General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: deea on September 26, 2007, 10:04:52 pm
Title: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: deea on September 26, 2007, 10:04:52 pm
Hello to all on this forum.
Earilier this evening I was pleased to receive a call from Joey. I had contacted him in Texas yesterday. I want you all to know that he was over-whelmed by the kindness and concern expressed by the people here. He thanks you for your thoughts and prayers. The surgery is scheduled for 7:30 in the morning and is expected to last 12 plus hours.
Please keep him and his family and friends in youir prayers tomorrow and during his recovery. I will post again when I hear from his brother. Joey will join us when he is recovered enough to type...I have a feeling it won't be too long!
Good night...I will be in touch later tomorrow. Claudia
Title: Re: update from Joey Richards
Post by: ppearl214 on September 27, 2007, 05:58:39 am
Claudia, thank you for this update and for your contact to him (and his family). I, also, like many here, sent him a note of support and glad he knows that the "crew" is in his corner, cheering him on. Will look for the updates and glad to know that he is aware of all those here that support him. Please send him wishes for a speedy recovery and glad to have him aboard as a "postie" (post-treatment).
Sending prayers of wellness to him. Phyl
Title: Re: update from Joey Richards
Post by: deea on September 27, 2007, 03:42:58 pm
Still waiting to hear from Joey's brother. I left a message asking him to call when they hear something. I don't want to be a pesk but am really anxious to know how things are going.
I will post when he calls.
Claaudia
Title: Re: update from Joey Richards
Post by: susier on September 27, 2007, 06:48:35 pm
Thanks Claudia, I have been thinking of him all day today. Funny how you can care so much about someone you've never met. I live very close to his hometown in Texas and have made copies of his newspaper article to distribute to friends and family so they can try to understand my condition a little better, although his is on a much bigger scale than mine. Makes me really thankful I found mine so early. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. Hope you hear something soon.
Title: Re: update from Joey Richards
Post by: ppearl214 on September 28, 2007, 08:02:41 am
Claudia,
thank you for the update and sitting tight, waiting for the update... this is very truly appreciated. Hoping all went well and thrilled to have him as a "postie" (post-treatment).....hoping he's feeling our healing energy!
Thanks again, Phyl
Title: Re: update from Joey Richards
Post by: Captain Deb on September 28, 2007, 09:30:51 am
Ahem, ahem, mi-mi-mi-mi.......
a lil sea shanty.......
Pirate Sox for Joey and Raise a Toastie, Because by now, He'll be a Postie!
:-* :-* :-*
Capt Deb 8)
Title: Re: update from Joey Richards
Post by: ppearl214 on September 28, 2007, 11:40:00 am
great job, Capt'n :-* Hoping for Joey updates soon.... Phyl
Title: Re: update from Joey Richards
Post by: Brendalu on September 28, 2007, 06:49:57 pm
SEPTEMBER 28 09:56 AM in Newspaper people Sports writer Richards recovering nicely By Heber Taylor | Permalink | Add Comments Joey Richards, a longtime sports writer for The Daily News, is doing well after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor from his brain.
The surgery was long  from 9:15 a.m. Thursday to about 1 a.m. Friday  but appeared to be successful.
Joey is at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital at the Medical Center in Houston. Many readers have asked for reports on his condition. PS. This appeared in todays Galveston Daily News
Title: Re: update from Joey Richards
Post by: susier on September 28, 2007, 07:32:26 pm
Thanks for the update Brenda. Glad to hear the surgery was a success.
Title: Re: update from Joey Richards
Post by: Samantha n Adrian on September 28, 2007, 07:51:33 pm
wow....great to hear an update. I am 3 weeks post-op as of 1am Friday....so I am fresh off the experience of a long surgery and I can imagine what he is going through. I can only hope he has the same womderful ICU and hospital experience that I had. My thoughts are with him and his family and friends.
Adrian
Title: Re: update from Joey Richards
Post by: deea on September 28, 2007, 11:54:01 pm
Dear BrendaLu,
Thank you so much for the update. I have tried a couple of times today but had no answer on Joey's phone, I guess the long surg explains it all. He had said that the doctors had expected at least 12 hours. I am so glad all went well. It is scarey. We would like to just put from our minds the fact that at times there are complications. Please contintue to keep him and his family in your prayers. He will need them in the weeks to come.
