On Thursday, January 11, 2007, Ed Garea, better known by his wrestling pen name, The Phantom of the Ring, was hit by a car and hospitalized.

Here are the updates on his condition from his wife Kathleen Garea.

Saturday, January 13, 2007

For those of you who don't know, Ed was hit by a car and seriously injured last Thurs night walking home from the train station in Roselle Park.

He had NO head injury and NO internal injuries and NO spinal injuries.

What he DID sustain was fractures of both legs, a left wrist fracture and his right arm was broken too.

He is in University Hosptial, Newark, the regional trauma center. He is in the surgical ICU unit. He is waiting to have his fractures surgically repaired.

As of right now, 7:30 pm, he has not had the surgery. His other health problems have to be stabilized before the surgery. He needs to have good oxygen levels before they will operate and so he has been place on a ventilator. He is sedated and on morphine. He cannot speak, eat or drink while on the ventilator.

His surgeon advises me they will operate on Sunday (tomorrow) as long as he is stable enough to tolerate the procedures. Please pray that he stabilizes and can undergo the surgery. The longer they wait, the more he runs the risk of developing serious complications.

I will write again tomorrow and keep you posted. I have a cell phone but I cannot always take calls since I am with Ed in the surgical ICU unit and they don't allow cell phone use.

Prayers are very much appreciated.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Ed's condition has not changed. He did not undergo surgery today because he is not getting enough oxygen to his cells yet. He had a broncoscopy today to clear out any mucus in the lungs so maybe that will help.

The surgical team is keeping their fingers crossed for surgery tomorrow.

Prayers are very much appreciated

Monday, January 15th

Ed had surgery today to fix his fractured right femur (thigh bone) so the most severe injury has been repaired with screws and plates etc. I did not speak to the actual surgeon but to a doctor on his critical care team. He tolerated the procedure well with one scare when his oxygen level dipped way down but the OR ventilator brought it back up. Other than that one problem it went well. The surgery to correct his right leg fractures will be performed, God willing, on Weds.

His vitals are all good. He is still sedated and on the ventilator and I was advised he will remain on a ventilator for a while. After his second surgery they are planning on transferring him to a tracheal tube which they say it more comfortable for the patient and delivers good breaths.

He is still on morphine but it still hurts when they move his fractured limbs. I don't think they want to give him doses too large since opiates slow respiration and it is too dangerous.

All your prayers and positive thoughts are working and I am so grateful. Please keep it up

Prayers are very much appreciated

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Ed is scheduled for his second surgery tomorrow. He will, God willing, have his right leg repaired and also a procedure done on his left wrist.

I gave consent for the new ventilator tube which will be placed tomorrow also. I am happy for that as it will make Ed more comfortable . . At least with the trachea he wont have tubes down his throat.

I spoke to him and let him know how everyone was sending their love and prayers. He is sedated and cannot respond but I know he can hear. I pray the rosary with him at his bedside and I know he hears that and appreciates it. The monitor shows his vital signs improve.

When you pray for Ed would you please also say a little prayer for the poor man who hit him. I don't know him but I can only imagine what a horrible nightmare it must be to know you seriously injured someone.

Prayers are very much appreciated

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Ed had the second surgery today to repair his broken right leg and also his left wrist. That just leaves his right humerus. One of the surgical residents told me he tolerated the procedure "fairly well", he had that same problem with a dip in oxygen and blood pressure but when I saw him about an hour after the surgery his vitals were all good. Thank God.

They have removed the mouth tube ventilator tube and he now has a trachea tube. He looks more comfortable. They also have him on a feeding tube. He is still heavily sedated . But I think he can hear.

I dont know what the next step is. I am guessing he will be just resting tomorrow.

I read to him for a little while tonight from The Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila , his favorite saint and also prayed with him. As soon as he gets more alert I will read all the email to him from his wonderful and supportive friends.

Prayers are very much appreciated

Friday, January 19, 2007

Ed rested comfortably yesterday. When I visited him last night he was still sedated , eyes closed and no real movement. His vitals looked good. The fever he had been running had gone down and stayed down his his fractures were repaired. I read to him from St. Teresa's book again and prayed with him.

Today one of the critical care doctors called me to get consent for a chest catheter so that they could monitor his heart's pumping. He is retaining fluids and they need to find out why. This catheter placement is a bedside procedure and they will give him a local to numb the area before placing it.

I want to thank all of you for your love and support. You are all a comfort to me.

