With great saddness, I learned of the passing of a new surgery friend

I had just met Pat a few weeks before my surgery.. Her and I talked in the doctors waiting room.. She was so excited to finally be getting her surgery.. she has horrible knee problems and could not walk too good and want to better her life and eventually get knee replacement after getting off the weight.. We were really surprised to learn that our surgeries were going to be on the same day.. her at 7am and me at 9am.. we took our classes together with the nut.. Her husband was the nicest man I had ever met.. he was so behind his wife's decision and happy for her and I both to be getting the surgery.. After spending the first night in CCU and the second day in ICU I was finally sent to a regular room and Pat was 2 doors down from me.. Her husband Joe came in to see about me.. I asked how she was doing and he said pretty good but still really sore.. I was told that night that I would go home the next morning.. as I walked that evening I stopped by her room and found out that she was going to have to stay one more day.. I never really understood why.. she didn't seem to know the answer.. something was high is all she knew..
I left the next morning and stopped on the way out in the wheelchair to tell her Happy Thanksgiving and that I would keep her in my prayers.. We were going to stay in touch and try to follow how each other was doing.. we had exchanged addresses as she did not have a computer.. Well it took me over a week but finally I got a letter out to her.. I told her how well I was doing and asked how she was doing.. I told her that I am not good at mailing letters but I would really try to keep in touch like I had promised.. this past week I was making out my Christmas card and had just made one for her and Joe.. I had to get more stamps that day in order to mail them so I was delayed.. That was the night of my support group meeting (The 17th)  I got the mail from the mailbox right before leaving but I was excited to see a letter from her.. Or so I thought it was from her.. I opened the letter real fast to read before running out the door, I couldn't wait until I got home to read it.. As I read I started to cry and had to sit down.. My mom was here with me that evening to go to the group meeting with me and to drive.. I still am not driving.. well the letter was from Joe, not Pat., He said that he was so thankful that I was doing so well.. He said that it was with deep regret that he had to tell me that on Dec. 2nd pat passed away.. She developed a blood clot that went to her lung and could not survive it.. I still had to reread the letter three times to make sure I read it correctly.. I was so sad for Joe..He was so good to my husband in the waiting room.. He was just a good person all the way around.. How horrible to think you are starting a new life with your spouse and to loose them right at Christmas.. I know no time is a good time but he must face Christmas alone now..  I know that Pat was trying so hard to better her life and knew the risks but none of us never really expect the worst to happen..Please I know that none of you knew Pat because she was not on OH.. but please keep Joe in your prayers.. 

Also,  please everyone make sure you walk like they tell you.. these blood clots are not anything to play around with..  I  know Pat was not walking a lot because of her knees.. the hospital staff kept after her but she mainly stayed in her room..

PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU>> walk walk walk.. and walk some more..

I am so very sorry to hear about the passing of your friend.  It is tragic.  I will keep Joe in my prayers...how very sad.

Thank you.. I know he will feel the warmth of Gods hand for comfort with all the prayers that are coming his way..

((HUGS))

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend.

It's unfortunate, but so many of us get this surgery when we have so many other health things going on.

I agree ..I think that a lot of us wait until our health is so bad before we even consider the surgery.. It is a major surgery with all the normal risks of any surgery, much less the added risks we present with our failing health..  I wish I had done this when I was younger so that I could have enjoyed life to its fullest , not waited until I was 50 with major health issues.. those who are doing this young are getting ahead of the bad health and worn out joints .. I give kudos to them.. at 50 I will be so thankful for the rest of the healthier life I have left.. even if I will look like a shar pei...lol
 

((Theresa)) I am so sorry about your friend. I also wish I had the surgery when I was younger. I had my surgery at 55, and alot of family felt it was way too risky at that age, but I felt like it was riskier to continue on the course I was on. Joe will also be in my prayers.
 
Theresa, I know this has been a very difficult week for you. I hope your pain is easing. If I was there, I would come and feed your little goats for you.

Thank you Pam ... what  a wonderful gester..  It make me all warm and fuzzy inside to think you would come help me..   I really appreciate that.. I am doing a little better tonight.. no pain meds since last night.. yippee.. I hate taking that.. 

Thank you for the prayers for Joe.. I am sending him a sympathy card tomorrow and I am going to tell him that my friends on OH are praying for him too..

I am so thankful to God that I have done so well.. even with all the allergies and weight gain and itching and welts and then no weight loss and now the back pain.. I still feel so very  very blessed.. I made it through a very risky surgery for my health and age.

The good news is the scale is finally moving in the right direction.. slow but still it is moving.. yippee...

Oh sweetie i am so sorry about your friend.
I am praying for her family and you..I had the filter put in and still passed a clot but my filter worked so i am lucky..

Thank God for the filter.. I am so glad that it was in place for you.. you are truly a very fortunate person to be here..


My first surgeon was going to put in a filter but this surgeon does not use them.. he had never had a death.. I am wondering now if he will start using the filters..

I will thank GOd every day that I have done so well and no major complications...

Merry Christmas to you and yours..

Wow, Theresa, this is so sad. They throw out the risks to you, but it doesn't seem real until you hear about a person with dreams and goals just like yours and they don't make it. I will say prayers for Pat's family too.

Yes, I'm walking like crazy at work and riding my recumbent bike at home again. I took 4 days off, but I'm back at it again.