Update from Bill

Hey,
Jig Warren and Paula are due in tonight. Along with Beth, Bill, Marlee and Grace and the soon to be born yearning for a name (Any ideas?)

We are getting around much better since pain control has improved. Enjoying the fall foilage and a good cigar on the patio. Carole makes a good pusher woman!

The Fresno Bee has managed to keep me in the news every day by publishing bits of my deposition in the SKJ vs. Fresno State trial. Hopefully, things will end soon. Stacy will have had her day and my guess is that she will prevail and receive some compensation.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bill

A Bill Update From The Kennedy's

Since the last post he has been battling through several issues. He had his pain under control, but ran into problems with nausea due to all the pills he was taking. He was admitted to the hospital for tests and it was concluded that the pills were upsetting his stomach and making him unable to keep any food down. He returned home and was put on continuous liquid (pump) pain medication. He can push a button when more pain relief is needed. Since then he has needed this dosage steadily increased due to his back pain. He has since had a lift delivered so he doesn't have to transfer via the transfer board which was causing him discomfort. He is now to the point where comfort, not treatment, is a priority. He and Carole had a visit from a social worker from a Hospice program to discuss any further services that are needed. They provide any supplies he may need, and are more liberal with any pain management he may require. Helen Jones MD, his wonderful primary physician, had agreed with the decision to move forward with the Hospice program. Please contact Carole first if you would like to visit to ensure he is up to visiting, and that it fits his schedule.

On another matter:
Fresno State Head Trainer Ed Ferreira and Team Physician Dr. Eric Hansen have established a scholarship in Dr. Bill's name. The scholarship, "Dr. William "Bill" Kennedy and Friends Scholarship" was established in recognition of 23 years of dedicated service to Fresno State's sports medicine program and athletic training education program. Fresno State Department of Athletics is honoring Dr. Bill Kennedy by establishing a scholarship in his name. This scholarship will be given annually to an undergraduate student majoring in Athletic Training.

In doing this, we are asking the many friends and associates of Dr. Bill to support his legacy by contributing towards this scholarship fund. We are seeking to create a minimum endowment of $25,000 (or Dr. Bill's lofty goal of $100,000) which will provide the annual scholarship award to one of our athletic training students.

Your contributions are tax deductible. Checks are payable to the Bulldog Foundation. Please write "Kennedy Scholarship" on the memo line. Please forward your contribution to:

Kennedy Scholarship c/o Ed Ferreira
Department of Athletics
Fresno State
5305 North Campus Drive
Fresno, CA 93740

Thank you very much for honoring Dr. Kennedy and supporting the Fresno State Athletic Training program. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Ed at your convenience. His phone number is 559-389-1958 or email him at edfe@csufresno.edu

The deadline for finalization of the scholarship is MONDAY, OCTOBER 30TH.

We consider ourselves very fortunate for all of the love and support during these tough times, and we will keep this blog updated with any new developments regarding his condition.

Peace and Love to all,

The Kennedy's

Medical Stuff

Well, I finally got my blood transfusion - 2 units.
People often ask me what they can do to help. I would suggest you donate a pint of blood to either the Transylvania Foundation or in my name at the Fresno-Madera Blood Bank.

Also, the urine in my urine bag (I have a catheter in) started to look cloudy, so I checked it with a chem stik indicating an infection in the bladder. I have started on some antibiotics and feel OK. Time will tell.

BTW - if you women readers are inclined to get urinary tract infections, - I would suggest buying come chem-stix. this is a strip of paper that you did in your uirne and will tell you 10 different things, In the case of bladder infections, it will tell you if you have WBCells and nitrates in the urine. Bacteria in the bladder break down the normal urea into nitrates. A singel striip costs 40 cents. If the strip is positive, you can call your doctor and get come antibiotics or further tests.

Well, Fresno State lost another one against Texas A and M. Although it was as close a game as you can get (23 overtimes), it is still a loss. Next time I see coach Hill I want to ask him why he did not go for 2 points at the end of regulation - one shot for it all. I do not disagree with his decision but I have had coaches say that if they are the underdog on the road and one play can win it all, they will play all in and go for the victory. Good luck to the dogs - I hope they get it into their heads that they are a very good football team and can can with anybody.

JOKE

What does an evagelical preacher at an outdoor rally have in common with Fresno State running a 4th quarter trick play.

ANSWER: Both have 35 000 people say Oh Jesus at the same time.

Stay tuned.

Bill

Stop Messin' With Me Uncle Sam!

Procrit - an injectable drug used to stimulate the Red Cell count in an anemic person.

