Monday, May 29, 2006
Should FFOSS become FFOSSL?
I am thinking about changing the name of FFOSS to FFOSSL (Friends/Family of Sonny/Sophia and Lettie). Why? Because soon Lettie will be on her own in Bangkok and I think she will need our support along with the assitance and care that she and Sophia get from all the wonderful medical staff, physical therapists, Dr. Chettawut and his wife, and the gracious Thai people that have been and continue to be part of this saga.
On that note, I would also like to add that anyone that has become a member of FFOSS/FFOSSL? should feel free to comment and post on the BLOG. This is the first BLOG I have ever set-up and I didn't realize that by inviting you all to be members it also enables you to actively participate in this online community. Let's not have Lettie feeling like she's writing to a void.
I have to say that I will miss Hedi's letters from Bangkok, but it is good that Sophia is doing well enough that she can go home. I think that Sophia is lucky to have a sister like Hedi. Moreover, I think that both Sophia and Lettie are lucky to have the families they do. Y'all are awesome!
Tonight, I fly back to DC from San Diego. Tomorrow I plan to visit Ben, Nina and Lettie's Dad. Nina is going with her Grandpa to Texas on Thursday where I know she will have loads of fun with all her little cousins. I think she might go spend some time in Houston with her Grandpa and Grandma Parafina too. Ben is still in school and I am going to spend part of my time in Crofton with him -- just to make sure he doesn't burn the house down cooking up the recipes that everyone sent.
Part of the donations received thus far were used to purchase an airline ticket for Stuart Bailey, Sonny's friend from ... well, I don't know how far back, but pretty far. Stuart will go to Bangkok in mid-June to fill in for Lettie. There is still a substantial donation balance that will no doubt be helpful in many ways. Thank-you for the donations!!!!
Enuf for now.
R
On that note, I would also like to add that anyone that has become a member of FFOSS/FFOSSL? should feel free to comment and post on the BLOG. This is the first BLOG I have ever set-up and I didn't realize that by inviting you all to be members it also enables you to actively participate in this online community. Let's not have Lettie feeling like she's writing to a void.
I have to say that I will miss Hedi's letters from Bangkok, but it is good that Sophia is doing well enough that she can go home. I think that Sophia is lucky to have a sister like Hedi. Moreover, I think that both Sophia and Lettie are lucky to have the families they do. Y'all are awesome!
Tonight, I fly back to DC from San Diego. Tomorrow I plan to visit Ben, Nina and Lettie's Dad. Nina is going with her Grandpa to Texas on Thursday where I know she will have loads of fun with all her little cousins. I think she might go spend some time in Houston with her Grandpa and Grandma Parafina too. Ben is still in school and I am going to spend part of my time in Crofton with him -- just to make sure he doesn't burn the house down cooking up the recipes that everyone sent.
Part of the donations received thus far were used to purchase an airline ticket for Stuart Bailey, Sonny's friend from ... well, I don't know how far back, but pretty far. Stuart will go to Bangkok in mid-June to fill in for Lettie. There is still a substantial donation balance that will no doubt be helpful in many ways. Thank-you for the donations!!!!
Enuf for now.
R
Thursday, May 25, 2006
How You Can Help
Make a donation – funds will be used to help with travel and medical costs.
How to make a donation via PayPal:
Payee: IONIC Enterprise
Memo: For Sonny and Lettie
Address:
IONIC Enterprise
c/o Eddie Pickle
901 N. Pitt Street, Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314
How to make a donation via PayPal:
- Go to PayPal.com and login or create an account
- Click on the Send Money tab
- For the Recipient’s email, enter eddie@ionicenterprise.com (Eddie Pickle is the Chief Operating Officer of IONIC Enterprise)
- Fill in the remaining information as you wish
Payee: IONIC Enterprise
Memo: For Sonny and Lettie
Address:
IONIC Enterprise
c/o Eddie Pickle
901 N. Pitt Street, Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314
Today's News from Lettie in Bangkok
We have a routine set up already - dialysis, debridement, recovery, physical therapy - this lasts from 8 am or so till 3:30 pm or so. Today it went from 10:00 am til 9:00 pm with Sophia NPO (no food) the whole time! Sophia is in good spirits - she looks forward to getting back to the room at the end of a long day. I like that she is in a room - there is a couch I can lie on while I wait for her to complete all of the procedures.
Her numbers are stable - no dramatic improvements or deterioration. The doctors are tenatively stating that we have 3 more weeks of hospital stay. The left leg could be closed as soon as next week - the right is proving to be a little more problematic - but we are in a wait and see stage. The hemodialysis clinic (not the ICU) has a tv mounted above the bed - today we watched Sean of the Dead with Thai subtitles. There is the Thai equivalent of the Costco across the street from the hospital - I have been buying Sophia fruit plates every afternoon - she loves the yellow mangos here.
