Hi Everyone! It has been a rough week. For a while I couldn’t get out of bed at all, and was too sick to do anything but lie still. Things are looking up now; I’ve decided to take some pain meds which enable me to at least get out of bed a little bit each day. Today was a great day since I am fresh from a shower, have already taken a walk, and even ate a little Japanese food that my friends Cindy and Guy brought. Unfortunately, my daily goals still remain 1) keeping pills and food down after meals 2) going for a walk 3)taking a shower 4) visiting with guests who come I have not been able to do much reading right now, but I appreciate everyone’s suggestions and books you have brought. I have started an art gallery and card collection…now, in addition to my own drawings and paintings and posters of Hans, Lynn, and Scott there are also wonderful drawings by 3-year-old Sophia, 7-year-old Mahony twins (Maya and Zoe) and an overlapping string of get well cards that have acccumulated over the past six weeks! Kristina, Carlos, Lorraine, Denise, Isa, Bill, MIki, and Joyce, thanks for your encouragement and the updates when I wasn’t feeling as well. Off to try some stairs while I am still a “free woman” not hooked up to the IV pole for the hour. Then it’s back to the ol’ hospital room for meds. Stacey, from Stanford Hospital
Note from Kristina and Carlos
Hi Stacey, I just wanted to write you a note to say how much Carlos and I miss you!!! We both admire your persistance and courage…and hope that you are feeling stronger and healthier soon! Kristina 🙂 p.s. sorry for the bad picture with the camera phone!!! 😉 Kristina and Carlos, from Berkeley
Note from Loraine (Staceys aunt)
Hello Again, The latest news from Stacey is that her gall bladder surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday. That must mean the doctors think she is strong enough now. Hopefully that will help with some of her other medical problems and aid in her recovery. Loraine (Staceys aunt)
Note from Joyce (tx buddy)
Dear Stacey, I’m so sorry to see that you’re still in the hospital. Geez, what a drag it must be! I’m glad you have some good friends and supporters dropping by and something to pay attention to besides the usual, tedious and tiring hospital drills….I’m going to be down next Thursday – are you interested in any mystery novels or other books? I have a bunch of good ones lying around, and they’re ready to be delved into again. How about some music? Do you have a CD player to listen to? I am thinking of you – love….., Joyce (tx buddy), from Berkeley
Note from Miki
I check the journal faithfully every day now (sometimes several times a day!) and just wanted to let you know I think about you that often! Do you have a DVD player? Netflix might be a good option for you to pass some time. All I get to watch anymore are children’s videos — The Incredibles is GREAT, though, so I don’t mind seeing it a million times. I splurged and got the kids the first season of PeeWee’s Playhouse (oops, did I say the kids? I meant me!) — they love it and so do I — I’d highly recommend it to pass away a bit of you next six weeks. (Netflix again! They have a great selection including obscure artsy fartsy films!) Just hearing Jambi’s magic words “Meka Leka Hi, Meka Hiney Ho!” is enough to put a smile on your face. Wish I could be there to visit — love and smooches from the no-longer Icebox of the Nation (though the ice is still on Rainy Lake — it’s 67 degrees!) Miki, from International Falls
Note from Denise Wirth
Hi Sis, Hope your bellyache is feeling better today and the docs are finding out more about the cause. What can we do now to keep you amused? Six more weeks is a long time to do crossword puzzles. Do you feel up to doing a study-at-home course? I think I told you that I’m writing my Master’s thesis on distance learning – so I have a lot of info on courses. If you want to give it a try, let me know and I will start searching for you. There are a lot of courses that are not internet-based – they send you books – so internet access won’t be a problem. We just want you to be happy. I love you, Denise Wirth, from Riga
Note from Bill Landauer
Hi Stacey, I was glad that I had a chance to speak with you this morning. As I mentioned, if there is anything I can do for you, please feel free to contact me by email or phone. My email is [email protected] and my cell phone is (408) 685-4002. I am sending all my best energy your way! Hope to have the opportunity to visit you sometime. Bill Landauer, from Sunnyvale
Note from Mark Fletcher
Dear Stacey, I hope you get better soon. I am sorry that you are feeling side aches and do not have as much energy to do walking now. It was good to see you the other day. I am now in the ship offshore in Cameroon where it is very hot, humid, and wet. Mark Fletcher, from FSO Kome-Kribi 1
Note from Isa
Hi, friends, I just spoke to Stacey and she wanted me to say hello for her. She is still quite weak, although she sounds stronger than when I saw her on Thursday. She wants to say her cell phone is out of order so she can’t be reached that way. But she welcomes phone calls at the hospital 650-498-3051 but has limited energy to talk for long periods. She is still fighting nausea and has limited appetite. It’s those powerful antiviral drugs that probably are doing that to her. But luckily, her CMV is gone according to blood tests. Any progress is to be celebrated! She still has considerable pain in her side, which I can only imagine is extremely draining. And the stubborn chylothorax persists, which creates the non-fat diet restrictions that make weight gain even harder. She is able to walk only for short periods, and because of her pain meds, needs someone to help her (including a cute respiratory therapist today!). Oh, this is such a test of patience! She has hung in there for 6 weeks already. My hope and prayer is that each day is a bit brighter. Stacey thanks everyone for all their love and support. She misses you all, esp. those with whom she has been out of touch, and regrets she can’t do a whole lot of emailing to everyone these days. She sends her love and appreciates everyone checking the website regularly for updates. Sometimes it’s hard for her to repeat the medical details to each person and likes it when people catch up on her status through this means. Take care and keep those prayers going! Thanks, love Isa
Note from Stacey
The doctors came by this morning with the latest prediction that I will need to spend six more weeks in the hospital before they take the gall bladder out. This is much more time than I expected. I might as well get comfortable here. Friday, I had the pleasure of many visitors. Carrie came and showed me a video of her son’s play and taught me a card game. We talked about the boys, and I gave Yuri a climbing goal chart for his birthday. Then Stephanie came, which was special since she lives in Seattle and I haven’t seen her since the climb-a-thon time! She stayed several hours, and we enjoyed the homemade Japanese food Isa had brought the day before. Ana, who had a transplant almost five years ago, stopped in to say hello during Stephanie’s visit, and lastly, Mark came by in the late afternoon. I was happy I had enough energy to visit with people. I am feeling a little better. Usually, I have only a couple visitors per day (including Dave) so it was a pleasant surprise on Friday. Thursday, Isa visited for a couple hours and brought delicious miso soup with rice and edamame beans. Unfortunately, I have not been able to keep food down, but it tasted good and so thoughtful of her! Also, later that day I got a visit from a very cute and calm dog in the PAWS program. The owner set her on the chair, and then dragged the chair over to my bed. (You should have seen the look of trepidation on her face as the chair moved under her.) She was very beautiful, and reminded me of our childhood dog, Emma. She was soft and sweet, and took her job of getting petted very seriously, making sure to hold her head still for me. Later on Thursday, the art therapist stopped by, but I wasn’t feeling well enough to do any projects. I hope to do something today on my own. Stacey, from Stanford Hospital