Old Hickory Recon, Memories of the 30th Infantry Division 1943-1945 - Marion M. Sanford

Mr. Sanford's wife has given approval for me let you all know what is going on with him.

A couple of weeks ago, he had a mild stroke that affected vision in one eye and in the workup for that, he was scheduled for a surgical procedure to address the probable cause, a blockage in his carotid artery.

He had the surgery this past Tuesday but once in recovery he began to show signs of diminished function one one side of his body and was returned to surgery to see if another block had formed during or after the surgical procedure. In the OR, his blood vessel looked good and he was returned to the recovery room.

He was moved to surgical ICU later that evening. He has not been alert since prior to surgery, although he responds minimally to words spoken to him. He moves his left appendages well but his right (dominant), he moves little to none and does not appear to have good control when he does. He has not opened his eyes since Tuesday night, when he was combative. He has continued to digress since being in SICU, falling prey to expected maladies that beset a elderly, post-op and bedridden surgical patient.

I have great concerns.

 

I am less concerned than I was Friday. I did not see him today, but talked to his wife.

Mr. Sanford has improved noticeably. He is aware of what is going on now and has had very limited conversations, asking simple questions and the like. Movement on the right side is still an issue, but he can move his arm and leg, although his fine motor skills are noticeably degraded. They are not letting him eat or drink until they are certain that he can swallow. He has been asking for water.

He is one tough old bird and I don't doubt that he is going to show the neurologist that he is not an average 94 year old man.

I will talk to him tomorrow.

 

I came late to this thread. I hope Mr. Marion continues to progress. Somehow I thought he would be hale and hearty for a long time to come. Much of what you have had to say is familiar to me. Echoes of what my own doctors had to say reverberate in my head. Fine motor skills are something we don't think about until it's missing. I hope he regains full use of everything. Express my best wishes to him.

 

Will do, Lou.

 

Mr. Sanford is about the same today. He has had a feeding tube inserted.

 

Thanks for updating us, Jeff. Although I never met or talked to him, I feel a special kinship with him through the book. Again, let him know we're thinking of him.

 

Mr. Sanford died during the night last night. I will post more as I get a chance.

He fought a good fight.

 

This makes me sad. I never met him, but it seemed as though I knew him. Stay positive, Jeff.