I haven’t been able to write before now. The pain after surgery was so bad that I was kept on various drugs to keep me sedated. I spent two days in the recovery room, then moved to a regular room. But my health remained fragile, On Sunday, the surgeon sent me for a CT scan, where I learned I had a blood clot in one of my lungs. My greatest fear about surgery was triggering a clot, which could go to my brain or lung or heart . There were many conversations among the various specialists about whether I should get a filter inserted in my blood vessels to prevents clots from traveling. The consensus was no, so didn’t. The consensus was wrong.
Well, I am still here but it is not easy, I can’t get out of bed without help. I can’t walk. The pain in my knee remains intense. The rehab will go slowly because of the pulmonary embolism.
I won’t travel as much as I used to. But I promise to support you in your work and use my voice as best I can. Let’s work hard to support our children and their teachers, to do what is best for them, and to believe in our cause because it is the cause of democracy, justice, and real education.
Diane
Diane Ravitch's blog 
You’re an inspiration. Everyone in Connemara wishes you a speedy recovery.
LikeLike
Love to you, and we will all hold you in the light.
LikeLike
Sorry to hear about you post-surgical complications. Hope all goes well and that the embolism is resolved.
LikeLike
Diane;
A teacher in my last school suffered a similar result after TKR and is now fine – able to travel and is teaching and training other IB teachers – her knee is also better!
Thinking of you!
Rosemary Evans
LikeLike
May love and admiration from around the world give you strength, comfort, and healing. God bless you.
LikeLike
my very best and quick recover!
LikeLike
I am so sorry to hear about your suffering and the further risks to your health, Diane. You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
As far as future travel, you might want to consider taking the train instead of a plane. I haven’t done that myself lately, but I recall the days when traveling by train was a really enjoyable experience.
LikeLike
My thoughts and prayers are with you! Take care of yourself!
LikeLike
Thinking of you Diane. Know that you are loved and cherished. Rest and heal.
LikeLike
Diane, You are our hero and guide. We all send warm healing thoughts and stand with you in our battle to reclaim public education and build a better future for our children.
LikeLike
Diane, you are in my thoughts and prayers, I know you are tough and will get through this. We are here as a collective voice as you have taught us to be and will keep up the fight. Stay strong and know there are brighter days ahead.
LikeLike
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Thank you for all you are doing. We NEED you stay strong and heal.
LikeLike
You are one fantastic person! Sorry that you are having to go through this. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Thank you for your strong devotion to helping so many others.
LikeLike
My wife and I send you positive loving healing energy . . . . . . You will get through this!
LikeLike
Frightening. Thanks, Diane, for the update.
LikeLike
You must devote your time to healing so that we can still have your voice in guiding all of us through this mess we call education. It is important to take care of yourself and eat lots of vegs & fruit. I wish you much less pain and a quick recovery.
LikeLike
Diane, thank you for your post. What a fighter you are!!!! Sending prayers for healing and strength and a robust life.
LikeLike
Diane…please put all your focus on getting well. There are other people who are taking up the fight. You have led the way and others have picked up the cause. You can be proud of your accomplishments and leadership so rest now and get better. Sending hugs.
LikeLike
My prayers are with you for a safe recovery.
LikeLike
Good luck! My mom had surgery too, two weeks ago, and the recovery nothing like it was supposed to be so my heart goes out to you. Trish Vanaria
LikeLike
May God bless you and heal you ❤
LikeLike
You write with total absence of self-pity and with the dignity and clarity that is like your work. It’s almost as though you were a spectator rather than the target of an ordeal. You are a “complete package”, Diane. A moral force and a person whose intellect and character have evolved to about the highest degree that in my opinion the human condition is capable. And what you are going through now , or rather how you are coping with it, defines you and ratifies the deep faith that we all have in your power to do good and inspire.
LikeLike
Pain management and the “retiree cohort” many of us represent? Diane, I’m writing this “GET WELL!!!” (at times, one must shout, even one who is normally mild mannered) with a bit of advice as well. Your latest message on your health comes two days after I had my monthly session with my “Pain Doctor” about pain. My knees don’t hurt as much as yours because of a serious, ongoing and probably forever “pain management” program. One of the strange things about reading the “news” the past year or two has been the false characterization of those of us who have been blessed with a longer life as somehow the enabling group behind the new threat and scourge of “opiod junkies” — as if somehow taking vicodin or oxycontin (which work to control otherwise debilitating pain) were the cause of another of the recurring nightmares pushed by some among our corporate rulers and in the media. Within the past month, I’ve read one-sided articles in the New Yorker, The New York Times, and elsewhere, always citing the “fact” that “prescription drug abuse” is NOW — NOW! DO YOU HEAR! — the biggest problem in the USA.
