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March 10

Grandma Foreman — Posted by cndgsnr @ March 10, 2006 18:16
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Today is March 10th. This is the 17th day of hospitalization.

Arline phoned this morning. It seems that Grandma Foreman's condition had become more critical. This morning, she was running a fever. The doctor reported that she has yet to respond well to the medications that he was treating her with. This is causing him to believe more strongly that her condition is caused by fungi/mold in the lungs. He named this condition Aspergillis. He mentioned that he has treated persons with this since the recent hurricanes. The way to properly diagnose this is with a biopsy of the lungs. He does not want to do this because he feels it will only place her in a more critical situation. There are medications that can be prescribed for this, but they cause risk to other organs of the body. At that time, he mentioned that her having to work so hard to breathe was causing her to burn up he caloric intake from the PulmaCare which is fed through the feeding tube. With this in mind, he was considering placing her on a respirator.

The doctor feels that her chances of surviving this condition has fallen to about 20% and feels that she is now in a semi-conscious state.

Mom and I headed for Lake Charles. As we arrived, we found her very weak. The Bi-Pap machine had been replaced with the oxygen tube to the nose. Her breathing was very struggled. Her blood pressure was low.

During the afternoon visit, the doctor arrived. He spoke to her and shook her gently. She did not respond. He commented that she was simply having to work too hard to breath and made the decision to place her on the respirator. After this procedure was done, we were able to see her again. He mentioned that doing this will alleviate her struggles to breathe, therefore allowing more oxygen intake. He mentioned that we might even see a slight improvement in her condition and perhaps a bit more consciousness after her being on it for the entire night.

Our concern remains very high. They are truly doing all that they can. The doctor is being very caring and compassionate with her, and with us.

Please continue praying.


Mar 9

Grandma Foreman — Posted by cndgsnr @ March 09, 2006 17:13
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On Wednesday, Mom and I went to Lake Charles to visit with Grandma Foreman. We received news that she had become very weak and the level of concern was quite high. During the morning hours, she did not have enough strength to successfully sip through a straw nor could she squeeze your hand.
As we arrived, the doctor was exiting her unit. He shared a long amount of his time with us answering questions and helping us to understand her condition. Something new that was discovered is that mold was detected in her lungs. This was done through a culture that was taken. He questioned about the evidence of mold in her house. Arline and Judy went to her house recently to straighten things up and do some cleaning. There is no signs of problematic mold, but a small amount was seen. Later in the day, Mom mentioned about the piles of leaves and such in her garden area may have mold. She feels that perhaps that area would be of greater concern than the amount in her house.
During the rest of the doctor's conversation with us, he encouraged us to remain hopeful even though what we see might appear to be the opposite. He assured us that the "roller coaster" ride that we are experiencing with one day being better and the next seeming to be the worst yet is quite normal under the circumstances and illnesses that she is fighting. He assured us that he does see some fight in her. (I understood this to mean that he sees some inner strength and determination to get better.) He said that her condition remains critical and that her chances of surviving this time of illness is still 50/50. He mentioned that as her doctor he does appreciate prayers.
We then entered her room for a visit. She was sleeping very soundly. I touched her hand softly to see if she would wake. She did not so we remained quiet during our time of visit. At the next visiting time, she was still sleeping. Mom and I were alone in the room. Mom and I prayed aloud but softly. She could hear us. She would move her head toward the voice that spoke. She began to stir. Toward the end of the visiting, she woke. Even though she cannot speak with the mask on, we can tell by her expressions what she might be wanting to say. She looked at me with a "hello" expression and a slight smile in her eyes. I told her that Judy was there and standing at the other side of the bed. She moved her head to look, but closed her eyes. I asked her if she could open her eyes to see Judy. She did. She turned back to me. I asked her if she was tired. She made an effort to nod yes. I asked her if it was rough. I got a definite answer of yes from her eye contact and the small nod that she was able to do.
She was obviously very physically weak. The doctor assured us that the feeding tube will begin to help with that weakness, but it may take some time before we see significant improvement. He also told us that even if she begins to show that significant improvement in the next few days, we are still looking at three to four weeks of hospital care to get her to the point of health that she was in prior to this.
On Thursday ............
Mom and I did not go to the hospital, but the reports that we have received as of 6pm are:
- She was able to sit up with less assistance today. She sat for five minutes today compared to not being able to do so yesterday.
- She is making an attempt to speak more during the morning, but that is nearly impossible with the mask that is on her face for the oxygen.
- The pulse rate and blood pressure were somewhat elevated, but the heart rhythm is stabilizing.
- The doctor shared with Lester that she is obviously uncomfortable about the mask on her face, and appears to be restless about that, but at this point it is needed.
- After the afternoon visits, we were told that she slept much of the day.
Keep the prayers going for her.
Please include her doctors, nurses, and all care-givers in your prayers.
Keep the prayers going for us. It is a difficult time for all of us, but especially for Arline, Lester, and Judy.


