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MESSAGE FROM THE WEBMASTER
NOTE:
Memorial Service information is in the "Current Updates" section of the site. Click on the menu link above, or the direct address is just below.
I have changed the way that the update posts are displayed. They are now in "blog" format. Click on the update link below to view the updates in this much more user (and webmaster) friendly format. You may also bookmark or navigate to the following address to access the updates directly:
http://www.supportnstuff.com/bbruce
As I mentioned, this is in a blog format, so the newest posts are first. If you would like to experience Bruce's more than 3 years journey from the beginning, click here to go directly to the first post (so you don't have to navigate to it through the blog.)
Thank you to everyone who have continued to visit this site, and are supporting Joyce and Bruce through this time. Because of the incredible volume of messages that are either emailed or posted on this site, I was not able to keep up with posting them all, but each and every one gets to Joyce and are appreciated. Hits to this site rival that of major companies - the reach of Bruce's life and influence is just amazing. The hit statistics have people visiting from New England to California to Alaska to Washington to Europe and beyond. I have even had hits from Russia and Africa. Your collective efforts make a huge difference - together we can make miracles!
WELCOME FROM JOYCE
I know you are all anxious to hear updates on Bruce's condition. I have been receiving your heartfelt voice and email messages, and I can't tell you how much it has helped me and Bruce and our family. I can hear and feel the love and prayers you are sending and I know it is what is keeping our boy alive. And, it WILL help him recover. Unfortunately, as you can imagine, I spend long days in the ICU waiting room waiting for a few moments of visitation when Bruce's nurses get a break in the action and can let me and other family members in. I get home late and I just can't get back to you with progress reports as I would like to.
I want him to be able to know how much he means to you all and to see how much love has been sent his way.
Bruce is on prayer chains all over the world...and I see it helping every day. Keep Bruce in your prayers . You will never know how much your love and support means to us.
Blessings- Joyce
So, what happened?
Bruce had a burst thoracic aortic aneurism on Thursday morning, 8/9/07. He was flown by Life Star to UMass Medical Center in Worcester, Mass where we waited 5 hours for a cardiac surgeon to become available. From 2:30pm-11:30pm, and on a heart/lung machine, one of the top cardiac surgeons in the country, Dr. S. Tam, fought to save his life. Bruce has a worse case scenario injury- a huge chunk of his aorta had ruptured, the heart valve was damaged, and the remainder of his artery had dissected. (For those of you non-medical folks-That is a REALLY bad thing to happen.) Dr. Tam only replaced a portion of the artery as Bruce was too unstable to endure any more than that. He remained in the O.R. until 4:00am with the surgical team trying to control his bleeding. Finally transported to CICU. - An hour later Bruce had a cardiac arrest and was taken back to surgery to remove a clot from his heart and to rework the Teflon mesh used to replace the removed portion of the aorta. The Dr. decided to leave Bruce's chest open because his lungs had become stiff during the lengthy surgery, and the likely possibility that they might need to get at his heart quickly. As of 8/13/07, Bruce is in the most critical condition one can be in and still be alive. He is getting the most immaculate care I have ever witnessed in a special "most critical patient" ICU room- He has 2 RN's assigned to just him. He has no less than 30 IV lines running, a ventilator and 6 other machines-Every imaginable body function is monitored constantly and they are on top of every detail, which has brought him this far.
Bruce was given a less than 50% chance of survival the minute the Life Star pilot landed: That was downgraded to 25% after the surgeon saw the degree of damage, but tonight his heart is still beating and he continues to cling to life. He has beaten the odds by living this long-His body is amazing in what it has endured these past few days. We flew Bruce's daughter and grandson in from Arizona on Thursday night. All of his family have been around him every minute and his Dr. has not left his side. (Dr. Tam was supposed to go on vacation Sat morning but didn't. ) All of Bruce's angels are working overtime: All those who love him, celebrate every hour that passes quietly. He is such a fighter and we hold on to the belief that he can and will recover from this. Keep him in your prayers.
His family will attempt to post updates on how Bruce is doing here in this section of the site as often as is possible, practical and necessary. You can communicate with Joyce at bruce.firth@verizon.net.
Bruce passed away just after 5:30PM on November 2, 2010. He was 57. He died peacefully surrounded by his family. He was a Father, Brother, Son, Husband, Grandfather, Uncle, Friend & Veteran Officer of the United States Coast Guard. Bruce will live forever in the hearts of those whose lives he touched & his strength in times of great challenge inspired all who knew him.
If you have any thoughts, stories, prayers, well wishes or pictures of Bruce that you might like pass along to him or to those who love him to be posted on this site, please send them to:
Or you can also submit text here: