FReeper Jeff Head - in need of prayer - Cancer surgery (GOOD NEWS update @ #1638 1688 1931! 2059)

I’ve decided to put all the updates in one place and park them here since this was the original thread re Jeff’s condition.

Jeff Head Update, May 31, 2010
May 31, 2010 | Gail Head

Posted on Monday, May 31, 2010 6:45:46 AM by Gail_Head

Another week, and we are seven days closer to going home! Jeff continues to have more good days. A lot of time he has a good day and then sort of crashes in the evening. For some reason, his body temp sporadically fluctuates giving him bad chills one moment and then almost a fever . (Makes it hard to keep his room temperature consistent!) Yesterday (Sunday) he actually had a fever of 101, so the doctor ordered blood cultures, urine culters, and x-rays. Tomorrow (tuesday) he will also have some sort of test to make sure he doesn’t have any blood clots in his legs.

Overall, Jeff is in very good spirits. He was on the tilt table every day last week and is now up to 45 degrees....half way there! His physical therapy is the high point of his day because it gets him out of his bed and gives him an activity that shows measurable progress. Thursday they actually had his feet touching the ledge on the end and doing a little weight bearing. A CT scan is scheduled for tomorrow, and if it looks like the bone graft is growing, they will keep going with the tilt table and maybe even have him take a step next week.

He still has four drains in his back. We were hoping to get one or two out last week, but that didn’t happen. Maybe this week? Jeff has started on the bowel management training. It basically trains his body into a predictable routine. It has been challenging, to say the least, but it takes time and he is working hard to get it figured out.

Probably the biggest challenge for Jeff right now is the neurogical pain associated with losing the nerve roots to his legs and feet. It was explained to us that the nerves in his legs and feet are searching for a connection that is no longer there, and it creates “pins & needles”, burning, tingling, shooting pains, and the feeling of a muscle cramp coming on. We do therapy three times a day that helps to de-sensitize the nerves, and that helps. He is also taking Lyrica, which helps a lot. Eventually, the nerves will calm down and he will have permanent numbness in some areas. Hopefully not too much.

Jeff’s spirits are pretty good. He is grateful for all the love and support he has received. I am putting the cards he receives up on the walls in his room. For those of you who have made a donation, I get a Get Well cards to represent it so that he can see your names as well. I think it helps for him to have a visual of the many people who are praying for him and wishing him well. Prayers are answered, and we look forward to more improvement this coming week!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2524578/posts

Jeff Head Update, May 23, 2010
5/23/10 | Gail Head

Posted on Sunday, May 23, 2010 9:27:30 PM by Gail_Head

This week has been long and challenging for Jeff, but he continues to improve. The drain tubes in his legs came out, making Jeff much happier that what little bit he can move his legs/feet is now unfettered. He now only has four in his back which is much better than the nine he had after his second surgery!

There is also good news that Jeff will not have to stay in bed for three weeks before they start getting him up. After conferring and viewing an updated CT scan, they decided to start him on the tilt table this week – yeah! It will still take about two weeks to work him up to a vertical position. He has been horizontal for so long that his blood pressure would not be able to sustain him if he tried to stand upright all at once. I think it’s probably just as well, because he needs to work on getting some strength back into his legs before he attempts any kind of mobility. He has physical therapy working with him to exercise and build up his muscles.

Jeff is eating a lot better now too. If he can keep it up, they will take out the last IV line that is giving him nutrition. (Down from six.) He ate really well for a couple of days, but his system didn’t respond very well so it took a couple of days to get him back to “normal”. He’s okay now, and will take the real food a little slower and build up to the pot roast next time instead of diving right in!

I cannot post without telling everyone (again) how much we appreciate all the prayers and care shown on our behalf. God has blessed us greatly. BTW - Someone wanted to know who our Houston angels are that have been taking such good care of us. I talked to Dustin and he said it would be alright to give their names. Pam Morgan is a Freeper (I don’t know her screen name) and her son, Dustin has come to know Jeff through her. Dustin is the RN that has been making visits to Jeff’s room and keeping an eye on his status. He has been really helpful in keeping up with all that needs to be done to insure Jeff has the best possible recovery. Pam has taken time out of her very busy life to come in for a visit. She has also sent MANY wonderful meals for me. She is a terrific cook! Jeff and I are very blessed to have them in our lives at this time. Thank you, thank you, thank you, one and all!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2519768/posts