Prayers are very much appreciated

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Ed was looking better today: rested and comfortable even though he is still heavily sedated and on the ventilator They are taking excellent care of him at University Hospital and I thank God for the nurses, doctors and other medical personnel . I am also thankful he has the brilliant Michael Sirken, MD for his orthopedic surgeon. I knew Dr. Sirken by reputation only and was so grateful when I found out it was this gifted man who would be performing the surgeries. Ed has hardware in both legs. I dont know about the left wrist. Also they dont seem too anxious to operate on his right arm. Maybe that only needs casting later.

Ed has an entire team of doctors, a dream team, of the best and brightest residents and specialists. Today I spoke with Dr. Stapleton, a resident in orthopedic surgery who told me the fluid retention was subsiding and they were gonna reduce his level of sedation. Maybe when I see him tomorrow his eyes will be open and he will be more alert. He also told me the chest catheter they inserted on Friday has revealed "pretty good" heart pumping. A blessing. I will keep you posted.

All your prayers are working. PLease please please keep it up.

Prayers are very much appreciated

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Ed has been slowly improving. They took him off the chest catheter. Another blessing. One of respiratory therapists came in while I was there to check the ventilator and his trach tube. He said Ed's lungs were showing improvement.

He is still very sedated and only sleepily opened his eyes when the therapist was clapping his chest but then closed them again . I guess they are reducing the sedation very slowly.

I was encouraged after this visit and I thanked the nurse for all his good care and work. He smiled and looked at his patient. "He's a trouper" was his remark. He sure is.

All your prayers are working. PLease please please keep it up.

Prayers are very much appreciated

Monday, January 22, 2007

Last night Ed seemed awake but still very foggy. His eyes remain shut even though his nurse said they stopped the sedation drug. I guess it will take some time before it is entirely out of his system. The respetory therapist said he was doing very well. He was an experienced RT and said Ed will be fine. That was good to hear.I still have not seen or talked to Dr. Sirken about the fractures and the prognosis for rehab. I would like to find out what the next step in this is but I am not pushing anything. I am just gratefull he made it through the surgeries. My prayer now is that his pain be lessened and his bones mend quickly.

All your prayers are working. PLease please please keep it up.

Prayers are very much appreciated

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 Update

I got a call from the doctors midday yesterday saying there had been an "incident". Ed had bled from his trach incision. They needed my consent to transfuse blood. They didnt know the source of the bleeding and would have to explore. Thankfuly the bleeding stopped on its own but they did take out the trach tube and hooked him back up to the ventilator by way of the tube down the throat again. Needless to say this required him to be sedated again.

Last night when I went to the hospital the orthopedic assistant surgeon got my consent for surgery to fix Ed's right shoulder, the humerus. Again he will need hardware insertion or maybe an artificial joint. They are also going to set the toes of the left foot which were all broken.( first I'd heard of that).

The critical care doctor came in and then scared me. He said they were going to replace the trach tube again tomorrow but this time but they are going to make sure he isnƒ€š€žt bleeding. If he is bleeding they would try to stop it and the worst case scenario is if they couldnƒ€š€žt get to the bleeding they would have to open the chest and get it. Survival rate when this is necessary is 50-50. He said it was RARE and was the WORST CASE SCENERIO but he had to warn me. He also said that it doesnƒ€š€žt appear that he is bleeding, his wound is dry and his hemoglobin is good and doesnƒ€š€žt indicate bleeding but I am scared . I am scared for the first time since this happened.

Please friends and family, pray that all goes well today.

Prayers are very much appreciated

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 Update

Last night I was in for a pleasant surprise when I saw Ed's eyes open. He has a new trach tube and he looked great. All his stats were good.

The doctor said the bleeding was a minor under-the-skin thing, not serious . Praise God for His mercy!

They will probably schedule the shoulder surgery today sometime.

I was so happy to se him somewhat awake because I was accompanied to the hospital by our dear friend Bill from Michigan and I am sure Ed was able to appreciate Bill's presence even though he was still somewhat groggy and was drifting in and out. But Bill and I both agreed he was attempting to form words and communicate. I even think I saw a faint smile.

Friends and family we need your continued prayers . I am so grateful to you.

Prayers are very much appreciated

Friday, January 26, 2007 Update

Last night Ed was more awake than I have seen him since he was sedated. His nurse said he wasn't given any sedation anymore more but was still groggy from a procedure that day. They had cleaned his lungs of mucus with a broncoscope. I have my consent for a broncoscope earlier because they wanted to gather some lung secretions and see if Ed was getting pneumonia. Ever since he was admitted he has run a fever. It has been as high as 102.8 and they want to rule out lung infection. While the scope was there they cleaned his lungs as well and that procedure required sedation.

He is still given a large dose of painkiller so he probably would not be able to speak even if wasnt on the ventilator.

Fractured shoulder still not fixed yet. Maybe today. The doctors know what they are doing.

