Posted on Sun May 16 21:46:44 2010 by Gail_Head
Okay, so I have to apologize for taking so long to get an update out. I was kind of burned out for a couple of days after Jeff’s last surgery…too much time at the hospital and not enough sleep. I have decided that I will try to get an update out each Sunday evening. That gives me a target and gives you all an idea of what to expect.
Jeff’s third and final surgery was Tuesday, May 11 to do the bone graft. Dr. Rhines told me it would be two or three hours, but now I’m thinking he must have been talking about HIS part of the surgery because it was actually eight hours. Most of the work was getting all the vessels etc connected once the bone out was of his leg and into his back. It’s all done with a microscope. Very time consuming.
Jeff was supposed to be in ICU a day, but the hospital is running at near full capacity and he had to wait four days before space opened up on the regular floor. He was transferred there this afternoon (Sunday). He is doing much better now that all the surgeries are behind him (no pun intended). =) He still has a lot of pain in the bones, but that is getting better as well. Tomorrow will be the first day of the next phase of his treatment. They will take the splint off his leg that had the bone taken out and get him started on some in-bed physical therapy. It will still be another two to four weeks before they will get him out of bed. He has been in bed three weeks now and it is amazing to me how fast your muscles can atrophy. He will have to get some strength back in his legs and arms before he can attempt any getting up and/or walking.
Things are looking really good for Jeff. He still has feeling and flex in both feet. Dr. Rhines said the surgery was very successful and he is very pleased with the outcome. The main tumor, which was pretty much the whole sacrum, is all out. We still haven’t heard if they are going to do the stereotactic radiation on the two little spots this trip or when we come back in four or five months for the general radiation treatments.
Thank you for the wonderful support, prayers, faith, and help you have given. All the cards, emails, phone calls, and donations of time and money are greatly, greatly appreciated! One of Jeff’s Free Republic friends is an RN on the floor below us and he comes almost every day to check on us. His mom (also a Freeper) frequently sends lunch and/or dinner for me while I am spending all day with Jeff. Faith, Friends, and Family, plus our own personal nurse and chef…we couldn’t be better cared for!
My dad is recovering well, he had his 3rd and last surgery on Tuesday (8 hours) to complete the bone graft which they were unable to do during the major surgery due to time constraints. They will be moving him from the ICU unit to a regular room as soon as one is open The doctors are impressed with his response to the surgery at this point and the hopes are that he can be back in Idaho in July instead of August. They are waiting to do the radiation for 5 months so that will require a trip back to Texas this fall. But at this point we are somewhat relieved to have this step of the treatment complete, and hopefully the trials will all be downhill from here, instead of the endless uphill battle we seem to have been fighting lately. We as a family thank you all for your thoughts and prayers and will continue to keep you updated as we have more information.
Sincerely,
Becki Hagen (Jeff Head’s Daughter)
Jeff is CLEARLY being blessed by the Lord in accordance with all the faithful prayers raised on his behalf.
Glory be to God!
We will all keep praying for continued recovery, comfort and blessing for your entire family.
You have been through it, haven't you?
God bless you all as you exhibit the strength of relying on Jesus as you go through this ordeal.
(Thanks for the ping, Dolly!)
Prayers up!
May God bless you and Jeff and the rest of the family.
My heartfelt sympathy and urging of continued courage as well to each of you.
Thank you for the report. Please keep them coming.
D1
Thanks for this report. We all pray for his recovery and are very thankful the procedures are having good measures of success.
Please relay to the FReepers at hand our thanks for looking in when we can’t.
BTTT
Thanks for the ping, Dolly. That’s wonderful news that Jeff is coming along so well he may get to go home a month sooner than expected!
Prayers continue for all to be well with him and his family.
Thanks for the update, Becki!
Thank you for the update - I’ve been checking because the Lord puts him on my heart so often. I am rejoicing with you that things are going so very well. I knew they would..... God bless you - keep us posted when you have strength and time....
Thanks for the ping DollyCali!
And praise and thanksgiving to Our Lord for his mercy in all of this!
Prayers continued for Jeff as he continues on the road to recovery!
sneakers
Thanks for posting the update, Dolly. Prayers continue
for Jeff to continue in the progress of healing. God give
him and his family strength and courage to face each new
day and each new situation on his road to better health.
Please reply to Gail_Head and Mrs Hagen
May Jesus Christ be Praised!
Thank you for the update. I pray every day that Jeff will be 100% healed.
Praise the Lord for Jeff’s surgeries finally being over and for the Head family endurance, and for the future.
In Jesus’ Holy Name.
Amen.
Prayers continue
Thanks be to God! What encouraging news.
We serve a Great and Awesome Goc!
Prayers will continue for complete healing for Jeff and peace for Gail & Becki.
Thank you, Jesus!!
May The LORD Bless you, Jeff and your Family! We are all praying for you! It is wonderful that you ran into some real FReepers in the FLesh at the Hospital! How cool is That!