I did not know Joey Richards, had never even heard of him, did not like, or know anything about sports, but unforturnately, I do know a little about acoustic neuroma's. One human reaching out to another, sharing fears and hopes. Offering prayers for a good outcome and continued rapid and unevenful recovery. This is my hope and prayer for Joey. May he and his family find peace and calm as we reach out to them though our prayers.
Get well soon my friend.
Claudia
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: satman on September 29, 2007, 07:52:58 am
Ditto Deea,your post is most heart felt .
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: Brendalu on September 29, 2007, 08:37:08 am
I am sure that the Galveston Daily News will keep us updated and I will post the updates as they appear. I've read Joey's columns as long as I've lived in d***inson. We have a new stadium. Plus Andre Ware was from our high school so as with all of Texas we are kind of football gungho. He did have a really long surgery and I am anxiuos to hear who his team was. He wrote me a note to find out who mine was. Brendalu
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: MStout on September 29, 2007, 11:47:36 am
Hi!
I had AN surgery in 2005 for a gigantic tumor, and just found this forum because of Joey Richards. He is in my thoughts and prayers. I will continue to read here for updates on his condition. As far as I know, he is the first person to have an AN larger than mine. I don't know if he got my message on Tuesday, but I wanted to let him know that I am thinking of him and this IS survivable! :)
Martha
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: Obita on October 01, 2007, 08:23:03 pm
Hi Martha & welcome to the forum!! How are you doing?
I have been checking in for updates on Joey too. Hopefully, he will be on himself very soon.
Thanks Claudia and Brenda for investigating!
Kathy
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: deea on October 01, 2007, 09:50:03 pm
Hi there Martha!
I am sooooooo glad it was a type o on my path report and I am NOT dealing with a tumor as large as the one you and Joey had. The little guy I had was more than enough for me. I am back sliding a little, should have know everything was going too smoothly. I had had 6 visiits to the ER. I am becoming frequent flier. The docs. can't figure out whats going on....the best bet is that the rapid regeneration of the the nerves is too much for my body and it goes into shut down mode to get a little rest, then everything is ok until the next time. We particuliarly like fridays and mondays! No more driving until we get the med thing figured out. Please contiue to keep me, and my family, in your prayers. This is tougher than just after surg.
So sorry Martha, did not mean to steal your post. Welcome to one of the best forums on the web. What a great group of people. I can't wait to have Joey meet them. I would love to meet fof someday. What a treat that would be.
Take care, I hope you are doing well.
Claudia
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: MStout on October 02, 2007, 05:29:28 pm
Kathy,
Thanks for the welcome! I had my six month MRI today, and the doctor says my AN has shrunk a little bit. The last I heard it was 3.7 CM, so it has some shrinking to do! I keep checking here every day for updates on Joey Richards - hopefully we'll hear somethng soon. Thanks to those who keep us updated!
Martha
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: MStout on October 02, 2007, 05:35:14 pm
Sorry Claudia - I didn't see your post until after I had posted! Thank you too for the welcome. I hope things get better for you! You didn't steal my post - I'm just glad to meet others out there who have what I have. My sister said she recognizes alot of people here; she came here in December when I had a progammable shunt put in. She said a lot of her questions were answered here!
Martha
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: Obita on October 02, 2007, 07:21:45 pm
Martha:
Any chance your sister is Mindy? I did not put two and two together until your last post.
If you are Mindy's sister, HOW ARE YOU!!! We were worried sick about you!!! Did you have surgery, radiation or both?
Tell your sis I said HI from Minnesota, Kathy
ps: if your sister is not Mindy, oops, but tell us about your treatment etc....
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: 4cm in Pacific Northwest on October 02, 2007, 07:27:33 pm
Welcome Martha! :)
We need more reporters like Joey to get the word out about AN ... just over 4 months ago I had never heard of it - heaven knows how to pronounce “vestibular� & “schwannoma�.
Glad to have you both on our “writing team� … it won’t be long before you become familiar with us all. (Caring supportive bunch here I have found) So far the one who has me laughing the most (we so need to maintain humor to remain sane) is Captain Deb ;D ::)(Arby dar!) The AN forumers are kinda like family...