Hemoglobin (HBG) - the amount of 'red' in the red clood cells - useful measurement of degree of anemia ... normalk = 12 - 15

-------------------------------------------------------------
My HBG has been running around 8.5 secondary to the ablation of some of my bone marrow from the radiation I have received recently to knock out the spinal cord tumors. When I was receiving Procrit in the hospital, the HBG would run 8 - 11. I have not had a blood count recently until yesterday and have not had any Procrit since leaving the hospital two weeks ago.

Yesterday i went to visit my oncologist and it was 8.5. Look how gray my skin looks in the following picture taken several days ago.




Well it turns out that Medicare will only pay for Procrit if the patient either has (renal failure), (recent chemotherapy), or (myleodysplasia)....so I am not eligible for Procrit -- so instead I have to get blood transfusions with double the cost and 10 times the risk. Seems the US Government knows more about treating me than my Oncologist!

The Kennedy girls were up this weekend and brought along their parents as well as Peter and Nichole.



It was a wonderful time as usual.

Go Steelers!

One Week

Well I have been home for one week and things seem to be going well. Physical Therapy (PT) comes twice a week and has been trying to build up my strength and endurance. Occupational Therapy (OT) attempts to mitigate barriers to independence. My OT Therapist, Amal, is very good.
In the photo she is attempting to see what modifications must be made to my shower to accommodate a standard bench shower apparatus (You slide onto it and then use a hand held shower).



I have had an abundance of visitors and I am quite grateful for the visit and the food-nothing like home cooking!



Tomorrow I hope to venture to Home Depot to check out some home equipment.

Stay tuned.

Getting Adjusted

Getting home is great; imagine going 10 weeks without playing with your dog. Django, the friendly dog, missed me most and is aa little perplexed by the wheelchair.



Also, my wheelchair is too big for the bathroom door - my brother and sister-in-law to the rescue!



stay tuned

Home at Last

Well I am finally home. It has been 10 weeks since I have been free of hospital bracelets and the transition to the home life has been wonderful.Sometimes transport is barebones.





Dave Raun was of immeasurable help, especially when it came to adjusting and regulating the hospital bed.






My health seems good except for the obvious problem that I can not walk and am paralyzed from the waist down! I am becoming more adept at transfers and Carole has learned to assist transfers - just amazing.

I have no immediate plans except to get healthy and learn to adapt to this new world.

Visiting: I have to rest a lot so if you pan to come out, please Call Carole before coming: 434-7795.

More later







1

LOA

Got an LOA from the Rehab hospital and am spending Sat afternoon at home. The dogs missed me but everything loooks the same.

I have had lots of visitors.




Laura makes a visit.



see you soon.

Update from Carole

Hello,
Bill has recovered from the pneumonia and UTI. On Tuesday he was transferred back to San Joaquin Rehabilitation Hospital where he will continue learning skills which will allow him to go home. His therapy sessions yesterday went well considering the fact that he is weak still from the pneumonia. Hopefully, he will continue to improve and be home in a couple of weeks. They keep him very busy at San Joaquin....so please give me a call if you plan to visit.....434-7795. Thanks.
Peace....
Carole

I am up

Well, I am up and posting. At San Joaquin Rehab there was no internet access. So, to get internet access, I had to get pneumonia and get back in St. Agnes where I have been for the past week.

The pneumonia seems improved but questions remain:
* Is it due to the steroids?
* Did I aspirate?
* Do I have reflux?

Anyway, I have some tests ordered tomorrow that may help solve the issues so I can get back to rehab.

Last week-end we were blessed with the Hazelton sisters and their parents who put on a continuous show for all of us.

This week-end, Steve has come up to lend his support and love and work on getting me better.

Stay in touch!

Bill

Update from Carole

Hi all...
This summer it feels like Bill takes two steps forward and then one step backward. He was progressing well at San Joaquin Rehab hospital until last Saturday night when he spiked a temperature of 104. So that took him to the St. Agnes ED on Sunday morning where he was diagnosed with pneumonia and urinary tract infection. He is responding to the antibiotics but still at St. Agnes. I am not sure where he will go from there as San Joaquin rehab has deemed that he is too sick for them to take back right now. His spirits are good and back pain is controlled.,,a bit groggy at times due to medications but carries on a very lively conversation as usual. I think visitors might be ok while he is at St. Agnes as he doesn't have many activities to interfere with visiting. If you do plan to visit, I would ask that you give me a call first to be sure we don't have a room full and that he is up to the visit. My number is 434-7795. He is in room 348.
Again...thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers.
Peace....
Carole

