Update#17, Nov. 17th, 2007

Okay, my turn.  I have been so thrilled to hear Jitka’s voice again.  She started talking again a couple of days ago and I had the chance to speak with her twice.  It still tires her out significantly, so I try to keep it brief.  She has so much to say!  I can’t imagine what she has saved up for almost a month!  I was so happy when I first spoke with her that I was walking around the hospital and I wanted to tell everyone whom I came across that ” I spoke to Jitka today!”  But most of them don’t know who she is or why it is so important. 

As far as medical progress, Jani has pretty much covered that.  The hypernatremia has subsided, but she is still working on swallowing.  They are still not quite ready to give her  the thin liquids.   Other than that, she is doing wonderfully from a respiratory standpoint and Dr. Newell has said that she has made great leaps of progress.  He was terrific through this whole thing, along with Dr. Goodwin.

Jitka, the goof, thanked me for coming to see her.  I told her that she is crazy.  Also, she asked me and Jani to thank all of the people that have sent well-wishes and prayers and helped out.  Also crazy, but more from a logistic standpoint.  She has no idea how many wonderful people have come to her aid.  I am going to work on collating all of the e-mails that everyone has sent us, along with the blog.  I am sure she will be astounded and elated to read them.  I also wanted to thank my best friends, Neil and Lou who came down the first week and were dynamos as far as looking into her benefits and figuring out how her family is going to make ends meet while she is recovering.  More than that, they cared enough to know that I needed them, even though I told them that I would be fine.  I wasn’t fine.   I don’t feel that I deserve to  have been blessed with such amazing “brothers”.  But as her strength grows with each passing day, so does mine.

Jitka has such a terrific attitude.  She knows what she faces, and that it will be tough.  Despite this, she remains positive.  “I’ll be SCUBA diving in 2 months.” she said.  “Let’s go somewhere with seahorses.”  “Fiji.” I replied, “We’re going to Fiji.”  I think that Jani and the kids will be so glad to have her back home, though.  I’ll have to wait my turn.  I’ll wait.

Finally, Jani has been unbelievable.  For all the s–t I gave him before they got married! I couldn’t imagine another man at my sister’s side.  He is such a good man.  I know that he has what it takes to get her through this, but I worry about him.  I am going to rely on our friends in NC to look out for him when I am not there.  Keep me posted! You know that he is so stubborn when it comes to accepting help, and I don’t want him to burn out. 

I am long-winded.  I sat down wondering what I was going to type; and look. 

Thank you all so much for your support, and for following along with her progress.  It has meant the world to us.  Please keep praying with us.

Gratefully,

Kal