4
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: MStout on October 03, 2007, 07:41:29 am
Hi again,
Yes! My sister is Mindy! That was like Twilight Zone when you "said" her name! That's so sweet that I people I've never met were thinking of me during my rough time! I will tell Mindy "Hi" from Kathy in Minnesota. Thanks for being there for her when she had questions and needed support. I've learned that being the loved-one of a 'victim' is a lot harder than actually being the 'victim'...you feel so helpless.
I had surgery in November 2005 and FSR a year ago. The shunt was put in December 2006 when they found hydrocephalis. I was in the hospital for over a month because I also developed pneumonia and a blood clot (venous thombosis).
Thanks for the welcome 4. I like your name. My AN was 4.1 when it was found- so I can relate! It sounds like you are newly diagnosed. Have you recently had surgery?
Thanks to Joey Richards! I wouldn't have found this place if not for him! I'm anxious to hear how he's doing.
Martha
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: chelsmom on October 03, 2007, 02:48:18 pm
Hi Martha,
Welcome to the group. I'm glad you found us. I too remember your sister writing and asking questions about your shunt . My daughter Chelsea also had a hugh tumor which was partially resected and followed up with FSR and has a shunt. She was in the hospital for three months with some of the same complications you had. What I was wondering is that you said your tumor was 4.1 cm and after surgery and FSR it is now 3.7 cm. Am I understanding this correctly? Chelsea's was 6 cm and is now 3.2 cm at largest point. I know that by volume it's now approx. 70% less than the original size. It doesn't seem like there is much of a difference in your pre-op and post-op size if I am reading your post right. I was shocked to find out how much Chelsea had left after her surgery. I know the size of the tumor, even residule, can pose a problem with post radiation swelling and the pressure it puts on the surrounding tissue. This is especially true with these larger AN's. Chelsea was back in the hospital for 5 days this last summer with some post radiation swelling and was given some different meds and is now doing fine. She'll go back this month for another MRI and followup with the Docs.
Did you have to get the shunt due to swelling, hydrocephalis, caused by the radiation?
I hope you're feeling better now. All my best. Michelle
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: satman on October 03, 2007, 03:36:01 pm
Can somone please tell me with hydrocephalis is. I had trans lab on 8cm in april,is this something I should be concerned with?
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: MStout on October 04, 2007, 02:12:15 pm
Hi,
My sister remembers you, Michelle. She talked to someone whose daughter or husband had an AN...that's you! I had a tumor that was 4.1 x 2.7 x 3.2 cm when found. The surgeon only got it down to 3.7cm - he said there was "major stuff" running through it. He said that every time he tugged on it my blood pressure went wild; that was my way of complaining he said. I had FSR about eleven months later because my MRI showed new growth. Apparently there were cysts on my tumor. Yes, the FSR caused hydrocephalus (water on the brain) so I had a programmable shunt put in.
How old is Chelsea? That was a large tumor she had, I'm so glad they were able to reduce it so much. She probably had "major stuff" involved too, and that's why they left so much. It sounds like she has had a rough time, a lot like me. I'm glad that we both are survivors! Good luck on the MRI this month!
Satman - I don't know what trans lab means.
Thanks for the welcome!
Martha
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: chelsmom on October 04, 2007, 03:26:48 pm
Hi Satman,
Hydrocephalus happens when the ventricles in the brain don't drain properly. In Chelsea's case her 4th ventricle was block by the tumor and all the other (3) ventricles were enlarged. This is serious and sometimes if not treated can be fatal. There are many sites on the web that go into detail about this. I'm suprised, due to the size of your tumor, you didn't have hydrocephalus. How are you doing now? Your's is largest tumor I've ever heard of. Did you have any complications?
I know this is a site about Joey and I'm sorry we've been discussing things other than him. I don't know how to move this or if it should be, but if so maybe someone could do it.
