Good morning Nick! This is his sister Katherine writing from Tom's email account at his bedside in Managua, Nicaragua. Tom had a 10 hour surgery on Wednesday where the orthopedic surgeon harvested bone from his hip and along with some Titanium rods used it to reconstruct his crushed vertebrae. Tom feels having Titanium in his back is appropriate as it makes him "more like a road biking cyborg"
Tom is recovering well from surgery and although yesterday was a difficult day, he is feeling much better today than yesterday. He has excellent movement of his right leg which is getting stronger every day as his doctor has given him strict instructions to exercise his quadriceps and calf muscles as much as possible to keep up his strength. He is not able to move his left leg at this time, although the surgeon reported he was able to get the muscles to twitch immediately after surgery, so he remains optimistic that little by little Tom will hopefully regain the ability to move that leg. Tom is in excellent spirits and is really enjoying hearing from friends (Just try not to make him laugh too hard because it hurts his back=)
You can post on your blog his update and also let his friends know that they can call him in his hospital room from the US by dialing (011-505-255-6900). That will connect you to the hospital operator and you just have to ask for Room 310.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Get Well Tom! #2
Hi friends of Tom -- I got this message from Tom's sister Katherine this morning and she told me to pass it on.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
19 comments:
Dearest Tom,
I give thanks to our father that you are doing so well. I was shocked to hear of your accident as I didn't even know you had gone back to Nicaragua. Know that you are in my (and my parents) prayers. I expect you to go riding with me next year when I come back to Berkeley to train for ALC7. So keep trying to move those legs.
Love, dellma
Dear Tom,
You are awesome buddy, and we are praying fervently that you are going to be totally restored to your regular A-grade physical specimin self. (A for ANIMAL!) We had such a great time with you down here in Santa Barbara (you surf-dog, you.) and can't wait for you to be back to normal. In the meantime we hope to visit you in Tennessee while we are in the mid-west for a family reunion in July.
Bruce
Dear Tom,
In your last email to me you said I´m eager to see you and catch up on our crazy, world-traveling lives! You couldn't have been more prescient. I thought I would have had a lot of good stories to tell, but I guess you'll outdo me now.
I hope and pray that your recovery will be as fast as your Cannondale 613. I mentioned this news to your bike, and now she is gently weeping. I reassured the bicycle that you would soon be back and riding. Don't make a liar of me!
Hasta pronto mi hermano.
Tom,
You know we are praying for your speedy recovery (as is my family). If anyone can make lemonade out of this lemon, it is you. Also, I am working my connections to find you a good rehab center and spinal cord doctor in Memphis. Anyways, I found this bible verse and thought it was appropriate:
"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
James 5:15-16
Love, Monica
TOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!! We know exactly how you feel, having suffered something so very similar in Mexico and people rallying around - Mexicans being so over-the-top kind and generous, friends loving us from afar. Sounds like you are experiencing the same. Dude! We pray loudly for you - for rest, for recovery, for patience with yourself and others. Much love and hope,
-ann and kent
I'm really, really sorry to read this Tom, I'm with Aurora in my place in Chile and we are both sending our best wishes for you to get well again and back on your bike around the world, remember you have an entire hemisphere to explore ;)
We are very confident on your recovery, you are a strong guy that will surely overcome this. Get better soon.
Our best wishes,
Manuel And Aurora
My best wishes Tom... I'm sure you'll recover greatly.
Kiss
mj
Our Dear Brother Tom,
Welcome to your post-human future!
Mel and I are praying for your full (and even beyond that!) recovery. May our God give you healing, and rest, my friend. And may he comfort you and your family and give you peace.
We love you buddy,
Josh and Melissa
Hey Tom,
I'm praying for you here in NC and I've asked for my Aunt Catherine to pray for you too - and she's a nun, so you now have a whole convent on your side :)
I'm sorry to hear about everything you're going through, but so happy that you are recovering. You have such spirit and life in you, I don't doubt that God will help you through this time and that you'll heal well.
I'll be thinking about you.
Jacqueline
Tom,
I am so sorry to hear what has happened. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I'm confident that you will have a speedy recovery and be back to your healthy self soon. If anyone can do it, I know you can!
Best wishes and lots of love,
Jenn
Tom! I was shocked out of my chair to read the news, its unbelievable to hear that such things can happen to the healthiest guy I know. Fortunately, you're the most spirited guy I know too, so I'm confident you'll heal quick enough.
Right now I am at my family's summer cabin in the south of Norway, licking som sun and cruising around the beautiful coast. So, when you one day are on your feet again, you should bike your way up here to the north of Europe and we'll have a blast!
Best wishes for your rapid healing!
Tom!
You can imagine I was really shocked to hear what happened.. at the beginning I couldn't believe that was you, I thought I received the email by mistake.
I can only join all the others in sending you my best wishes of a fast and complete healing! Never stop fighting, I'm sure you'll be better soon. Just waiting for you to ride your bike to Italy!
Ciao.
Silvia
Dear Tom,
Others have already said much of what I would otherwise have, but I just wanted to let you know that Erin and I have been and will continue to lift you up in our prayers. May God speed your recovery and encourage you on the hard days that are sure to come. Best,
Dave "Married Dave" Frerichs
T-Bone,
Glad to hear you are on you way to recovery! I thought the calcium screws in my shoulders were cool... now you've got me beat with titanium in your spine!
We're all thinking of you back here in H-town. I'm sending all of my jedi mind powers to Nicaragua so you can come see us soon and regale us with stories ASAP.
Hugs (albeit very gently),
Nancy
Tom,
Just wanted to send a note to say we're thinking of you and praying for you as you head home. Looking forward to riding with you soon back in Berkeley, but I'm not sure if Nick and I will be able to keep up with your new titanium "frame"!
nate & andrea
Hoping you are going to get this, Mr. Tom, Flown home to TN by now? We continue to pray for easing of pain, for hope, for full feeling and recovery...
peace,
-ann and kent
Titanium rods in your back, huh? Does this mean that we have to call you "the man of Titanium" (or T-man) from now on? Or perhaps it means you'll be setting of metal detectors in airports for the rest of your life? :)
Seriously, you're in our thoughts and prayers. Glad you're back safely in the states. With prayers for successful surgery and full recovery...
Blessings,
Royce and Terri
Hey, Tom...
I know we've only met a couple times through IC3. But I just wanted to let you know I heard about what happened and I'm praying for you. I know this must be a difficult time.
Take care,
Keila
Hi Tom,
I am an Ic3, in northern California. I don't know you personally, but as a family member, in the body of Christ, I want to let you know will be praying for you and your healing.
In Christ,
Michael
Post a Comment