Hello and welcome to Friends of Jack!
We, his family members, siblings, and mom, have decided that it is time to share with you the specifics of Jack’s condition.
On May 17th, he underwent triple by-pass surgery as a result of the discovery of blocked arteries and veins that could not be repaired with stents.
After the surgery, MRI scans show small lesions from embolic strokes (a type of ischemic stroke) in all four regions of the brain. This is somewhat to blame for the slowness of his recovery. In addition, he has been experiencing kidney misfunction resulting in the need for almost daily dialysis. That condition is improving slowly, slightly, but surely.
Jack has not regained total consciousness at this point. However, he has periods when he squeezes a hand on command, blinks his eyes, and has formed words, without sounds.
His surgeons, doctors, nurses, technicians encourage us to be optimistic about his recovery, with the caveat that it will be slow. Jack is in the process of reprogramming his brain. Not quite as straight forward as reprogramming his computer.
When he can progress with fewer dialysis treatments, he will be moved to a “Specialty Hospital” in Madison called Select Specialty Hospital which is across the street from Meriter Hospital where Jack was originally treated. He was moved from there to the University of Wisconsin Madison Hospital at 600 Highland.
We will continue to post updates here when appropriate.
For Friends of Jack’s in the Madison area, one of the advantages of Select is that they allow 2 (Yes, two) visitors rather than the one allowed by UWMHospital. That having been said, he is not yet ready to sit up and play games with you. Yes, he is not the “Old Jack” just yet. He will be back, just going to take a lot more time.
Our good friend Beth Tucker Long will be the visitor wrangler once Jack is transferred to Select. She will be in charge of choosing the times when Jack will be most able to receive visitors. Beth has been at Jack’s side from the beginning. Trust her, she is in the best position to know when and or if, he is ready for visitors. Thanks.
Stand by, be patient, you are Friends of Jack!
Contact Beth: 608-770-6677
https://www.treelinedesign.com/contact/Beth Tucker Long
807 Arbor Vitae Place
Verona WI 53593
