In the past few years, UVA has won several national championships in different sports that many friends and foes have called miracles. These were enjoyable, exciting , and unexpected, but I would not describe any of them as miracles.
I do believe that events in my life beginning on April 17, 2021 were a series of small miracles. On that evening I became very ill. I had not spent a night in a hospital since I had an appendectomy when I was fifteen, so I dismissed my pain as not serious. I was still hurting on Monday, so Pat, my wife called 911. An ambulance came, and the EMTs took me to St. Francis emergency room. My wife was told that
a surgeon had been called. The surgeon told my wife that I had an abdominal aneurism and needed immediate surgery. A half hour later I was in the operating room. The surgeon told her that I had less than 25% chance of surviving. I beat the odds, but my wife was then told that I probably would not make it through the night. Pat stayed with me all night. The following morning the hospital ignored Covid restrictions so my younger daughter could stay with me, and Pat could return home and get some sleep. My other children and my daughter-in-law were also allowed to take turns staying with me.
I was given a ventilator, oxygen, several blood transfusions, a feeding tube, and constant dialysis. The doctor said that my kidneys were damaged and that I would require dialysis for the rest of my life. A few days later I became septic and needed another surgery to remove part of my large intestine. I made it through the second surgery. The ICU staff at St. Francis was both competent and helpful.
I was taken to another hospital where I could get daily dialysis. After about a week, I improved enough so that dialysis was no longer required. I received a feed peg in my stomach, and the feeding tube
in my nose was removed. This was one of the good days. My daughter-in-law, who had been working in Alexandria, changed jobs, and she and my son moved to Richmond. I was transferred to Encompass where I could receive physical therapy. The food tube was removed, and I got real, but bland meals. My blood pressure remained low. I was discharged from Encompass and allowed to return to my home
in July.
The home health care was up and down, but my therapists ignored my low blood pressure and encouraged me to exercise regularly. They worked with me for eight weeks, and I improved from mostly staying in bed to being able to get out of bed and into my wheel chair. I then began seeing a therapist at Sheltering Arms. She is one of the good Hokies. I am now able to walk well for good distances
with just a cane and short distances with no assistance.
In September my first great-grandchild was born, and he is a joy. The entire family came to my home for Thanksgiving and again on Christmas Eve. It is good to know that miracles still happen!
I do believe that events in my life beginning on April 17, 2021 were a series of small miracles. On that evening I became very ill. I had not spent a night in a hospital since I had an appendectomy when I was fifteen, so I dismissed my pain as not serious. I was still hurting on Monday, so Pat, my wife called 911. An ambulance came, and the EMTs took me to St. Francis emergency room. My wife was told that
a surgeon had been called. The surgeon told my wife that I had an abdominal aneurism and needed immediate surgery. A half hour later I was in the operating room. The surgeon told her that I had less than 25% chance of surviving. I beat the odds, but my wife was then told that I probably would not make it through the night. Pat stayed with me all night. The following morning the hospital ignored Covid restrictions so my younger daughter could stay with me, and Pat could return home and get some sleep. My other children and my daughter-in-law were also allowed to take turns staying with me.
I was given a ventilator, oxygen, several blood transfusions, a feeding tube, and constant dialysis. The doctor said that my kidneys were damaged and that I would require dialysis for the rest of my life. A few days later I became septic and needed another surgery to remove part of my large intestine. I made it through the second surgery. The ICU staff at St. Francis was both competent and helpful.
I was taken to another hospital where I could get daily dialysis. After about a week, I improved enough so that dialysis was no longer required. I received a feed peg in my stomach, and the feeding tube
in my nose was removed. This was one of the good days. My daughter-in-law, who had been working in Alexandria, changed jobs, and she and my son moved to Richmond. I was transferred to Encompass where I could receive physical therapy. The food tube was removed, and I got real, but bland meals. My blood pressure remained low. I was discharged from Encompass and allowed to return to my home
in July.
The home health care was up and down, but my therapists ignored my low blood pressure and encouraged me to exercise regularly. They worked with me for eight weeks, and I improved from mostly staying in bed to being able to get out of bed and into my wheel chair. I then began seeing a therapist at Sheltering Arms. She is one of the good Hokies. I am now able to walk well for good distances
with just a cane and short distances with no assistance.
In September my first great-grandchild was born, and he is a joy. The entire family came to my home for Thanksgiving and again on Christmas Eve. It is good to know that miracles still happen!
