Paul Ingrassia is under the weather!

Dear Friends of Paul and Fellow Circus Fans, Paul asked me to let you know about what has happened in the last 10 days. Paul had surgery on his back on Wednesday, October 7. The next he fell out of his bed and suffered a spiral fracture his left humerous and could not move his arm. The bone was in four pieces. He had a week of excruciating pain.. We spent three days in an intermediate facility and the following Wednesday we returned to Rockford Memorial Hospital for the surgery. The surgery lasted three and a half hours and recovery was just as long. The trauma orthopod had to use a steel plate from the top of the humerous to almost the elbow. It required a bone graft as well, all held together with eight to ten screws. One of the bones was not attached back, but the doctor says calcium will fill it in. He is still in pain, bandaged from shoulder to the tip of his fingers. His left hand is terribly swollen and of course he has some edema because he has not been able to walk very far or sit up for long periods of time. On Saturday, October 17, he was moved to a rehab facility for a week or more. The recovery time is 12 weeks. His range of motion, particularly over his head. will be permanently impaired. Fortunately, for me and for Paul, Catherine arrived on Wednesday before the last surgery and my sister Melinda arrived last Sunday. We have worked out a schedule that seems comfortable. He is never left alone. Catherine and Melinda take turns at night, I go to the hospital at 6:30 AM and relieve them. They sleep for part of the day returning to the hospital around noon. If you don't hear from me for several days, I'm sure you'll understand why. I appreciate all your messages of encouragement. I have shared them with Paul. He is feeling much better tonight, Sunday, after we discovered that he was being over medicated with xanax and valium. We removed those from his treatment and he is now on pain pills only. He had physical therapy today and will have three hours of therapy tomorrow. The rehab doctor thinks he will be out of the hospital by next week. He wanted you to know, but I don't know all of the names or addresses. If you could please spread the word, and send good wishes to him at this email or home: 2862 Woodhill Drive Rockford, IL 61114 His cell number is 815 218-7771 Just think, this all started with falling out of bed in a hospital after a successful back surgery.. Hugs to all, Roberta