His nurses are talking such good care of him I am so grateful to them. The one last night, Tata , a 4'9" Filipina remembers Ed when he was first brought in and remembers what his personality is like. She talks to him and razzes him and he actually cracked a crooked smile last night. I mentioned her height because this lady might be small but she has the heart and soul of a giant.

There are a lot of impressive people in the critical care health field.

Prayers are very much appreciated

Monday, January 29, 2007 Update

Ed is looking better and better. He is off sedation and quite alert except for the painkillers. He also healing and ventilator is helping that process by making sure he is getting enough oxygen to his cells . Of course the bad thing is while on the ventilator he cannot eat, drink or speak. I noted some frustration with communication.

They still have not repaired the humerus but he is making great progress on the other fractures. I noted him attempting to use his left arm quite a bit. He seems anxious to move that arm .His nurse said that was a real good sign.

The prayers are working and I am so grateful and ask you to please keep it up.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007 Update

I was pleasantly surprised last night to see Ed without the feeding tube down his throat . The nusre said it was only temporary( aww), they take it out so as not to irritate the patient's throat and mouth. To give it a rest. Ed certainly did look more comfortable but it was going back in after I left in order to feed him.

I spoke with Dr. Stapleton last night, a resident on his critical care team, who advises that the broncoscopy revealed 3 types of bacterial infections Ed had going so they are treating that now with antibiotics. This might account for his fever which is still present although it has been hovering around 100.5 for the past 5 days.

Still no definate word on when the left shoulder will be repaired. His legs are healing though and his left wrist too.

Ed's sister Jayne and our nephews, Kris and Jack arrive from Texas today. I think their E.T.A. is 3 pm.

The prayers are working and I am so grateful and ask you to please keep it up.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007 Update

When I snuck away in the middle of the day to visit the hospital I was pleased and surprised to see Ed off the ventilator(!) His nurse Alex explained that the night before they took him off for an hour and now he has been off for two hours and counting. Its how they wean a patient off the machine. He was breathing on his own at noontime and doing pretty good with the oxygenation. He still has the tracheotomy and cannot speak and he was medicated for the pain but it was a blessing to see him off the machine.

Later that day Jayne and Jack arrived and visited for a while. Jayne called me from the hospital and said he was still off the machine.

At eight o'clock last night when I went back he was still off the machine but I could see he was getting tired.

Today he is scheduled to have the surgery on his right shoulder, at around 3 pm, so says the orthopedic resident. As usual I had to hear the rundown of all the things that could go wrong and so got my daily dose of anxiety but my faith remains strong.

Oh one more positive note for all of you wonderful people: When I visited Ed at noontime yesterday and saw he was off the ventilator I was so happy. The nurse came to me and said that he was doing so well and he was getting so strong that all the nurses who have been taking care of him have been amazed at his rapid progress! I chuckled. I told the nurse I wasn't amazed . Its the power of prayer. The best medicine in the world and the most powerful force in the universe.

The prayers are working and I am so grateful and ask you to please keep it up.

Thursday, February 1, 2007 Update

When I went to the hospital last night at 8 they were wheeling Ed back from the OR. His right shoulder surgery was done. I got to speak with the resident who assisted and he said things went very well. He now has all his fractures fixed and the real healing can begin.

For someone just out of surgery he was very alert . Ed's sis Jayne and nephew Jack were there with me and Jayne razzed hin a couple times and he smiled. He was back on the ventilator but I expected that post surgery.

All is going as well as can be expected. I am hoping that with the grace of God he will mend quickly and with minimal pain. He has been through so much already. Again I heard from someone that if Ed was a thin person he would not have survived the impact. He would have been killed.

God works in mysterious ways.

The prayers are working and I am so grateful and ask you to please keep it up.

Sunday, February 4, 2007 Update

Ed is getting much better. He has been off the ventilator and he will stay off. He still cannot talk but he is trying and as soon as his trach heals more he will be able to speak again. It is frustrating to him that he cannot speak, eat or drink but its a cross he is bearing with incredible courage.

I havent spoken to the orthopedic surgeons so I dont know the progress of his fractures but I know the pain is subsiding. It doesnt hurt so much when they move him now. I presume the next step will be a move to the orthopedic ward of the hospital. They change his bandages frequently and his healing has been nothing short of remarkable( the power of prayer).

The long and difficult rehab is the next step but with the grace of God and your prayers it won't be too painfuil.

The prayers are working and I am so grateful and ask you to please keep it up.

Tuesday, February 6, 2007 Update

Last night when I saw Ed he was talking! I had given my consent over the phone earlier for a swallowing test to see if he could swallow correctly after the balloon was removed from his trach opening. He passed the test and now he can speak and eat and drink. His speech is halting like a person with a trach is and he has to take little breaths to form each word but he is much better mentally.

