My Ricky Burrus Speech

Today I was given the opportunity to speak, from my heart, about my father.  The goal of the discussion was how my personal life tied in directly to my company's mission.  I spoke about my father because of his 28 year battle with chronic disease of the heart.  I was so nervous to give this talk because it was going to be in front of my entire company that is made up of the best and brightest talent in the medical field, engineers, doctors, nurses, top executives and everyone else that I am lucky enough to work along side.  I wanted so badly to express my father's turbulent road filled with heart attacks, cardiac arrests, hospital visits, ERs, congestive heart failure, medicine, medical costs and all the sadness and heartache that goes into this many years of not feeling well.  I also hoped to capture my father's incredible strength, fight and capacity for climbing the mountains and over coming all the health problems that he suffered.  I had every intension of explaining that my father was a good patient from the standpoint of the medical field.  He was compliant when it came to his medicine, resting and going to the doctors appointments. 
My father got dealt a really shitty deck of cards when it came to his heart.  It seems to me that he silently struggled when it came to how he felt on a daily basis and how he was doing emotionally.  He did not complain.  He never focused on the negative.  He always rose above and ensured that he was not feeling sorry for himself.  He was so incredibly amazing and he is a role model for everyone, especially for those dealt with shitty hands. 
Most people would never have been able to physically or emotionally go through what my dad did over the years with his heart, his health and his lifestyle.  He was considered disabled in his 40s.  The prime of his life, he was completely knocked down.  And he was again knocked down in his 50s and again in his 60s.  But he kept fighting to survive.
So I desperately wanted to tell this story of my father today so everyone who did not meet him would know that he has indeed made me understand the importance of health care and the need to improve upon patient safety, medical technology and efficiency in hospitals while lowering the cost of health care. 
I am afraid to admit that although my intentions were good, I broke down within two minutes of getting up in front of the room and could barely get through my talk.  I showed a picture of my father and me on the day of my wedding and it took me back to how special that day was for everyone.  I miss my father so very much and although I may not have made it through my planned out speech today, I am pretty sure I let the world know just how much my dad meant to me.

Miss you daddy!
Love
Katie

Beach

I can't help but think that a little over 3 months ago I was hanging out with my dad at the beach.  My husband and I, along with Amber's family went with mom and dad on an evening picnic to the beach.  That was something we had never done before.  It doesn't make sense that we had not done that trip in the past considering it was only 10 minutes from their house.  It seems to me, we all should have done that before then. 
My dad sat in his chair, roasting marshmallows with Amber and her kids, wearing one of his many jackets (he had a jacket obsession:).  I remember that dad was a little quite on this trip, I just chalked it up to him being tired or not feeling particularly well.  I began thinking though that maybe his quietness stemmed more from the fact that he knew he was going to have this procedure done the following week and perhaps he was quite because he was very nervous.  I think my dad was scared.
As I think back on the last few times I spent with my dad I feel very sad because I didn't realize they would be the last of their sort.  I didn't realize that the beach trip that evening would be the last dinner I ate with my dad or the last time I could sit around and joke with him.  I really miss my dad right now and I wish I spent more time with him roasting marshmallows on the beach.  Love you dad!

Missing my daddy today, every day.

I, like many of you, drift in and out of daydreaming throughout each day.  While I drift in and out, I think of my dad.  I still have such an incredible pull to want to pick up the phone and call him while I am eating lunch at my desk.  Or, I would wait till around 2:00 pm, right around the time I knew he would be getting ready for his daily siesta, and I would call him just to wake him up.  Yes, I am devious like that.  I would say "Oh, sorry dad, did I wake you up".  He would laugh and tell me, "yes, like usual".  I also used to call him every day on my commute home.  My commute is very lonely without my dad.

I just thought I would check in with anyone who might still check this blog.  This picture was taken one year ago at my babies one year old birthday party.

We miss you Grandpa big Dick!

My dad, the dancing fool

We have so many memories of my father dancing at different weddings.  He really liked to boogie and took his dancing very seriously.  He did the splits on more than two occasions, causing the world to stop for everyone who witnessed the stealthy move.  My dad really knew how to cut a rug, I will give him that!

Remembering

I am not sure if anyone would be checking this blog post my dad's funeral but I wanted to express my most heart felt gratitude to all those who participated in my father's services.  From the Patriot Guard to all the other riders who were there to pay tribute to a Vet as well as just a wonderful man, I thank you.  You all made the day as my father would have coined it "really bitchen".

I look back on April 11, 2013 with more pride than I could ever imagine.  Seeing all of those men and women standing at attention, holding the American flage, while my father's family walked through those doors to say their last goodbyes, just brings tears to my eyes.  To see riders drive next to the car holding my father's casket and salute, fills my heart so much emotion.  To witness the lines of bikes on the road to secure safe route to my father's final resting place has burned an eternal image into my memory that will never fade.  My father would have been bursting with pride, I know that.

