Saturday, January 1 – A good start to 2022
So…I pray your 2022 is beginning well.
Ours is!
After a flurry of activity, we brought Heath home around 1pm today.
The week certainly had its ups and downs. WE felt great after the surgery, but Heath still has a lot of work to do post significant abdominal surgery. Everything is put back together, and the port is removed, but we had to manage a tough pain transition as well as, ahem…get those intestines functioning in a somewhat normal manner:) We juggled all of it with the help of wonderful family support. We can’t do any of this without them.
In the hospital, it was once again the gift of wonderful staff continuity that carried us. We made some new friends, but two of our very favorite nurses were working this week. One helped Heath and I navigate the pain and make a plan, and the other took amazing care of us the past two days, helping lock down all of the details that allowed us to leave comfortably. We took some walks and found out the unit has a nice view of Duke Chapel.
Two quick things.
- We are home, and so very excited, but know we have a lot ahead of us. Time and healing and adding weight and gaining strength. Follow up with both surgery and nephrology on Monday. Another appointment Weds. A planning meeting about a transition back to school plan in a few weeks. We already have more followup with cardiology planned, and will be working with oncology to put in place another scan that will hopefully confirm that we’re on solid ground to move forward. It is a lot. We are breathing, and so grateful, but are already making the turn to a new set of plans.
- Our healthcare workers are amazing. We have been touched by the skill and compassion of so many saints at Duke, from surgeons and department heads to an especially awesome woman who came to get our food orders this week. But they are all exhausted. A few hadn’t left the hospital for days. Our nurse in the recovery room on Tuesday told us more than 100 nurses were out because of having covid or being directly exposed, and every time the phone rang it was someone else. These people are sacrificing so much as they continue to care for all, and every unit is short-staffed. The pressure is immense. PLEASE do what you can to make their job easier, not harder.
We’re working on some ideas for some things we can do for these saints and will be back in touch this week. We’ll need your help.
Blessings to you all as 2022 begins. May it be filled with good health, special time with people you love, new things to learn and experience, and perhaps a newfound sense of equity and justice in the land.
I was doing ok until I got to the bottom of your post and saw the photo of Heath and Chris in the car. When I saw the big smiles on their faces, I just lost it. Happy, happy tears, so much relief. Thank you so much for letting us be on this journey with you, even in the smallest of ways. We are sending so much love every day. – Melissa and family
What a great smile!! Happy new year to your family and may it be filled with healing, peaceful days, and much love❤️
All of us are saying “Yay !! and Hallelujah!!!” So happy he is back home again🌞
So thankful for great news.❤️❤️❤️
Blessings in this New Year and thanks be to God for the good news going forward.
Thank you so much for this update. You all are amazing. Thanks be to God for a great start to 2022. May the Spirit continue to sustain you on this journey, and empower the superheroes at Duke. God bless you all.
Prayers for continued healing and excellent care! Joining you in thanksgiving for all the healthcare folks who have been with you and provided what Heath has needed!
Lots of love to all the Tuttles❤️
So very thankful. We’ve been waiting for this update! ❤️
Sending love and prayers from Davidson. But we want to do more. What do the Tuttles need? CFA? Gift Cards? Target?…. We are here for you. With love xx
I’m happy dancing for all of you!!! I saw the word “school” in there — that sounds like some kind of normal!! Hoping Heath is healing well and all of you are taking a breather! Love you, Terry
Fantastic and grateful news!
And, the prayers continue for this new part of the journey.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
YOUR STORY IS SUCH A TESTIMONY! PRAYERS CONTINUE FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS TO BE MET. SENDING LOVE.
What great news! I’m super happy to hear that Heath is home, surgery & procedures went well this week, and that you’re forming all the needed plans for the days ahead. Sending prayers for strength, good healing, and those over-worked healthcare workers. Whew! These are tough times indeed for them. ❤️
Such encouraging news. Prayers continue as does this journey. Count me in when you decide on your expression of support/gratitude for the health-care saints.
So glad to get this good news, especially with the wonderful picture of Heath with his terrific smile. He is regularly in our prayers as is his family, including Tuttle grandparents. May the new year bring more good reports from the doctors and strength and encouragement for all those healthcare workers who persevere with courage and gentleness and hard-earned skill. Erskine and Nan
Fabulous!❤️
Looking forward to the blessings of 2022. Off to a great start! Love Heath’s smile, it says soooo much❤️
SO happy you are home Heath for rest, laughter, family time and hopefully soon lots of friend time too. Slowly but surely but being HOME is just so stinking wonderful to hear. Love from all of us.
So very grateful. Thank you for your hope and your grace that you gave to the rest of us! Peace be with you.
The news is great but as you said the road ahead is full of twists and turns but you take one step at a time and keep putting one foot in front of the other and God will lead the way
You are in our prayer
Patty and Tom
I love Heath’s big smile and Chris’s “touch of tenderness”! I can’t wait to see a picture of Heath driving with Chris in the passenger seat!!😁😘
I’m going ahead and wishing Heath an
early “Happy Birthday!”
Happy Happy 14th Heath!!!
Bonnie @ Faith Presbyterian
Great feeling for the start of the new year!! We are absolutely in for treating the saints at Duke that have done so much for you all! Keep us posted.
Thanks for the good news. Prayers of love and support continue for Heath and all of the Tuttles. PEACE ☮
God is good! Thanks to the medical staff that were with you during this time! Welcome Home!❤️❤️
❤😊
So glad to hear all of this good news! Your Montessori family wants to help support our amazing healthcare workers…let us know what we can do! Hugs to Heath and the whole family.
I m continuing to pray for all of your family and medical staff i my morning meditation. May this be your best year yet!
Thanks for this update. Prayers for the continuing journey back to health! I want to be a part of the celebration/support for our medical angels and look forward to learning how I can participate.
Heath is such a strong person. Just keep swimming Heath!
Happiest of New Years to all the Tuttles!
Love, hugs and prayers,
Charlotte
Such wonderful news to begin a new year! Sending hope!
Such wonderful news!!! Prayers for continued recovery and figuring out all these next steps!! ❤️🙏🏻
Praising God as I sit in the Faith Pres. Parking Lot….
Much Love and Big Hugs
Love from Papa! ❤️❤️❤️