And so…
You will soon probably be presented with the same choices many of us have: chronic debilitating pain or taking advantage of the current fact that the USA has several pain management systems that work. Thereby keeping us functional well beyond when the pain would be the reality and nothing else would be possible.
After my knee surgery, one of the problems was that my medical insurance would only pay for six weeks of “physical therapy.” After that, it was pay an enormous amount or try to figure out a personal way to continue what was really only possible without a trainer or two. That is and remains a problem but at least I can manage the pain with medical and pharma help. And I am not taking my meager monthly prescription and selling it behind the Dollar General on some side street in Tottenville, or Hazelton, or Joliet — or wherever the next “scourge” is.
Since I am elected to represent retired teachers in the Chicago Teachers Union, I try and make it a practice to listen to the various strategies we take to have longer and more productive lives. For a large percentage among us, part of that is systematic “pain management.” And it is not because we are either abusing prescription drugs or joining the junkies out back.
The reason I write this to you is that you might be tempted to try and under-utilize the routine pain management systems that are available. I hope you will be able to get relief from the pain and then find the ways to adapt to continue the work you do best, you love, and many of us admire.
I used to love catching baseball. My eldest son, now 25 and successfully launched (in a life without student loan debt) in a career in the Bay Area, learned to pitch by pitching to me week after week, year after year, until in high school he got to an 80 mph four-seam fastball and had also developed a wicked splitter (enough to pitch Whitney Young Chicago to the city’s 2005 frosh-soph baseball championship against Lane Tech). My two younger sons (nine and twelve) now love baseball as much as Dan did years ago. But their Dad can no longer squat behind home place for practice sessions of 100 or 150 pitches a couple of times a week.
Moral of the story?
You already know. We adapt to continue doing what we can do. Old men still have the dreams of young men, but when we awaken we have to admit that getting out of bed takes a bit of time, using a cane is mandatory, and that stuff was age appropriate back then and new stuff is now. There are a number of really cool cane companies on line, and my boys gave me a really cool cane two years ago. It helps a little to be using a cool cane rather than one of those “old people” canes.
The pain may never go away, and our hop skip and jump my now be reduced, but we are not “underperforming” just because of that. Just repurposing some of our stuff.
LikeLike
Wishing you good health and ready ease of movement. Be well and happy. Thank you for all that you do for teachers and America’s children.
LikeLike
Take care!!!! Your health and comfort are priorities! We will carry the work forward while you focus on recovery!! Thoughts & prayers are with you!
LikeLike
Best wishes to you. Please follow your doctors’ orders, including any suggestions they may make regarding getting adequate rest!
LikeLike
I wish you good healing and restored health. If I can be of any help with the blog, just ask.
LikeLike
My thoughts & prayers are with you. I just visited my Godmother who also had medical complications after an ablation done on her heart. She too developed a pulmonary embolism… and so she DID get the filter. Scary stuff. Please take care of yourself and know that thousands upon thousands of us are doing what we can to fight for public education. Peace.
LikeLike
You are in the best place right now, and I know you will listen to the experts (unlike the reformers, etc. who all think they know what’s best)! Just rest, and soon you’ll be up and kicking’ some more rear ends!
LikeLike
I bid you good health and a speedy recovery!
LikeLike
Very scary! You have thousands of prayers coming your way so that lung clot has little chance of staying around too long. But please take it easy until it is gone. I hope you recover soon.
LikeLike
Priority one is your health and relief from pain. We are with you in spirit. We will prevail because you gathered our voices and have made us strong.
LikeLike
My daughter Jordyn & I send you strength and positive energy as you heal, Diane.
We have been thinking of you and are relieved to see you back writing. Take care and hang in there. We wish you the speediest of recoveries!
LikeLike
Diane – Just take care of yourself and don’t worry about the rest of us. You are in my prayers.
LikeLike
Wishing you the best. So sorry things didn’t go more smoothly.
LikeLike
Thank you, Diane. I am thinking of you… Monica Trent Early childhood advocate
Sent from my iPad
>
LikeLike
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Diane. I second all the other good will motions posted here!
LikeLike
Diane, when you are ready you will travel to us with your strong words through the help of the Internet and social media. We will step up and help you spread the word. Thank you for leading us. Please take the time you need to heal.
