As Student Council President, Max was asked to share his reflections on his La Patera experience.  For our family record, we’re including it’s text below…

Good-Bye La Patera

I stand before you today as a better student, a better leader  and most of all a better person.  Hi, I’m Max Geyling – La Patera’s student council president.  I’ve had a great experience here and would love to share it.  I came to La Patera in third grade.  I was in Mrs. Clayton’s and Mrs. Hug’s class.  I met some nice kids that year but two really stand out, Thomas Jimenez and Fidel Lopez.  I met them when our teacher asked them to show me around.  As I got to know them I found out they were just as big of sports maniacs as me.  They’re like two other brothers to me and it’s been that way for a long time.  Well, at least up to when Fidel moved away after fourth grade, but I’ve made more friends too.

After third grade there was the dreaded switch to the upper grades.  Yea, the big 0-4, fourth grade.  One of the best things about fourth grade was being on the same schedule as the sixth graders so at recess I was able to be with my older brother Wilson. Also in fourth grade I had Mrs. Burrato, one of the nicest, most up beat, iced-tea drinking teachers I know.  Fourth grade was a great experience, I had my first overnight fieldtrips to Tall Ships and El Capitan (that’s fun to say).  I also learned alot about the watermelon on my first day, played my guitar in the school talent show and had my first kiss  – okay, just kidding.  One more thing that made that year unforgettable was when my little brother Rudy was born.

After my interesting year in fourth grade, it was on to fifth grade with Miss Grant.  You know one of the youngest teachers in the school with a split class of fifth and sixth graders.  What could possibly go wrong?  EVERYTHING, but luckily for us it didn’t.  Fifth grade was pretty fun.  We went to El Chorro for three days.  I played in the talent show again and I was voted vice president of the school, (turn to classmates) “Thank you guys.”  I also became the oldest sibling of my family in La Patera because Wilson was in Junior High and my sister Olivia was in second grade.

Finally, the reason I’m here with all you wonderful people – sixth grade!  I couldn’t think of a better way to end my time in elementary school.  First of all, I had Miss Grant again, but as a sixth grader and I went to Mr. Carrera for most of the subjects so Miss Grant could teach the fifth graders.  There was alot of running between classes that year, I mean, walking.  But anyway, sixth grade –  the year everyone waits and works for…why????  My teachers are right here so – for the learning!  Also, for CIMI – the greatest field trip ever.  Plus, my dad came so that made it better…well, did that really make it better?  No, it made it fantastic!  We went snorkeling,kayaking, tidepooling and we played some fun games.  Also this year I was voted President of the school.  It was awesome and it was an honor to hold this office.  I also couldn’t believe the fun activities at the end of the year.  I loved this year more than any other and I’m sad to see it go by.

I would like to thank all my teachers I’ve ever had…the ones at La Patera and the ones at the schools I’ve attended in the past.  And to my family – my dad, my mom, my siblings Wilson, Olivia and little Rudy.  Also, to Mrs. Santiago, the staff, and the wonderful students that make this school what it is.  For my last few words, I will say something I heard from a very reliable source – a movie. (ha) “Once a La Patera Tiger, always a La Patera Tiger!”.

A great summary Max…La Patera has been and will continue to be a wonderful blessing to our family. 

Rudy’s Medical Update:

We were deeply disappointed to hear from Dr. Pornchai yesterday that Rudy did not pass the sleep study.  We didn’t talk a whole lot of details – we’ll talk with him more at our routine appt. next month but, for now, it means we can’t move forward on decannultion.  Rudy will need to keep the trach and, I imagine, we’ll try again in another 6 months or so.  We really hoped for the  greenlight to decannulate and are sad to put that plan on hold again.  So, as always, one day at a time…

Thank you for your prayers.

The big challenge for us this past week has been to balance keeping Rudy at home where he is most comfortable as he continues to battle a cold and junky lungs while keeping up with the flurry of activity in the lives of the rest of the family.  We’ve had to “divide and conquer” at times, rely on the big kids to get themselves to and fro on their bikes and white-knuckle our way through a couple of events with Rudy in tow…very creative, sometimes stressful,  maneuvering but there have been too many special things going on to hibernate completely!!  

The string of monthly birthdays in our family until the next round in the fall culminated on Wednesday with Rolf celebrating #44!!!  He was treated to a wonderful bbq chicken school lunch at La Patera’s “Bring your parent to lunch” day and serenaded with “Happy Birthday” by Max, Olivia and friends.   Two days later, Rolf and I got to steal away for the day (first time in ? years!) and enjoy a leisurely wine-tasting tour in the Santa Ynez Valley not far from Santa Barbara.  It was a gorgeous day that included stops at 4 wineries and a lovely picnic lunch…a perfect backdrop for celebrating the man for whom I’m deeply grateful.  My perfect partner in life and family and my dearest friend.  Happy Birthday Rolfi!  

Wilson received an invitation to the 8th grade awards ceremony which is an indication he won an award but it didn’t specify which one so we were a little in the dark when we showed up to the school auditorium Thursday evening.  There were a number of school/department awards and 4 achievement awards sponsored by organizations in the community.  Wilson was the proud recipient of the “United Way of Santa Barbara County Outstanding Character Award” – a very special honor…Wilson was so surprised and pleased.  In addition, Wilson’s band teacher awarded him with a band trophy commenting that he believes Wilson is the best jr. high drummer in the SB School District to which the crowd of his peers responded with a thunder of applause.  It was fun to watch Wilson being affirmed for his hard work and for the work God is nurturing in his heart and life.  Well done Wilson!  