Mar 8

Grandma Foreman — Posted by cndgsnr @ March 08, 2006 17:09
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As soon as I click send, I will be headed for Lake Charles.
The report this morning is not as good as the one I shared earlier.
She is very weak today.

Mar 8

Grandma Foreman — Posted by cndgsnr @ March 08, 2006 17:04
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It seems that my grandmother is showing signs of improving. She is
still in critical condition, but it seems that Saturday was her lowest point. Since then, things have seemed to take a turn to indicate that she is slowly recovering.

I saw her on Sunday. That was the first day of her 11/12 days in the hospital that she was finally able to rest. She was resting so very soundly that I asked if she was sedated. She was not. Her sleep was what I believe an answer to prayer.

On Monday, the procedure was done to clear her air passage ways. The doctor decided not to go into the lungs, but cleared the throat and bronchial tubes of the mucus that had accumulated there. Since then,
she has freer breathing and less coughing.

On Tuesday, a feeding tube was inserted so that she could receive better nutrition to maintain her physical strength. This is the one that is inserted through the nose. She will be able to continue to eat. She was also placed on medication for the heart to stabilize the pulse rate and irregular heart beat.

Keep the prayers going for her!

Mar 5

Grandma Foreman — Posted by cndgsnr @ March 05, 2006 16:58
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She is now in the hospital in Lake Charles. They moved her there to perform a procedure that will help to clear her lungs. We are not sure yet when that procedure will take place. They are saying possibly on Monday. She is not in a regular room. She is CCU. Her condition is now critical.
During the night on Friday (Mar 3), Arline had the nurses call in the doctor because she was concerned about her elevated pulse rate. At that time, they changed her medications and placed her in the Jennings ICU where they also inserted a tube to drain the lungs. This did not free up much of her breathing therefore the reason for moving on toward the next procedure in Lake Charles. The doctors gave a report that she has a 50/50 chance of making it through this illness.
Mom and Dad saw her last night (Saturday pm). At 9pm, Dad reported to me that he was deeply concerned. Her breathing has yet to improve. She is extremely short of breath. The doctors even suggested that she limit her speaking because of the oxygen required to do so. She was less coherent, she was very disturbed, and she is not resting at all.
Please continue to pray for her, and for all of us. Today, Sunday, is day 12 of her being in the hospital. We are increasingly concerned. We are becoming fatigued. We are broken hearted. We will be on the highways between home and Lake Charles rather frequently.
Please pray for Mom and her brother and sister. This is a very difficult time for each of them.

Mar 2

Grandma Foreman — Posted by cndgsnr @ March 02, 2006 16:53
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She has developed a bacterial infection.

She has been told that when she does go home, it will be with a supply of oxygen.

The doctor told her on Tuesday that she may go home on Thursday (today). Arline saw her last night and finds that her condition has worsened.

This illness has really taken a toll on my grandmother's robust and vibrant spirit. Mom phoned me last night in tears. She said that MaForeman told her on Monday that she "gives up".

Please keep my grandmother, my mom, and her brother and sister in your prayers.

Feb 22

Grandma Foreman — Posted by cndgsnr @ February 22, 2006 16:44
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Grandma Foreman is in the hospital.
She was admitted with pneumonia. It turns out that she has pneumonia in both lungs and the doctor has told her that she has emphysema. She is having a hard time recuperating from this. I am concerned.
I ask that you join me in prayer for her.


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