So the news today is - very little news to report
Rhonda --- little by little, bit by bit
Her numbers are stable - no dramatic improvements or deterioration. The doctors are tenatively stating that we have 3 more weeks of hospital stay. The left leg could be closed as soon as next week - the right is proving to be a little more problematic - but we are in a wait and see stage. The hemodialysis clinic (not the ICU) has a tv mounted above the bed - today we watched Sean of the Dead with Thai subtitles. There is the Thai equivalent of the Costco across the street from the hospital - I have been buying Sophia fruit plates every afternoon - she loves the yellow mangos here.
So the news today is - very little news to report
Rhonda --- little by little, bit by bit
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Hedi's Letter from Bangkok
Dear Friends and Family,
Before I begin the update, I want each of you to know how much I personally appreciate the time and thought you have given to my new sister's situation. Each of you reading this latest email from me has helped me in ways I can only share with each of you in person. You have each given me the help I have requested, and I shall always be thankful for your kindness. Being alone in a foreign country no matter how modern it is and having to deal with a life threatening emergency is one terrifying experience I would not wish on anyone! Believe me when I say how grateful I am for being there to support me when I asked each of you for help. I love you and hope to be able to express my gratefulness in person.
About Sonny, she was transferred from ICU to a regular room late yesterday afternoon. She was very happy as you can imagine. Her kidney function continues to improve each day. Her legs continue to show good granulation tissue, and her doctors actually think they may be able to close the leg incisions sometime next week instead of two weeks from now! I hope that this will happen soon so that we can further reduce her risks for sepsis. Next would be for complete return of kidney function so we can discontinue the central line necessary for her hemodialysis. The sooner these events happen, the sooner she will be discharged from the hospital and followed outpatient.
She gets daily physical therapy to help build both upper and lower extremity strength. Physical therapy will be ongoing even after hospital discharge so that she can regain mobility. We will not know for some time how much of her ambulation has been impaired. Given that about 50% of her leg muscle mass in each leg has been removed because of necrotic tissue, Sonny will have significant disability. However, I am still very hopeful that she can walk with the aid of her foot-ankle orthotic and with intensive hard work at physical therapy and exercise.
As worrying as her legs have been, Sonny's fierce determination and optimistic attitude to get better bode well for a very good recovery. The coming year will be very challenging for Lettie, her wife, and her two children Ben and Nina. However, Sonny has survived a very scary life threatening situation, and her body's ability to heal so quickly is very encouraging. She will continue to need your kind thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. I would personally appreciate it if you each can continue to do that for her.
As for Lettie and me, we are feeling much better with each day of Sonny's progress. We have tried to support each other in many different ways. We both appreciate that we are not alone in this world and feel supported by our friends and family back home.
Life is peculiar and can throw us in situations that are overwhelming, scary, and tragic. It is a huge comfort and source of strength to know that we are not alone. Wherever you are right now, please give yourselves a hug from me, from Sonny, and from Lettie. From a separation of these thousands of miles, we send our thanks and gratefulness to each of you.
Love,
Hedi
Before I begin the update, I want each of you to know how much I personally appreciate the time and thought you have given to my new sister's situation. Each of you reading this latest email from me has helped me in ways I can only share with each of you in person. You have each given me the help I have requested, and I shall always be thankful for your kindness. Being alone in a foreign country no matter how modern it is and having to deal with a life threatening emergency is one terrifying experience I would not wish on anyone! Believe me when I say how grateful I am for being there to support me when I asked each of you for help. I love you and hope to be able to express my gratefulness in person.
About Sonny, she was transferred from ICU to a regular room late yesterday afternoon. She was very happy as you can imagine. Her kidney function continues to improve each day. Her legs continue to show good granulation tissue, and her doctors actually think they may be able to close the leg incisions sometime next week instead of two weeks from now! I hope that this will happen soon so that we can further reduce her risks for sepsis. Next would be for complete return of kidney function so we can discontinue the central line necessary for her hemodialysis. The sooner these events happen, the sooner she will be discharged from the hospital and followed outpatient.
She gets daily physical therapy to help build both upper and lower extremity strength. Physical therapy will be ongoing even after hospital discharge so that she can regain mobility. We will not know for some time how much of her ambulation has been impaired. Given that about 50% of her leg muscle mass in each leg has been removed because of necrotic tissue, Sonny will have significant disability. However, I am still very hopeful that she can walk with the aid of her foot-ankle orthotic and with intensive hard work at physical therapy and exercise.
As worrying as her legs have been, Sonny's fierce determination and optimistic attitude to get better bode well for a very good recovery. The coming year will be very challenging for Lettie, her wife, and her two children Ben and Nina. However, Sonny has survived a very scary life threatening situation, and her body's ability to heal so quickly is very encouraging. She will continue to need your kind thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. I would personally appreciate it if you each can continue to do that for her.
As for Lettie and me, we are feeling much better with each day of Sonny's progress. We have tried to support each other in many different ways. We both appreciate that we are not alone in this world and feel supported by our friends and family back home.
Life is peculiar and can throw us in situations that are overwhelming, scary, and tragic. It is a huge comfort and source of strength to know that we are not alone. Wherever you are right now, please give yourselves a hug from me, from Sonny, and from Lettie. From a separation of these thousands of miles, we send our thanks and gratefulness to each of you.
Love,
Hedi
