Bogleyites, She Needs Your Help

[R]

My wife Abby, who is also a Bogley reader and member, is critically ill tonight with pneumonia. She got sick very quickly over the weekend, and is now sedated and on a ventilator, where we expect her to remain for several days as they fine-tune her drugs and, hopefully make her well. In the mean time, I am worried sick and stressed hard, but I have good friends and family around me, so I'll be okay. Keep her in your thoughts for me. She means everything to me, and more importantly than that, she deserves to recover and come home.

http://giantmuh.blogspot.com/2008/05/abby-is-critically-ill.html

http://myweb.cableone.net/abbysm/pix/abbybreeze01.jpg

[SLCmntjunkie]

I haven't been visiting this site for long and checked out your website once, but it's obvious how important she is to you. I wish you both the best.

[hank moon]

Richard,

May you and Abby be soon reunited in good health!

hank

[tanya]

You have to be devistated!!!! :eek2: My best wishes for her health and her return home to you! :nod:

[KapitanSparrow]

My thoughts are with you guys. Stay strong.

[denaliguide]

here's hoping she gets well fast. hate to see anyone down with pnuemonia.

[Sombeech]

Good luck to the both of you.

[JP]

Richard, my thoughts and prayers are with Abby, you and the rest of your family!!! Please, please keep us informed.

[RugerShooter]

My thoughts and prayers will be with you. Get Well Soon Abby.

[Felicia]

My thoughts are with you and your family. Keep us posted.

[DiscGo]

Richard if there is anybody on this site who has been decent to everyone, it is you. The way you speak of your Abby is the way all of us should feel about our spouses, which has made me think she must be quite a person. I wish you both all the best.

[Don]

I loved your wedding pictures. What kind of woman lets her man wear a leatherman on his belt to their wedding? That's a non-judging all-loving woman you have there.
All the best, always.

[Cirrus2000]

Oh man, Richard - I hope Abby is back to full health soon, and is able to come home quickly. In the meantime, don't you and Mitchell forget to take good care of each other!

All the best,
Kev

[DiscGo]

Richard-

I tried to PM you, but it does not appear to have sent because a copy did not go in to my "Sent" box. So I apologize for posting this here, but I just wanted you to know that I will be praying for you and yours during this event. I wish you both all the best. You and Abby deserve to be playing together.

[DaveOU812]

Richard


I am very sorry to hear. I have met neither You nor Abby but feel like your just darn good people. Hopes and wishes she comes home soon.

P.S. Thats a wonderful picture of her.

[tanya]

Is she any better today?

[Bo_Beck]

My thoughts are with your wife and you. I hope that she is much better this morning.

[Alex]

Richard, I am so sorry to hear about Aby, my wife was in the same situation a few years back. I wish her a quick recovery. God Bless.

[jumar]

My thoughts and prayers too buddy

[oldno7]

Thoughts and prayers to you and Abby.
Hoping for a speedy recovery.

[R]

Is she any better today?

There are no visiting hours between 9pm and 9am, but they would have called me if anything had changed. In any case, she'll be in ICU, sedated and ventilated, through about Thursday.

When I was there over the weekend and Monday morning, I could do all sorts of things for her - get her water, adjust her bed, call the nurse, talk to her. But for the next few days, there is nothing at all I can do except sit, watch, listen to machines, wait. My mother and sister are coming from Florida and New Orleans, and Abby's sisters, who live closer, are driving in.

I slept last night, thanks to some prescribed pharmacology. Right now I'm seeing Mitchell off to school.

The plan is to keep her on the ventilator through Thursday or so, sedated, so her body can rest and fight her infection instead of fighting for each breath.

I've seen Abby get scary sick lots of times - it's just a fact of life for someone with her special immune problems, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjogren's Syndrome - but I've never seen anyone, even Abby, get this sick this fast. She was fine, perfectly fine and great company, Thursday night. Too sick to get out of bed Friday, too sick to say my name by midday Saturday.

Thanks everyone for the wishes.

[chickenlicken]

I hope things are improving and that she gets better soon. Too scary to have a loved one so ill.

