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