Dear Friends and Family,As all of you now know, Mike had open heart surgery on Friday, October 19 to replace his Aortic valve and have a quintuple bypass. Everything went smoothly and the family is very relived. He slowly regained consciousness on Friday night and Saturday morning. Kathy, Michelle, Nicole and myself were able to visit him briefly after the surgery. Considering what he had been through, he looked amazingly well. On Saturday morning, he was awake and surprisingly alert, considering all of the various medications he was on. In fact, the first thing I noticed was his lipstick. At first, I didn't quite understand. My father, while being a hip, happening, with it, groovy guy, has never been a lipstick wearer. I thought, well, maybe Mom kissed him very hard and left some of her lipstick on his lips, but there was just too much of it. This was very strange.
"Hey Dad! You're awake!"
"Hey Pard. I am awake."
"What's with the lipstick?"
Then, without missing a beat (remember just 12 hours before had his chest cavity cracked open and his heart on ice) my father says, "Well, while they were in there, I had them make a few changes."
I found out eventually that it was actually the remnants of a cherry Popsicle, but at that moment, I knew my father, my Dad, my "padna", was back. Like he never left. This was a very good sign.
He is going to be in the ICU one more day because he has an air pocket (a very common occurance with open heart surgery) near his left lung that they want to take care of before they move him.
If you would like send him anything, please wait until he is moved from ICU, as he is unable to have anything other than family there. He is expected to remain in the hospital for another 5-7 days.
Kathy, Michelle, Adam, Dennis and Nicole truly appreciate all of your support and loving kindness.
Please keep checking this page for daily updates.
Again, our sincerest thanks to you all.
The Flowers/Azevedo Family
7 comments:
Adam:
Great idea to set up this blog. Keep the info. coming and let me know if there is anything I cxan do to help. ED MAEDA
What a great way to keep us up to date on Mike. We know he will recover and be the Mike we love with all the support he gets from those who know him and love him. Thanks Adam!
Good to hear Mike is doing well. We would not expect anything else from him. Looking forward to visiting once he is transfered to the tele floor. Please feel free to give a call if you need help with anything. We will miss Mike and Kathy at the wedding this weekend but know they will be there is spirit.
Love Ryan, Shelly and Jonah
Thanks Adam! It's wonderful to hear Mike is doing well and keep tabs on his recovery without bothering all of you. Love the lipstick story! We're available at any time for anything your family might need. Will continue to keep your Dad in our thoughts and prayers.
Bob and Karen
What a wonderful idea, thank you Adam! You made us all smile with the lipstick story. The love and tenderness that your whole family shares is so touching and it will carry you through. We send prayers, we send hugs and we send all our love.
John and Michelle
I am so excited to hear Mike is doing so well. "You can't keep a good man down", someone said. And I am saving a FAST dance for him. Mr. James Leitto would want Mike up and dancing asap. Please let him know thoughts and prayers are coming from Texas.
Friends Are Forever,
Larry and Marsha
John and I are very happy to hear Mike's recovery is going smoothly. John had his aortic valve replaced this year and is better than ever! We wish you a speedy recovery and our thoughts and prayers from NM.
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