Friends of Tony Update
This page was last updated on December 25
We cannot thank those wonderful friends enough who made contact with Tony while he's been in the hospital these past months. Your cards, emails, and phone calls have reassured Tony that you have him in your thoughts. His spirits were especially lifted when friends came by to spend time with him. The good news is that Tony has made tremendous progress; the large and very painful burn wound on his right side has been reduced to a fraction of its original size. We are also pleased to report that the two pressure ulcers (bedsores) on his back are healing.
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Since his lack of appetite had become an increasing challenge to his recovery, Tony underwent surgery this month to have a new feeding tube connected directly to his stomach. Things are slowly improving at this time, and he has begun to eat solid foods again.
Tony was not able to make the transition from an intravenous line to pills this month. He continued to endure intense pain when the doctors and nurses treated his wounds; Tony will remain in the hospital until he is well enough to come home. |
Going home right now means a lot to Tony. This will give him some time at home before undergoing yet another surgery that will put him back in the hospital for about a month. If you are planning to see Tony or call his room at the hospital, he has been moved to a room with windows. He's still on the second floor, but now in room 211.
Earlier this month, Tony had a couple of special visitors at St. Jude's:
- Jack Silva with Ed Libed
- Robert "Buddy" Mansfield
Robert ("Buddy") Mansfield has also been following Tony's story since the time of the plane crash, and Tony had a great time when Buddy stopped by to visit. Buddy is a member of the International Wheelchair Aviators (http://www.wheelchairaviators.org), and it was after he became disabled from a fall at a construction site that he earned his private pilot's license (Buddy is a L1 paraplegic pilot). He learned how to fly in a specially outfitted airplane, and according to Buddy, he goes up every chance he gets. Like Tony, Buddy spent months in the hospital recovering from his injury. He also had a bed sore that required flap surgery. Tony and Buddy had a lot to talk about.
Thank you again to all of the other friends who came by and spent time with Tony, especially those who traveled hundreds or thousands of miles like: Stephanie (Malby) Johnson and Dennis "Jesse" James.
Looking Forward
Once Tony's albumin (protein) levels are high enough, he will be ready to check into Rancho Los Amigos (http://www.rancho.org) in Downey, where a specialized team of doctors will perform flap surgery on his two pressure ulcers. For more information about what is involved in this operation, check out the new FAQ page for details.Milestone
With one year behind us now since the accident, we are still waiting for the report from the National Transportation Safety Board. Results from the investigation of the incident are expected to be released soon.Acknowledgements to Friends of Tony
If you haven't checked out the friends page recently, you'll now see that many of the names have hyperlinks and some have small thumbnail pictures associated with them. The links will take you to people featured on Tony's website, either in pictures, news items or in stories from current and past Updates. Other special pages featuring friends of Tony include the following:- Power of One
: Extraordinary stories about friends of Tony.
- Tony's Prayer Circle
: A list of people praying for Tony when he needs it most.
Power of One
Over the past few months we have been featuring some of Tony's remarkable friends, and how they've acted with selfless compassion for their friend in need. As a long overdo acknowledgement of Tami Tollefson, a friend of Tony's for over 15 years, we need to recognize the incredible support that she provides to her "best friend" every day of the week.Tami and Tony share a special bond — as close as any brother or sister. Tony knows that he can count on Tami no matter what the need or circumstance.
For example, when the plane crash occurred at Fullerton airport, "Tower Tami" used her 15 years of air traffic tower experience (including five years at this very airport) to make sure that all the necessary logs were accounted for and readily available to the National Transportation Safety Board investigative team.
Sharing an interest in aviation, and many other things, Tony likes to say that they are the male and female version of each other. According to Tony, they bring out the best in each another.
As seen in the picture on the right, Tami also brings the best to Tony — either at home or in the hospital; her family is always there and ready to help out. In the picture, (from left to right), Tami is accompanied by her niece Johanna ("Joey"), her sister Shelly, and her mother, Darleen. In the foreground is Tami's dog, Reggin, one of the most requested visitors, and who has always had her own special bond with Tony. In fact, sometimes the lines of ownership can get a little blurred for Tony and Tami when it comes to Reggin. This is the perfect depiction of the power of one multiplied: Tami-ly sized.
Tony's Prayer Circle
Last month a number of volunteers were added to Tony's prayer circle. In addition to Tony's family members, many old and new friends along with their families answered the call to help Tony's healing process through 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. Check out the prayer page for more details.
More Friends of Tony
Quite a few more names have been added to the friends page and to the Friends-of-Tony Update email list. They are:- Martin J. Abella, RN
- Lisa Antenucci, RN
- Jackie DeCosta
- Ed Kuchmecki
- Ed Libed
- Jennifer Piper, RN
- Jack Silva
- Don Trimble
- Danny Wilson
- Sept/Oct, 2005 Friends Of Tony Update
- August 7, 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
Thank you,
Steve Albanese
FriendsOfTony.com
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Week of November 1
Tony's appetite had returned briefly.
Week of November 6
Attempt to change Tony's pain medicine from a hypodermic needle to pills.
Week of November 13
Tony was not able to make the transition from an intravenous line to pills last week, and his lack of appetite has become a huge challenge to his recovery. To help him maintain proper nutrition, Tony underwent surgery this week and a new feeding tube was connected directly to his stomach.
Week of November 20
Tony has been eating solid foods again, and he is currently assisted by a feeding tube to help him maintain proper nutrition.
Week of November 27
Tony continues to eat solid foods while also assisted by a feeding tube to help him maintain proper nutrition. Tony has made tremendous progress this week. His weight is very low, but he's back on track; Tony will likely be released from the hospital in December.
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Week of December 4
Tony is expected to come home this month; arrangements are being made for a caregiver or nurse to oversee his homecare.
Week of December 11
Tony has been complying and working very hard at St. Jude these past three months, but the St. Joseph's Nursing Network refused his home care case (they took care of him before when he was at home). Once we have a nurse contracted and trained, everything else should fall into place and Tony will be back home for the holidays.
Week of December 18
Tony still doesn't have a home care nurse yet; everyone is working very hard to secure home care service so that Tony can be home for the holidays.
Week of December 25
Tony remains in the hospital this week. With the severe nursing shortage in California, St. Jude was not able to contract a home care nursing service so that Tony could be released in time for the holidays. We expect things to change early in the New Year as Aetna (Tony's HMO) is currently exploring nursing service outside of their network. Tony has been patiently waiting to come home to be with his family. He welcomes visitors.