Bishop Bruno undergoes surgery

The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Bishop of Los Angeles, has offered his support to the Diocese of El Camino Real during our time of transition, and the Standing Committee has been grateful for his advice and his prayers.  

Many of you may know that Bishop Bruno has been seriously ill over the past few months.  What follows is a copy of his pastoral letter to the people of his diocese, and a report of his surgery yesterday.  We ask you to keep Bishop Bruno in your prayers.

March 29, 2005 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It is important for me to keep you fully informed of my physical health.
On the 23rd of March I came off antibiotics, the doctors believing the
infection was killed and everything was going to be just fine. I was
overjoyed with being able to attend services on Good Friday and Holy
Saturday, and again on Easter Sunday, without any complications.  I was
just looking forward to getting the boot off my leg on Monday. The
evening of the 27th, Easter Sunday, my foot inflamed again, and it was
obvious the infection was not killed, and it had penetrated the bone. On
Monday morning, I went to the doctor, and, in consultation with my
doctors, my orthopedist and my infectious disease specialist, I made a
decision.

They suggested there were three ways to handle this recurring infection.
The first one was to open the foot again, clean it out and go through
another course of antibiotics. They said that would have only a 15% to
20% chance of success. The second was a treatment of antibiotics without
opening the ankle, and that had an even lower rate of success. The third
option was to amputate my left foot and ankle and put me into a
temporary prosthesis. This has a 99.5% chance of success.

Since this is a localized infection in the porous bone of the ankle, I
made a thoughtful, prayerful decision to have the amputation and proceed
toward full recovery. I hope this does not distress you and hope you
understand this is the best way for me to return to full service to this
Diocese within the next three or four weeks.

God bless you. Thank you. Please keep me in your prayers and thoughts.

Yours in Christ,
+J. Jon Bruno


BISHOP BRUNO RECOVERING FROM SUCCESSFUL SURGERY

The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Bishop of Los Angeles, underwent surgery on Tuesday, March 29, in which his left foot and ankle were amputated in order to stop a persistent staph infection that has not responded to several months of treatment with antibiotics. The infection had settled in the bones of the foot, an area that medication did not reach due to low blood circulation.

The bishop alerted clergy and lay leaders of the diocese to his condition on Tuesday afternoon in a letter in which he outlined his
reasons for choosing this course of action (see below).

According to Bishop Suffragan Chester Talton and Canon David Tumilty, diocesan executive for operations, who have been in constant contact with Bishop Bruno and his doctors, the surgery was completely successful. The bishop has been fitted with a temporary prosthesis, which will be eventually be replaced by a permanent one. He is resting comfortably at the hospital, where he expects to remain for several days before returning home.

The bishop has relayed his thanks for the many prayers and notes of support he has received from the clergy and people of the diocese.  Messages to Bishop Bruno may be sent to the Cathedral Center of St. Paul, 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles 90026, or by e-mail to bishopsoffice@ladiocese.org