejections, one can use the blood test in lieu of biopsy. So, because of this latest incident, my doctors moved up the third test to correspond with the 8-month biopsy rather than the 1yr./annual biopsy, and I will hopefully have the Allomap blood test and NO biopsy in April, when I would normally have another biopsy!!! We'll keep our fingers crossed. Another piece of good news is that my biopsy last Tuesday was great -- no rejection. So, all in all, we are well, I am well, and I am thankful this little bump was indeed minor. The hardest part was being in the hospital overnight, not being with the boys and Pete. Pete relayed that Liam was very upset when he could not find me Wednesday morning - the first time he has really had a very visible reaction to my not being home. Thankfully, it was only 1 night/day.
There is probably lots more to write, but I will just let you know that we are having a good winter. I am back to work part-time, 3 days/week. We had wonderful Christmas holidays with all the Foehls here (14 of us in all) - it was really fun -- hectic but great. Mason, Pete, and I have been skiing quite a bit, and Liam has even been on skis once so far! We hope you are all well, happy, healthy, and enjoying life.
Here are a couple of recent photos for your enjoyment!
. . . TWO BIRDS, NO TWO PLANES, NO . . . THEY ARE SUPERBOYS aka Mason & Liam
Up on "9990" at the Canyons, the peak that is 9,990 feet that one hikes to above the lift and then skis down. A beautiful, fun day skiing with the Wiczeks (photo is Em, Pete, and Melissa, looking West at the Salt Lake Valley. Ben is taking it.) -- Mason and Hanna W. were in ski school, Grace W. was with her ski team, and Liam and Paul W. were home having fun with Sophie Winkelman.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
6 month anniversary!
Dear all our Stars and Angels:
Wow. I just cannot believe it has been 6 months tonight since my transplant surgery! In some ways it seems like yesterday, and in other ways it seems like forever ago. So much good fortune has come to me/us, and we are ever mindful of and thankful for all of your love, help, support, prayers, good energy, and blessings. In case we have not come out and said to each and every one of you, near and far, what we think all the time, THANK YOU!
We have received about a foot of new snow in Park City since yesterday afternoon (after a foot over the weekend). Today, the skies cleared around 4 pm, at which point it was just beautiful outside. So, to celebrate the new snow, Shea (our nanny), Mason, Liam, and I geared up in our winter clothes, and I cleared the driveway with the snowblower for the first time with my new heart! Shea said I had a huge grin on my face each time I came back down the driveway!! It was fun and I felt great.
My most recent biopsy was a week ago, which was another miserable experience but the results were excellent (no rejection) so that is all that really matters. All else is well with us. Mason and Pete have been skiing twice together, and Mason has been twice (again tomorrow) with the free program through his preschool. Mason, Pete and I will ski together on Sat. (my first time post-op!). We'll wait to take Liam until the Spring or a warm winter day. It is too frigid and too busy on the slopes this time of year.
Thanks for all your continued love and support. Thanks also for your prayers for my friends Bill and Paul, who are still waiting for new hearts. Perhaps they will get the ultimate extra special Christmas gift this year! I am thinking, as always, of my donor family and wish them peace and love -- it must be especially difficult for them this time of year.
I wish you all a great week of Hannukah and great pre-Christmas week!
Lots of love and thanks,
Emily
Wow. I just cannot believe it has been 6 months tonight since my transplant surgery! In some ways it seems like yesterday, and in other ways it seems like forever ago. So much good fortune has come to me/us, and we are ever mindful of and thankful for all of your love, help, support, prayers, good energy, and blessings. In case we have not come out and said to each and every one of you, near and far, what we think all the time, THANK YOU!
We have received about a foot of new snow in Park City since yesterday afternoon (after a foot over the weekend). Today, the skies cleared around 4 pm, at which point it was just beautiful outside. So, to celebrate the new snow, Shea (our nanny), Mason, Liam, and I geared up in our winter clothes, and I cleared the driveway with the snowblower for the first time with my new heart! Shea said I had a huge grin on my face each time I came back down the driveway!! It was fun and I felt great.
My most recent biopsy was a week ago, which was another miserable experience but the results were excellent (no rejection) so that is all that really matters. All else is well with us. Mason and Pete have been skiing twice together, and Mason has been twice (again tomorrow) with the free program through his preschool. Mason, Pete and I will ski together on Sat. (my first time post-op!). We'll wait to take Liam until the Spring or a warm winter day. It is too frigid and too busy on the slopes this time of year.
Thanks for all your continued love and support. Thanks also for your prayers for my friends Bill and Paul, who are still waiting for new hearts. Perhaps they will get the ultimate extra special Christmas gift this year! I am thinking, as always, of my donor family and wish them peace and love -- it must be especially difficult for them this time of year.
I wish you all a great week of Hannukah and great pre-Christmas week!
