Dick Willsey

This is my(Dianes)brother-in-law Dick. He's been fighting leukemia and lung cancer for 1 1/2 years now. He's been in the hospital six times this summer with problems, mostly pneumonia. We left Wa. state as soon as Jim was finished with his cataract surgeries, a few days after Labor Day so we could come to Sacramento to be with my sister and brother in law. We're so glad we have an RV & are retired and mobile. It's been a whirlwind of Dr. appts, a very short stay in a Rehap facility(took 2 days to get admitted) where they discovered on a Xray his lung was collapsed. An ambulance was called, 8 hrs in the emergency room, many tests later then finally admitted to a hospital room. Surgery was performed the next day it was microscopic surgery(thank goodness). They relieved the pressure around the lung allowing it to expand, placed a tube in his side to drain the inside of the lung & also glued his lung to the lining. If all goes well he will be home at the end of the week. We are glad to be here and help in any way we can.

Sadly I have to update this entry. Dick lived only a short time after being discharged from the hospital. He passed away on Oct. 25 at home with his wife by his side. My sister had a wonderful Celebration of Life party for Dick. He will be greatly missed.