[JP]

She was fine, perfectly fine and great company
Keep that thought, she'll be back to that soon enough...Stay Positive even though the horizon seems to be out of sight. Thoughts and prayers Richard are with you!

[Iceaxe]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[accadacca]

Tough times Richard. I wish your family the best.

[tanya]

I had no idea she had health problems. She looks so fit and healthy. Keep us posted!

[Brewhaha]

Sorry to hear that. Both of you are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Ih8grvty]

While no one knows me here and I know no one really, I wish you the best. IT took me till i was 32 to fond someone I could imagine being with forever, or at least till one of us is dead, it would really be the shits to lose that someone.
Good luck to her and to you, hope she pulls out of it and is back home soon feeling great.

[Randi]

My wife Abby, who is also a Bogley reader and member, is critically ill tonight with pneumonia. She means everything to me, and more importantly than that, she deserves to recover and come home.

Oh no! I'm sorry! I've seen in pictures and text just how much you two truly love, admire and respect one another! My prayers and hopes for a speedy recovery are with you. I've enjoyed your pictures so much, especially when your son is with you (and the dog too). You're such a lovely family.

Get well Abby!!!!

[savanna3313]

Richard - please keep us updated. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Abby. The same thing happened to me in Feb....pretty much fine one day and in the hospital with pneunomia the next for 5 days. Pneumonia is a serious issue and it seems that there is a particularly bad strain going around this year. Something tells me Abby is a strong woman with a lot of spunk, energy and vitality! :2thumbs:

[greyhair biker]

Hang in there you two! We're with you, hope you know that! :2thumbs:

[wojo342]

Please know that our prayers are with you and your family

[Scott Card]

Richard, my thoughts and prayers are with Abby and you. I hope all turns out as you desire. I have always been impressed with your dedication and love to your wife. Admirable for sure in this day and age. I hope she is back home with you soon.

[rockgremlin]

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery!!! Keep the chin up...I'm sure she'll be fine!


KEEP US ALL POSTED!!!

[Rev. Coyote]

Richard;

I will pray for you and Abby. I sense you make a fine couple, and I can always tell by your posts about Abby that she is the love of your life. Finding that love is rare. Too rare. Most people will never know.

Pass all these messages along to her when you can, so that she will know that even an internet group full of people who have never met care deeply for her welfare. That's powerful.

The Great Spirit is by your side.

Willie

[R]

Thanks so much everyone. I will try to keep everyone updated as often as I can on my blog...

http://giantmuh.blogspot.com/

-Richard

[tallsteve]

So, sorry, man! Having just gone through 7 months of chemo and sickness and hospitals and doctors, etc., with my son, I feel your pain. I'll pray for the best.

[Redpb]

Richard, my thoughts and prayers are with Abby, you and the rest of your family!!! Please, please keep us informed.

same here

[TreeHugger]

Richard, your relationship with Abby is inspirational. Stay strong, we are praying for you and keeping you in our thoughts.

[abirken]

So sorry to hear that she is not well. :( I am sending positive energy your way for her speedy recovery and to help mend your nervous heart. Hang in there and please keep us posted!!

[shaggy125]

Wow Richard, really sorry to hear about this. As many know I'm a respiratory therapist and my main job is managing the ventilators (you've probably gotten to know a few RT's over the last few days) in all the ICU's so I know all about what your wife is going through. One of the hardest parts of my job is watching family members stress and worry over their loved ones while their bodies go through the long healing process. We will all think of and pray for you and your wife and hopefully they will get the breathing tube out before long, it's extra hard when your wife is sedated and can't talk. Once they start weaning the sedation it can get even more frustrating because now she WANTS to talk but can't because of the breathing tube. The best part of my job is pulling the breathing tube out, hopefully she will get to that point soon!

[LOAH]

Best wishes. Illness can make the world seem like a very bleak place. Stay positive.

[Jaxx]

Oh no, that makes me feel bad about a joke I made. I think it was about your dogs.
I hope she gets better soon. Luckily we live in a time and place with such awesome medical technology. You all are in my prayers.

[Rev. Coyote]

Richard, your relationship with Abby is inspirational. Stay strong, we are praying for you and keeping you in our thoughts.