The final rush of school activities, award assemblies and end of the year band concerts continues this next week so I’m praying Rudy’s bug clears up completely for his comfort and our sanity.  🙂

Medical Update:  We saw Rudy’s SB Endocrinologist this past week for Rudy’s routine appointment.  Dr. Lifshitz has been monitoring Rudy’s thyroid (dys)function and medication since we brought Rudy home from UCLA two years ago.  As Rudy nears 3 years old, it’s time to shake things up a bit and see how he does.  The thyroid hormone therapy he has been taking will do it’s job, if successful, within the first few years of life.  To test where he’s at, Dr. Lifshitz has dc’d Rudy’s daily dose of Levothyroxine with strict instructions for specifically-timed blood draws for the next two months.  If Rudy’s numbers remain normal, we’ll say “goodbye” to the Levo and, possibly, Dr. Lifshitz indefinitely.  If he doesn’t tolerate being off the med, then we’ll need to investigate the cause of his thyroid issues more specifically, I believe, with further testing.  Bottom line, we’re zeroing in on an isolated system that is intricately connected to the bigger picture and, as always, a little victory (and one less med on the daily list) would be greatly welcomed at this point.  Thank you for praying…we’ll keep you posted on this and the sleep study results.  Blessings to you….

It’s 1:30am and the good news is that Rudy doesn’t need to be admitted so we should be on our way in about 30 minutes. The bad news is that the CAT scan showed good evidence for why there would be seizures. The doc took lots of time to explain it to us but, given that our specialty is single-ventricle hearts, being introduced to neurology at 12:50am does not make for good retention. Something’s smaller than it should be…other things are bigger than they should be. Ugh (I’m finding it hard not to type any number of choice expletives right now. I just wish Rudy would get a break on this one.). They have an anti-convulsant drug that will do something that makes everyone comfortable with sending him home.

We do recall the team at UCLA saying that the long battle in the ICU and a lifetime of poor oxygenation can impact neurologic function. The cat scan shows areas of calcification that are consistent with stroke history. The ER doc wondered why something like this hadn’t happened sooner. We’re leaving with a referral that welcomes a new member to the team–a Pediatric Neurologist. They say she’s a good one. The Rudycoaster loops again.

Thanks for praying.

Rudy had a 30 minute episode of focal motor seizures at 9:30pm. Wilson brought it to our attention that he was drooling and twitching on the left side of his mouth. Our nurse-neighbor-friend Tera came over and came with us to Cottage. Rudy was very distressed at first but is tuckered out after getting stuck for labs and Xrays. We’re waiting for a cat scan and communicating with UCLA about transport (less likely now than on our arrival). This is a new occurrence (to our knowledge) so lots of questions right now but glad things aren’t as scary as when we got here. Appreciate your prayers. Updates when we have them.

The big sibs wanted to take Rudy to the park all by themselves. Said they know how to suction him and can call if there’s a problem. Couldn’t come up with any good reason to say no. Made our eyes misty to watch them head out…

The Birthday Girl!! Happy Birthday to Trish!

Rudy was ready to be the mascot for Livy’s Brownie troop’s Austria presentation at Thinking Day yesterday, but stayed home due to the rain. We still had to post this for reasons of sheer cuteness and to warm the hearts of all our readers back in Austria (Rudy’s HUGE over there). Rewind the clock about 42 years and you pretty much get my childhood (because all the kids dressed like this in New Jersey, Mom!)

[I also trust you’re impressed with the standing trick. If we put the little yodler against the back of the couch and help him lock his legs, he can stay up for a good 30 seconds–but good luck getting him to keep the hat on that long!]

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Rudy wanted to ask for a Turkish interpreter but that would have required a longer wait. We’re out of here!

Rudy and I have had an uneventful stay here at UCLA. We got our room assignment around 2pm yesterday and Rudy had fun riding all the way there sitting up like Caesar on an inspection tour.

We had to repress some habitual and territorial instincts as, for the first time, our room was not in the 5th floor ICU. We’ve ventured onto the 3rd floor and discovered they have lots of doctors and nurses to charm here too! I can’t get over how quiet it is–we’re tucked into the coveted room at the end of the hallway with a nice view down Westwood Blvd. We have yet to see another patient but the extensive decorations on the doors and scary equipment and labeled carts (chemotherapy/transplant/etc), make me grateful to be an easy short-term case. We’re just two guys in our man cave logging some sats…

Being in a new place doesn’t promise anonymity. Our nurse finally had to ask me what was going on as there seemed to be a disproportionate number of docs stopping by and checking over the chart, considering the procedure. Good to have fans check on Rudy, but I had to laugh at the way they’ve robbed me of one of my favorite hospital pastimes–secretly absconding with needed medical supplies! It’s a learned heart-parent behavior to create secondary procurement agendas around hospital visits. Sometimes you need to play cat-and-mouse, asking multiple staff for the same thing so you get sufficient quantities–some have even been known to hide things and play stupid so the staff has to go get more. The whole game gets much easier if you have a familiar unit and your cute kid has several nurses on the take.

I guess we’re not as sly as we thought because I was just contemplating the prospect of working a new floor, when a certain high-placed physician just came out and asked if I had any supplies at home that needed to be replenished. Realizing the gig was up, I handed over my list (those who know my wife would not be surprised that I was dispatched with an actual list) and in short order my quest was complete. Not sure what to do with all the free time now…

Rudy slept well. We woke up early and watched the sun come up and the campus come to life below the window. Nurse Amy promised me the worst coffee in the world and may have delivered (but it took me two cups to come to this conclusion). We’ve been reviewing the doctor parade as it marches by. The ENT team has been by and gave their thumbs up, so discharge will be coming, though I think Pulmonary and Cardiology will probably come by the reviewing stand before we go.

King of all he surveys and then a happy wake-up! Ready to head out!

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