My family will never forget everyone who came out to remember my father, to talk about my father and to celebrate his beautiful life.  The Burrus family thanks you. 

My father's friend Vivian White recently sent the below two pictures of my dad during Spring Break in 1963.  I had never seen these pictures in my life.  I am so happy to have them now.  Look at little Ricky Burrus. 

UPDATE AND REVISION TO THE TIME!!!!! 10 AM Pacific

Good afternoon,

Please note that I made a mistake on the time of the Rosary and Memorial.  It will take place at 10:00 AM Pacific on Thursday, April 11, 2013. 

Griffin Family Funeral Chapel

101 E. Wilbur Road

Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (805) 230-2800

Following the memorial, we will travel to the Conejo Mountain Cemetery. 2052 Howard Road Camarillo, CA 93012 The Patriot Guard will take lead on the drive from the Chapel to the Cemetery. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at my email address or phone: ktburrus@yahoo.com 858-336-4198 With love, Katie Burrus, daughter of the coolest guy ever!

Ricky Burrus

Dearest friends and family of Rick Burrus,

It is with all the sadness in my soul to write that my father passed away this morning at 11:20 am.  He was surrounded by his family.  We all held his hands while he made a gentle transition from this world into the next.  Though everyone who knows my father already realizes we had an angel on this Earth, we now know for sure there is an amazingly tough, good looking, very funny, incredibly witty, albeit "short" angel now in heaven.  Little Ricky Burrus was and is truly loved by all who were blessed to know him.  It was incredibly difficult to say goodbye, so we did not, we just said "until then....".  We let Dad know that everyone loved him and supported him and appreciated the incredible fight he gave.

Before he was sedated, we played Dad the ASU fight song and we said out loud... A S U!
We have just arrived home from the hospital and we have hung his ASU flag outside his home and we are wheeling out his motorcycle as a tribute.  As you know he loved both passionately.

To all his dear friends and family who faithfully prayed and who have sent us your love and support, we all thank you in the Burrus household.  Please know that you all held so much joy in my father's heart.

We will all come together to celebrate my father, your friend, very soon.  Please keep checking this blog as I will keep you updated on upcoming arrangements.

With love and condolences for your loss,
Katie

Thinking of my father

May I ask that all of Rick's family and friends think and pray for my father today of all days?  Do you know that my father had a jacket embroidered that read "Derk, Amber and Katie's Dad"?  He wore that jacket every day for years while I was growing up.  He would wear it to both mine and Amber's millions of soccer games that he attended.  He was so proud of his kids that he actually wore a jacket that let every stranger in the world know who's father he is.  My dad is just that kind of guy.  What an amazing father I have.
I just wanted to share how proud of my father that I am on a daily basis.  He is the most amazing man, most wonderful father a girl could want.
Please think of some times that you shared with my father today.  We need everyone thinking of him today so he can feel it deep inside.

I will continue to keep you posted and I hope you all enjoy a wonderful weekend.

Warm regards,
Ricky's daughter

Really great article on our hope for dad

For all those interested in what the doctors are considering for my father, please read the below article.  It is extremely informative, not overly medical in writing style.  My father is not yet healthy enough for this device but if he can get stronger, the VAD device is the end goal.

http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/health_articles/from-the-brink

Amber and Daddy

Amber and her daddy!  Love the proud daddy with his daughter.

Moto Ride with buddies Dese, TJ, Doc and Rick 2011

A picture from Angel De Sevilla with Dad
Western All Aero Ride 2011, poolside at our hotel in Three Rivers, CA near Sequoia National Park. From left: Dese, TJ, Rick and Doc.

April 4, 2013 Ricky's update

Good afternoon all:

I feel this is not much of any update as I do not have much to report, but that is a good thing in my eyes.  My father is still fighting incredibly hard.  The hospital's CT scan is broken and the doctors have been waiting to do this CT scan for the past 3 days.  The doctors can't tell too much until this scan has been done.  They need to check his brain, chest and other organs through this scan.  We are all waiting on pins and needles in the hopes that the scan shows that everything is working as expected.  Please keep praying.  I did see him this morning and his eyes were open.  He is out of sedation today and I hope he hears us when we tell him how much we love him and how fantastic he is doing.  I believe he can hear us!  Please feel free to post comments on this blog as I plan on sharing all your thoughts with Ricky when he is feeling better.  Also, if you would like me to post your favorite picture of you and Rick, please send the picture to my email at:  ktburrus@yahoo.com

I will then upload it to his blog!

