Published August 13th, 2009
in Uncategorized.
It’s 3am and I just I got a call from the police that mom called an ambulance to go to Huntington Hospital for severe abdominal pain. I talked with her and tried to comfort her a little. She was hysterical though because her favorite cat, Dreamy, is lost, outside. She had called earlier that evening complaining of the pain while crying, looking for Dreamy outside. I urged her to go to the hospital but she wanted to be there in the morning in case Dreamy came back. She loves that cat so much. I am praying that the cause of her pain is not too serious…
Please, if you are able to be with her at the hospital, help look for the cat, or in any other way, call me 215-834-1395. If her cat doesn’t show up, she will just be devastated! I just got back to Philly to pack up my things and move in with her and wish I could be there now to help her! She has to give herself Lovenox injections for a blood clot twice a day. She took two of them with her.
Published August 8th, 2009
in Gerri's Recovery.
Hello Everyone,
On Monday Gerri will be returing home for good from the Broadlawn Manor. Her catscans show that the infection has been cleared up by the antibiotics. They did find a blood clot in her leg though for which she can administer shots herself at home.
I asked her if she’d like me to move in with her to help during chemo treatment and she was very happy to hear this! So, I will be moving my stuff from Philly and relocating to 21 Furwood for the next 6 mos or so.
If anyone wants to visit mom, she will be home alone next week and the week after until I get my things packed up and moved in.
More details later,
Peace,
Barbara
Published July 28th, 2009
in Gerri's Recovery.
Hello Everyone,
Most of you have seen Gerri in person over the last two weeks, either at the gym or in the garden and were comforted by how good she looks and sounds. All your prayers and well wishes must be working! She is feeling much better these days and her energy is increasing as her weight increases. She is upset she lost all her hard-earned muscle, but grateful that she had them - her surgeon, Dr. Challas, commented that had she not been so fit she may not have pulled through the way she did.
Tomorrow she will meet with the infection specialist, and on Friday, Dr. Challas. We expect to learn when she wants to start chemo with Gerri, and if the infection has cleared up. There may be some complications if she has to stay on the antibiotics the recommended 28 days. Apparently the insurance company says they will only pay for 20 days. So far it’s been 14 days. We are hoping to learn more about how we can navigate this situation tomorrow. I am unclear as to why the insurance company would have any say about how long she can be on an antibiotic. Shouldn’t that be the doctor’s call??
We have also realized it may be prudent that Gerri not leave Broadlawn Manor as frequently and as long as some days last week. Some of the nurses have become a bit irritated with her, especially after the night I dropped her off at 10pm and the doors were all locked. She ended up banging on the window to be let in! (Mom may be the last person on LI to know what it feels like not to own a cell phone. She has finally become convinced she should have one) Also, Chris aptly pointed out that if the insurance company gets their hands on the daily records, they may argue that they don’t have to pay!
So I encourage visits and phone calls instead, especially since she gets so bored in there! The address and phone number are in the previous post.
Also, if anyone would like to adopt a female adult cat, we have three up for adoption! They are a bit shy, so will require some extra attention in the beginning, but they are lovely, purebred Balinese cats and deserve a good home.
Peace,
Barbara
Published July 21st, 2009
in Gerri's Recovery.
Hi Everyone,
Just a quick note to say Gerri is allowed to leave the “manor” for day trips, so if anyone can pick her up during the day today or anytime this week, I can bring her back at night. I know she’d greatly appreciate it to be home with her animals!
Thanks,
Barbara
Gerri: 631-608-5996
Published July 17th, 2009
in Uncategorized.
Hello everyone,
Gerri is now out of the hospital and has been transferred to Broadlawn Manor, a sub-acute rehabilitation center in Amityville. There, she will be finishing her course of antibiotics and continuing to regain her strength. Barbara and I (Suzanne) visited her on Wednesday night, her first night there, and also yesterday afternoon. The facility is quite nice, with gardens you can walk through and outdoor tables and chairs to relax on. Mom should be there for at least 2 weeks, until she finishes the antibiotic treatment.. but she may be there for up to a month.. it is not clear yet how long she will be staying there. But for the time being, here is her contact information at Broadlawn Manor:
Broadlawn Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
399 County Line Road
Amityville, New York 11701
Her room number is #155, and her private phone number is (631) 608-5996.
We are also keeping a close eye on her temperature, since yesterday morning she had a very slight fever of 99 degrees. In the afternoon, she was back to normal.. but if there is any sign of the fever returning, she will have to move back to the hospital and back onto the antibiotics she was originally taking. We will be visiting her again today.. for me, it will be the last time before I head back to Germany!
It has been a wonderful visit for me.. but the time has gone by so fast. It is hard to believe that I will be flying back to Germany tomorrow! But I am grateful that I was able to fly here with Oliver and spend some time with Mom. And I will be looking forward to Christmas, when my husband, Jay, and our other adorable son, Jayson, will also be able to come.
