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)
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)
I am sorry Becki that I did not see this to share with the others. It was addressed to someone else & they did not notify me so I could share with the master list
thanks for the report & prayers continue for your dads healing & strength.. and for ALL OF YOU ALSO... it is hard on everyone