Barbara Lee - Jan 4th

Folks,

Barbara has asked me to let you know about a potentially dangerous surgery she has coming up on Thursday, January 7th. She has had a blood clot in her chest for several months that they have been unable to manage with medication. It inhibits her breathing enough that she turns purple whenever she bends over and they have finally decided she is stable enough to try to remove the clot.

Because of Barbara's issues with slow healing, they hope to go in thru her arm. Failing that, they will try the jugular or perhaps the groin. If something goes wrong they will have to open her chest. Let's all hope & pray that doesn't occur. If all goes well, she should be home in a few days and feeling much better.

In other news, the wound on her ankle is healing and showing marked improvement. Unfortunately, the problem on the bottom of her heel remains and is quite painful.

I will post again with updates as I get them.

Post Edited (Lynnwood) : 1/4/2016 8:55:01 PM (GMT-7)

Thanks for the update Lynn.

Barb. I hope the surgery goes well and you will be okay. Will keep you in my prayers and thoughts...

UA

Surgery was postponed due to finding something "cloudy" on the lung Xrays. They don't know if Barbara has bleeding in the lungs or if she is developing pneumonia. Guess we will know more later today.

Well, they aren't all that certain what is going on in the lungs, but don't want to do any kind of invasive test as if they accidentally start any bleeding they are afraid they won't be able to stop it.

So in lieu of a "good plan" they decided to send Barbara home for the weekend. With a bump in prednisone and lots of oxygen... fun, fun, fun!

Hi Barbara. I think you are our energizer bunny. That's the only way I can explain that you are able to keep going. You are in my prayers Dear. Love you, Donna

Thoughts and prayers for you Barb. Hope you're okay...

UA

Barbara is still at home, with extra oxygen and a higher dose of prednisone. She doesn't feel very well, to say the least.

They don't know exactly what is causing the fluid in the lungs, and her lungs are too fragile to do an actual biopsy. They do plan on a more passive activity, where they wash her lungs out with some sort of solution then test for pathogens, etc in the solution once it comes back out. That way they don't have to cut her lungs at all. I don't remember when they plan to do this - not too soon, I don't think.

Thanks Lynn.

Prayers for you Barbs. Thinking of you...

UA

I was going to call Barbara this afternoon but I'm afraid I got sidetracked. Maybe I'll remember tomorrow!

I'm glad she's got a furry friend to hang with. Keeping her in my prayers.

Thanks for the update, Lynnwood.

Thanks for the update. It's taken several months for my rescued Siamese to sit on the recliner with me, too.