"Inspirational" is the right word.

Hope all is well today.

[R]

Richard, your relationship with Abby is inspirational. Stay strong, we are praying for you and keeping you in our thoughts.

"Inspirational" is the right word.

Hope all is well today.

My heart is very heavy today as I have no good news. Abby is worse...

http://giantmuh.blogspot.com/

[Felicia]

Know that you are not alone. Keep your son close. My thoughts and prays are for all three of you.

[Deathcricket]

Richard;

I will pray for you and Abby. I sense you make a fine couple, and I can always tell by your posts about Abby that she is the love of your life. Finding that love is rare. Too rare. Most people will never know.

Pass all these messages along to her when you can, so that she will know that even an internet group full of people who have never met care deeply for her welfare. That's powerful.

The Great Spirit is by your side.

Willie

Not having any inspirational words, I'm just gonna steal Rev's.

Sorry bro, you guys are my favorite veggie eaters on this board.

[KapitanSparrow]

I'm thinking of you guys. Stay strong.

[JP]

My heart is very heavy today as I have no good news. Abby is worse...
...My wife may die.
I know it's a tough situation Richard, I saw my Father pass way before his time. But, try and keep your head up. Amongst the bad news, there were improvements, slight, but improvements. They'll tackle the issues as they arise, as they fix one thing, something maybe a direct result from treatment, it happens. They will tackle what her body wants to throw at them. I fully understand that their is that downside, but losing hope is not good for you or her now. Try and stay strong and positive.

I know I must sound like a PIA. My heart, while I was in the hospital, went into that rhythm where I could have used a defibrillator twice. By the time they came into the room, my heart recovered by itself. I was then transported to another hospital that had more cardiac care. Like heart catheterizations and knowledge on heart related issues. I have a positive attitude over my little bump, I joke with you guys about getting up in the morning and breathing. Yea, I'm joking, but this is for real. Keeping myself positive, keeps me going. I could sit around and let this break me, but there is no way in hell it is. I do what I'm told to do, period. We're all dealt hands in our life that we are never prepared for. It's how we play those less than perfect deals. Think positive. Stay strong. Be strong and positive while in her presence. She'll fight, it's the love that is shown here between you two that can be seen and felt. She'll fight, be positive and help that fight.

Sorry if I'm out of line, these situations are just the worst thing to hear. I've just been there.

[R]

We were very low about Abby this afternoon, but this evening we got a little bit of good news...

http://giantmuh.blogspot.com/

[savanna3313]

Any little piece of good news is wonderful and brings hope! Thank you for keeping us updated. We are all hoping and praying for her speedy recovery!

[Alex]

Keep it together, brother, need to keep it together for both of you now.

[tanya]

Bad news on the liver. Keep hoping!

[JP]

but this evening we got a little bit of good news...

...but maybe it was the spot in the road where we could see the turn in the distance.
There ya go, stay positive :2thumbs: It helps you and all involved. My prayers and thoughts are still with you daily!!

[sportsman]

"Life is a heck of a thing to happen to a person" ....Hope she gets better

[Scott Card]

I've been checking your blog and I continue to hope along with you that the trend continues positive for Abby. I haven't said "amen" yet.

[DiscGo]

You seem to be hanging in there better than I would. Good work!

[Rev. Coyote]

News from Richard's blog. Sounds promising!

FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2008

Daily Briefing
We are on our way out the door, but I did talk to our doctor, Marc Davis, on the phone, and Abby's numbers are trending in the right direction. More later.

[R]

Well, our optimism is cautious, and I remain scared and concerned. I imagine Abby faces a long and difficult recovery from this, which, by the way, was a pneumonia caused by methicillin-sensitive staph, a very common household bacteria. There's no way to know how Abby contracted it, whether she shook hands with an infected person or harbored these pathogens for months before becoming suddenly ill from triggers we can't determine. The pneumonia itself has responded well, but she was so desperately ill that many of her bodies' systems are exhausted. Fortunately things like her liver enzymes, for example, are coming back down after being dangerously elevated.

I'm trying to keep busy, so I don't feel so useless - being with her I can't do anything except sit, since she remains unconscious. I take car of Mitchell, the dogs, the goats, the house, the garden - it takes the edge off somehow.

