URGENT- Don Souden Has Had A Stroke

[Archaic]

Update- Staples Out

Hi everyone. I was able to talk to Don for a few minutes yesterday.

His brother said he'd been at the hospital but was back at Fairview now. Don said his staples were out, so that's good.

Don's voice sounded less strong than last time, but maybe he was tired from the trip to the hospital and having all the surgical staples removed.

I suggested adding Edinburgh to the future trip itinerary, and Don said he'd enjoy seeing it. He mentioned a forum member who had been to Edinburgh, somebody he said was good at Trivia, but I couldn't catch their name.

I told Don that I sent him a present via his brother's address, and he'll get it in a few days. I said it's to get him in the mood for his London trip. Then the phone cut out & when I called back I got his brother's voicemail.

To answer Maria's question, I don't know when it will be possible for Don to try to use email again. He doesn't have a phone with email, and if he did the buttons would be too small. His family was talking about bringing his desktop computer in as soon as he got his new eyeglasses, but then the problems with his liver and gallbladder and the debate over gallbladder surgery delayed everything. Looks like he will need at least a few weeks to recover from the gallbladder surgery; it was rather hard on him.

Don is supposed to get more PhysioTherapy, so perhaps they can work on helping him get back online using his iPad or desktop computer. I also told Don's family that his friends on Casebook have volunteered to set him up with a laptap w/high-visibility keyboard if that would be easier for him to use.

* When you go on vacation or other get-aways this summer, please remember to grab a handful of postcards that you can mail to Don. They can be of anything or anywhere - doesn't even matter if you actually went there! Don needs a change of scenery, and pretty much anywhere in the world is more interesting and exciting than Fairview.

Thank everybody,
Bunny

[Sam Flynn]

Excellent. So glad he's on the mend.

[Carol]

Thanks for the update, Bunny. At least the doctors think he is strong enough to go back to Fairview.
Carol

[mariab]

Hi Bunny.

Any chance that Don might get online in a few days or weeks?

[Archaic]

Update on Don

Hi guys, had a chance to speak to Don again for a few minutes. He's out of the hospital and back at Fairview.

I asked him how he felt after the gall bladder surgery and he answered, "In pain."
Then he added, "Bunny, please don't say anything funny to make me laugh right now, because it hurts even more if I laugh or cough."

I asked him if he was coughing due to a cold or anything, and he replied "No... just, you know, sometimes you just cough."

Don's had pneumonia multiple times since being in the care facility, so I'll ask his sister how his lungs are doing.

It was a short chat, Don doesn't seem to have much energy, but his mind was sharp.

At one point Don remarked, "Everybody knows me here because of my caps..." He was referring to the St Louis Baseball team cap that Cris sent him and the cap with the Australian flag that Belinda sent him. It's great that they make him feel jaunty.

I told him again that everyone is pulling for him. When I mentioned that his thread has over 300 posts, Don was amazed. He said, "People are so kind!"

Don asked me again to say "hello" and "thank you" to all of you.

Thanks,
Bunny

[belinda]

I had to put on compression socks before the operation and keep them on the two days I was there.I hope they're giving Don something to keep the pain under control

[Robert]

Bunny, please give Don my best wishes.

When a patient is in a hospital bed for weeks on end, they're sometimes given special tight-fitting socks to prevent clots. I don't know if Don is getting that treatment.

Tell Don the US team is in the last 16 of the World Cup!

[Archaic]

Update on Don

Hi everyone.

Don's sister was able to speak to him today. Said he was still a bit groggy but sounded happy. Apparently his color is good and he seems to be in stable condition.

Don's sister passed my message that all his friends send their love and are thinking of him and rooting for him.

Don said he got a bunch of wonderful cards and they really cheered him up. He said to say "Thank You" to everyone for their kindness.

Don also said to tell me that he was going to call me, but his sister said 'Don't count on it; he doesn't have a phone yet!" I believe he was using his brother's phone, so maybe one day soon he'll be able to call.

Don had to hang up because nurse was in to check on him.

Recovery from the surgery is expected to take at least 6 weeks, so that set his new round of therapy back a bit. Not sure how long he will remain in the hospital.

As for the question about where his gallbladder was responsible for many of his symptoms, I'll have to ask, but based upon what I know he also has the following medical issues:

the stroke aftermath, partial paralysis, Diabetes, heart problems (had heart attack in I think 2006), tendency to form blood clots, something with his liver (that may have been resolved by gallbladder surgery), and the myriad effects of being bedridden for most of a year. He's had bedsores, etc.

So Don has many difficult health challenges, but as we all know he's a stubborn 'Connecticut Yankee', so he keeps battling on.

He's excited that he will get more therapy once he recovers from surgery.

Don still plans to travel the world, see London again, and drop in on his international friends.

As we all know, Don loves the English language and has quite a vocabulary. (He's a graduate of Columbia University).
One thing I thought was funny is that the nurses at Fairview have commented to his family that "Donald uses vocabulary words we've never heard even before!"[/I] ha ha Bet the nurses at the hospital will say that too.

Go, Supe!

Bunny

[belinda]

Thinking of Don and hoping for a safe recovery

[GUT]

Go Don

[Carol]

was the gallbladder responsible for most other issues? If so. we can look forward to a good recovery.

Mike

Just what I'm wondering, Mike. Very scary time just now. Lots of prayers needed. Thank you for all your updates, Bunny. Don's got a wonderful friend in you.

Carol

[The Good Michael]

was the gallbladder responsible for most other issues? If so. we can look forward to a good recovery.

Mike

[Hunter]

It sure will, Robert. Might be a blessing in some way.

Hang in there Supe. The baseball pennant race is just starting to get interesting.

[Robert]

Thanks Bunny. As long as Don recovers OK, the operation will be a terrific thing to get out of the way.

[Sam Flynn]

Hear, hear, Dave. Don's in our thoughts, as ever.