Posted by Pete on April 28, 2009, 12:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Gibbons email on son Jake's frostbite condition"
66.215.57.194
Update from Jodie Gibbons, looks like Jason (Jake) may be in rehab for a long time, our prayers and heart goes out to Jason and his family.
Jason was lost in the Arctic for 2-3 days and suffered severe frost bite.
Jayson/"Jake" Gibbons
c/o Jodie & Joe Gibbons
8720 Lake Nimbus Dr.
Fair Oaks, CA 95628-6442
jdgibbons@cnets.net
I guess that we can send cards to Jodie at his home and they will be delivered daily to Jason.
Hello to all and again thank you, Thank you for all your prayers and positive thoughts.
Today (Monday) was a busy day starting with a medical review at 7:00 AM and ending with some conclusions at Noon. Jason underwent exploratory surgery this morning and it lasted approximately 3 hours from 8 to 11 AM. The outcome was not what we had hoped for, but certainly something that we had know was possible.
In short, Jason will lose his toes and a portion of the forefoot on both feet. Dr. Tina Palmieri will take all possible steps to make the length of his feet the maximum possible. He will be able to walk and depending on the amount of the forefoot remaining may or may not need a prosthesis. His right hand and a small portion of his right wrist will be lost. He will be able to use a prosthesis on this hand very effectively.
His left hand is a piece of very good news, in that he will retain almost 100% utilization of this hand. This is doubly important because of the loss of his right hand. Having one fully functional hand is a truly GREAT asset in these situations. His nose, which is a lesser problem, will be able to have some skin grafted from his forehead and cheeks and will be almost 100% normal after some plastic surgery.
Those are the details of his needs at this time. He will under-go a second surgery this Wednesday to make all the repairs to get him to a state of recovery for all of these problems. From there, it is on to reconstruction and rehabilitation for an unknown number of months.
Here is where we all come in. Jason is healthy, strong and determined to make himself as whole as possible.
Your prayers and positive thoughts will support and lend him strength during this period of recon/rehab. I cannot tell you how much your e-mails and phone calls mean to both Jason and the family. We are constantly amazed at the out pouring of love that is being passed to Jason and his family. We thank you all and love you for your wonderfulness!!!!!
We are sad for the loss that this will inflict on Jason but we are so, so very thankful for the fact that Jason is with us and we can hear his sweet voice and rejoyce in his laughter and hug and kiss him and simply be with him.
Thank you all for the wonderfulness of your LOVE!!!!!!
Our love to you, the joes
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