Thank you for all your love and prayers,
Katie

This picture cracks me up! My dad was waiting patiently at the hair dressers while my sons had their first hair cut. He's wearing my purse :)

This is so my dad!  Pinky up!

The ultimate family man, Rick has dedicated himself to his family.  We love him so much!

Little baby Ricky Burrus!

April 3, 2013

Good morning,

I spoke with a nurse this morning about my dad's status.  He said that nothing has changed overnight.  He is still patiently waiting for a CT scan.  He was supposed to get that done yesterday but it has not happened yet.  The nurse stated that all of dad's vitals remained the same and at that no machines have been added or removed at this point.  Dad is still not awake but they do plan on giving him a "sedation vacation" some time this morning.  That is what they call when they take him out of his coma and check to see if he opens his eyes when he hears someone call his name.  They may also ask my dad to try to move his feet or hands.  I wish I was there during his sedation vacation because that is the one moment that you can tell my dad that we are with him, supporting him and he might hear us.
I remain positive and optimistic as always.  Please continue to send prayers and positivity to my father.  He is still fighting, he can still turn this corner!!!!

We love you Ricky Burrus!
Love,
Katie

April 2, 2013

Good morning all,

Though I have not been to the hospital to see dad yet this morning, I did call the nurse for an update.  He remains the same, his numbers are good and he is hanging in there.  Today, the VAD team will come to visit dad to do an evaluation.  Although dad is not ready for the VAD device, they want to begin to evaluate him.  Before he can go through a surgery for a VAD device, dad needs to stabilize and his organs need to recover.  The hospital will also focus on dad's brain today.  They will give him a CAT scan on his brain and lungs to see their function.  They will also give him an EEG.  They want to make sure he is still mentally in good shape.  This is a standard test for someone who has gone through this type of trauma as well as been kept under a coma like state for this long.  I do not think dad will be out of his coma today.  They need to keep him completely calm to undergo these type of tests.  And as we all know, we don't need to wake the beast at this point.  Believe me, once dad realizes where he is, he is going to be PISSED :)  He can get a bit feisty!

Well, I am off to the hospital to check on him with my own eyes.  Keep you up to date later...
Warm regards,
Katie

April 1st Health Update

Good morning family and friends,

Derk, Stacey and I are here this morning with Rick.  I have spoken to at least 3 different specialists this morning and although they do speak in complete Greek (secret medical language so the lay person never fully understands the entire situation) I did understand that Rick made some improvements in his heart function area last night and some of his other numbers have come down, all good news.  However, his kidney function is not doing well at all.  He is still very swollen and they are very worried about infections because of so many openings for various lines and catheters, etc.  They will keep dad sedated all day today.  They want him to just rest and try to get stronger.

All in all, we count the blessings and improvements that dad made over night.  We pray his kidneys improve. 

I will provide another update later this afternoon.

Have a great Monday!
Warm regards,
Katie

Nothing wrong with a little bribe right?

Ok, so just between me and you, I did whisper to my father that when he pulls through this, my mom has agreed to let him have a new motorcycle.  Listen, my mom does not need to know about this side deal between me and my pops but I guarantee, it will help push Rick over these humps. 

March 31, 2013 - Rick's Health Update

Hello family and friends,

This will be the first update of the day.  I apologize for getting this up so late in the day.  Today has been a bit tough on Rick.  His kidneys are going to need dialysis.  That will be happening in the next couple of hours.  We were really hoping that once we had dad hooked up to the ECMO device it would allow all his organs time to recuperate and rest.  His kidneys have still not been able to catch up after all the stress that was put on them due to his heart issues.
Dad has not really been awake today.  Once the dialysis has happened or is occurring, he might wake up a little bit.  Amber and I are here so that if and when he wakes up he will know his family is here and that we are with him.  We need my father to get over this very difficult hump.  We are continuing to talk to him and let him know how great he is and how strong he is.  We are asking him to keep fighting hard.  The doctors have told us they feel it is everybody's best interest to keep fighting.
We are really going hour by hour with my father's health.  There are ups and downs and like the doctor said, this process, if things begin to improve, could prove to be a marathon.  I thank you all for your continued support during my father's fight. 

Thank you so much and Happy Easter and Passover to Rick's friends and family!
Katie

5:22pm March 30, 2013 - Update

Hi everyone,

We were just met with terrific news!  Two gorgeous nurses came out to tell us that little Ricky Burrus did well in surgery.  He is being set up in his room and we shall be able to see him in about 1/2 hour.  The surgeon just came out to also tell us that with this new device could help his kidneys so we are staying positive.  Rick will be kept in a medical induced coma for the next couple of days so he can recover from this surgery.  We want his body to do nothing but rest.

