[Choir] Fwd: Art is doing better!

[Richard Riley]

Dear Choir,

My great thanks for your meaningful music making tonight at the Carol Sing!

Below is some new - and good - news about Art Stukey.

Sue would appreciate any soups that could be dropped off at her house.

Dick


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: amy tatko <amytatko at gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Dec 11, 2016 at 8:25 PM
Subject: Art is doing better!
To:


Dear Friends -

Art is doing much better and really seems to have turned a corner. His
neurologist at the hospital will evaluate him again tomorrow to decide when
he can move into rehab. He'll likely go back to Fanny Allen, where there
are intensive rehab therapies and round-the-clock nurses and "sitters" in
the room.

Art was up and walking the halls when I arrived today! He was more alert
and clear-headed than I've seen him these past four weeks. He is eating
well, gaining strength, and able to hold a conversation with many lucid
thoughts. He still has a long way to go, but the improvement today was
drastic. The drug that caused a big setback is out of his system, and the
doctors will avoid it from now on. Art has been sleeping better, and that
is having a big positive effect. He seemed like himself in spirit, with his
characteristic facial expressions, turns of phrase, smiles, and laughter.
He really lit up when I talked about how many of us are rooting for him,
missing him, and sending love. He expressed several times both his
awareness of how much he has improved and disbelief at what has happened to
him.

The doctor is again trying to wean Art off the steroids that he's been on
for months to control the inflammation in his brain. The dosage has been
reduced almost by half without ill side effects. Once the steroids are out
of his system, the doctor will order a new MRI and spinal tap to learn more
about the white matter in Art's brain, which is the underlying problem that
he's been struggling with for more than a year. In the meantime, the doctor
hopes to do a "pet scan" this week, which would show if the problem in his
brain has spread to any other areas of his body. In other words, if there
is cancer in his brain and it is spreading, a pet scan would show this -
and avoid the need for a brain biopsy, which is very invasive and
potentially risky.

There was a hopeful spirit in the room today, and I expressed to Art many
times how awesome it is that he has made huge progress and how happy all
his beloved friends would be to hear this welcome news.

*TIME FOR MORE SOUP!* Sue would love for us to drop off more soups this
week. GLUTEN FREE, meat OK. Please pass this along to other close friends
and choir members who have expressed an interest in helping or might be
willing to join the effort to keep Sue well fed and supported.

Love,
Amy
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