Al left the hospital yesterday (Thursday) and is in the Cary Rehab Center. Although he is doing better, he has a long way to go before he is sent home. They will keep him for 2 weeks for evaluation but his stay could end up being up to 6 weeks. We will know better at the end of 2 weeks. His spirits have been down but I printed out the many e-mails that you sent me and he enjoyed them immensely. Anything you send will be passed on to Al.

More updates to come

Bob MacDade

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I am going to send another card his way! Let's hope that 2 weeks doesn't turn into 6. That's a long haul!

Get better Al. I miss your emails!

With the help of intensive physical therapy, Al is day-by-day gaining strength. He is scheduled for an evaluation this week on Thursday. This will determine how long he will be in the Rehab facility. The address of the facility is:

Cary Health and Rehabilitation Center

6590 Tryon Rd.

Cary, NC 27511

Al is in Room 207

I have passed on all of your e-mails to him and he loves hearing from you.

Thank you all,

Bob

AL,,, OF THE 34th,,, May GOD keep giving the strengh to get better,just hang tough.

Rocky of the 34th...

Another email from Al's family.

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Not good news in this update. Thursday was to be evaluation day but Al came

down with a severe infection and pneumonia in his left lung. As a result,

his physical therapy had to be stopped and there is no release date as of

yet. The antibiotics are working well and he is starting to feel a little

better. We are hoping he can start therapy again on Monday or Tuesday of

this week. It does not look good for a Thanksgiving homecoming. We are

hoping for Christmas.

We will continue to keep you updated. Please e-mail me

with any info you would like me to pass on to Al

Thank you all.

More bad news. Oh dear! My poor Al! He's such a great guy...

============

Very disappointing news – Al was scheduled to come home for 1 day from Rehab for Thanksgiving. Upon arrival at the Rehab, we were told that he was very sick and could not go home. He subsequently was sent to the Hospital with pneumonia and a urinary tract infection. Unfortunately, he had to be intubated on a ventilator and remains in that condition as of this e-mail. He is very sick. The faster they can get him back breathing on his own, the better. They hope to have him off in a few days. He remains in the Intensive Care Unit of Western Wake hospital in Cary.

Please pray for him.

I will keep you informed as I know more

Bob MacDade

What a dissapointment for he and his family. I hope that he'll be on the road to recovery.

Darlene

Thank you and thank Rocky for posting wishes. It makes a big difference to Al!

The latest.... Way to go Al. I know you are not out-of-the-woods yet, but any step forward.... Thank you Bob for keeping me informed. I surely appreciate your time. Many hugs to my buddy. I sure miss his frequent emails.

======================

The good news – Al had the breathing tube removed and is breathing on his own. He has been moved from Intensive Care to a step down unit at the hospital. His infections seem to be under control and he is being treated for fluid retention. Now that the breathing tube has been removed, he can talk but only for a very short time before getting very tired.

He is still very sick and, assuming no more setbacks, will probably be in the hospital for at least another 2-3 weeks before starting rehab. Rehab could last several months, again, assuming no major setbacks.

The entire family visited him over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Al & Mary, Denise & Ray along with Shelly. Needless to say, he was extremely happy to see them all together.

Tina is coping fairly well. The stress on her and the entire family has been great.

Thank you all for your prayers and caring.

Bob MacDade

The latest.... Way to go Al. I know you are not out-of-the-woods yet, but any step forward.... Thank you Bob for keeping me informed. I surely appreciate your time. Many hugs to my buddy. I sure miss his frequent emails.

 

======================

 

The good news – Al had the breathing tube removed and is breathing on his own. He has been moved from Intensive Care to a step down unit at the hospital. His infections seem to be under control and he is being treated for fluid retention. Now that the breathing tube has been removed, he can talk but only for a very short time before getting very tired.

 

He is still very sick and, assuming no more setbacks, will probably be in the hospital for at least another 2-3 weeks before starting rehab. Rehab could last several months, again, assuming no major setbacks.

 

The entire family visited him over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Al & Mary, Denise & Ray along with Shelly. Needless to say, he was extremely happy to see them all together.

 

Tina is coping fairly well. The stress on her and the entire family has been great.

 

Thank you all for your prayers and caring.

 

Bob MacDade

Al--The Lord has heard our prayers, so just relax and let the Lord help you.

The THUNDERBIRDS' IS A TOUGH OUTFIT. redbulldogfacesaidit

Stay tough, sir. I'm pulling for you.

Hugs,

Brooke

Al has been moved from the hospital back to Rehab at Cary Health &Rehabilitation Center. His infections have been cured and he is starting the very slow process of rehab. If he can stay infection free, he will probably be in the rehab facility for 2-3 months. If he acquires any new infections, it could send him back to the hospital and the process will start all over. The one major concern at this time is his atrial fibrillation which is causing him to sleep most of the day. This is causing his rehab to go a lot slower than would be normal.

I will keep you all updated as we continue his rehab

Bob MacDade

Let us pray he will continue to improve. Such a long, long haul. Hugs,

Marion

I hope Al's treatment goes well and he is comfortable. I'll keep him and other vets in his position in my prayers.

Another one of my GREAT friends is gone. Oh sad day. My inbox will be very lonely without AL. We've been corresponding for five years, and hardly a week would go by without a note from him.

I will miss you greatly Al. It ain't gonna be the same without you.

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It is with great sadness that I inform you that Al passed away this morning. We ask that you give Tina a day before calling. I will e-mail you with funeral arrangements as soon as they are known.

Bob

The Viewing will be held this Thursday (Jan 7, 2010) evening at Kovacs Funeral Home in Springfield, PA from 7PM to 9PM. The exact address is

Kovacs Funeral Home

530 West Woodland Avenue

Springfield, PA 19064-2124

(610) 544-3222

A burial mass will be held on Friday morning at 10AM at St. Francis Catholic Church at :

136 Saxer Avenue

Springfield, PA 19064-2333

(610) 543-0848

Followed by a military burial at SS Peter and Paul Cemetary at 11AM located at:

1600 S. Sproul Rd.,

Springfield, PA 19064-1134

(610) 544-4933

There will also be a mass in North Carolina for neighbors and friends at a time that is yet to be determined. I will let everyone know when this is set.