My Vacation – Update

Hello friends and family.

I have been home from the hospital for almost 2 weeks now and just now getting this update out, I am such a slacker I know.
Many of you received updates from Maria with some of what took place during surgery and my time in the hospital. Those 4 updates along with all the other updates are on the website www.richardfelipe.com

Due to aspirating during surgery, I was sedated and placed on a respirator for 5 days, a different kind of vacation. I only have a couple vague memories; one was I thought at the time I was in some type of capsule at a Dodger game and I saw Maria taking care of me with some others in the background. The other was Duke telling me that he had made the football team – I thought it was a phone call at the time. I am so thankful for Maria who stayed by my side the entire time, my mom, Duke and his mother were there most of the time, and for many friends that stopped by with food and to show support.

The aspiration pneumonia was caused by some pizza I ate the night before surgery, (the last supper), it was the pizza that almost took me out. It didn’t digest as fast as it was supposed to. When I woke up on Sat with a hard plastic tube down my throat, which was removed later that morning, plus I was soon to find around 14 other tubes, IV’s, drains, etc… connected to me, I felt very well connected. Day by day they would remove some of the tubes and/or connections. I did feel kind of like IRON MAN before he got his iron suit. I was up for over 2 days straight once I came to.

I think I had most of the hospital staff convinced that I was a Super Hero that was just effected by a little Kryptonite. We had some fun with a red cape as I literally flew around the ICU unit floor, setting all kinds of speed records. (see photo link below)

I got out of the hospital after collecting and tying bed sheets together and lowered myself out of the 7 story window, not really, I felt like I was a king at a spa and I was in no big rush to leave. However; my surgeon, (who was absolutely amazing in so many aspects), kicked me out just like a mother bird pushing her baby out of the nest. I was released on day 10 of my “vacation” , Sept 18th. I did have to go back to my surgeon’s clinic the next day as my neck and face became tremendously swollen due to air seeping in where the stomach and esophagus had still not yet fused. It was like I had bubble wrap crackling in my neck and half my face. I looked like a mean tuff linebacker that you didn’t want to mess with. They went ahead and opened up my neck and released the trapped air. Let me know if you want more gooey details and I can send you a picture.

It has been an interesting challenge, adjustment and learning curve to get used to the feeding machine and tube, pain meds and so much more like a limited energy level. It is interesting what can become the highlights of your day when you are in a situation like mine.

I have been able to get out a little bit and may have learned my limits ?????, (after pushing them too much – church, BBQ’s, concert, boating, etc…)

I did have a moment the other day when I just kind of stopped and had an emotional reality thought that all this has not been a dream, I have dodged a bullet, God has spared me. Very humbling. I am off the summit, down from the mountain, the worst is over and behind me. Now I am on a clear road to recovery, maybe a long road, but I know I will soon see some light coming through this tunnel.

I am not hungry despite not having put any food in my mouth now for over 3 weeks. Sometimes the smell of certain foods gets to me a bit. I do day dream of guzzling cold bottled water or diving into a clear cool swimming pool. I am not allowed to swallow any liquids either, a dinning experience for me is chewing on ice and spitting it out.
The next step is that I have a barium swallow test next Monday the 5th which we hope will show that stomach has fused and is air tight. If so I will be able to drink clear liquids and a week or 2 later be able to take in some specific soft foods. I wonder if I will be able to belch like I used to ?

Here are some vacation pics, enjoy.
www.flickr.com/photos/richardsvacationpics

Thanks again for following a long and for all your prayers and thoughts, they mean a lot to me and I know that move the heart of God. I pray that each time you pray and petition on my behalf, that He meets you in a very special way .

Richard Felipe