Riley ‘Pleased’ With His Progress After Surgery

Just days after undergoing back and neck surgery in Minnesota, former Orange County Supervisor Thomas F. Riley said Thursday he’s resting comfortably and hoping to head home next weekend.

The 83-year-old former Marine Corps brigadier general said his recovery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester has been helped by the cards and flowers from friends, even a surprise visit from three Marine officers stationed nearby. His wife, Emma Jane, has been constantly at his side, sleeping in a cot near his bed.

“I sit back down and say, ‘I must have done a few things right,’ ” said Riley, who sounded in good spirits in a phone interview from his hospital bed.

Riley, who served on the Board of Supervisors for 20 years before retiring at the end of his term in December, was airlifted to the Mayo Clinic last week after suffering severe pain caused by bone spurs and soft tissue pressing on his spine--similar to the ailment that forced him into back surgery last year.

Doctors on Monday removed several cysts during nearly five hours of surgery, which Riley said relieved his pain, although he remains weak. Riley said he has started physical therapy to regain his strength and hopes to get back on his feet.

“I’m very pleased with the progress,” he said. “I am particularly excited about the treatment I’m getting and the care and concern.”

Since his most recent hospitalization, Riley said he has been watching the news on television and doing a little reading, although his arms tire easily holding up his book. He has also made some new friends in Rochester, and is happy he made the long trip by air ambulance from Newport Beach.

“I’m really so excited I made this decision,” Riley said. “I’m looking better; they say the big thing is strength.”

Riley’s most recent hospitalization started Oct. 24 when he was rushed to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian with intense pain caused by the growth near his spine. The Newport Beach resident had been suffering leg pain and in recent weeks had been bedridden and needed a wheelchair to move around. He transferred to the Mayo Clinic a day later for the surgery, and was considered a “high-risk” patient, he said.