URGENT- Don Souden Has Had A Stroke

[Cogidubnus]

Thanks for this Bunny

I'd guess a hell of a lot of us are thinking about Don tonight and hoping most fervently for a fortunate outcome

All the best

Dave

[Archaic]

Just got one more detail.

This surgery was deemed so high-risk that Don's Cardiologist insisted that one of the hospital's Heart Specialists personally supervise Don's heart throughout the entire surgery.

Bless that cardiologist! I'm grateful Don is under his care. At least someone is on the ball.

Bunny

[Archaic]

Don Had Emergency Gall-bladder Surgery!

Just got word Don was taken in to surgery this morning.

Fairview somehow "forgot" to notify his next of kin, and Don's poor brother only found out at 6 a.m. and had to rush over to hospital.

His brother called their sister from hospital. She expected the surgery to be cancelled yet again so held off telling me, but to everyone's surprise the doctors actually went ahead and did the surgery.

She said they "tried to do it the easy way" and remove just the gallstones, which is of course a quicker surgery, but once they got in there they found his gallbladder was in such bad shape they ended up having to due a full gallbladder removal.

The surgery took 4 hours. Thank God, Don pulled through. What a strain on his heart, lungs and entire system to be anesthetized for so long, poor guy.

The surgeon said Don's gallbladder "was one of the most diseased he has ever seen" and it was probably that way for 10 years!

Don is in the hospital now, still sedated. I'm not sure if he'll move to Intensive Care after the Post-Op room.

I asked his sister if she can speak to his medical staff and make sure Don is kept hooked up to a heart monitor the entire time he's in the hospital, even if he is moved to a "regular" room. I explained what happened to our friend Linda.

We don't know how long he will be there. His sister hasn't been able to speak with him but will try tomorrow.

Will post again if i get more details. Please keep sending Don cards & postcards.

Now Don is bona fide member of Gallstone Street Grafitto Club!

Bunny

[Carol]

Great idea of yours, Robert, to get Lady Penelope to dress up as a nurse. That should fool them at Fairview. Does Don know yet what you've planned? You know what he's like. An attractive woman like Lady Penelope suddenly coming in to his room unannounced might distract him from the actual escape.

Carol

[Robert]

Thanks Carol. My plan is to send in Thunderbird 1, then if Lady Penelope and Parker can tie Don's wheelchair to the back bumper of the Rolls, they're away. It worked OK in The Black Sheep Of Whitehall, anyway (bottom pic) :

http://www.cinemamuseum.org.uk/2011/will-hay-graham-rinaldi/

[Carol]

Hi Robert,
Might be on the expensive side, but what does money matter when a friend is in dire need. Let me know if you need some help with this. I had to raid my little money box (a tin replica of a George V post box) for Per-Åke the other day. Strange, but it always seems to be HIS little monetary emergencies that seem to empty it each time. But I know where I can get my hands on a few kronor that he doesn't know about.
Carol

[Robert]

Carol, I might have to send in Thunderbird 1 to get him out.

[Carol]

I've just been catching up on this thread of Don's. Really great news that he is to have some kind of therapy and that he was actually outside in the open air! Bless his heart.

At least Don knows how much further he needs to dig, Robert. He must have been disappointed, though. That meatball thingy you ordered for him at Subway has probably gone off by now.

Carol

[GUT]

The therapy is great news ... even if all it does is keeps his mind busy, nothing worse than laying around doing nothing, been there.

[Robert]

"I got some more good news this morning. Don was visited by some friends yesterday, and when they arrived he was OUTSIDE!! "

But I told him to make sure the tunnel emerged beyond
the perimeter fence. Damn and blast!

[Monty]

I've no idea who Bubba is either Bunny, I suspect he is one of Dons baseball mates.

I shall pass on the info.....and the good news.

Monty

[Archaic]

Good News!

Hello David, Monty & all. I'll do my best to pass your messages.

I've also a message for Don from Bubba Whicker.
He says hello, and he has been trying to mail Don.
Cheers
Monty

Ok Monty. I have no idea who "Bubba Whicker" is.... Kinda sounds like the cricket-playing Brit version of "Joe Sixpack". One of your partners in crime i suppose. I'll pass the word.

As of now Don has no email service, but we are working on that now he has his new eyeglasses.

If you were speaking of regular mail by post, here's the address again:

Fairview of Fairfield
930 Mill Hill Terrace
ATTN: Donald Souden
Southport, CT
O6890
USA

*If anybody wants to send Don a parcel, or perhaps a special card or letter, please let me know and I will give you Don's brother's address. It seems to be the surest way.

This weekend I was told Don is going to get some more Therapy!
Not sure yet if it will be Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy to help his hand/eye coordination (or perhaps both?) Either way it's very good news. Don likes his therapists, and besides helping him health-wise they're intelligent people with whom he can have interesting conversations.

I got some more good news this morning. Don was visited by some friends yesterday, and when they arrived he was OUTSIDE!!

That's Don's first time being out of doors since August of last year. It made his sister and I so happy! Sunshine, fresh air, flowers & listening to little birds singing will do him a world of good.

Thanks everyone,
Bunny

[Monty]

I've also a message for Don from Bubba Whicker.

He says hello, and he has been trying to mail Don.

Cheers
Monty

[Monty]

I've been off the boards a lot these past few months, and just catching up.

Please pass on my regards, and let Don know England drew with Sri Lanka at Lords, it went to the last ball.

He will know what I mean.

Monty

[DVV]

Don and I are not friends, but please send him my best wishes also, from the bottom of my heart.