Gene Duffey, ex-Houston Post

[kwilk]

Sept 20 update -
The news keeps getting better on Gene’s recovery. Gene remains in ICU, but has far fewer tubes in him and machines in his room than he did on Thursday.



His ventilator has been removed, meaning he can now talk and eat solid food again! Tonight’s dinner was the first solid food he has eaten since his cardiac arrest on September 6, two weeks ago.



While he has no memory of what happened, he does recognize people and his memory seems sound. He does know that his life was saved due to CPR and he’s just come out of a coma. Not unexpectedly, he seems fatigued. He told us that last night was his first night’s sleep since coming out of the coma.



We have read him all the email wishes sent to him, and Gene remembers all of the people’s names and their relationship with him. He has enjoyed hearing the emails and seeing the people who have visited him. The visits are far better now than they were before Wednesday!

 

[clutchcargo]

Gary Kubiak, NFL Man of the Year. Polls now closed.

 

[kwilk]

Armchair QB - Thanks for posting the updates from the emails. We did not know about this site and it is very clear from reading the messages that Gene has touched many, many lives beyond the 195 emails we have received and been reading to him during our daily visits. I am curious that you said you were at the party. I am the wife of the birthday boy from that party. Please contact us and let us know who you are.

 

[kwilk]

Greetings everyone –

From September 21:

I visited with Gene'sthis morning and he continues to be pleased with Gene’s progress. He still has fluid in his lungs which is a concern, along with the chest tube. However, the Doctor is hopeful that both of these things will be resolved in the next couple of days so that Gene can be moved out of St. Lukes to Select Specialty Hospital. I will keep everyone posted when that happens.



Gene is wearing a mask similar to the type used to treat sleep apnea to help with his breathing which is still a bit shallow and quick. This is helping to keep the oxygen levels good and his heart rate from getting too high.



Gene continues to be in good spirits and is enjoying his visitors, cards and notes that we are reading to him daily. His main complaint now is not being able to get enough sleep. He commented this afternoon that they awoke him at 4:30 this morning to do a chest x-ray. I mentioned that they needed to do this to check the fluid in his lungs. His response – couldn’t they do that at noon!

 

[kwilk]

September 22 update

Greetings all –



My visit with Gene today was great. He continues to improve a little every day. Today he touched his feet to the floor for the first time since being hospitalized! The physical therapy nurse had him sit on the side of the bed with his legs down. He remarked that it was great to finally be able to “put his feet on terra firma”, but he does tire quickly so he could only do this about five minutes. Tomorrow they may try to have him sit in a chair if he is up to it.



Gene is still at St. Lukes and will remain there until the chest tube can be removed – most likely a few more days. He still has some pockets of fluid in his lungs and a slight infection which is being treated. Once the infection is cleared he will be able to have the pace maker/defibrillator implanted. The breathing has been getting better since the treatments started a few days ago, and his oxygen levels are more stable.



The “Class Act” award this week goes to the Houston Texans. Yesterday, Tony Willey and his staff came by and presented Gene with the game ball from their win over the Titans on Sunday. The ball was signed by Gary Kubiac with a personal note to Gene. I don’t think I need to tell you how surprised and deeply touched he was to be presented this gift.



Gene continues to be in good spirits. He loves to tell us about all of the visitors that have taken the time to come by and about all of the cards he has received. It is clear that these bring him a lot of pleasure and help break up the monotony of laying in a hospital bed. Please keep them coming, these small gestures really help in his recovery. I think at this point we have read over 200 emails to him. All of these have been printed and are being saved in a folder so that he can read them again later.



Now onto a side note – The situation with Gene has highlighted the importance of friends and family in our lives. As many of you know Gene has no immediate family members that are living. Therefore, we did not know who to contact when he was hospitalized. He had no emergency contact information in his wallet and it took many phone calls and more than a day to learn who that person would be. Please, please carry this information with you even if you have immediate family, and you think everyone knows how to reach them. EMS uses the universal “ICE” acronym. ICE stands for In Case of Emergency and they are trained to look for this on cell phones. It might also be a good idea to make sure a few close friends know how to contact your “in case of emergency” person.



Hug your friends, tell your family you love them and have a good night.

 

[sportsguydave]

Great news. He has been in my thoughts and prayers.

And kudos to Coach Kubiak.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Latest on Gene from Friday. Sorry for the delay in posting this. Also, if you want Gene's room number in order to send a card, PM me and I'll give it to you. Didn't want to post it on an open forum:


Gene walked about 20 steps on Thursday. Those were his first steps since the incident on September 6. He also sat in the chair in his room for a bit of time. While it doesn’t sound like a lot, this is progress. I also am happy to report he has his appetite back!