Stay positive and I will update some time soon.  Good news!!!  Great job Daddy!

Warm regards,
Katie

March 30, 2013 2:45pm - Surgery

Hello all,

My father is currently in surgery.  The doctors are working on installing an ECMO.  This is the first step.  Pray that dad can stay strong during this procedure.  I will provide a status in a few hours.
Thank you,
Katie

What is ECMO?

ECMO stands for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation. ECMO is used only after medicine and a breathing machine (ventilator) have failed to make your loved one better. During ECMO, patients appear to be better, but you need to know that the person is still very sick. Your loved one needs the ECMO machine for life support.

The ECMO machine works for the heart and lungs. It is the same heart/lung machine used for open-heart surgery. When your loved one is placed on ECMO, blood will flow through the ECMO tubing where it receives oxygen from the machine’s lung. This happens until the heart and/or lungs are able to work on their own.

We know that all of this is very stressful for families. Please ask questions and talk with us about any concerns you may have. As you think of things, write them down at the end of the handout.

Types of ECMO

There are two types of ECMO: VA and VV. The terms VA and VV refer to the blood vessels used in the treatment.

• In VA ECMO, a tube is placed in both a vein and an artery. VA is used when there are problems with both the heart and lung. It helps the heart and lungs to rest and get better.

• In VV ECMO, one or more tubes are placed in a vein. VV is used when there are lung problems only. Sometimes, a person may start on VV and need to be switched to VA. This does not happen often.

What Is a Ventricular Assist Device?

A ventricular assist device (VAD) is a mechanical pump that's used to support heart function and blood flow in people who have weakened hearts.

The device takes blood from a lower chamber of the heart and helps pump it to the body and vital organs, just as a healthy heart would. (For more information about how the heart pumps blood, see the Diseases and Conditions Index How the Heart Works article.)

A VAD may be used if one or both of the heart's lower chambers, the ventricles (VEN-trih-kuls), don't work properly.

Overview

You may benefit from a VAD if your ventricles don't work well due to heart disease. A VAD can help support your heart:

• During or after surgery, until your heart recovers.
• While you're waiting for a heart transplant.
• If you're not eligible for a heart transplant. (A VAD can be a long-term solution to help your heart work better.)

The basic parts of a VAD include: a small tube that carries blood out of your heart into a pump; another tube that carries blood from the pump to your blood vessels, which deliver the blood to your body; and a power source.

The power source is connected to a control unit that monitors the VAD's functions. The control unit gives warnings, or alarms, if the power is low or if it senses that the device isn't working right.

Some VADs pump blood like the heart does, with a pumping action. Other VADs keep up a continuous flow of blood. With a continuous flow VAD, you might not have a normal pulse that can be felt, but your body is getting the blood it needs.

Types of Ventricular Assist Devices

The two basic types of VADs are a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and a right ventricular assist device (RVAD). If both types are used at the same time, they may be called a biventricular assist device (BIVAD). However, a BIVAD isn't a separate type of VAD.

The LVAD is the most common type of VAD. It helps the left ventricle pump blood to the aorta. The aorta is the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your body.

RVADs usually are used only for short-term support of the right ventricle after LVAD surgery or other heart surgery. An RVAD helps the right ventricle pump blood to the pulmonary (PULL-mun-ary) artery. This is the artery that carries blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen.

Both an LVAD and RVAD (sometimes called a BIVAD) are used if both ventricles don't work well enough to meet the needs of the body. Another treatment option for this condition is a total artificial heart.

VADs have two basic designs. A transcutaneous (tranz-ku-TA-ne-us) VAD has its pump and power source located outside of the body. Tubes connect the pump to the heart through small holes in the abdomen. This type of VAD may be used for short-term support during or after surgery.

March 30, 2013 Ricky's Health Update

Welcome to Ricky's Blogger site!  We will provide all his family and friends with health updates while my father is in the hospital.  We saw my dad this morning while he was sleeping.  We are about to meet with one of his doctors.  We have heard that dad will have a surgery this afternoon, which as you know is very scary as my father is in very delicate condition.  This surgery will be to implant a heart pump.  His heart is extremely weak so he needs some extra help immediately.  Any type of surgery or procedure is very hard on my dad.  Please continue to pray and think powerful thoughts for him.  He is really fighting right now.  All other aspects have shown some improvement over last night so we know he is working very hard.  His kidneys have been working and he has good color.  The nurse said he woke up this morning and followed her directions to move his arm and legs.  That was really great news.
Once I hear more, I will post immediately. 

Thank you for all your love and support.  Please feel free to leave comments so I can show them to my dad when he is feeling better.  He will enjoy any humor that you have to offer :)
Godbless,
Katie