Take care, Michelle
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: satman on October 04, 2007, 03:59:49 pm
Hi Clelsmom,thanks for the explanation,I seriously hope I dont have to deal with that one. As far as complications go, I could not walk,had to use wheelchair,then I finally made it to a walker, eventually came the cane, now i dont use anything ,although I move real slow.Eating is a real chore [I wear most of it]. I still have balance issues [walking] but 1 day I will get to where I need to be. I am deaf in left ear,left eye has no blink reflex,but when I concentrate I can close it most of the way. I have facial paralysis on left side,and have to drink everything from a straw.My 1st surgery was 17 1/2 hrs ,in I.C.U. for 6 days,3 of those were in an induced coma,15 days in hospital, a little over a month in in-patient rehab,2-3 weeks in home re-hab,somewhere around 2 1/2 months in out-patient rehab. then I had another surgery [7-12 nerve jump] that took 8 hrs,still waiting on the results from that one [facial movement]. these surgeries were within a 4 month period,so after 25 1/2 hrs of being under,my hair started falling out. that has stopped now but still dealing with all the other stuff. John....
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: 4cm in Pacific Northwest on October 04, 2007, 05:16:07 pm
Satman you are still my super dooper trooper hero. Amazing what you have gone through...
Has anyone got an update on our Texan sports writer friend -Joey... and how his recovery is going. I hope he is doing well ...and becomes a 'postie' soon.
Somehow I think Joey will understand what an amazing athlete you are Satman (Aka "8") - as you are a world class top all star in our AN world. You are a model of hope and perseverance...
Cheers,
"4"
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: Brendalu on October 04, 2007, 05:33:31 pm
I have been wondering and wondering about Joey so after reading an article written by Ian White in the Galveston paper, I emailed him an inquiry about Joey, he emailed me back the following note almost imediately. I will keep you all posted as they let me know. I put my socks in the washer today, to my husbands relief!
Dear Brenda,
Many thanks for your thoughtful inquiry about Joey. I’m very pleased to say that, as far as we know, he’s doing well. A couple of days ago, there was some talk of him coming out of hospital fairly quickly, but we haven’t yet heard whether that’s the case.
Sports editor Josh and reporter Laura Elder had planned separate trips to see him at the weekend and early this week, but at that time his brother said he wasn’t up to it yet. Then, on Tuesday, Joey called Josh on the phone and gave him some very lurid details of his experience, which Josh dutifully relayed to some of us while we were eating!
I have told Josh that you and the AN Gang would like more info and, between us, we’ll do our best to update you as progress reports come through. We will also let Joey know you’re thinking of him.
With every best wish, Ian White
PS: I hope this means you can wash your pirate socks now!
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: leapyrtwins on October 04, 2007, 08:44:29 pm
Brendalu -
thanks for the update on Joey. Hopefully he'll give us all some details when he's feeling up to it.
Jan
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: satman on October 04, 2007, 11:45:32 pm
4cm,thank you, you are my biggest fan, thanks......John.....
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: Brendalu on October 05, 2007, 05:14:47 am
Another note from Ian White this morning. He is really getting what we are all about!
Actually, your timing would have been marginally better if you’d waited an hour or two to make your first enquiry.
Just after I replied, Joey called to talk to Josh (not an event known for its brevity) and we’ve just learned that he’s going home tomorrow. We thought he’d be off work for a couple of months but at this rate he’ll be back at his desk on Monday!
Shake out the grog, me hearties!
Ian
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: susier on October 05, 2007, 06:35:06 am
That's great news Brenda, Thanks!
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: MStout on October 05, 2007, 01:37:42 pm
Brenda,
Thanks for getting the information on Joey Richards! I was going to ask about it today, since it's now been over a week since his surgery. I'm so glad to hear he's doing well!
Martha
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: Brendalu on October 05, 2007, 02:54:39 pm
I'm glad that Joey is doing so well too. I'm sure we will be hearing from hearing from him soon. It sounds like he has a great support group and we are all here for him too. Brendalu
Title: Re: Update on Joey Richards
Post by: Brendalu on October 20, 2007, 07:31:46 am
I had a short update on Joey this week from Ian White. He said Joey continues progress and a couple of coworkers were going to see him and would report back. I think he is more tired than he expected and a little more wobbly. From all accounts I hear, he is a great guy and a fighter so he will do fine. We all know what it is like to go through this so keep him in your thoughts and prayers.