Friends of Tony Update
This page was last updated on February 19, 2006
Not Home Yet
Tony remains in the hospital this week. He has been patiently waiting to come home since the middle of December, but with the severe nursing shortage in California, most homecare services do not have the resources available to care for someone in his condition. As a result, St. Jude hasn't been able to contract homecare for Tony, and he's has had to spend his Christmas in the hospital. We expect things to change early in the New Year as Aetna, Tony's HMO, expanded their nursing network. According to Sue Potts, Rehab Manager at St. Jude, they continue to work on resolving this matter "on a daily basis." However, since California currently ranks at the bottom in the number of registered nurses per person in the nation, the problem couldn't be any more serious. Earlier in the month, an expedited email went out to Tony's Prayer Circle, asking for help through the power of prayer.While in the hospital for over four months now, Tony has continued to make good progress. The burn wound on his right side and the two pressure ulcers (bedsores) on his lower back have gotten much better. Tony's appetite has also steadily improved over the past few weeks, but his weight is still very low and he's currently connected to a feeding tube. To further help Tony build back his strength, a dedicated group of friends and volunteers regularly come by to visit, providing much needed company and a very special, meals on wheels service when his family is away. We are grateful to friends like Tami Tollefson, Stephanie Stiles, the Schwab's (Gary and Anne, Eric and Connie), among so many other friends who have also become part of Tony's extended family. If you are a friend of Tony's, one of the most important things that you can do for him is to make contact in some way. A hospital visit isn't the only way to show that you care, but over the holidays, it would mean a lot. In addition to visiting, you can also send a card, write an email, call him on the phone, or pass on your message to Tony's family. Let Tony know that you're thinking of him.
Thank you all for helping to keep Tony's spirits uplifted while he's been in the hospital, especially those friends traveling from out of town like Heather Hubbs and Dennis James.
Looking Forward
In order for Tony to get discharged from the hospital and go home, he'll need to have an approved registered nurse onboard for home care on a part-time basis. At home, Tony would receive regular wound care (about 3-4 days a week) by the assigned RN, who would also oversee the maintenance of his feeding tube. In addition to his homecare RN, Tony will require the assistance of a full-time professional caregiver to help him at home. While his HMO will pay for an RN to provide wound care, a caregiver is not covered; it is a direct cost to Tony and to his family.Once Tony's weight and albumin (protein) levels are high enough, he can then be admitted to Rancho Los Amigos (http://www.rancho.org) in Downey, where a specialized team of doctors will perform flap surgery on his two pressure ulcers. At some point after his recovery and rehab at Rancho Los Amigos, Tony would then need further medical treatment to repair the nerve damage to his right elbow. The joint has been immobilized since the plane crash, and it's been a constant source of pain for him. With mobility and strength restored in his right arm, Tony could then concentrate on building up his upper body, helping him to be more independent, and possibly not need the help of a professional caregiver.
For more information about what is involved and how to help, please check out the FAQ page for further details.
Accident Update
It's been over fifteen months since the Bushmaster plane crash, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has still not completed their investigation as to the probable cause of the accident. There's been a considerable amount of speculation in the aviation community that the NTSB will report that a strap used to hold the rudder stationary on the ground was not removed. If that were the case, it would certainly explain why the aircraft was rendered uncontrollable; first on the ground, and then in the air. This would also account for what witnesses described as an erratic take off. A pilot's ultimate responsibility is to make sure that everything possible has been done for a safe flight.We anxiously await the results of the NTSB report.
Acknowledgements to Friends of Tony
Power of One
The following story hits very close to home as we focus on a member of Tony's family for the first time. This special Power of One acknowledgement goes to Tony's father, Sam Albanese, who is recognized for his selfless efforts in overseeing Tony's day-to-day recovery and rehabilitation. He is a role model for all parents to follow.His Biggest Role Yet
Sam's unwavering support for his son's well being has been met with so many challenges, that it would make a lesser parent want to throw in the towel. Not Sam, he will tell you quite unassumingly that any father should do the same. It is through his sheer determination to make Tony well again that many people have come to know him. Sam keeps a constant bedside vigil, helping to ensure Tony receives the best care possible.
Retired and living out-of-state with Tony's mother, Mary, they make a weekly trek across the Nevada border to oversee Tony's ongoing medical and financial needs. More often through, Sam sojourns on and spends weeks on end in California while Mary stays at home to attend to her own health needs in Nevada. Married for almost fifty years now, Mary recently stated, "Without fail, someone either at the hospital or from church would comment or pull me aside to tell me what a wonderful father my husband is." Mary further states, "For a man nearly eighty years old, we don't know where he finds the strength to do what he does." It may be Sam's reactivated work ethic that keeps him going, or it may be his knack for fulfilling a special role.
