If you’ve stumbled on this blog, or are checking back for updates . . . I never could get Dad to use it . . . so I moved on to other projects.

I’ve been working on an online version of the Natoma Bay Logbook. Lots of interesting history and fascinating stories can be found at:

http://lucindadewitt.com/NatomaBay/LogbookProject/LBindex.html

Check it out!

Lucinda DeWitt

After watching “The War” series on PBS, I asked Dad about his specific dates of service. He served from March 1943 - March 1946. During that time he was on the island of Majuro from Feb. 1944-August 1944, then on the Natoma Bay from Sept. 15, 1944-Feb. 1946. Using those dates you can map his service onto the Natoma Bay Battle map:

To see where John and the Natoma Bay were on June 7, 1945 please look to the left

<–

under Pages

and you should find

June 7, 1945 (a description from the LOGBOOK)

and

June 7, 1945 Pictures (definitely worth a thousand words)

WOW!

Love, Cindy

Most Dependent upon CINDY, my BLOG EXPERT,
here is my first published note for the Natoma Bay BLOG.
Coming up is the June 7th anniversary of our
Sakashima KK experience. Hope to upload some
PIX of that event from our LOGBOOK. STAY TUNED

Greetings Friends, Family, and all you ships at sea,

Apologies for the long lapse in posting.  More details to follow.

This post is for all of you who know that this is Indy 500 day and might wonder “What is Lucinda doing today?”  I’m in New Jersey visiting mom, dad, Nancy, Bobby, and Matthew.  Today we’ll be over at Nancy’s watching the race on TV (if it is not rained out) and having a traditional Memorial Day/Race Day picnic–brats, hamburgers, macaroni salad, baked beans, etc. 

It’s a very exciting day in Indy 500 History–THREE women in the race (Danica Patrick, Sarah Fisher, and Milka Duno).

I arrived here last Saturday.  We’ve been to the beach twice.  Went to a Lakewood Blueclaws game on Friday (they lost).  The rest of the time has been spent on projects around the house (including having a large rotten tree cut down) and fighting to try to get Dad’s three Vistified computers connected to the internet. 

I doubt he will ever get around to posting anything on this blog.  He spends hours a day sitting at the computers, but it seems that most of the time is spent updating software rather than using it.

I will try to add a few posts summarizing some of the medical info that I didn’t have access to before getting here.

For now the update is–he’s walking on his own steam, but seems much more weary and confused than before the surgery.  He starts cardiac rehab on Friday. 

More later,

Cindy

Mom went to the Dr. today [Monday], yes she has bronchitis. Dad saw Dr. Lipper [the pulmonologist] and he said dad is doing very well considering the extent of his surgery. He needs to have productive coughs and sit up straight! Dad will go see the cardiologist on Wednesday and on Thursday he is to be checked at DeBorah. The therapist is to come on Tuesday and Friday. That makes for a busy week.

Dad was on the computer today so hopefully he will start updating his progress.

e-mailing mom might be better since talking is difficult until the drugs start working.

Bring on Spring and get rid on the winter germs!

Nancy

[P.S. Cindy is now on her second round of antibiotics for bronchitis. I'm also now on antihistimines and a bronchial inhaler . . . several times a night I wake up gasping for air with my nose and throat filled with mucus . . . lovely.]

As of 10:45am [Friday] dad is home!

The x-ray still shows pneumonia but he will see the pulmonologist on Monday about that issue. The cough continues to be bothersome. His pulse-ox has been as high as 97 and has remained over 93 so no oxygen is needed. Dad did very well using the walker to get into the house. He will hopefully improve some more now that he is back at home.

Mom now has a cold, I left as they were getting ready to eat chicken soup for lunch.

Stay healthy,
Nancy
[P.S. from Cindy -- I now have bronchitis. Started yesterday on the same Zithromax/Azithromycin that Dad was on for his pneumonia. Will wait 'til I get the "all clear" before I schedule my trip out east.]

After a good day with therapy and no oxygen on Saturday, dad had a slight set back Sunday. The chest x-ray results say he has pneumonia. He is on Zithromax and the doctor will continue to monitor the situation. He has been able to stay off the oxygen for the past three days, so if the drugs kick in, hopefully he will stay off of that annoying nose tube. This may mean that he has to stay the rest of this week at rehab. Mom will learn more at her meeting with the social worker Monday.

Stay safe in this crazy weather.

Love,
Nancy

Just spoke with mom who seemed in better spirits today. Dr. Hokah (sp?), their GP, has extended dad’s stay in rehab for another week. He’s been a bit better about doing his physical therapy, but is still very weak and tired most of the time. His incisions are all healing nicely. So, now it’s just a matter of building up his physical strength.

If you would like to send a card or anything, the rehab is:

Southern Ocean Nursing & Rehab Center
1361 Route 72
Manahawkin, NJ 08050
Phone: (609) 978-0600

(I didn’t post this info earlier because it seemed like they were going to kick him out any minute.)

Continued prayers for Mom and Nancy.

Love, Cindy (whose Minnesota home is surrounded by over two feet of beautiful white snow . . . )

Nancy spoke to the doctor yesterday (Thursday). She was able to get some answers to many of the questions I had about Dad’s recovery.

Here’s some of what she found out transformed into a Q&A format:

Q: Will Dad have the same life-long lifting restrictions as Aunt Rosemary (who had surgery in August 2001 for a myxoma, a tumor in the left atrium)?
A: The 5 lb. restriction for Dad is only for 1-2 months post op. He said the surgery Aunt Rosemary had does restrict lifting to 5lbs for life, but that once the Cardiologist clears dad, he can lift more.

Q: What about other restrictions?
A: He is also not to go up steps other then the 2 at their house for one month. No driving until cleared by the doctor and no house cleaning, grocery shopping, gardening etc. until cleared (like dad would be doing cleaning LOL).

Q: Will he need a special diet as soon as he gets home?
A: As for diet, low fat and low salt, but they don’t want to get too strict until after 3 months recovery.

Other News:
He may still come home on Sat. they are taking it day by day. Dad went to therapy twice [Thursday] and did the required walking and was taken off the oxygen. If he can stay off the oxygen it is more likely that he will go home.

Nancy told mom that if he goes home and walks to the shack and starts working on the computer [and this blog :)], at least he will be sitting up. Maybe that will motivate him to stick with the recovery program.

Thanks to Nancy for getting all this info.

I also spoke to Mom last night. She got a call from the visitiing nurse who will come to the house twice a week ($35 copay each trip!) to check on Dad once he is home. I’ll save my rantings about such insurance company ripoffs for another time. For now please pray that they don’t send him home before he is really able to move about on his own. Mom certainly cannot lift him. I’m rather worried we will soon have TWO patients on our hands.

Cindy