Today I talked to one of his doctors, who said his condition is “critical but stable”. Today the doctors drained some fluid in and around his lungs.

The next big step is for the defibrillator to be inserted into his chest. Hopefully that will happen early next week. Until then, he will stay in the same room in ICU.

Several folks have asked for a mailing address to send him a card. To the best of my knowledge, here it is:

St. Luke's Episcopal Health System
6720 Bertner Avenue
Houston, TX 77030

Please continue to pray for Gene’s fully recovery.

 

[Jesus_Muscatel]

Thanks, Armchair.

Keep fightin' Gene.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Tuesday night update- Gene has been moved to a new hospital. This is a good thing:

Today Gene was moved to another hospital, which means he is out of ICU and is no longer in critical condition. The doctors decided to move him before inserting the defibrillator, as the doctors want him to regain some of his strength before doing the procedure. At the new facility he will continue the rehab he started last week.

He is now at Select Specialty Hospital.

Additionally, Gene can now receive flowers, etc. in his room. He is in a large room in a corner, meaning he’s got lots of windows with views of the Texas Medical Center.

On Saturday, the Astros PR staff brought to Gene a batting helmet signed by all the players. It joins the game ball the Texans delivered last week.

 

[Mark2010]

Holy cow! I had not seen this before. Am so glad he is doing better. I first met Gene more than 20 years ago when he was working at The Houston Post and I was in university. He and another guy helped get me a gig stringing prep football games on Friday nights for the Post while I was in university.

Later crossed paths with him when I worked at smaller dailies and was in the SID office at Rice University. Never had anything but praise for the guy.

Sorry to hear this happened and glad to hear he is recovering. Scarry stuff.

You're in my prayers, Gene.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Received this last night. Hard to believe it's been a month.



All –

Exactly one month ago, Gene suffered his cardiac arrest. Today he is alive, alert and continues to improve.

He is still at Select Specialty Hospital. Its address is:

Select Specialty Hospital
2130 W. Holcombe
Houston, TX 77030

The defibrillator has not been placed in his chest just yet, as the doctors still want him to be stronger before doing the procedure. In the last week he has contracted some sort of skin infection on his left arm that the doctors are treating. Gene told me the doctors want the infection to have subsided before inserting the defibrillator.

Today Gene and I made three laps around the nurses’ station, a huge improvement from last week. He walked the first two with the help of a walker, and the third without any assistance. He’s also went up and down two flights of stairs, which is important because Gene will need to go up two flights of stairs to get to his apartment.

His appetite is very good, and he’s regained both his sense of humor and, in his words, his sense of sarcasm. Today he sounded just like the Gene we all know so well.

Gene very much appreciates all of the prayers, emails, cards, calls and concern from all of his friends. He’s very much ready to go home, and we all hope that will be soon. First the infection on his left arm needs to be treaded and then he can receive the defibrillator, then hopefully he can go home.

Please continue to pray for Gene’s full recovery. Thanks.

 

[clutchcargo]

Great news!! Keep at it, Gene.

 

[sportsguydave]

Received this last night. Hard to believe it's been a month.



All –

Exactly one month ago, Gene suffered his cardiac arrest. Today he is alive, alert and continues to improve.

He is still at Select Specialty Hospital. Its address is:

Select Specialty Hospital
2130 W. Holcombe
Houston, TX 77030

The defibrillator has not been placed in his chest just yet, as the doctors still want him to be stronger before doing the procedure. In the last week he has contracted some sort of skin infection on his left arm that the doctors are treating. Gene told me the doctors want the infection to have subsided before inserting the defibrillator.

Today Gene and I made three laps around the nurses’ station, a huge improvement from last week. He walked the first two with the help of a walker, and the third without any assistance. He’s also went up and down two flights of stairs, which is important because Gene will need to go up two flights of stairs to get to his apartment.

His appetite is very good, and he’s regained both his sense of humor and, in his words, his sense of sarcasm. Today he sounded just like the Gene we all know so well.

Gene very much appreciates all of the prayers, emails, cards, calls and concern from all of his friends. He’s very much ready to go home, and we all hope that will be soon. First the infection on his left arm needs to be treaded and then he can receive the defibrillator, then hopefully he can go home.

Please continue to pray for Gene’s full recovery. Thanks.

Great news, AQB. Thanks again for the updates.