Saturday, January 2, 2010

News from Fletcher-Allen in Burlington, VT

Greetings! (This is from Gary, Cait's husband)



Cait is feeling some better.



She was moved over here to Fletcher-Allen yesterday (Friday, 1 Jan 2010 -- what a great way to start a new year...???) by ambulance (note to those who might have to be subjected to this in the future: be forewarned: she reports this is a nauseating way to travel, not the least bit enjoyable). I drove over separately at 45 mph through the light, slippery snowstorm - also not enjoyable.



We both got here about 9-10 last night. I got to sleep on the floor in her room on a rollaway mattress; marvelous accommodations at the price and comforting to Cait to have me right there.



Her numbers are improving; elevated liver and pancreas enzymes. She had a very painful pancreatitis attack at home and we took her to the ER in Potsdam; they admitted her and gave her dilaudet (sp? one notch up from morphine) which stopped the pain but gave her nausea and a headache. When she got a fever ( 101-102), the Potsdam doctor decided to ship her over here to review the stent they put into her bile duct over here. As I said above, she's been getting better without another procedure, and they're now thinking she may be better enough to release to my care tomorrow (Sunday) so we can get her down to NYC on Monday for her pre-op tests at Sloan-Kettering on Tuesday AM. Let's all keep our fingers crossed.



The final decision for the schedule will be Sloan-Kettering's - do the Whipple on Wednesday? or delay?



As they say in church: ora pro nobis.



More later...

17 comments:

  1. I've been a long-time admirer of Cait's weaving on Etsy, and just want to let you know that I will be keeping my fingers crossed for her, along with keeping Cait, you & your family in my thoughts & prayers. Deus vobiscum.

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  2. I'm adding my best wishes and prayers for Cait's full recovery. I hope she can soon get back to her weaving and doing all the other things she enjoys.
    xox,
    Andria
    http://etsylounge.blogspot.com

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  3. Hi Cait and Gary, So great of you to keep us posted on how Cait is doing. With all of this snow predicted it makes all this so much harder. Know we are thinking of you and are sending multi healing thoughts and positive outcomes. Mary and Jochen

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  4. Lots of good luck with it all. Give Cait my best wishes, Sybille

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  5. Gary, thank you so much for giving us an update on Cait. Please tell her I send my love and lots of hugs. Everytime I see a beautiful texture I think of her weaving. Valerie

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  6. Thanks, Gary, this is a great way for us to "follow" you both and send our thoughts and prayers. Cait, whenever I think of you I like to also imagine next spring and summer riding season, and I picture us "gardening" more in your woods, finding new riding trails to rake (!), more riding "camp" days at Nancy's and the all-important just hanging around in the stalls with Duke and Dommie trading brushes back and forth under the stall wall. And of course the coffee (herbal tea?) in the kitchen afterward...
    Thinking of you,
    Anne

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  7. Gary, thanks so much for this latest news. I think of Cait so often and in my mind, I see her healthy again, weaving and riding, blogging, and Etsying. I do so miss her blog posts and her posts on the Project Embrace forum thread, and I know when she isn't there, she isn't feeling well. Please let her know that I am holding both of you, and the boys, in my thoughts and prayers for the next several days as the doctors decide how best to proceed. Sending hugs, blessings, and hope...
    Rebecca

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  8. Thanks, Gary, for the update; please give Cait my love. My warm wishes and good thoughts are with all of you as you deal with the next steps, S-K. in NYC and whatever emerges there. Like others writing here, I am liking to picture Cait blogging here and weaving and riding. Ambulance rides are not the kind of riding any of us have in mind! Hopefully, Cait is improving..and you'll know more soon. Hugs -Ginny

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  9. Hey Gary and Cait - i hope you are home tonight! Ginny let me know you updated your blog - I'm so sorry for the troubles. It is Delotid - and it is MY new favorite pain medicine! That's too bad that Cait got sick from it. I did get a headache - but the delotid was such a good pain reliever for me, that i didn't mind the eventual headache that came along later - just took another med for that - which I do not know how to spell. (torradal ??)

    Well, i hope you can stay on your schedule and everything goes ok. Not much you can do but do what they tell you. Sounds like you are doing everything possible. I'll be praying for you both (well, actually i have been already... but you need BIG prayers this week!)
    Hang in. laura xxoo

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  10. Thank you for keeping us informed, Cait is well loved and missed!
    God Bless you both,
    Xanna :)

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  11. cait and gary...thank you for this update - my thoughts and prayers are with you both as you live this week and all it demands - strength, healing, and peace are headed your way in huge quantities. i'm with the other girls - missing cait in the treasuries and on our team thread! can't wait til she returns!
    karon

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  12. From one EPE team member to another, I just wanted to wish you the best of health! My thoughts and prayers are with you.

    Charity
    SewCharity

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  13. Gary, thank you for the update on Cait. I've been watching for her on Facebook and just knew something wasn't right - it's been too long since I've heard from her..your update was welcome. Please tell Cait I'm thinking of her (and miss hearing from her). I'm sending her, and all of you in her family, heartfelt thoughts and prayers. Marilyn

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  14. Such a sweet husband to keep us updated. Thanks. I'm so sorry for all the complications. Since it is Tuesday already my hopes are that you're in NYC. Know that Cait and your family have been in my prayers. I'll check back often.
    hugs~Cat

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  15. Hi Gary!
    Thank You so much for the update and your positive sense of humor....much needed right now, I'm sure!!
    Cait....I am sending you the biggest positive energy healing thoughts and prayers and huge warm {{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}. Strength and Courage and Lots of Love!!
    xoxo
    :) Kristin

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  16. Gary,
    Thank you for taking the time and updating us on Cait. I'm so sorry to hear about how you spent New Year's. Here's hoping the Docs has decided on next steps and you're all in NYC by now. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers!

    {{{{HUGS}}}}}

    ~Jeanne

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  17. Thank you, Gary! Our hearts and prayers are with you, whenever, whichever of you reads this. Much love and healing energy coming your way, even as I type!!! xoxo Mollie and Joe

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