LikeLike
Diane – sending you prayers from 45,000 BATs for your speedy and healthy recovery.
LikeLike
Really, really sorry to hear about the embolism. Hang in there, rehab quickly. We need your powerful voice for REAL education reform!
LikeLike
Rest, be kind to yourself. It takes a long time to heal from that surgery (had it last year). The pain does get better – promise!
LikeLike
You have made us all stronger and now we are sending you strength to get well and heal. Rest, rest, rest.
LikeLike
You know you are our inspiration. If there is anything we can do o support you as you have supported us, never hesitate to ask. Thank you again for giving Leonie your words of inspiration to use on Saturday at our TAKING BACK OUR SCHOOLS rally in NYC.
http://saveourschoolsmarch.org/event/nyc-metro-spring-action/
LikeLike
Thinking of you Diane. So very sorry you have been through so much this past year. You are and will remain our due north.
LikeLike
Take care of yourself. You are a role model for us, with your heroic stand on behalf of America’s children
LikeLike
You are nothing without your health. Make sure you have an advocate in the hospital with you and to fight for you. Take whatever time providence gives you to heal. We “out here” will continue the fight you started and will be guided by your wisdom. And, of course, we’ll keep you informed of what is happening in the outside world. LET YOUR BODY HEAL.
LikeLike
My prayers for you and your recovery and also healing and decreasing pain. I am so sorry this has happened to you. You are and will ever remain a beacon for children and teachers who want to truly educate. God bless you in all moments. And thank you once again. I am praying specifically that your embolism will be healed, treated, removed and that you will triumph through your rehab and recovery, though I know it will be painful and hard. We love your voice and wisdom and determination.
LikeLike
Wishing you well. The seeds of revolt were spread and cultivated by you. The revolt will grow and flourish under your tutelage and through your many friends.
LikeLike
Diane, I am not much of a contributor to your blog but I am an ardent follower. You are one of the “good guys” in this old man’s world and I am so sorry to hear of your health issues. I do believe in prayer and you are being prayed for. I hope you are well soon and the pain diminishes quickly. Thanks for caring. You are greatly needed.
LikeLike
One hour at a time, one day at a time, and slowly, you will see improvement. A good friend of mine, who also had recent knee surgery, said the first few weeks were extremely painful and difficult, but with each passing week and her hard work at rehab, she is thrilled with her progress, sees and feels positive results, and is anticipating a good outcome after the difficult journey. Keep firm in believing, the light at the end of these dark few days will come. Don’t fight taking the pain meds, sleep, and let your body begin the healing process. This is the time to heal, and to not worry about blogging or anything else. Keep your doctors on their toes, but trust they have encountered clots before, and know how to resolve it. I continue to keep you in my prayers and send you much healing energy and love.
LikeLike
Thank you for your dedication “no matter what the weather.” I hope you find yourself in better health very soon!
LikeLike
More well wishes from Georgia!!! Take extra care of yourself, and we will work hard to continue to fight the good fight…..but no one fights the fight like you, Diane! Our thoughts and prayers are with you every day! Feel better soon!
LikeLike
I join all the others in sending you love, good thoughts, prayers, positive energy and anything and everything that will get you well quickly.
LikeLike
yOU ARE A POWERHOUSE AND A FORCE OF SUCH GOOD THAT i HOPE MY PRAYERS AND THE PRAYERS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL GET YOU THROUGH THIS TOUGH TIME! REST AND RECUPERATE AND KNOW HOW MUCH STRENGTH YOU HAVE GIVEN OTHERS! yOU ARE A FIGHTER-THIS IS JUST ANOTHER FIGHT! JANET MAYER AUTHOR, AS BAD AS THEY SAY
LikeLike
Diane,
We are WITH YOU!
LikeLike
Keep strong and give yourself time to recover.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Kmareka.com and commented:
Update from Diane Ravitch…more precautions should have been taken to prevent clots from traveling. However, progress is being made toward recovery and let’s hope for a full one.
LikeLike
sending positive thoughts and hopes that the pain goes away soon. Don’t worry about us!
LikeLike
Sending every form of distance love and healing thoughts. Joan Kresich retired teacher, friend of Kipp Dawson
LikeLike
Refuah Schlemah! Wishing you a quick and complete recovery.Patience and persistence is key. You have them both.
LikeLike
Best wishes.
LikeLike
Diane,
Praying for you as you recover. My husband had his knee replaced last September. Try to focus on a slow steady progress. You can do it. The rehab will help you to get stronger, too. I do remember using lots of ice!! Am praying for the blood clot to disolve. Take care!