[skianddive]

She needs your strength and love right now, and by giving her that, you are not being useless!

Our thoughts are with you

To possibly help others, can you describe her initial symptoms and how they degraded?

[R]

To possibly help others, can you describe her initial symptoms and how they degraded?

Here is the entry that describes that...

http://giantmuh.blogspot.com/2008/05/stress.html

[JP]

Well, our optimism is cautious, and I remain scared and concerned.

The pneumonia itself has responded well, but she was so desperately ill that many of her bodies' systems are exhausted. Fortunately things like her liver enzymes, for example, are coming back down after being dangerously elevated.

I take car of Mitchell, the dogs, the goats, the house, the garden - it takes the edge off somehow.
Day by day, it appears things are getting better :2thumbs: She's one heck of a fighter :2thumbs: Baby steps towards recovery is the least anyone can ask for. And it's better than the falling back. Any signs of recovery should be a shinning light. That's one step closer than she was yesterday and one step closer to be back to good health.

The good news is they now know the cause and knowing makes it easier to treat and nail down what will work.

Taking care of those simple chores a day works wonders, stress reliever. Keeps your mind occupied with the task at hand. My thoughts and prayers haven't stopped. I hope you're doing OK as well Richard. Pull the camera out and let's see some pics of the dogs, goats and that garden.

Stay positive, she'll be fine :2thumbs:

[R]

Abby update:

http://giantmuh.blogspot.com/2008/05/history-lesson.html

[JP]

Abby update:

...This is the corner we have been waiting to turn, and we are all happy and relieved to be entering this phase in Abby's recovery.
Big sigh of relief there. Glad to see things are progressing towards Abby

[savanna3313]

Abby update:

http://giantmuh.blogspot.com/2008/05/history-lesson.html

Good news indeed! :2thumbs:

[Ih8grvty]

Just read up on your blog, Good deal! Glad to hear stuff is turning for the better.

[tanya]

Any thing new Richard? I assume she has been getting better since your last report. :nod:

[R]

Excellent news today. We are starting to feel very relieved...

http://giantmuh.blogspot.com/

[Bo_Beck]

Excellent news today. We are starting to feel very relieved...

http://giantmuh.blogspot.com/

Thats awesome! I'm very happy for you and her, and I'm sure that there are many who are relieved as well! :2thumbs:

[DiscGo]

That's great Richard. I keep checking back to see how Abby is doing, and I have been waiting to hear that.

[abirken]

So awesome to hear Abby is recovering and is going to be ok. YAY!! I'll keep sending good energy your way. :2thumbs:

[JP]

Excellent news today. We are starting to feel very relieved...

"I want my Chihuahuas."
Richard, glad to hear this. Still praying and thinking about you, Abby and the rest of yours and her family that had to go through such a dilemma.
Ahhhh, see that...Baby Steps are better than nothing :2thumbs: Positivity, faith and trust. What a great combination!

[tanya]

I bet your whole world just changed for you again. I am so glad to hear the lady is doing better. :nod:

[Cirrus2000]

Terrific news, Richard - great to hear it. When you can, give Abby our best from all of us at Bogley.

[R]

I'd just like to let everyone know that Abby is in the recovery phase of her illness. She actually almost died.

I'd also like to thank everyone at Bogley in addition to everyone who looked at my blog and kept Abby in their thoughts. :nod:

[RugerShooter]

Glad to hear that Hope the recovery goes fast :nod:

[Brewhaha]

Glad you have good news to report.

[greyhair biker]

WOW - glad to see she's doing better. BTW - really like your blog. :popcorn:

[JP]

:2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs:

[R]

BTW - really like your blog. :popcorn:

Thank you so much. I have really enjoyed creating it - it has mostly replaced my journal, since I can include other media than just writing, which is good for the photographer in me.

[Felicia]

Glad to hear things are getting better. I have also enjoyed your site. I visit each day. There is sunshine ahead!

[tanya]

So is she out of the woods and healthy and happy yet? Or is she still feeling sickly?

