Same, Same, But Different

It's been months since I have blogged! A lot have happened during that time up to the present time. I feel like the same person, but then again different. It's like in Bali where there are so many copy cats. Really, they can copy just about anything. So, when in Bali looking for that special something and something similar pops up. We say "Same, same, but different." And that is how I feel.

First of all I have to thank my God, my family, friends and others for their support, prayers, flowers , cards and love while in the hospital. I am now home settling down in my new bed and new care givers. (Believe it or not I am being bagged with the AMBU bag to practice in case of an emergency and the vent fails to work as I write this.) On the day of my birthday party I was rushed to the emergency room for respiratory distress by Jan, Malia, Spike, Natalie and Renee. . Jan noted that I was acting very lethargic and used a pulse oxyimeter to measure the oxygen in my blood which happened to be in the 80's which is not a good sign and away we went to Queens Medical Center. While checking into the emergency room, I must have lost it because I don't remember anything happening. When I awoke, I was in the respiratory CCU feeling groggy, in pain and something was sticking out of my mouth.
After a few days a traecheostomy was done and a vent hooked up. The three week stay at the hospital was not the best. It's so much better to be in your own surroundings. I now lie in my bed attached to my vent for the air I breath and I sometimes ask myself if this was the right choice! @#!

I thank the Lord for all His Blessing and for giving me another opportunity to life!

I am the same person but different!

Good nite Bella, good nite Violet and good nite Spike! Nana loves you all!
Aloha and God Bless
vi

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME

Vi Update

I wanted to write a quick update on Vi. She is still recovering at Queen's Hospital while her care team is put in place and trained on how to operate the ventilator. We're busy getting the house organized and set up which includes ordering all of the equipment we'll need. Vi is scheduled to be discharged on Monday the 22nd so this is a very busy week. Please email me if you would like to know her room number to visit. She loves the company!

Vi Update

Last Sunday, Malia and Jan took Vi to the emergency room when they observed that she had breathing difficulties. She was intabated (a tube inserted into her throat so she could breathe) and placed in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit). This morning (Wednesday), she had the tracheostomy operation. The surgeon performing the operation was hand picked and had completed the New Zealand Ironman Triathlon with Vi over 6 years ago! The anesthesiologist was also a co-athlete with Vi who had volunteered for the operation. It all went well.

All of this was in accordance with Vi’s wishes. She now can fully recline to sleep. Her body is getting all the oxygen she needs without any concern for CO2 buildup.

She will likely be at Queen’s Hospital for a number of weeks while preparations are made for her home care.

She is surrounded by her family. We will keep you posted on her progress.

Never a dull moment!

Its been about two weeks since our race. There are a few people I would like to recognize who completed the race. First there is Pooky (Trystan Wong) a 7th grader at Kamehameha school who did the race as a class project. I thought how compassionate he is to learn all about ALS and motor neurons for his class project and then, there was Chad who has a muscular dystrophy disease and completed the race happily with his mother. Both of them filled my heart with joy so thank you thank you thank you!!!

Since we last blogged we have had tons of visitors. Besides our regular friends that comes to visit, I have had my college classmate Lei come to visit me from California. It was fun catching up on 25 years of absence. Crazy but Fun! Then their was Rosa who happens to be at a conference in Kona and found out about my situation. She promptly found my number, called me and flew over for the day to spend some girl time after not seeing each other for 15 years. It seems like a day has not passed us by as we picked up our friendship from way back then.

Wow Lau lau!

Share the care, Violets Web, is finally coming to fruition. Last week we had Sandra come over to give me a massage and ouh was it nice! We are expecting another massage therapist to come this week. We also had Fran prepare some food for us and the caregivers. Fran surprised us with a delicious risotto and salmon dish. Thank you to Sandra and Fran who is starting to spin the web. Thank you also to Bev from the Big Island who came over with her daughter Carlee to spend the weekend with us. If any of you have any questions about share the care please call Natalie at 258-9388.

Three weeks has past since getting the G-Tube. It has been a slow getting used to the tube feedings. I take in approximately 900 calories of tube feeding and then eat between 500-600 calories by mouth. I did not realize that I would have to eat all day to get in enough nourishment. We are still adjusting the amount and time of each tube feeding and sometimes I get a little nauseous or I feel sick to my tummy. Hopefully we will be able to resolve this problem soon. My gastro doctor said the peg looks beautiful and to return in one year. Whew!!!! We will be getting back in the water in a couple of weeks so be ready water people!

This Thursday we will not be having swim day but, we will have tea and reading by Bill and Punkin at 10:30 am here at my house. Come up and join us to all my swim friends and anyone else.

On the last note I want to share that Daniel made the cover of the new Surfing Magazine that is coming out soon.

You would never guess who helped me with today's blog. GLIZZA! She is covering for Malia, Spike and Daniel today and will leave back to Bali this week.

Good Night Bella! Goodnight Ruby! Goodnight Spike! I LOVE YOU!

God Bless You All!

Aloha,

VI

A Big Mahalo!

Thank you Natalie for posting the pictures of the run! Thank you HURT and MDA for making this run possible. Thank you all for supporting this event and bringing your high energy that made you all glow happiness. Thank you to all who donated food and drinks for all. We appreciated every drink and morsel.

On the day of the run, we were blessed with the most beautiful day in Kaaawa Valley! Approximately 220 runners, walkers, moms and tots, dads, families and costumed creatures lined the start and off they went on the 3.7 mile trek into the beautiful valley guarded by the majestic green Koolau mountains on either side. The view is breath taking! The 3.7 mile trek route is rather challenging as the HURT motto is "You wouldn't want it to be easy". The course marshals dressed in costumes such as Spam, girl in pj's, Ling Hing Mui seeds and the bat guided and cheered the runners on their way. The cows mooed and ran scattered as runners ran through their turf. Now how many runs do you know of that goes through a cow pasture?

It's late and I will continue tomorrow. In the mean time check out these pictures and You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lLVeWu6tzY

Good night Bella and Ruby. Good night Spike.

God bless and aloha

vi

Photos from Vi's Adventure Trek and Run!

Thank you to everyone for making today such a success!

Vi's First Blog Back

It's been twelve days since the insertion of the PEG Tube. Thanks for all your calls, concerns, love and support. I sailed through the simple procedure which could have turned bad, on the wings of my angel. Thanks to my great Doctor, everything went with no problem.

I apologize for not blogging, however, the last week I've been feeling a little depressed. I know that I am feeling this way because I haven't felt the ZEST that I usually feel and now I have this tube protruding out of my stomach that needs to be hooked up three times a day. Wouldn't you be depressed too? Just imagine I have always loved cooking, eating, shopping for my own fruits and vegetables which I am not able to do anymore. I am trying to be positive and look on the brighter side of how to enjoy eating, cooking, and smelling and caressing the fruits and vegetables.

The highlight for our family this week was the engagement of Daniel and Natalie! Sighhhhh....FINALLY! We love you both, Daniel and Natalie, and wish you both continued love and support.

We are all looking forward to our Adventure Trek and Run on Sunday which will have approximately 300 participants. Be sure to dress in a funny costume! We are looking forward to seeing you.

Goodnight Spike! Goodnight Bella! Goodnight Ruby Rose! Nana loves you!

Aloha, Vi