Jen,

When I went into the hospital, my friend John set up an email list of key people. Inner circle, mostly, with a few others who expressed a desire to know what was going on. Each day, he checked with my wife (a big help to her, being able to unload) then blasted out an email to the group. Nobody bothered me, and (this is important) nobody bothered my wife. She could call anyone she wanted to, so could I, but neither of us had to take a call we couldn't handle.

I think it worked pretty well.

Ken