Caroline
LikeLike
Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery Diane. You have a lot of people sending you good thoughts.
LikeLike
We will continue to work hard for kids, teachers and the public school system! You get better and take all the time you need! Sending prayers and healing thoughts your way.
With intense admiration!
Debbie
LikeLike
Sending prayers your way. Your first priority is taking care of yourself, letting family and friends take care of you, and getting better.
LikeLike
Diane, Take the best possible care of yourself that you can! You are beloved by all of us! Rob
LikeLike
Please get well soon, Diane. There are so many of us out here wishing you strength, that you just might be running around that hospital in no time at all. Your heart & work for American kids & teachers is coming right back at ya!!!
LikeLike
Get well soon!
Carol Gamm
LikeLike
Diane,
Please take the time to focus on your recovery! We will be here, praying for you and continuing to stand for what is right for kids and public education. You have touched and changed more lives than you could know, you are truly a hero!
Get well soon!
LikeLike
Wishing you comfort and a quick dissolve of that pesky clot. Take whatever you need to keep the pain at bay. Rest and recuperate knowing we are all with you in spirit!
LikeLike
I have been asked to pass along doctor’s orders:
Priority #1, Rest and rehab.
Priority #2, When in doubt, refer back to #1.
From the same doctor who observed that
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.”
¿? Charlie Chaplin, GP in Laughology.
Who else?
😎
LikeLike
Diane, we are sending you our deepest thoughts for your recovery. Keep strong-we need you!
LikeLike
Dear Diane, I am so sorry your surgery and recovery has been so hard. I will keep you in my prayers. May you feel God’s healing grace. You are loved by many.
LikeLike
Peace & Healing
LikeLike
Prayers for you, Diane. You are such a great inspiration to us all.
LikeLike
Each day is a new day. You will feel better. You will heal. Insert yourself or have Mary insert you into the middle of the doctors’ discussions. They have a tendency to forget that there is a thinking, feeling human being involved and not just a “clot” or a “knee.” What becomes academic to them is always very personal for you, and they need to remember that because you are the one doing the recovering. It is interesting to watch their expressions change when you speak in the middle of one of their bedside conferences. Especially if “it” says something intelligent.
LikeLike
Sending you lots of love from Philadelphia Diane!
LikeLike
Dear Diane, Get better! Take it easy! We need you jf
LikeLike
This is terrible news and scary on so many levels. Yes, one can expect pain after such a surgery, but the idea of a clot traveling is horrible. So please take care and follow doctor’s orders. The blog should be the least of your concerns. Getting better should be the first order of business.
LikeLike
I am so sorry to hear about your issues after surgery. You have been through a lot and want you to know I’ll be sending healing thoughts your way.
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing with us, Diane! Have a safe and restful recovery.
LikeLike
Sending you much positive energy for healing. Take it slow, and “listen” to your body, which is wiser than any doctor.
LikeLike
Maybe this guys story will help you on the road to recovery. Jeff Bauman lost both of his legs but survived the Boston Marathon bombing. His memoir is called “Stronger”. This is an article about his recovery.
http://www.costcoconnection.com/connection/201405#pg32
LikeLike
Glad you’re on the road to recovery! America’s public schools need you! As a classroom teacher and a parent, I truly appreciate your work and effort to improve our nation’s public schools! Tracy Ajello ________________________________
LikeLike
Please be aware of how important you are to so many. Hope you feel better soon.
LikeLike
Rest, rest, rest! We’ll hold the fort down. Healing thoughts!
LikeLike
I hope you have a rapid and complete recovery!
LikeLike
Diane,
The power of prayers are coming your way from all across the country. There are times when we are challenged in ways that are beyond our own comprehension. The key here is to focus on your health and the people who love you will help you through this temporary bump in the road.
Be well,
Ralph
LikeLike
I was so sorry to read about your slow recovery from knee surgery. Please do what your therapist tells you to do, it really gets easier. especially if you have a great surgeon. I know I have had it done once and am looking for the other knee. Good luck and God Speed.
LikeLike
Healing prayers continue for you. Kas Winters
LikeLike
Just know that we ALL wish you the best and speediest recovery possible. You are one of a kind and we will miss your input now but want you to rest, get well before undertaking any more heavy responsibilities. We need you back, but only when you are completely healed.
God bless:
LikeLike
Best to you, Diane. I hope and pray for a quick recovery.