Lots of love and thanks,
Emily
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thanksgiving in Seattle
Happy Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for, especially Pete. I would not have a family were it not for the unconditional giving of life from THREE different families. So I say thanks to Denise (birthmom), Emily (birthmom), and a young man (Emily's donor) whom we will never meet for letting me enjoy the simple things in life like watching Mason learn to ride a bike. It sounds like nothing much, but riding bikes to a coffee shop with your 5-year old for the first time is so joyful.
Peace, Pete
Greetings from Seattle and a very Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, our stars and angels! As Pete mentioned above, I learned yesterday that my donor was a young man (apparently "younger than me but not by much"), who was traveling when he had an accident. That is all I know, but I just wanted to share this information. I have finally finished my letter of thanks to the donor's family, and I am especially mindful this day, this time of year, of the loss suffered by my donor and his family. So, with this in mind, and despite the difficult economic times, let us all be thankful for how fortunate and blessed we are. We appreciate so much all the love and support from you, our family and friends, our community, and we send much thanks, love, and peace your way.
Emily
p.s. Here is a clip of Mason riding his bike in the Aunties driveway in Seattle (notice the ramp Mason insisted that Dad build so he could jump it!).
Friday, November 7, 2008
More wonderful news from Nov. 4!
Little did I know when I wrote that Nov. 4, 2008 was a magnificent day, that something else incredibly wonderful happened that night and early Wed. morning, Nov. 5. Our friend Jean, about whom I wrote a few weeks ago, received her new heart late Tuesday night into Wed. morning!!! Thank you all SO MUCH for the prayers and energy that you sent out to her - it means so much to me and I know you all contributed to her successful transplant.
To back up a bit, before my biopsy yesterday am, my doc in the Cath Lab let slip something about another woman recently receiving a transplant, and I checked with visitor info. to see if a Jean Doran was a patient, since she is the only woman I know who was waiting. Visitor info. confirmed my guess, so I dropped by the Surgical ICU yesterday afternoon after my biopsy, echo, and clinic visit. I was able to give Dan, Jean's husband a hug, meet her daughter Heather, and quickly say hello to Jean - she looked very well, though it was weird to see someone all "hooked up" like I had been, since I never really saw myself that way despite the photos! I was also lucky enough to see two of my SICU nurses, Stewart and Luisa, and they were so very kind back 4.5 mos. ago and yesterday! I cannot really explain my joy in words, but suffice it to say I am overjoyed for Jean and her family; it is so thrilling from this end of things to see this miracle happen to someone else.
Two other bits of news:
My biopsy results from yesterday were excellent again - no rejection thankfully!
And finally, about my friend Doug: Doug is about 66 and he received his new heart on May 25, 2008, just a few weeks before I received mine. Doug and his wife Betty relocated to SLC from Buehl, Idaho, a small rural area near the metropolis of Twin Falls, Idaho. He had waited over 18 months and was basically at the "cut-off age" when he finally received his heart, and he has stayed here in SLC for the critical 6 month post-recovery stage. So, he has not been home in just about two years --- and here comes the good news --- he is going home this weekend!!! I saw him in cardiac rehab this morning to wish him well and goodbye until he comes back for his check ups.
So, that is all for now. Thank you for listening and reading, thank you for your prayers, blessings, and strong energy for me and others. Happy weekend!
Love and peace, Emily
To back up a bit, before my biopsy yesterday am, my doc in the Cath Lab let slip something about another woman recently receiving a transplant, and I checked with visitor info. to see if a Jean Doran was a patient, since she is the only woman I know who was waiting. Visitor info. confirmed my guess, so I dropped by the Surgical ICU yesterday afternoon after my biopsy, echo, and clinic visit. I was able to give Dan, Jean's husband a hug, meet her daughter Heather, and quickly say hello to Jean - she looked very well, though it was weird to see someone all "hooked up" like I had been, since I never really saw myself that way despite the photos! I was also lucky enough to see two of my SICU nurses, Stewart and Luisa, and they were so very kind back 4.5 mos. ago and yesterday! I cannot really explain my joy in words, but suffice it to say I am overjoyed for Jean and her family; it is so thrilling from this end of things to see this miracle happen to someone else.
Two other bits of news:
My biopsy results from yesterday were excellent again - no rejection thankfully!
And finally, about my friend Doug: Doug is about 66 and he received his new heart on May 25, 2008, just a few weeks before I received mine. Doug and his wife Betty relocated to SLC from Buehl, Idaho, a small rural area near the metropolis of Twin Falls, Idaho. He had waited over 18 months and was basically at the "cut-off age" when he finally received his heart, and he has stayed here in SLC for the critical 6 month post-recovery stage. So, he has not been home in just about two years --- and here comes the good news --- he is going home this weekend!!! I saw him in cardiac rehab this morning to wish him well and goodbye until he comes back for his check ups.
So, that is all for now. Thank you for listening and reading, thank you for your prayers, blessings, and strong energy for me and others. Happy weekend!
Love and peace, Emily
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)