Jeff Head Update, May 16
May 16, 2010 | Gail Head

Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2010 6:46:44 PM 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!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2514871/posts

Jeff Head Update May 2, 2010 [Update at #126]
5/2/10 | Gail Head

Posted on 05/02/2010 12:03:19 PM PDT by Gail_Head

Jeff is finally “waking up” from the Friday surgery. The swelling has gone WAY down except for one hand. They took his breathing tube out this afternoon and he is talking to me (albeit VERY softly). I was reading him some of the posts and he said to ask everyone to pray for water. He is VERY thirsty and can’t have any water until tomorrow. =(

He still is pretty immobile and has lots of drain tubes coming from everywhere. The pain meds are working at keeping him comfortable, but since he just got off the breathing tube, they don’t want him sleeping much and have decreased the dose a little for the time being.

-—AND-— post 126

There’s not a whole lot to report, but I thought you all would like to know that he is MUCH better than he was yesterday.

The return date is giving us all hope. He has a long road of recovery ahead of him and at the present time is in significant pain, but a different kind of pain. The pain from the cancer has subsided (as I am told by my mom) and been replaced with surgery pain. At least we know that this pain will eventually ease and not continue to get worse. They believe at this point he will be on bed rest for about the next 4 weeks, but will be doing as much physical therapy as possible with him in bed.

My mom wanted me to pass on to all of you that as soon as my dad feels up to it he will update his website and personally update all of you on here. Knowing my dad I would guess it’s going to be about a week or so, not more than 2 before he updates personally.

Thank you again for all of your support, it’s good to know that my dad has such a community that is behind him and cares for his well being as much as you all do

Becki Hagen
128 posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 5:08:33 PM by Mrs. Hagen (Jeff Head Update)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2505161/posts

Jeff Head Update May 1, 2010
5/1/10 | Gail Head

Posted on Saturday, May 01, 2010 12:20:09 PM by Gail_Head

Jeff finished his second surgery last night/this morning at 1 am (after 17 hours). The good news is that he is doing well. He has a lot of swelling from being in a face down position for so long, but they are keeping him intibateed (a breathing tube) and sedated until tomorrow. There was a little problem with some bleeding, but our prayers were heard and the doctors’ hands were guided to correct it quickly. The bad news is that he will have to have one more “minor” (3 hour) surgery later in the week to do the bone graft. Yesterday’s surgery went too long and they didn’t want to keep him on the table for another 2 or 3 hours.

When Jeff wakes up, he will not be happy to know that the bone is still sitting in his leg. =S I imagine it is the same feeling as having a compound fracture and it has caused him the most pain (so far). With this second major surgery out of the way, though, they will be able to control his pain much better than they could the two days between his first and second surgeries.

I don’t know that I can use real names here, so I will just say that there is a man whose mom is on FR who works at MD Anderson. He is an RN and has come by several times to personally check on Jeff and me.

Thank you all so much for the tremendous outpouring of love, prayers, and support. They have been felt and have helped us through this past week. I have never been too involved with Jeff’s FR network, but I see why he remains so involved with such an awesome group of people!!

If anything else comes up, I will keep you posted. I am hoping that Jeff will feel well enough in a couple of days to maybe post something himself....we’ll see.

Someone asked for our address here in Houston, so I thought I would post it for anyone wanting to send Jeff a card. It is:

Faith House I
4611 Cedar
Jeff and Gail Head, Theile Apt.
Bellaire, TX 77401-4202

Thanks, again for all you do!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2504675/posts

Jeff Head Update for 4/29/10
4/29/10 | Gail Head

Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 5:31:17 AM by Gail_Head

I have no idea if I’m doing this right, so I hope somebody can fix whatever I mess up. I am so sorry for not posting sooner, but the last couple of days have been a blur. The surgery on Tuesday didn’t actually start until noon even though we signed in at 7:30 am and they took Jeff to the OR around 10:30. We got our final report at 10 pm. By 11:00 pm I was able to go to his room in the ICU. He did very well during the surgery. Coming out of the anesthesia was a little difficult and we have spent the last day and a half trying to get him on the right meds that will balance his comfort level with the need to “recover” before the next surgery. Last night was the first time since Monday night that either of us got more than an hour or so of real sleep. You wouldn’t think six hours is very much, but at this point it was heaven.

