Box's Box

Jan completed a successful neck “flap” surgery by Dr. Ducic on Wednesday night at Baylor All Saints Hospital. The objective of the surgery was to repair a leak in the stomach-to-throat junction remaining from the 30 November esophagus surgery. The opening allowing the leak was found to be larger than anticipated, requiring the reconstructive surgery to be more complex than anticipated. A large flap taken from the chest area and rotated upward to the neck area is quite thick and many stitches were required. However, she is recovering well and was moved to the Progressive Care Unit (PC-03) on Saturday. Healing of the wound will require at least two weeks before subsequent swallow tests will be performed. She will likely return to the Kindred Hospital for rehabilitation in a few days but length of time required there is currently unknown.

We appreciate all the cards, flowers, visits and prayers in her behalf.

Today is Don and Jan's Aniversary! 21 December 1961

Today marks one week since Jan moved into Kindred rehabilitation hospital, following major surgery and two weeks recovery at Baylor All Saints – Fort Worth. She has made slow but steady progress during the week in regaining body strength and system functions. She has been sitting up and occasionally walking down the hall with a walker and staff support.

Our son-in-law (Rusty Jones) thought it would be nice for Jan to have her own leather recliner to sit in, so he got an OK from the staff to bring it in. He then went to our home Saturday afternoon, loaded it up in his pickup, and delivered it to her room. You should have seen Jan’s face light up when she saw her favorite chair by her bedside! She has been sitting or sleeping in it ever since.

Her family and friends spend as much time with her as possible to keep her from getting lonesome. Her hospital room has been brightened up with flowers, Christmas decorations and get-well cards. We expect to celebrate Christmas in the hospital as she awaits additional surgery on 28 December. Thanks to all who have participated in her experience with visits, decorations, cards and prayers.

Don and Jan ~ Thanksgiving 2005

Family and Friends,
We moved Jan to Kindred Hospital (815 8th Ave, near Baylor All Saints) into room 106 at midnight Tuesday night. They had to wait until an ambulance was available, so we waited all day for the event. She was aprehensive about the move, but is adjusting well. She still has lingering pneumonia, internal systems and pain issues to overcome. The Kindred staff will help her get on her feet by doing regular arobics exercise during her stay, and are very caring and helpful. We expect improvement over the next few days, but probably will celebrate Christmas in the hospital. Her "flap" surgery is still scheduled for 28 December at Baylor A-S. Thanks for your continued prayer support!

Dear family & friends,

As last reported, Jan was moved to the progressive care unit (PC - 03) at Baylor-All Saints. Also that she has had a setback because the throat/stomach connection is not healing, causing it to leak during swallowing tests. Initially the doctors were uncertain what the follow-up plan would be, but yesterday the plan was established:

She will remain in Baylor-AS hospital a couple more days until the chest drainage tubes come out and she is able to make a move to a rehabilitation facility. The recommended place is Kindred Hospital (815 8th Ave, FW), a "long-term acute care" facility that has special expertize in respiratory and trach care issues like Jan's. She will remain there for a couple of weeks to regain strength and insure healing of her chest and stomach cavity. After that she will return to the hospital for some skin grafts in the throat/neck to promote healing, and hopefully repair the connection to her stomach so that ultimately she can eat again.

We are relieved that a path forward has been laid out and ask God's blessing on it as you continue in prayer for healing.

Love, Don (Mick)