[R]

Actually, Tanya, today she is noticeably better. Physical Therapy gets her up and walking, then make her sit in the (uncomfortable) chair instead of lying in the bed. She is eating and talking better. They took out her last IV yesterday, and she's on a solid food diet. No trace of the pneumonia remains. She is definitely on the mend! :nod:

[savanna3313]

Actually, Tanya, today she is noticeably better. Physical Therapy gets her up and walking, then make her sit in the (uncomfortable) chair instead of lying in the bed. She is eating and talking better. They took out her last IV yesterday, and she's on a solid food diet. No trace of the pneumonia remains. She is definitely on the mend! :nod:

Excellent news! :2thumbs:

[Randi]

Actually, Tanya, today she is noticeably better. Physical Therapy gets her up and walking, then make her sit in the (uncomfortable) chair instead of lying in the bed. She is eating and talking better. They took out her last IV yesterday, and she's on a solid food diet. No trace of the pneumonia remains. She is definitely on the mend! :nod:

It sounds like Abby is definitely on the road to recovery!
I'm so happy for all of you that she's doing better!
What a relief!!!!

[tanya]

Wow! She is still not perky and back to normal. Poor thing :ne_nau: I am so glad though that it looks like it won't be too much longer before she is!

[colbylee]

Best Wishes to the recovery of your beautiful wife.

[JP]

She is definitely on the mend! :nod:
Great :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: I hope you're doing better now as well :nod:

[abirken]

She is definitely on the mend! :nod:
Great :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: I hope you're doing better now as well :nod:


Agree!! She's in good hands. It will be a matter of time and this will be behind you all. Keep up the recovery Abby!! Sending positive energy your way....... :2thumbs:

[R]

With Abby doing quite a bit better, she's graduating to rehab. After I brought her a Whopper for lunch today (I had my usual BK Veggie), she and I were talking. "You know what I've been thinking about today?" she asked me. "I've been thinking that I want to hike back up to Delicate Arch again this October."

She's on her way back! :stud:

[JP]

She's on her way back! :stud:
That's great to hear :2thumbs:

[R]

Abby got a pass to leave the hospital for six hours today and then three hours tonight, so she got to come home for a while today. She feels happy, but also a little lost, since, as she put it, she's "lost a month."

Hospital staff are talking about dismissing her Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

Pictured: Abby with Max and Sierra at home this morning.

http://myweb.cableone.net/abbysm/pix/abbysierramax01.jpg

[JP]

"lost a month."
I know how that feels :nod:
She looks good :2thumbs: Glad to see everything is going well with her recovery :2thumbs:

[DiscGo]

She does look great. I am glad to see her recovering nicely.

[Felicia]

Richard, I'm so glad for you and your family. I have read your Blog every day.

Abby: You look great!!!! :2thumbs:

[Randi]

Abby got a pass to leave the hospital for six hours today and then three hours tonight, so she got to come home for a while today. She feels happy, but also a little lost, since, as she put it, she's "lost a month."

Hospital staff are talking about dismissing her Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

Pictured: Abby with Max and Sierra at home this morning.

http://myweb.cableone.net/abbysm/pix/abbysierramax01.jpg

HUGE SMILE!!!! :mrgreen:
So happy that you're outta the red Abby and looking at resuming your happy home life very soon! You look happy and well and I can't wait to see photos from your next trip outdoors!

[Iceaxe]

:2thumbs:

[Ih8grvty]

Good deal! glad to hear Shes doing better and on her way to being home again.

[R]

UPDATE! Abby is home to stay! :nod:

http://giantmuh.blogspot.com/

[RugerShooter]

Glad to here that Welcome Home Abby. :nod:

[Cirrus2000]

Excellent news! Glad you're together again, and Welcome Home, Abby!

:2thumbs:

[JP]

Get her posting on here :mrgreen:

[tanya]

Wonderful! You two are the sweetest couple. May you both always be happy and healthy!

[Alex]

What a great news and a happy end to this fiasco!


Here is to never go through it again! :cheers: :friday: :pitcher:

[Ih8grvty]

UPDATE! Abby is home to stay! :nod:

http://giantmuh.blogspot.com/


Fu... err uhhh Frick an A!