Recovery update

Roberta is doing great. She is scheduled to go back to work in a couple weeks. Everyone is happy that she will be returning as we all miss her.

Good news :-)

Good news!

Recovery continues...

Roberta is getting stronger everyday & at this point her pain has pretty much resolved.

She probably will not need meals much longer and wants to thank everyone for their time and generosity.

Meals

Roberta & Mike are home safe & sound. When I spoke with Roberta last week she sounded wonderful.

For those of you who are on the calendar to bring food, Roberta & Mike would like you to call ahead of time to confirm.
They want to make sure that they have room for all of your wonderful meals & that nothing goes to waste.



Thank you to everyone for all of your support.

Post a message here for Roberta, Mike & Shea

If you would like to post a message to Roberta & family as they begin their journey home from Texas and as Roberta's recovery continues....please do so here....simply click here or # comments on the lower right and leave a note.

Once again, thank you to all of you who have left SO many nice messages, said prayers, sent e-greetings at the hospital, signed up to bring meals and have reached out in so many ways. Roberta & Mike have expressed many times how much it has meant to them and how grateful they are. They are truly blessed to have so many wonderful people in their lives and they appreciate it immensely.

Flying home Friday evening

Mike was able to get flights home Friday evening. Originally, they were due to fly home Saturday.

They are so excited to be home to see Shea when she wakes up Saturday morning. Maybe she'll think the Easter Bunny came early and brought her Mommy & Daddy!!!!

It will no doubt be a wonderful Easter at the O'Donoghue's this year!

Released!!!

Roberta is being released from the hospital!

They will be back at the hotel this afternoon.

Mike is going to try to change their flights back to Florida.

Great news! Surely they are anxious to get home to little Shea.

GREAT NEWS!

Roberta might get released tomorrow!!! Just 1 week after surgery!

The doctor will do his rounds on her tomorrow morning and if all is well, she gets the boot!!!

They will both be so happy to get out of there!

We'll keep you posted.

Congratulations Florida Gators, NCAA Champions!!!

Rough day in Texas

Roberta is not feeling quite as well today. Some vomiting and had to have fluid drained from her lung (thoracentesis)

Mike is of course there with her and said the E-Greetings could not have come at a better time.

E-Greetings made her day!

Mike reported that Roberta received a bunch of E-Greetings this morning and they really made Roberta feel good, some even brought tears to her eyes.

Thank you all SO much for sending so many nice messages to her!

Please keep the E-Greetings coming, they really brighten her day...and if any of you know first hand, long hospital stays after a big surgery require anything and everything to brighten her days.....

Apparently, the messages are not delivered on weekends...but from here forward are probably delivered the day they are sent or the next morning.

E-Greetings

Roberta O'Donoghue
Room Y1039

Everything is good!

Roberta has been able to shower which must feel so nice after the last few days!

She has also been up and walking the halls!

Echo tomorrow.

Florida Gators beat UCLA 76-66!!!

Latest from Houston...

Roberta is doing great. They took her 2 chest tubes out and her last IV. She now has nothing attached to her.

She will be able to shower tomorrow, which she is really looking forward to and she is eating regular food. Roberta starts physical therapy either later today or for sure tomorrow.

She is fired up for the Florida Gator final four game tonight against UCLA. Berta says GO GATORS!!!!!!!!

Morning update - Talking to Shea

Roberta is up, had some cereal and spoke to Shea on the phone! She was SO happy to talk to little Shea!

Mike can also now visit anytime throughout the day. Visiting hours are not as restricted as when she was in ICU.

Michael got a good nights sleep last night...he said the best he has had in days.

All is looking good in Texas!

E-Greetings, Flowers, etc....

Roberta is now settled in a room. She should remain in that same room until she is discharged.

Please note that she is registered under her married name:

Roberta O'Donoghue
Room Y1039

E-Greetings are a popular and easy way to send Roberta a nice note that can be posted in her room. It is a free service in which your message will be printed in the hospital's Auxiliary Office and hand-delivered by one of their volunteers.

Flower & Gift Shop The hospital has their own flower and gift shop. Either follow the link or call them at 832-355-3658, Monday - Friday from 7:30am CDT to 3pm CDT.

If you prefer another florist, the hospital's address is

St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital
6720 Bertner Avenue
Houston, TX 77030
832-355-1000

Please also note that Roberta is aware of the lovely messages that have been posted on this site. She will see them when she is able to get on a computer, plus we will print them all out for her.

Thanks to every person who has reached out to let Roberta & Michael know that you care...it really means a lot to them.

8pm visit - New Room! Sitting in a Chair!

Mike had another nice visit in Roberta's new room! She is out of ICU!

Roberta is now able to sit upright in a chair and she will be trying solid foods in the morning...all very good progress!

5pm - All is well!

Roberta is doing great. They are moving her to regular room at some point tonight.

She is on or ahead of schedule for her recovery. She is taking clear liquids, jello and broth. They said she'll be eating regular food in the morning.

Good job Roberta!

10am visit GREAT - Moving to Standard Room Soon!

Mike had a nice visit at 10am....looks like Roberta gets to skip the "ICU Step Down" area and go straight to a standard room!

That's our girl! Go Berta!

We'll let you know when she is settled in her new room.

5am visit GOOD too!

Another nice, quiet visit! Mike says she is doing better every day!

They still plan on moving her to the "Step Down ICU"...she could have gone there yesterday, but there were no rooms available.

