proud auntie

... 3 days after surgery.  He's off all the gizmos and is working on stairs.  No word about what's next, but I'm confident he'll triumph over whatever is put before him.

l i g a - kvk

Richie update ...

I am just now exhaling ... as I'm realizing I've been pretty much holding my breath since Wednesday night.  I'm only now returning to normal breathing. 

We had been ready and waiting yesterday for news since about 1pm our time.  When my little brother called yesterday about 3:30 with the good news, we each each let out enormous sighs of relief ... none of us realizing how tightly wound we had become. The release and residual effects are intense.  Getting wound up and now, trying to wind back down.

Richie is doing extremely well ... either getting out of ICU as we speak or tomorrow at the latest.  The doctors are not speculating about what's next, saying they'll just take it one day at a time.  Test results won't be back until later in the week.  Sounds like weaning him off of pain meds will be later in the week as well.  Rick continues to be blown away by his son, his incredible positive attitude, his strength and the ongoing sea of visitors coming to check on him.

As this Thanksgiving weekend winds down and I begin to catch my breath and look back, the last few days have been filled with small miracles and large blessings ...  I'm enormously thankful that my older brother, Gene, was here with us ... so much better that he wasn't on his own in Nashville and so much better that our family was not so spread out.  Dave and my brothers have always been my three pillared support system.  There is such safety with them ... for that I am incredibly thankful.

From what Rick says, the facilities, doctors and staff responsible for Richie's care have been incomparable.  We're still amazed at how lenient they've been with visitation, allowing him to have his instruments in his room, and holding his impromptu performance from his ICU bed the night before his surgery ... effects of medication making him giggle when he'd forget the words to one of his own songs.

And of course, I am deeply thankful for each of your readers, your good wishes and prayers.
sending love and light filled blessings ..........
l i g a - kvk

YES !!!

Rick just called ... "everything went as well as it possibly could!"

Richie is back in his room, answering all the questions correctly, moving all limbs and digits and even remembered to wish his mom a happy birthday.  I'm thinking Veronica just got the best birthday present imaginable.

So some amazing, serendipitous things about all this ...

They live in Dallas ... The hospital where Richie just had his surgery is one of the top neurological hospitals anywhere. 
The ICU is for brain patients only, so everyone on staff is extremely knowledgeable and patient. 
Turns out his surgeon is one of the top brain surgeons anywhere ... people come from around the world just for him.
Last night, after he had his dreads cut off, Richie held a little concert in his room.  The hospital allowed him to have his violin and guitar in the room and Richie serenaded 15 or 20 people in his room with his own compositions - the i.v. only got in the way a little.  This is an 18 year old kid facing a 5 to 6 hour brain surgery the next morning.   

Pretty much blows me away.  Rick said he just sat there utterly amazed.

What's next ... they don't know.  It will probably be tomorrow before they know anything else. 

Lots of repeated sighs of relief are being heard ......... Thanks to everyone for including us in your thoughts and prayers ... I'll keep you posted.

with deep gratitude and heartfelt blessings
l i g a - kvk

waiting .......

............ to hear from my little brother, Rick.
Our beautiful nephew, Richie, is in the middle of a 5-6 hour brain surgery ... right now is about as early as we could expect any news. 

It's all happened so fast.  Rick called late Wednesday night.  He called while following the ambulance taking Richie to admit him to a neurological hospital in Dallas.  Richie had been having migraines and then started feeling nauseous and they took him to the emergency room.  It didn't take long for them to say, this boys going to the hospital.  He's been in ICU since then, but you'd never know it by looking at him.  The surgery was originally scheduled for the 29th, but they decided their was no reason to wait and moved it up to today ... so much better not to wait all week.

So on this weekend after Thanksgiving, I am so very aware of how thankful I am, how blessed and loved and supported I am and what a wonderful family I have ... so much love, so much light, so so very blessed.

This is an amazing young man ... loved by everyone with a truly extraordinary support group of friends and family.  I would be even more grateful if you would send love and prayers and light to Richie as his surgery continues in Dallas.

just had to share .......

........... these amazing hoops!  They're OTW to my sister-in-law for her birthday.  My niece put in a request a while back ... mom gets hers for her birthday ... Alexis will have to wait until Christmas.

They were a great exercise in design and problem solving.  They're 4" long!  Veronica will totally rock these - she's very statuesque ... a yoga teacher that carries a Chanel handbag with a truly unique sense of style.

Hoping she likes 'em ........

once again ... to my U.S. peeps - Happy Thanksgiving!
l i g a - kvk

quick like a bunny...........

......... So very happy to say I've been listing Talismans on Etsy!

 

 

Have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving Holiday ......
with deep gratitude
l i g a - kvk