Today has been an unbelievably emotional day for me. First, I went to the physical therapy room with Randy and saw him sitting up in a wheelchair, and then I saw him get up and walk with a walker. Seeing him walk almost put me on the floor. I haven’t seen Randy stand on his own two feet since August 3. My muscular man is so skinny! But he is moving, and working hard to be able to come home.
Randy wanted me to thank everyone, and to forward this message to everyone who has sent even one wish his way:
Hello.
How fortunate can one person be? Save any serious complications, I am on the mend.
I have new donor lungs, with a completely normal oxygen saturation rate of 98%, and I am doing physical therapy to get back in shape. Certainly I am very lucky and extremely grateful to the donor and family that made this all possible. The same donor also helped others by donating their heart and kidneys. We should all be so generous.
Only in the last few days have I learned about the dire days leading up to my surgery. There is no recall of my last crash, nor the ECMO and surgical procedures that followed. That’s good for me….but, my family did not have such a benefit. Their vigilance and support has meant so much…..I only wish I did not put them through so much concern and fear. Tam, Ally, Wes, and my Dad have been there for me every moment.
Additionally, I have had such an out pouring of support from all of you. Some are friends of Tam’s, others are close or old friends or family members. Life long friends, where we all always promised to be there for each other if needed, never wavered. All your thoughts and prayers are so very much appreciated……not quite sure I am deserving of them, but your support has meant so much to our family and myself, and helped greatly in meeting this challenge.
Thank you!
FYI. I didn’t know anything about ECMO, but Tam sent me this link:
Want an accompaning sound track…..try Still Alive andWell….Johnny Winter
FROM TAM: I do not know where to even start to thank everyone….I’m sure I will figure out what to say at some point, but as I said, today has just been too emotional for me to say much of anything at all. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We are blessed by your love, your support, your thoughts, your prayers, and your presence in our lives.
Diane Laner
Wow! That’s all I can say……. Simply amazing!!
Kathy
That’s great Tam y’all are truly blessed! I think though you should pimp out that walker for him keep laughter in with all of this god has a plan for everything and though we don’t alway get to know those plans we get a miracle thrown our way as we who do not know Randy, (such as myself), have been allowed to see through your eyes.
Thanks and congrats to you and your family
Claire
Randy, great to see you walking. Tam, you are a rock and you rock! Great to hear you are on the mend Randy. All our best, Claire & Chip