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Roberto Update - 02/28/2022

2/28/2022

Since the last update I posted, Roberto has been steadily improving. He's still going in for weekly follow up visits for lab work and scans to be sure there is no infection remaining in his body. During his last follow up visit last week, doctors advised him that he is ready to get more "exercise". He can now get out of the house for a bit, go to the store, go along to run errands, etc. He is still not able to lift objects, push a grocery cart, or anything that might cause him to over do it.

The doctors also said Roberto will be ready to come back to "work" in about another week. Work means for about 3 - 4 hours a day. He can walk around until he's feeling tired, then take a sit down break, do some "desk work", then maybe walk around some more.

Roberto will be coming to Cabo Cantina on Tuesday, March 1st ... sometime between 5pm and 7pm to visit with everyone! If you are in town and would like to see Roberto, come on down.

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ROBERTO UPDATE - 02/08/22

2/9/2022

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Roberto went back in for his follow up appointment this past Friday. Results from lab work and further scans showed his liver recovering from surgery very well and the incisions from the first surgery healing without a problem. However, scans showed he still had a pocket of infection on his left side, between is intestines and abdominal wall. Doctor advises an outpatient surgery to drain the infection out to avoid it spreading. Outpatient surgery was scheduled for Monday, but postponed until Tuesday.

Roberto went in for the outpatient surgery on Tuesday. All went well with no unexpected complications and a drainage tube was left in place for the infected area to drain completely. Roberto was released that evening to recover at home, with the next follow up visit in a few days.

Roberto is slowly getting stronger every day. He's no longer using a walker and can take a few steps without the aid of a cane. Roberto lost about 15 pounds during this whole ordeal and is on a high protein diet of chicken, fish, vegetables, and fruits.

Roberto sends his love and gratitude to everyone and says he can't wait to get back to the cantina to see everyone!

Medical expenses: $ 56,144.00
Total contributions: $25,250.00

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What happened to Roberto?

2/3/2022

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Before

During

After

I write this for all of Roberto's friends who are so concerned and have asked me what happened.
It's a long story and in an effort to save my voice, I thought I'd write up a summary to share with everyone.

What happened in layman's (Maddie's) terms:

Jan 10th: Roberto was not feeling well and went in to the Seguro Hospital (universal medical care in Mexico). He was tested for covid - positive (yes, he was vaccinated) and sent home with paracetamol for fever and pain and told should feel better in a few days. His fever continued over the next 5 days.

Jan 15th: Roberto went back to the hospital. Doctors told him he must have the new variant and it may take longer to get over. He was again sent home and advised to come back on the Jan 17th if he isn't better.

Jan 17th: Roberto went back to the hospital and advised the doctor that his fever continued and temperature was higher, in addition he was feeling pain in his abdomen. The doctor gave him some hyoscine pills and told him to give it a few days and he should feel better.

Later that evening, Roberto went to another hospital where they continued treating him for "covid". He was prescribed dexamethasone injections, ibuprofen, acetylcysteine, loratadine, pulmicort, vitamin C, electrolytes, and 30 minutes of sun daily and told to come back if he didn't feel better in a few days.

Jan 19th: This morning, Roberto's abdomen was severely inflamed and felt a bit more pain in the area. Roberto then went to see a private doctor. The doctor said he showed symptoms of cholangitis and dehydration and said he needed to be admitted into a hospital immediately for further lab work.

Jan 19th - 8pm: Roberto was admitted to AMC hospital and lab work was ordered.
Roberto was diagnosed with life-threatening sepsis, resulting from his appendix rupturing 12 - 24 hours before he was admitted. Emergency surgery was needed. Roberto's family was advised that Roberto's condition was extremely grave and chances of coming out of surgery were slim. Roberto went into surgery at approx. 2:30am the following morning. Miraculously, he came through the surgery.

Jan 20th: Roberto's surgery was successful. Incision left open and drainage tubes left in place to continue draining infection from his abdomen. He was in intensive care, lab work schedule throughout the day and vitals monitored continuously. Constant adjustments to medication dosage as required to keep vitals normal.

Jan 20th - Jan 24th: Roberto's condition improved daily.

Jan 25th: Roberto's improvement plateaued. He was given a blood transfusion.

Jan 26th: Not much improvement after the blood transfusion. Roberto's abdomen was still inflamed and lab results indicated infection was accumulating somewhere. A more detailed scan was scheduled, results showed he had two large abscesses filled with infection in his liver. One abscess was more of a concern than the other, due to it's location in an area where numerous blood vessels are nearby. Blood was requested from the blood bank so it would be on hand if needed. Surgery was scheduled for 9:30 pm and expected to take 2-3 hours. Roberto was in surgery for 5 hours, lost a lot of blood that was replaced with the blood on hand, but again came through like a warrior.

Jan 27th: Roberto was recovering in intensive care. He was in a great spirits considering he had numerous wires stuck to him, four drainage tubes attached to his abdomen, iv lines, blood transfusion lines, etc. etc.

Jan 28th - Feb 1st: Daily improvements. After a few days, Roberto was moved out of intensive care and spent a few days in a regular room. His diet went from clear liquid to solid food. He was exercising more each day and felt much, much better.

Feb 2nd: Roberto was released from AMC Hospital, but will continue with follow up doctor visits, lab work and scans scheduled for the next four weeks.

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ROBERTO UPDATE - 02/03/2022

2/3/2022

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Roberto says, "I am outta here!".

Roberto is out of the hospital! Happy does not even begin to express how I feel after two very difficult weeks on an emotional rollercoaster. Roberto's positive attitude, strong faith, and unyielding determination to remain with us has brought him away from death's doorstop. The medical care and treatment he received from the doctors, nurses, and support staff was top notch, but without Roberto's fight, support and encouragement from his wife, daughter, and sons, along with messages sending prayers and positive thoughts from so many of his friends, he would not be with us today.

Although Roberto is out of the hospital, he has a bit more recovering to do. More lab work, sonogram, and a visit with the doctor are scheduled for tomorrow. If all goes well, he will have the drainage tubes removed from the two abscesses in his liver. Thereafter, follow up visits and lab work over the next four weeks are scheduled to monitor his weight gain and also adjust the dosage of antibiotics and pain killers he's been prescribed.

The main concern of doctors at this time are the abscesses in the liver. They want to be sure the "hollows" created by cleaning and removing infected tissue heal and fill completely. The other concern is the possibility that bacteria / infection that may be present, but hidden. If reinfection occurs, they want to catch it as soon as possible.

Over the next month Roberto will be on a high protein diet and will be exercising daily to get those muscles toned and regain his strength.

On behalf of myself, Roberto, and his family, thank you for the continued prayers, positive thoughts, support, and contributions for his medical expenses. We are all eternally grateful.

MEDICAL EXPENSES: $53,378.00

CONTRIBUTIONS: $23,910.00

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Roberto Update - 02/28/2022

ROBERTO UPDATE - 02/08/22

What happened to Roberto?

ROBERTO UPDATE - 02/03/2022

ALL UPDATES