He is still taking painkillers so his thinking is a bit fuzzy yet. For example, when he saw me come into the room he thought I was there to take him home. Also he referred to our priest Father Munkelt as "Father Shuster"( huh?) but for the most part he is lucid but really not his old self yet. But I am not expecting that for a while. Afterall he has been through a trauma, been given anethesia 4 times, been sedated and had a hole cut in his throat and placed on a ventilator. I think I will give him all the time he needs.

I think after he gets out of ICU and into a regular hospital room he would enjoy visitors.

Everything is going so well and I am truly grateful for all the prayers. Please keep it up. Ed told me last night that through this ordeal he has felt the Blessed Mother holding his hand sometimes and at other times, St. Teresa yelling at him..hahaha. St. Teresa never lets him get away with anything.

Wednesday, February 7, 2007 Update

Ed has been moved to a step down unit. He is still technically in ICU but its not the intense monitoring of SICU. He is in a room with 2 other patients. Room 203

His mind is clearing. As his throat heals he will be able to speak more. He was very lucid yesterday. He has physical therapy in his hospital bed once a day. They are getting him to move his arms and legs.

All is going well and I am so happy.

The prayers are working and I am so grateful and ask you to please keep it up.

Sunday, February 11, 2007 Update

The trach tube is out of Ed's throat and he is speaking again. He was told rehab will begin next week although he wasnt told where it will take place. My guess is Kessler.

He is not in pain but he tells me he cannot move his legs. He wonders if he ever will again. I told him that the surgeons would not have implanted all that expensive titanium hardware if they didnt think you would walk again..besides, thats what rehab is all about: getting your limbs working again.

His mind is clearing up nicely and he is almost 100% back to his old self.

He has been through so much and he is showing such courage. I ask you all, dear family and friends, to keep praying that the long and difficult rehab won't be too painful and he will remain strong for this next battle.

The prayers are working and I am so grateful and ask you to please keep it up.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007 Update

Ed has been transferred from the trauma hospital, UMDNJ in Newark to Runnels Specialized Hospital in Berkeley Heights, NJ.

Its a beautiful facility and he finally has GOOD television and can get ESPN. He is in the "sub acute" wing meaning he still cannot walk or even bear weight on his legs. He will spend the next two weeks beginning to get back on his feet, literally.

His spirits are good but he is getting bored and restless. He is very motivated to begin his rehab.

When I saw him this afternoon he had ashes on his head for Ash Weds . He said a priest had visited and distributed ashes as well as Holy Communion to the Catholic patients and staff. It was refreshing to see a facility care about the spiritual well being of the patients.

The prayers are working and I am so grateful and ask you to please keep it up.

Thursday, March 8, 2007 Update

Hello friends and family, .

Ed is still in the sub-acute unit of Runnell's hospital. .

Last week he was brought back to UMDNJ to be seen by the surgeons who fixed his arm fractures and he was green-lighted to began physical therapy for his upper body. Next week he will be seen by the surgeon who fixed his legs to get clearence for weight bearing on his legs. We are hoping he is green lighted for that as well because then he can begin to learn to walk. .

His spirits are good and he is very motivated to get back on his feet. .

Ed's sister Jayne was here again from texas for a few days and that was a boost to his motivation. All the cards and gifts have been another factor is his rapid recovery and we are both grateful for everything. The telephone calls and visits are much appreciated . Everyone has been so generous and helpful. I don't know how to begin to thank you all. Just know that both Ed and I keep you all in our daily prayers. .

With much gratitude and love, .

Kathleen Garea.

Tuessday, March 27, 2007 Update

Hello friends and family,

Ed is still at the rehab hospital, Runnells and this week he is beginning to walk. Yesterday he walked a distance of 20 feet which is amazing. He has excellent therapists and he trusts them.

Ed will be taken to Overlook Hospital in Summit to their Wound Care Center this week. He has a wound on his foot that won't heal. I hope that problem is cleared up quickly so as not to interfere too much with his physical therapy and rehab.

I want to thank all of Ed's co-workers who generously donated leave time to Ed. We both appreciate it so much....

Ed is hoping to be out of the hospital for Easter but unfortunately that is unrealistic. He has a way to go to build up his leg strength again and become ambulatory but our faith in the mercy and love of God has sustained us and will see us through.

Just know that both Ed and I keep you all in our daily prayers.

With much gratitude and love,

Kathleen Garea

WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE PHANTOM IS NOW AT HOME AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ALREADY BACK AT THE KEYBOARD!!! All of your prayers and kind thoughts have been very helpful!!!