Dear Family and Friends,

As most of you know, Bob is in the hospital in ICU after some major surgeries this week (1st week of February.) We've created this blogspot so that his many friends, extended family members and students may keep up to date on his status and so that you may send him your personal greetings get well wishes. We will update this as often as we can and will also read your comments to him on a daily basis.

Below is an e-mail we sent out to our extended family and friends for whom we had an e-mail address. It was written on Thursday, February 5th. Immediately following it is today's update with new information.

On behalf of Bob, Shelly and their daughters Brandi and Jodi, and the rest of Bob's extended family, we extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the hundreds of people whom have expressed their concerns and offered prayers on Bob's behalf. Please know that we have already witnessed a few miracles this week, and we hope and pray that Bob will continue to be blessed as a result of your faith and prayers.

Sincerely,

Bill Freeman
Bob's Brother

Original e-mail:

Bob suffered some major setbacks this week. He has been hospitalized 3 or 4 times since his cancer surgery on December 5th, with bleeding, infections and a blood clot in his leg 4 weeks ago. He finally went back to work last week at the high school, but on Tuesday, his femoral artery started bleeding out while he was teaching. The cancer, as we knew, had attached to the femoral artery and the surgeons were unable to completely remove it in December for fear of paralyzing him from the waist down, or, worse, resulting in amputation of one or both legs. His frequent re-hospitalizations delayed commencement of the the chemo treatments, and since they could not radiate the spot because it was generally in the same spot it was radiated 15 years ago, the cancer grew on the artery, causing it to weaken and resulting in the bleed out through the wound in his upper thigh, which was the site of recent surgery caused by the infection.

Anyway, he was rushed to the hospital from the school after student assistant, whom I believe is named Johnny, and fellow instructor Vern Matthews heroically helped stop the bleeding, and after every administrator and on site emergency personnel rushed to his aid. He lost consciousness before being transported to the hospital by paramedics, but, from what he recalls, he wasn't out too long. He then had major surgery Tuesday night to stop the artery from bleeding, which appeared to be successful. He was transfused that night after at least three pints of blood and 2 pints of plasma were given by transfusion. His hemoglobin count, which should be 14, was down to 7 when the ambulance delivered him to the hospital. He was so cold, at one time he was covered with 10 blankets which were being warmed up in the microwave. Fortunately, his oldest daughter Brandi works in the same emergency room at Kaiser Fontana where he was admitted, so the entire staff went well beyond the call of duty in providing for his care.

After the surgery, the vascular surgeon, urologist and oncologist were to meet today (Thursday), to develop options for Bob's treatment. Then, they were to meet with Bob and Shelly this afternoon to present the options to them. Of primary concern was if they were very aggressive in repairing the artery and removing more cancer, there was a distinct possibility that he could lose one or both legs (amputation) and part of his hip. So, they were to be faced with a major quality of life decision. But, fate intervened, and yesterday (Wednesday), the artery started bleeding out again through his infection wound in the groin area. He was rushed back into surgery last night at 8:15 p.m. and was in surgery for 6-7 hours, with the leg amputations being a distinct possibility once again. Fortunately, the surgery went better than we all expected and the docs were able to completely remove and repair the damaged artery, replacing it with a synthetic one, with no loss of legs. The surgeon said that the cancer had so weakened the artery that it was ready to burst, so it appears as though the second bleed out actually saved his life. He did note however, that the cancer had grown in that area and that the urologist is recommending to oncology that chemo begin very soon, irrespective of the wound not being healed. Speaking of the wound, in the past operations, the surgeons were able to close the wound, but it had to be repacked at home every day by Shelly and the girls. This time however, for reasons I do not yet know, they were unable to close the wound, so the question of how and where it will be managed is still one to be addressed.

A number of people have asked about visitors, flowers, cards etc. He is in a lot of pain and as Shelly told him this morning, he is alive and he still has both legs, which is something we all were not too sure of just last night. He is unable to have visitors other than immediate family, but I know he sincerely appreciates cards and other tokens of concern. He is currently in ICU at Kaiser Foundation Hospital, 9961 Sierra Avenue, Fontana, CA, 92335. His home address is 17410 Orchid Dr., same city and zip. And of course, the power of prayer is the most potent offense we can mount to assist him in this most difficult time.

So anyway, I think I covered everything and I hope I got most of it right. His situation and condition has changed so dramatically and so drastically over the past few days that all I can say this is the best info (and I hope, correct info) I have right now.

Take care, thank you so much for your past support and please remember Bob's entire family in your prayers.

Bill Freeman