Mort Freedman Update

 Down to a roll of the dice?

Nita came to Manila on the 22nd of Feb to see the VA.  They would not even let her into the compound without an appointment, so she had to leave Mort's medical records with the security guard.  They promised a return phone call within 24 working hours.  That call has yet to come.

Nita, Don Hammond and I discussed options in Angeles on the 23rd & 24th, frequently consulting with his good friend Jim Bird in Oak Harbor, Wa.

Don took Nita to see Jimmy Boyd, the local expert on Tricare & VA in the Philippines.  Don was a great help on these areas where I have virtually no experience.

I wrote a letter to the neurosurgeons in Cagayan De Oro and had Jim Bird & Don Hammond suggest a few changes.  In the letter I pushed the doctors to reconsider the operation since it was really his last chance for any meaningful life.  Nita agreed to not hold the doctors or the hospital liable should Mort not survive the surgery.  I signed the letter and Don Hammond and another of Mort's friends endorsed the letter.

On Tuesday the 26th Nita took the letter to the neurosurgeons and they agreed to perform the surgery IF they could get all his other medical conditions under control.  Mort was admitted to the hospital on the 27th.  They immediately started treating him for pneumonia and a kidney infection.  Early this week the cardiologist was the first to sign off saying Mort was OK for surgery.  Daily other doctors have signed him off.

Also, early this week Mort's daughter, Abigail, flew back from the USA to see him.  I'm not sure if it was the medicines they are giving him to make sure he has no other medical issues when he goes for surgery or a ray of light from above, but Mort came back to reality and recognized Abigail.  He has had some long conversations with her and the rest of

his family this week.   Nita has explained to him that he will have

surgery on his brain and he acknowledged that he understands and wants the surgery.

Yesterday all his doctors finally agreed that he will be ready as he can be for the surgery on the 11th of March.  This is a dangerous operation for a young person in good health with good doctors.  With Mort's age, risk factors, and provincial doctors the odds are not great.  But, I believe the odds are a bit better now that Mort's is aware of what is going on.  If anyone has that mental ability to keep fighting against the odds, it is Mort Freedman.

Please keep Mort in your prayers next week.