[saymaListserv] Fw: Update on Hibbard Thatcher's condition

[Penelope Wright]

Prayer does work! especially when combined with appropriate antibiotic
therapy and skilled medical/ nursing care.
Penelope Wright
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ruby and Hibbard Thatcher" <ruby7hib at comcast.net>
To: "Hibbard & Ruby Thatcher" <ruby7hib at comcast.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:05 PM
Subject: Update on Hibbard Thatcher's condition


> Hello again,
>
> This is a group emailing to many people who are close to Hibbard and
> Ruby Thatcher through family or activities.  Many of you belong to
> groups like the Friends Meeting, Nashville Country Dancers, or Sacred
> Harp singing with Hibbard, and if you wish to edit this appropriately
> and send it out to other members of those groups we would appreciate
> it. (And we strongly recommend 'bcc' copying for group emails like this
> one to avoid spreading addresses around. Email us if you're not sure
> how to set this up--it can help prevent computer viruses spreading.)
>
> ***Jan 25, 2006***
>
> This was a good day for Hibbard!  The amount of sedative he'd been on
> was decreased during the night and this morning he gradually woke up.
> When Jonathan went to visit this morning
> he was clearly awake, aware, and trying to communicate.  He realized he
> could not talk, but
> vigorously shook or nodded his head in response to questions, and
> gestured that he wanted to write, but his hand strength did not allow
> this. He listened to Jonathan and clearly understood where he is and
> what is going on. He was pretty worn out after a while and
> bothered by the chest tubes and ventilator, so by the time I arrived
> around noon,
> he was dozing again.
>
> He is gradually being 'weaned' off the ventilator, and that process may
> be complete on the weekend.  The two leaks in his lungs are not yet
> healed, it would seem, but the ventilator's positive pressure may be
> slowing that process down.
>
> Though he had another mild fever spike, his bloodwork continues to show
> no sign of the staph bacteria.
>
> A student nurse was with Hibbard much of the day. She was extremely
> sweet and marvelled at what good shape he is in. She noted that his
> forehead has few wrinkles (true) and that his circulation is excellent,
> as it's easy to find a pulse at his feet, which apparently it seldom is
> on older folks. He was able to push with his feet against her hands and
> he did very
> well on range-of-movement exercises, squeezing her hands when asked (I
> just bet he did) and so on.
>
> Hibbard is likely to stay in the 'special care' ward for at least
> another week. As he comes off the ventilator I think it will be a
> better time for visitors, but he's going to be very weak, so maybe only
> one visit a morning and one in the evening. We'll let you know when
> it's time and perhaps people can let us know when they'd like to come.
> As Hibbard improves obviously he'll be able to 'entertain' more, and by
> the time he's in rehab he will probably
> be wanting to call dances.  At least we can hope so.  I am sure he will
> be glad to see you then.
>
> Until then, Ruby would welcome visitors, and we are taking cards to the
> hospital as well.
>
> Hibbard and Ruby Thatcher
> 1012 Battery Lane
> Nashville, TN  37220
>
> Thanks again for your thoughts, prayers, and support.  Please continue
> to hold Hibbard in the light.
>
> For the family,
>
> Alan Thatcher
>
>