Bill Phillis
LikeLike
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Diane!
Be sure to also get plenty of “hug medicine.”
LikeLike
Take care of yourself, Diane. Dare I say, we need you more than ever.
LikeLike
Best to you in your recovery!
LikeLike
Two days in recovery! We all know how scary a report of a blood clot and in all places -a lung.
May your Faith be strengthened. God loves you even though you may question His love at this time.
You are a strong person and a fighter- keep it up. My prayers are with you.
LikeLike
I haven’t written a comment on your blog before, Diane, but you should know that I am one of your most vocal supporters in this neck of the woods out here in Central Oregon. I retired almost two years ago not only because of the toxic environment created by NCLB and RTT in the Bend LaPine School District, but also because I could not conform to the unethical practices that were being demanded of me in my classroom. A person cannot continually violate conscience without creating inner harm to him/herself. Your voice online, in articles, in your books, and everywhere else has kept so many of us engaged in advocating for doing what’s right for kids. But right now your mission is you– and that’s it. Over the years you have strengthened other voices that will not be silenced. This attempted take over of our thinking, our kids, and our schools for personal profit by privatizers will not be allowed to thrive. There are many of us behind the scenes exposing its insidiousness to anyone who will listen. So while you recover, others of us continue to fight the fight. Just make yourself the priority for once. It’s what we all want–your welfare and healing.
LikeLike
Diane, as one of your Physician followers who was sad you couldn’t come to Towson April 22 I am unhappy to hear of your pulmonary embolism but glad you survived with brain working as well as ever! Please don’t push yourself too hard. Yes, we need you, but better to be really well before donning full battle dress.
A professional soldier in the humanistic education army, MBD Professor of Neurology
LikeLike
Take care of yourself, Diane!
LikeLike
Get well, woman!
> >
LikeLike
Get well as soon as possible.–Howard Denson, Jax, FL
LikeLike
Praying for you, Diane! Please take good care of yourself!
LikeLike
Sorry to hear of these truly scary complications. There is still hope, however, because with time the capacity of the body to heal is amazing (personal experience), BUT for busy people the patience required is beyond what we usually have. Still, I truly believe you CAN be as good as new. The rehab is the key. The rehab people do remarkable things (personal experience).
LikeLike
Take care of yourself Diane. We will carry on while you take a much deserved break.
LikeLike
Dear Diane,
Know that you are dear to so many of us. Sending you positive energy for a quick recovery. Take good care of yourself. ❤
LikeLike
Dear Diane So sor ry t o learn of your travails. HANG IN THERE!! We’re all rooting for you! J eery Hausman
LikeLike
Your grace is uplifting. ((((((best)))))))
LikeLike
Know that my thoughts and prayers are a constant in your life.
LikeLike
Thank you for all the hard work you do in support of students, teachers and public education. Sending you lots of positive energy as you heal – hope it’s quick and that you feel better as soon as possible. Take care . . .
LikeLike
Dear Diane:
I am praying for your quick recovery. You are a hero to me. YOu have helped teachers/ education in so many ways.
Mary
LikeLike
Please draw on all the energy that each one of us is sending you to get through this.
You have inspired us each day to advocate for our students and seek truth and answers. I am praying that your physicians are given all the answers they need to heal you quickly.
Please rest and take care of yourself. You are our education angel!
LikeLike
Diane, please rest up and take care of yourself. Prayers for a speedy recovery.
LikeLike
I certainly hope for the best for you.
LikeLike
I am praying for you. Hang in there!
LikeLike
Fortunately, your doctors were educated before common core became the norm! There is hope they are able to think and do what is needed to make this surgery a great success! We are counting on them!!!!
LikeLike
All the best — so sorry to hear abpout the pain and the complications…take care, be well…
LikeLike
All the best to you in your recovery. Thank you for the important work you have done and continue to do. Take good care.
LikeLike
PLEASE TAKE OF YOURSELF YOU ARE THE GREATEST HERO OF EDUCATION, DEMOCRACRY AND EDUCATION EVER !
LikeLike
Diane, I send you best wishes for a steady recovery from your knee surgery. I have had knee replacement, and want to assure you that the first days are the worst. When you begin the physical therapy, improvement will come much more rapidly. The more movement the better the outcome.
Please know that thousands of us are cheering for you!
LikeLike
Just get well. My long time friend who is magnificent doctor (anesthesiologist) always reminds us that the human body has a remarkable capacity to heal itself. You are in good hands and every day will be better. We are all thinking of you, Diane.
LikeLike