Jeff is doing very well with vitals, breathing, etc. He has not had any food or liquids by mouth and today he will get some ice chips and maybe liquids. He’s not too concerned, though, because he doesn’t want to have to worry about the prep for tomorrow. The surgery for tomorrow will start at 6:30 am. It is expected to last about 14 hours. I will try to do better getting back to you after this next one.

Thank you all for the tremendous outpouring of prayers, love, and concern. It means a great deal to us to know you are there. Our faith, our family, and our friends have made it possible for us to get this far. I know they will carry us through.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2502934/posts

FUND RAISER & LEAVE DONATION THREAD FOR FREEPER JEFF HEAD
http://www.jeffhead.com/JLH-donation.htm ^ | 28 March 2010 | Dolly Howard (DollyCali)

Posted on Sunday, March 28, 2010 7:15:15 PM by DollyCali
Edited on Sunday, March 28, 2010 7:51:23 PM by Admin Moderator. [history]

FUND RAISER & LEAVE DONATION THREAD
FOR FREEPER JEFF HEAD

Jim Robinson, the owner of FreeRepublic has graciously approved this Fund Raiser and Leave Donation thread that a number of us wanted to put together for well-known Freeper, and our friend, Jeff Head. (Moderators, please consider keeping this thread at the top of its category until the goals are reached.)

In December 2009 Jeff was diagnosed with bone cancer. A rare sacral chordoma was found on his sarcum. His only medical recourse is very major and dangerous surgery to completely remove his sacrum and then rebuild the structure. The two surgeries necessary are currently scheduled for April 27th and April 30th, 2010. This surgery will require a four month period of hospital stay, recovery, rehabilitation, and radiation at the MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston, Texas, which is 2000 miles away from Jeff’s home in Idaho.

Any freeper who can, and who will not themselves be put out either financially or from a leave basis by so doing, is aksed to consider donating so as to help Freeper Jeff Head through this crisis. Your faith and prayers on behalf of Jeff and his family are also requested. There are two ways to help, monetarily and with leave. will track the donations here on this thread against the goals.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2481989/posts

Jeff Head update and report
FaceBook | 1-17-2010 | TPD

Posted on Sunday, January 17, 2010 4:23:27 PM by ThreePuttinDude

Thanks TPD. You might pass on there. We are staying at my parents old place where I was raised west of Sanger, TX. No internet or cell coverage there. I am on briefly this evening at my brother’s house but we are about to go back out there. We will be in Houston on Tuesday for a CT Scan, then on Friday the 29th for another MRI, and then our big meeting with the neuro-surgeon on February 1st now. Thank you all for your prayers and faith on behalf of me and my family.

I just got this from Jeff on FaceBook, and told him I would let you all know.

TPD
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2430770/posts

FReeper Jeff Head - in need of prayer - Cancer surgery (GOOD NEWS update @ #1638&1688!)
Journal: My bone cancer (Sacral Chordoma) ^ | 4 January 2010 | Dolly Howard
Posted on Monday, January 04, 2010 2:45:21 AM by DollyCali
Our Freeper Friend Jeff Head was diagnosed with a serious (they all are to me) form of cancer just before Christmas

Please help me approach the prayer throne for our friend Jeff Head who is in Houston currently from his home in Idaho to have surgery & treatment at MD Anderson for his cancer. He will be able to respond on occasion.

—post 1638—
To: MEG33

I really don’t know how to do this and am sure I’m not posting in the right place but I know one of you will recognize that and maybe fix it for me.

Just got a call from my Mom and my Dad is out of surgery, they had minor complications requiring a blood transfusion but he is stable. They will be going back in next week for a 3rd surgery that will only be about 3 hours long to finish the bone graft. They are keeping him inundated until tomorrow evening. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you

Jeff’s Daughter
Becki Hagen

1,638 posted on Saturday, May 01, 2010 12:14:38 AM by Mrs. Hagen (Jeff Head Update)

To: DTogo

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)

1,687 posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 1:56:29 PM by Mrs. Hagen (Jeff Head Update)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420449/posts

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Our Freeper Friend Jeff Head was diagnosed with a serious (they all are to me) form of cancer just before Christmas

Jeff Head up-date here

Our Freeper Friend Jeff Head was diagnosed
with a serious (they all are to me) form of cancer
just before Christmas