[Dialogue] Update on Dan Tuecke

[Lynda Cock]

Pat asked that I post this on the list serves.  Dan continues to need our
care and support.  Hope he'll get to ride his new bicycle soon.  Lynda

  _____  

From: Patricia Tuecke [mailto:ptuecke at gmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 7:00 PM
To: 'Lynda Cock'
Subject: RE: Just checkin' on you



Dear Lynda,

Thanks for sending the good energy. We need it. We can barely get  over one
episode before another occurs.  I'm way late in sending an update message
for you to put on the Dialogue.  I don't know if Lee has continued his
messages.  I deeply appreciate your messages and care. Greetings to John.
Pat

 

Please post on Dialogue/OE:

 

Dearly loved friends, family, and colleagues, 

 

This message is rather detailed and lengthy. So warned, you can delete it or
go to your next message.

 

After Dan's back surgery in Oct he had 6 weeks of rehab physical therapy. He
felt good and was anxious to get back on his new bike. He was home 2 days
and went back to ER on Dec.6 with nausea, light headedness & chest pain. He
was  admitted with a serious infection which turned out to be his
gallbladder and needed to have it removed.  It took six days to get his
blood thick so he could have surgery. During that time he was on IV but no
food or water. Surgery was postponed 3 times until it was safe to operate.
The surgeon told me the gallbladder  was gangrenous. Then it  took several
days to get the blood thin again. After 20 days in hospital he made it home
on Dec. 21. However, he had lost all the strength he had recovered after his
back surgery rehab in Oct/Nov.

 

We cancelled our long-planned Christmas visit with son Eric, Tina and our
two grand-daughters, Katy & Grace in Portland OR. We were so disappointed,
then so excited when they packed up all their gifts & such and drove to Reno
for our Christmas. We had a wonderful visit. 

 

On Jan.19 Dan had severe pain on his right side; went to ER and was admitted
with a blood clot/hematoma in the same spot of a previous one. They took him
off blood thinner to let the hematoma heal. He had another CT scan Friday to
see what's going on inside. He was discharged home on Jan 23 - his mother's
95th birthday. He was to stay off blood thinner for a week or so.  He walks
very slowly with two canes and has even driven a couple of times. 

 

Then, (before I finished this letter), another trip to ER on Feb. 5. This
time with  hugely swollen legs. He was admitted and spent 4 days in hospital
a blood clot in both legs. Docs trying to figure out what makes his body
produce clots so often.  I think they didn't find the answer but put him on
another blood thinner medicine which makes him a bit nauseous. 

 

He gets weaker after each episode from such prolonged stay in bed. His goal
is to get strong enough to ride his new Trike (a 3 wheeled recumbent bike we
bought in September see attachment.) This exercise will help with moving his
blood back up from his legs .

 

So goes the saga.. This may be the new normal. So he will live between blood
clots and hematomas, a real rock and a hard place. Our spirits are good, at
least not low. We are so grateful for Medicare and our ARRP supplemental
insurance. I shudder to think what we'd do if we didn't have that.  

 

And also the support from this community of friends and colleagues. Dan was
amazed at the outpouring of prayers and healing thoughts that come after his
back surgery in October. And they do help. Many of you asked for updates
then. With all the above going on, I haven't done that until now.  If you're
so inclined, a phone call would be great.  And I take strength from all the
care  & concern about how I'm doing, too. 

 

Pat Tuecke

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

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