A short time into retirement, Sam was coaxed by Mary into an open cast call to be "extras" for the movie, Casino, that was being filmed in Nevada at the time. Sam was chosen for a role he never expected to get. He had found time for a second career, or more accurately, a second career found him. His face may look a little familiar (in the picture on the right), that's because he has continued to appear in dozens of television programs and movies with some of Hollywood's most recognized actors over the past fifteen years. Sam recently had to turn down a role that he was handpicked to play on the television hit show, America's Most Wanted. He has an even bigger role right now, as Tony's primary caregiver.
Tony's Prayer Circle
Over the past couple of months, the members of Tony's Prayer Circle have been answering the call to help through the power of prayer. Members of Tony's prayer circle are sent expedited bulletins in email asking for help in prayer on any given day that Tony may need it most.
Recent prayers for Tony have included:
- Prayers to help Tony deal with the intense pain he's had to endure when the doctors and nurses treat his wounds.
- Prayers to help his appetite so that he eats more solid foods.
- Prayers to help him maintain his appetite so that he can build back his strength and regain the weight that he lost when he was not able to eat.
- Prayers for Tony to get a homecare nurse as soon as possible.
More Friends of Tony
A few more names have been added to the friends page and to the Friends-of-Tony Update email list. They are:- Mark Crawford
- Dana Faecke, RN
- Gail Uebersetzig
- Danny Wilson
- Nov/Dec, 2005 Friends Of Tony Update
- Sept/Oct, 2005 Friends Of Tony Update
- July/Aug, 2005 Friends Of Tony Update
- June 20, 2005 Friends Of Tony Update
- June 4, 2005 Friends Of Tony Update
- May 20, 2005 Friends Of Tony Update
If you haven't already done so, add yourself to the Friends-of-Tony email list and friends page to find out more about Tony's condition and what you can do to help.
Thank you,
Steve Albanese
FriendsOfTony.com
Calendar
January 2006
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Week of January 1
The nursing shortage has kept Tony in the hospital longer than anticipated. We are very hopeful that he'll be discharged from St. Jude in the next few days once he has been assigned a homecare nurse. In the meantime, this would be an ideal time to visit. Tony welcomes visitors.
Week of January 8
There hasn't been much progress in Tony's homecare nurse situation; he is still waiting for St. Jude to find a home nursing service this week. While going into his fifth month now, Tony continued to put on a few more pounds in the hospital. Come and visit this week.
Week of January 15
St. Jude continues their search this week, trying to find a homecare nurse for Tony so that he can be discharged from the hospital. Friends are encouraged to make contact with Tony by either calling, sending email or by paying him a visit.
Week of January 22
Friends of Tony are once again encouraged to pay him a visit, call, or send an email; St. Jude continues their search to find a homecare nurse. Tony has still not been discharged from the hospital.
Week of January 29
St. Jude has still not been able to get a homecare nursing agency to take Tony’s case, but we may have found a solution. If we can get several qualified registered nurses to work with Tony for a few hours per week, St. Joe’s would provide training and hire this team on a part-time basis. This is not an unpaid volunteer situation. The call is out for help from the nursing community. Please contact Steve Albanese for more information.
Week of February 5
Since last December, St. Jude has been ready to release Tony, unfortunately they haven't found a homecare nursing service or agency that would take his case. All of our prayers right now are with Tony so that he can make the move this week to New Orange Hills, a skilled nursing facility in the city of Orange.
New Orange Hills is considering taking Tony's case, but the nursing staff must first be able to meet his wound care needs. St. Jude has offered specialized wound care training for the New Orange Hills nursing staff to help Tony make this transition.
Week of February 12
Tony remains at St. Jude. New Orange Hills has declined to take Tony's case.
Tony is scheduled for an evaluation at Rancho Los Amigos (http://www.rancho.org) in Downey on February 15. It is at this facility that a specialized team of doctors will perform flap surgery on his two pressure ulcers (bedsores). We are very hopeful and we pray that Tony can be scheduled for surgery in the next few weeks.
Week of February 19
Tony's evaluation at Rancho Los Amigos went very well last week. They have scheduled his flap surgery for next month, and they will likely work on his elbow there too. Until he is moved to Rancho in March, Tony will remain at St. Jude in Fullerton. This is all very good news. Come and visit this week.
For more information of what is involved at Rancho Los Amigos, check out the FAQ page.
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