[Nfbv-announce] Update on Charlie Brown

[Sarah Patnaude]

>From Sandy Halverson
First Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

Jacki Brown sent the following on Saturday, March 3:
 
“Dear friends and family,
 
Charlie has now been out of surgery for about 20 hours.  All his Doctors said it went well.  There is no sign of cancer (which is what we wanted to hear) and this procedure, which removes the radiated and damaged part of the esophagus, should keep him cancer free in the future.
 
He has made it through the first dangerous part with flying colors.  Now we expect him to Ace the rest!
 
Infection, of course, is now the enemy so even Steve is staying away until Charlie is stabilized.
 
He should be moved into a cardiac/thoracic room in a day or 2 and then he will be here about 10 days before being able to be moved to our new home’s nursing care unit.  He will do the rest of his rehab at SVWC in Winchester where Beau (their dog) and I can visit…Beau through the window!
 
We greatly appreciate your cards, calls, and prayers.  We feel stronger because of them.
 
Please spread the word about his successful surgery and about our moving.  To those I haven’t contacted before, our new address is:  104 Wineberry Drive, Winchester, VA 22603.  You can reach us most easily on our cell phones since Charlie has turned his off for now. 
 
Hope the wind did not harm you or yours.
 
Love to all,
Jacki”
 
I spoke very briefly with Charlie and Jacki this morning; he has been moved from ICU to a step-down unit, a normal process for the surgery he had.  He has been sitting up in a chair and has begun physical therapy.  For those of us who live in northern Virginia, Charlie hopes to be able to have visitors next week.  As Charlie said to me before the surgery, “We no longer have a home or mortgage in Arlington.” 
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with you both and we look forward to seeing you in Orlando, if not before.



Sarah Patnaude
Corresponding Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia
patnaude.sarah at yahoo.com
(804) 591-6153
www.nfb.org
www.nfbv.org
Follow us on Twitter @NFBVirginia
Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia
Live the Life You Want.
The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work together to help blind people lie the lives they want.