Josh's Surgery Blog : February 2014

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Swiss Bank Account

Just about everything having to do with this surgery is different, including payments. Of course, we can’t just pay by check or use my health insurance. We have to transfer money into the Swiss bank account of the center where Josh will be having the surgery, which I did today. The words “Swiss bank account” conjure up all sorts of nefarious things to me, so I can’t help wondering if a G-man will be knocking on my door soon.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Wear Purple Day

It's either serendipity or the universe is working in its usual mysterious way, but March 26 is international Wear Purple Day to bring awareness to Epilepsy. March 26 is also the date of Josh's surgery!

We asked you to mentally wrap Josh in "a blue blanket of love" back when he had his very first brain surgery (see May 8, 2010 Blog post), so now you can surround him with purple love and prayers.

Our plans for Switzerland are complete and we are counting down the days -- we leave four weeks from today.

Thank You 2010

Josh, Robyn, and I want to thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your prayers, good wishes, love, and support during our three-week stay at the hospital. This chapter is closed and we now move forward with the next one.

We are grateful that Josh came out of all this in good health after undergoing three brain surgeries in three weeks. He's an amazing kid and deserves so much more than the hand that he has been dealt.

We are grateful for the world class health care and treatment that Josh received at NYU Medical Center. We know that everything possible was done to help him and that he received the best care possible.

We are also so very grateful for the two best employers in the world, BNA and Empire State College, who allowed us to take three weeks of paid leave to be with Josh during his hospital stay.

(On a personal note, I am so grateful to have Robyn -- my love, my best friend, and my life partner -- by my side during this journey, with her grace, strength, wisdom and love.)

We want to thank all of you who visited us in the hospital, particularly those who traveled down from upstate, those who came more than once, and all the uncles, aunts, and cousins. It was particularly nice for Josh to have visits from his cousins. Thanks to Grandma Sandy who traveled all the way from Florida.

Robyn and I are especially grateful to reconnect with several old friends during this visit -- Randy, Annette, Maddy, Jeff and Melissa. Make new friends, but keep the old!

Finally, thanks to all of you who commented on this blog. Your support sustained us and inspired us through our journey. I will continue to update the blog from time to time, so please check back and continue to leave your comments. We will never forget, and will always be grateful for, the blue blanket of love that you provided for us.

Thank You to BNA Correspondents

We are deeply touched by the generosity of the BNA Correspondents Unit. Josh had follow-up appointments in NYC this week, so John H. was able to hand-deliver an extraordinarily generous gift.

The Correspondents Unit is scattered across many miles, yet the camaraderie and friendship that unites us is stronger than in most workplaces. I can't give each of them a hug or a handshake as a gesture of my gratitude, so a virtual embrace will have to do for now.

Today, I am particularly proud to call myself a member of the BNA Correspondents Unit. I am honored to call them my colleagues and blessed to call them my friends.

Thank you so very much.

-Jerry

THANK YOU -2009

There are so many people to thank that I fear I will leave someone out. Please don't feel slighted if I do.

Josh, Robyn, and I are so grateful for so many things. Sadly, it took an urgent medical issue for me to realize just how blessed and fortunate we are with our friends, family, and jobs. This has been a truly transformative event in our lives.

So let me take a stab at the thank yous: Josh's aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandma for all the visits, gifts, and delicious fattening foods; our friends and Josh's friends who traveled from upstate to visit; the rabbis who traveled from upstate to visit; those who prepared meals for us when we returned; Alec and Dylan for taking care of the lawn and the dog; the best employers, BNA and Empire State College; and the new friends that we made at the hospital.

We are especially grateful to all of you who posted messages on the blog. Your love and support helped sustain us every day. I never imagined that this blog would become so popular when I created it in May. It has been a daily connection for us to the people we love.

To be honest, I have become somewhat addicted to posting these messages. I will miss the daily posts, but I will continue to post messages on Josh's progress over the coming months.

With love and much appreciation,
Jerry

Josh's Surgery Blog

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Swiss Bank Account

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Wear Purple Day

Temple Sinai

Thank You 2014

Thank You FACES

Info on the surgery center

Thank You BBNA

Thank You 2012

Center For Ultrasound Functional Neurosurgery

Articles on Non-Invasive Brain Surgery

Thalamocortical Dysrhythmia

Thank You 2010

Thank You to BNA Correspondents

Welcome

Followers

The Doctors Segment

60 Minutes Segment on Epilepsy

THANK YOU -2009

NYU Medical Center Surgery Page

Epilepsy Foundation

Dr. Howard Weiner

CURE

FACES

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