Thank you to everyone for being so supportive! Mom is overwhelmed with gratitude from all the well wishes and prayers you have been sending her way.
Love to you all,
Suzanne
Published July 14th, 2009
in Gerri's Recovery.
Hello everyone,
Here’s an excerpt from my sister’s email:
I just wanted to send a quick report to say that Mom is doing so much better! The antibiotics she is on have been effective in fighting the infection, and she is in good spirits. She has her appetite back as well, and is eating solid foods again. Yesterday when we visited, she was eating pork cutlets and mashed potatoes, and even requested that we bring her a latte! Also, seeing her littlest grandson for the first time brought a big dose of much-needed sunshine.
Suzanne Teller
And here’s a note from Mom:
My dears and loved ones in East Northport and everywhere,
I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all the love, concern, gifts and good wishes that have come my way. Believe me, that is what sustained me all these weeks. It’s been such an unsuspected, rocky and scary road I’ve been on and many times I almost gave up.
I am so grateful for your prayers and support for me and my whole family.
Everyone has been so kind. The doctors are doing their best to restore me and I hope that soon I can see you all.
Penny dear, Maya and Noah too, thank you so much for taking care of my tomato plants and eggplants. We will harvest them together, maybe? 
Love you all,
Gerri
Published July 10th, 2009
in Uncategorized.
Hello All,
Chris’ (my brother 
homemade chicken broth, your prayers and the extra strong, extra expensive antibiotics must all be working because mom is feeling much better! She is dreaming of bagels, German kid’s bread and soft boiled eggs. Tomorrow she will be allowed to begin eating solid foods again.
She will be transferred, possibly next week, to a rehab facility for 2 - 3 weeks where she can continue to receive the ultra expensive treatments. Her insurance company then has a time limit on how long the antibiotics must take to work; after 20 days they won’t pay for it anymore. Hopefully she’ll be healed well before that.
The infection and subsequent abscess is right in front of the sacrum making it impossible to drain surgically.
The antibiotics seem to be working though because her white blood cell count is stable and most importantly her appetite is returning and with that the old Gilala (nickname in German).
One more piece of news is my sister Suzanne and her newborn Oliver are coming from Germany for a week to visit. This should also considerably raise her spirits!
Peace,
Barbara
Published July 8th, 2009
in Uncategorized.
Hi Everyone,
Mom is at Winthrop again. She is in room 342, phone number 516-663-3314. She could use again the same encouragement you all gave last time. She may need surgery again. The doctor is trying to avoid this because she is so weak right now.
The infection that developed in her colon and subsequent abscess is in a hard to reach spot. She is hoping that the antibiotics will work.
Please pray for my mother’s strength. Her spirits need to stay high at this point to beat this newest drawback. Send flowers, cards, positive thoughts and love.
Barbara
Published July 6th, 2009
in Gerri's Recovery.
Hello Everyone,
Mom will be back in ICU at Winthrop either tonight or tomorrow. She had a fever last week and had to go to Huntington Hospital late Thursday night. Turns out she had developed an infection and subsequent abscess in her abdomen where her colon was operated on. After given antibiotics she is feeling better except for the pain she still feels in her abdomen from the original surgery.
She will be transfered today to Winthrop hospital where Dr. Chalas will drain the abscess and perhaps also instert the port inside of her that will be used during radiation therapy.
Pray that she recovers quickly from this second surgery and that her spirits remain up!
You can call her while she is still in Huntington Hospital at: 631-385-3798
Thanks,
Barbara
Published June 25th, 2009
in Uncategorized.
Hi, Everybody,
here I am again…..it has been quite an ordeal these last 3 weeks, and maybe it has not even
totally been accepted by me….. or sunk in. I’ve always felt so “in charge” of my body, at least for these last 15 yrs. and thought that if I did all the right sensible things it would respond like a “good sport” and let me enjoy a healthy long life…..so, I’m a bit amazed and even angry, I guess, at this cancer in my body and will fight it and reason with it but - be also humbled by it. Everything happened so suddenly and “out of the blue”.
Yesterday my surgeon, Dr. Eva Chalas, removed all the staples and told me about the operation proceedure in detail and the forthcoming period of chemo.
She told me to eat everything I could, including meat etc. to gain strength. I’ll do my very best.
Now I want to tell you all how you have upheld me emotionally in these last difficult days…it has made all the difference in some awful moments at the hospital, and I have been moved to tears many times with gratitude and love for you all!
I am so fortunate to have Barb taking care of me, the house, the animals and even my job at the Gym. She is competent, strong, and unwavering in her support. I am so grateful….
Thanks and Love to you all, Gisela (aka Gerri)
