Florida Memorial Service Arrangements

Thank you to everyone for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers over the past few weeks - I really can't think you all enough. It has been wonderful to hear how my dad touched your lives in so many different ways.  My dad was an incredibly amazing man and I miss him so very much.

Now that we're back in Florida, we've finalized plans for a memorial service - it will be on Sunday, February 12th at 4pm at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church at 4301 South Chickasaw Trail here in Orlando. Please join us if you can to celebrate my father's life with his family and friends. Thank you again for keeping me, my mom, Sean, and our family in your thoughts!

Best, Becky 

Our hearts are breaking...

Our beloved Don, a man of tremendous courage and strength passed away peacefully this evening surrounded by his devoted family and friends. Words cannot begin to describe the loss we are all feeling at this time, but we are finding solace in knowing he is at peace and no longer suffering. Please feel free to share your stories and thoughts of Don, as his undying spirit will continue to live and thrive among those whose lives he touched. Details regarding his memorial and funeral arrangements will be forthcoming. God bless.  Ruth Ann, Becky, and Sean

Quick Dad update...

Good Saturday to you all!  It's Becky still...

Dad continues to be in residence at the ORMC ICU unit.  There have been several little corners turned over the past week and for that we are truly thankful.  He's still not responding to us and the doctors are trying to figure out why, aside from the massive quantities of medication in his system.  EEG, MRI, CT, lumbar puncture...they're covering all the bases and nothing has turned up yet.  No news is good news in this case I guess.

As far as the infections go, the doctors seem fairly confident that they've stopped the sepsis and that he's on the right medications.  Of course, continuing to be in a hospital with a central line opens him up to other infections but he's on lots of different stuff to catch anything that might try to pop up.

We continue to hope and pray for a full recovery.  The road is long and he's not out of the woods yet but maybe, just maybe, the underbrush is clearing some.  It certainly looks brighter up ahead than it did this time last Saturday.

Please keep us in your thoughts!

A Friday afternoon Dad update...

Dad is currently holding his own.  He's still intubated and they've got him sedated so that he won't struggle against the tube.  They were able to get a good bronchoscopy yesterday and we're waiting for the results now.  They also identified the bacteria in his blood and he's on the right antibiotics at this point.  They are getting ready to start him on dialysis as his kidneys have stopped working.  The doctor is cautiously optimistic though because getting rid of all the fluid that has built up could help him turn the corner on this whole thing.  We're remaining cautiously optimistic and hopeful as well!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!  We will keep on fighting!!

The journey continues...

Hi guys, Becky here. Just wanted to let Dad's readers know that he's in the hospital right now and having a rough go of it. The doctors are dealing with complications from infection and pneumonia at the moment but they're still assessing the extent of it all.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Pretty sucky way to spend his 65th birthday... I've promised him a big bash for his 66th.

If you have any questions, please shoot me an email at mireight@gmail.com. I'll update as I know more!

Becky