Den Dempsey Update for June 3 by Irene Dempsey

Sent: Monday, June 3, 2013 5:36:42 PM
Subject: Den, Monday

I didn't go to Seattle today - just the 2nd day since May 8th - and I missed the drive.  But instead I went to Den's "house on the hill" and got my stuff out - Wow!  I guess I've taken stuff in for six years and taken very little out - it was a huge job. 

But anyway, I just called and talked to Den's nurse and I talked to his doctor earlier.  It is a very GOOD day.  He is responding, lifting his left leg, nodding yes and no to questions, and in general making a big leap forward. I can't express in words what is in my heart. Oh, to have him back with me !!!!!! And I think it will happen.

I'll go tomorrow afternoon and I'll let you all know tomorrow night how he is. I just know it will be good news. Keep us in your hearts as you have been doing. Thanks and love to all.

 

Den Dempsey Update for May 28

Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 7:28:12 PM
Subject: Den, Tuesday May 28

Where to begin?!  I was at Swedish from Thursday until tonight. On Thursday they removed a maze of capillaries, and a hemorrhage followed on the base of the right side near the brain stem, which controls basic functions. His left side is affected. At that time speech, breathing, swallowing, and sight were also affected.

By Saturday morning he was able to breathe on his own and they took out the breathing tube, but not the feeding tube. By Saturday night he was talking to some extent. Sunday was a good day. He was more alert, trying to talk and swallow. But the swallowing didn't work and he pulled out the feeding tube and it had to be replaced.( Now his hands are in restraints.) He had to have the feeding tube put back in. 

Sunday night he suffered a hematoma and relapsed into an unresponsive state.

On Monday morning he was having trouble breathing and they put the breathing tube back in. Later he was x-rayed and it showed the right lung had collapsed. So then --- they punched a hole his right side for yet another tube to pump air out of the cavity so the breathing machine could push air in, and today, the lung looks pretty good.  They say there is a small puncture that will heal itself.

Then the ultra sound guy came by with his machine to check a small blood clot that has been in the left leg since last week.  What he found was that one AND another one in the right leg. So. . . they went in again and put a little strainer into his large vein in the stomach through which the lower veins pass, to prevent the clots from reaching his heart or head.  Has this poor guy had enough !!???  

Tonight when I left he was resting peacefully, but not responding to commands. He has so many people rooting for him and praying for him that he is sure to recover, but what a rough road he is traveling. The left side will be impaired, but there's no way to know to what extent. The recovery will be long and slow - months at least.

Tomorrow begins his third week at Swedish.  He doesn't need visitors for awhile, but I'll keep you posted and let you know when he is able to talk and recognizes friends.

Love and thanks. Irene

 

 

Den Dempsey Update

This is an email I received from Irene Dempsey:

Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 8:31:31 PM
Subject: Den

The news is bad today.  There was a hemorrhage on the right side of his brain. The surgeon talked a long time with me and said that the brain will probably swell in reaction to the hemorrhage and he will seem worse for the next couple of days.  Right now he is on a breathing machine and a feeding tube. His left side is unresponsive. He will have some impairment, the degree cannot be known now. 

The part of the brain that is affected is very strategic - controls breathing, communication and body movement. I sat and held his right hand and when asked to squeeze my hand he did so with strength. He opens his eyes on command but it seems that he hears only on the right side and responds only on the right. When his left leg is pinched or scratched he does not feel it and does not move any part of his left side.

I will spend all the weekend with him, but I think he will not know I'm there. It's more for me than for him.  It's a pretty dismal site to see - and very upsetting. They are doing another MRI tonight to see how things look and I'll get the results later.  I am, of course, very upset, and can't really talk about it right now.  Thanks for your love and concern.

Den Dempsey in Hospital

Kathy and I visited Den at Swedish Hospital Neurological ICU room 208 at the Cherry Hill Campus on Tuesday, May 21. 

On May 7 he experienced what he believed from his firefighter training was an aneurism.  He was admitted to a hospital near his home then transferred to Swedish Hospital.  Surgery to contain the aneurism was done by placing a reinforcing coil in the weakened blood vessel in his brain.   

Some bleeding has continued and Den will have surgery Thursday, May 23, to remove a cluster of blood vessels which are complicating his recovery.  This condition is congenital and has chosen now to become a problem. 

Den is puzzled that his years of stressful working conditions as a firefighter did not reveal his condition sooner.

He expects to be released to go home early next week. 

Den’s address is:
15916 Westwick Road
Snohomish, WA 98290

Den Dempsey Comes to Town

I first met Den Dempsey at the memorial service for his uncle, Bob Dempsey (see blog post of April 17, 2011 titled Bob Dempsey's Passing).  Den and I have stayed in contact and have considered getting together for some activity. 

Den and his friend, Kem, arrived in Kennewick during the morning of Wednesday, April 17, and after arranging for their two dogs to be comfortable at my home, we drove to the trail head for a hike up Badger Mountain. 

Badger Mountain is a local landmark which offers exceptional views of the Tri-Cities from the top.  At the top only a little walking is necessary to get 360 degree views of the area.  This day was clear with no clouds or wind and a pleasant temperature cool enough for hiking. 

Up and down the mountain took several hours which enabled us to engage in conversation about many topics from family to politics.  We drove back to my house where my wife, Kathy, prepared dinner for the four of us and we sampled several beverages we have not had before. 

Kem's Weener dog, Lula, and our Weener dog, Ruby, got along well in the house and back yard while Den's German Shepard, Zeta, stayed in the back of their vehicle where she was most comfortable.  Zeta is old and has joint problems. 

Den provided a copy of his memorial tribute to his father, Burt, which I will publish soon.  Den reminded me that I have a copy of his tribute to his uncle Bob, who had died in 2011.

Now that I have created memory for more documents on the original Staeheli Family of Guebsenmoos website I am publishing that memorial on the page dedicated to Franziska and her descendants. 

Den and I will be getting together more frequently as we identify activities we will enjoy together.
      

News from Stacy Pettitt

Stacy Pettitt emailed me saying that her mother, Claudia Staeheli Scott, has an OLD family photo album found at Stacy's grandmother's house. 

Claudia is the daughter of Lester and Gladys Staeheli and Lester was a son of  Robert Hermann Staeheli who operated a dairy in Colville, Washington. 

Claudia is reviewing the photos in the album with her mother, Gladys, who is marking the photos and documenting family stories. 

I welcome the information being documented and will publish it when available.

Contacts from Australia

We Staeheli's have relatives in Australia who are descendants of Theresa Staeheli who married Frank Jaeger in Victoria, British Columbia before emigrating to Tasmania, Australia about 1913.

Recently I have been contacted by Greg Jaeger and Ian Jaeger who have learned of my websites through Peg Staeheli and Daphne Dempsey. 

Ian provided additional information about Theresa which I am posting on the website.

Greg and Ian will assist the work to fill in details about our Australian relatives.