Update from Carole

Hi all...
Bill is still recovering in San Joaquin Rehabilitation Hospital here in Fresno. He will most likely be there at least another week. His days are filled with Occupational Therapy, Physical therapy and general nursing care which keeps him busy. In between all of those tiring activities, he rests. He still has a considerable amount of pain for which he is being given fairly significant doses of pain medication...sometimes making him a bit groggy. It is a real balancing act to get the right amount of pain med on board so that he has tolerable pain and can participate in the therapy sessions and not make him too groggy so that he can't participate. He is slowly getting some strength and movement back in his lower extremities but too early to know how much will return. The medical team of therapists, nurses and physicians are outstanding and there is no doubt that he is getting the best of care.
Many thanks to all who have sent greetings, called, and kept him in your thoughts and prayers. You are most appreciated.
Peace....
Carole

Update 7/2/2007

I was asked to update Dr. K's Blog. He is currently at San Joaquin Valley Rehabilitation in Fresno. He was transferred there for therapy after his surgery last week. He is a bit groggy from medications at this time. Carole feels that he might be at San Joaquin for two to three more weeks. She felt that visitors might be a bit much for him this week and Blog updates will keep you posted when that changes. He is getting used to the routine. I will do my best to keep all informed of Dr. K's status. Ray O. -- Visalia

Update

Well, it seems that I have a bit of tumore in the space over my spinal cord at the waist - good news is that radiation easily kills it to relieve the pressure. I started last Thursday and have completed 3 (of 10) treatments and already things are better.

Once I can get in and out of bed onto a chair without the aid of big men, I will home - stay tuned.

Bill

BTW - Thank you for not send flowers! They block the vents of the air conditioning.

Schnapps - now ur talking.

Down but not out........

As things were not improving, I checked myself into St. Agnes Hospital. I am now finding myself in need of treatment for paralysis. More than likely this treatment will be in the form of radiation therapy. I expect to be here for one week before I am back on my feet. Please no flowers.....but I do enjoy pithy (or obscene!) get well cards. And, if you are up to it....smuggled liquor. Stay tuned.

Goin to Work

The doctoring continues: Dr Weins would like me to see Dr Davidian for steroid or anesthetic injections where the spinal nerves are being pinched.

I returned to work at the Dept of Rehab and had no problem getting around. Once the medical issues get settled, I hope to go back top my usual workload.

Tomorrow we drive to the City for a Thursday appointment.

Cya

Sopranos

Well, we invited Dave and Laura to share the exciting end of the HBO series "The Sopranos". It held us on the edge of our seats but did not push us off.

Oh well, different strokes for different folks.

Bill

Sunday Thoughts

A blog reader, after looking at my abdominal CT scan commented "That liver looks like it's been ridden hard and put away wet a few times. :)". In actual fact, the radiologist who interpreted the scan commented on seeing 'fatty infiltration of the liver'. I don't think my liver got fat eating an extra serving of broccoli; I will have to take better care of it - anyway, fat is not such a bad thing.

My Vitamin B-12 level was low so I got a B-12 shot Friday - so far --> nothing seems to be changing but how did I get low on B-12???, especially with my gluttonous eating behavior on the cruise.

Last night Dave and Laura came out and helped prepare dinner: perfect night for a patio dinner but probably not the best of nights for the liver. Tonight we are having a mini-last-Soprano-episode dinner. Should be a hoot.

Of course the big news is the arrival of Sarah Cassidy Kennedy in Santa Barbara - Mommy and baby are doing fine (come on Steve- start firing pictures my way).

As to health issues, things are going along pretty good, mainly because of my caretaker.



Also, my primary care doctor has, as Emeril says, "kicked it up a notch" and I have much more pain free episodes.

In the next couple of days I should be able to get my hands on a motorized wheelchair or scooter and that will simplify things.

Anyway, goodbye to Tony Soprano.

Oh, BTW, a very food friend (Ed Pierce)had the honor and duty of throwing out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium the other night - they tell me it was a strike.



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Scan-O-Rama

Well, early to rise and off to Physician's Imaging for some more scans. There were multiple scans today - CT Scan of the Thoracic Spine, CT of the Lumbar Spine, CT of the Abdomen and CT of the Pelvis. To prepare you must drink a Barium - Raspberry flavored contrast liquid and then wait.



Multiple images are then rendered for review by the mucky mucks.



Upon close inspection there appears to be bone spurs, calcium and sundry gunk irritating the spinal nerves, enough to cause a serious back ache.



So, following the scans, it is off to see my doctor (Dr Jones) who spent a couple of hours with me and came up with a treatment plan that should keep me busy counting pills.



Another glitch - my insurance company has not 'approved' the medication and the pharmacy does not stock it - so it will be another 48 hours with the Gin and Juice and then I can get going into twenty first century pain management.

Anyway - rejoice - the culprit seems to have been uncovered, help is on the way, and no more scans for awhile.


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Short Blog

I went to visit the Bone Doctor today
To see if there is a better way
...To reduce the pain
...and keep me sane
He ordered more scans...we'll see what they say.

More tomorrow

(Could you pass the gin over this way pleaz)