Yes, it is scary.
Just by strange coincidence (?), Paula and I almost literally ran our Home Depot cart last night into Betty Jo Tompkins who I went to school with at UF in the '60's. Betty Jo lives in Tampa and was driving from a meeting in Jax to Tampa when she decided to pull off the road and pick up something she needed at home. Both she and Chris, who became her husband after we all graduated, served in Student Government along with me at UF. After graduation we all worked in Tallahassee, so I saw them often. Anyway, Chris had a heart attack at age 39 and a pacemaker was installed. About 8 years later, Chris contracted MRSA following a hospitalization and it spread to his pacemaker area and he passed away. Betty Jo and I were able to share happy remembrances about Chris and she was able to talk about his death with me for the first time. I'm not totally out of the woods on this yet, but I've got it in retreat. Thanks, again. A. Leon Polhill FlaNative1845 330 NW 45th Street Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 367-4642 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Cecilia Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 3:06 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [gatortalk] Re: Thanks for the flowers, balloons and your prayers Leon, you are more than welcome, my friend. As soon as I heard that you had been in the hospital and then had to return, I thought of MRSA. That is scary stuff. It makes me want to stay out of hospitals, too, which severely limits my pursuit of my career. ;-) Glad you're back to posting again. We missed you! Cee ----- Original Message ----- From: A. Leon <mailto:[email protected]> Polhill To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:44 PM Subject: [gatortalk] Thanks for the flowers, balloons and your prayers Hi, Champs! I'm back home! :-) I really appreciate all the well-wishing and prayers. And, the flowers and balloons are not only a reminder of your thoughtfulness, but of your importance to me. We are a large Gator family and I value every one of you. I'm finally out of the hospital---again. It is REALLY GOOD to be home, but the hospital staff and a team of 7 doctors took good care of me. Paula was there to make sure of that. She stayed with me day and night, keeping track of doctors, medications, diagnostic tests, meals, etc. There were times I couldn't have done any of it for myself. I've had two hospitalizations. The first was from Dec. 22 through Dec. 26. I have a lot of follow-up with diagnostic tests, doctors' visits and Lord knows what else as a result of that stay. But, before I could arrange any of that, I was back in the hospital January 4 with a very serious MRSA infection the size of my palm in the skin covering the skull behind my left ear. There was intense constant pain, since the infection and resultant inflammation attacked the nerves and muscles, as well as other tissues. Moving facial muscles was extremely painful. It took until Jan. 7 before medication (think really good drugs) was effective in managing the pain. I was also put on the top-of-the-line IV antibiotic twice a day, as well as other IV vitamins, minerals and hydration. By this Saturday, Jan. 10, the pain began to ease and the medications to control it were reduced. By Sunday, Jan. 11 the pain was gone. Swelling had also decreased, as the infection, like Oklahoma, began to lose to the Gator. I have to take 2 high-powered antibiotic pills per day for 14 days at a cost of $200 each. That's a cost of $5,600 for two weeks. Thank God I have insurance. I also have to rest and get plenty of sleep and take some other medications and go the hospital as an out-patient for blood tests, meet with physicians, etc. Thanks again for the flowers and your encouragement. A. Leon Polhill FlaNative1845 330 NW 45th Street Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 367-4642 <BR --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
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