8pm visit - All is good in Texas!

Mike had a nice, uneventful visit with Roberta! We like uneventful visits!!! Still looks like she'll be moved to the ICU Step Down early Friday.

Evening update - all is well

Mike sounds the best that he has in days....he saw Roberta again this afternoon and she is doing much better. The nurses said she will be moved soon to a "step down from ICU" area that is less intense which is good news....maybe in the morning.

Mike got a little rest and he just seems like a weight has been lifted....now they can look forward and focus on her recovery. He has not missed a visiting time...the next one is later on at 8pm.

We will keep you posted as to when she is settled in a room.

Thanks again...we can't say that enough...to all of you who are showing your love & support.

11am visit

Mike just saw Roberta. She is groggy, but well. Her vital signs are excellent. She is able to speak with a whisper and drink a little water. He can go back to see her at 5pm CDT.

Recovery begins.....

Michael saw Roberta this morning at 6:00 AM. She is doing well...still a little sleepy...she still has the breathing tube in.

She was able to write a note to Mike as he asked her questions.

The next visiting time is from 10:00 to 10:30. She should have the breathing tube out by then.

Roberta is excited that they spared her valve.

Roberta has 2 pictures of Shea taped to the rail of her bed. Shea and Marcelle are doing great. Shea is doing really well talking to her daddy on the phone. It will be nice when she can talk to her mommy. A big thanks to Marcelle and to those who have checked in on Shea!!!

Mike said it is overwhelming how much love and support they have.

Out of surgery and doing fine!

Mike just called...

Roberta is out of surgery and in recovery. They were able to save the valve!

She will be in ICU until at least Friday. This is standard practice after a surgery such as Roberta's.

Mike gets to see her for 1/2 hour at 5pm CDT and then again around 8pm....then not until tomorrow.

He sounds EXTREMELY relieved.

Thanks to everyone once again for all of your prayers and messages!

If anyone would like to send cards or flowers or an e-greeting, we will post that information after Roberta has been released from ICU and is in a standard room.

noon update GOOD

The noon (CDT) update was good....it looks like the doctor will be able to save the valve, which is what Roberta was hoping for.

Mike is doing OK...he is anxious to speak with the doctor when the surgery is over.

He is pleased to hear about the nice messages that have been left today (and yesterday)...Actually, they have both been extremely appreciative of all of the messages that have been left....the support really helps at times like these....Thanks again to everyone for their love, care and concern....

9 am update GOOD

Mike just called with a brief update...

Roberta's surgery started on time...

A Liaison Nurse updates the family every hour or so...

The 9:00 am (Central Time) update was good...all is going well in surgery...

They hope for another update around 10:00 (CDT) and Roberta's surgery should be done around 1 or 2pm (CDT)...her surgeon Dr. Joseph Coselli is very meticulous, so his surgeries tend to last long.

Mike's cell is not working in the hospital...he must go down the elevator and go outside to get reception...please note that it is hard for him to receive or make calls....Thanks!!

Change in Plans - Surgery Wednesday

Roberta's surgery will be tomorrow (Wednesday) morning after all. They had scheduled it for Thursday and just changed it. There is no "reason" or emergency that caused the change thankfully....it is simply a scheduling issue.

Mike said she will have her catheterization today, stay in the hospital tonight and her surgery should start at around 7:30 am CDT (8:30 am EDT)

We will do our very best to keep you posted as we hear from Mike.

Thanks again to all for the lovely prayers and good wishes...please keep them coming.

Update

Roberta had a full day of testing today and she & Mike are out for a nice dinner.

Her surgery is scheduled for Thursday.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) her parents arrive.

Wednesday she has an appointment with a geneticist.

She sounds great and is very positive....she said the hardest part was leaving little Shea behind which we can all appreciate.

Safely in Houston

Roberta & Michael and arrived safely in Houston on Sunday. Roberta's parents will arrive on Tuesday.

Post a Message

If you would like to post a message to Roberta and/or Michael....and/or to sweet little Shea, please click below on the lower right on "# comments" and leave them a note.

Anyone can leave a note/comment, you do not have to have an "account" or "be a member"...If you are not a Google member, simply choose "Other" when asked to "Choose an Identity"

You can always leave a comment under any of the specific posts also.

Your messages and support are so appreciated!!!!
Please keep them coming!

St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens

Mike & Roberta have been members of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens for many years.

9999 North Military Trail
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410-5460
(561) 622-2565

Your prayers are always welcome!

Traveling to Texas

Roberta's surgery will be performed in Texas by Dr. Joseph Coselli at Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. It is part of Baylor Medical Center. Mike & Roberta fly to Houston on March 25 and the surgery is tentatively scheduled for March 28. They plan to return to Florida on April 7, the day before Easter.

Roberta's Diagnosis

Roberta was diagnosed with a dilated aortic root that has caused aortic insufficiency (regurgitation). The surgery will be to put a graft in place of her dilated aorta and hopefully use her own aortic valve if it is still in good shape ("save the valve").

There is still no word on whether Roberta's condition is genetic as obviously one of her main concerns is for little Shea.

Thank you to all

Thank you to all of Mike & Berta's friends, family, coworkers and associates who are showing their care and concern.

Roberta and Mike have always been there for all of us, and now it is our turn to be there for them.

We hope this website helps everyone stay informed and find information on how they can help or support Mike, Roberta & Shea. Please note that any posts made to this site will be printed for Roberta.