(Most recent updates first)
First received Monday, December 10, 2018
For Minnie S. in Huntsville, Alabama who has torn fingernails and a sprained wrist after being assaulted and having her purse stolen: mental and emotional balance.
Update Thursday, December 13, 2018
Minnie has come through her experience in good spirits. The news reported this morning that the man who assaulted her and others has been caught.
First received Monday, November 19, 2018
For 94-year-old Karl in Fairhope, Alabama who is recovering from emergency surgery to remove part of his intestine; and for his family, especially his wife, Erika, who is feeling overwhelmed...[December 6] Karl is scheduled for discharge from the rehabilitation center on December 12. He is slowly regaining strength and stamina. Support for Karl and Erika with the challenge of caring for Karl at home....[December 9] Erika fell and broke her collarbone. She is now in the hospital on the same floor as Karl. Support with the process of finding care for both of them when they go home later this week.
Update Thursday, December 13, 2018
Karl had to return to the emergency room late this evening.
First received Tuesday, July 17, 2018
For Tom Z. in Oviedo, Florida with prostate cancer, of which a few cells have traveled to the spine; and for his family.
Update Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Tom made his transition on November 21. Support also for his wife, Kathie, sister, Sandy and cousin, Nancy.
First received Saturday, October 27, 2018
For Susan B. P. in Boston, Massachusetts who has been hospitalized with an undiagnosed mass in her abdomen and a high fever...[November 27] Susan has been released into a long term care and rehabilitation facility while her medical team continues to treat the osteomyelitis in her spine, and to manage her pain. Today she will return to the hospital for an endoscopic ultrasound to try to determine what the mass in her abdomen actually is. Support for her and her husband as they wait for the test results, which are expected to take a week to complete.
Update Monday, December 10, 2018
The test results show the mass in Susan's abdomen is benign. After five weeks in the hospital, she has been released and is continuing her recovery at home. She is still on a regimen of intravenous antibiotics to kill the osteomyelitis infection in her spine; she has been taught how to administer them to herself.
First received Sunday, October 28, 2018
For Nicolas T. in London, England who is in intensive care in a London hospital after falling and hitting his head, and for his family...[November 12] Nicolas has been transferred to a trauma unit and is now able to write to communicate as he cannot speak. He has less movement on his left side. Continued support is requested for him and his family...[November 17] Nicolas is now out of intensive care and has been moved to a trauma ward. His right side is working quite well and he is able to communicate by hand signals and writing. He will need an operation to rebuild part of his skull and his left eye orbit. However, he is improving day by day.
Update Monday, December 10, 2018
Nicolas has continued to improve and is now able to speak and eat. He is having difficulty using his left hand and side and is not yet mobile. On December 10, he is having surgery to insert an titanium plate into his skull. Support also for his sisters, Clara and Emily, and his parents.
First received Monday, November 12, 2018
For Ryan R. in Sylacauga, Alabama who had two strokes last week, and for his family...[December 4] Ryan went back to the hospital on Sunday with a cardiac problem and is now much worse. He is in a coma and it is not certain whether he will regain consciousness.
Update Saturday, December 8, 2018
Ryan made his transition this morning. Support also for his wife, Amy, and three children.
Received Monday, December 3, 2018
For Rosemary B. in Toronto, Canada who will receive the results from a breast biopsy soon, and for her family.
Update Friday, December 7, 2018
The biopsy results came earlier than expected. The tissue is not malignant.
Received Thursday, November 29, 2018
For Jean S. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa who has a bowel obstruction and pneumonia.
Update Friday, December 7, 2018
Jean's bowel obstruction and pneumonia have been resolved. She is now focused on gaining weight, strength, and mobility.
First received Wednesday, November 28, 2018
For J. in Leicestershire, England with a recurrence of radiation-induced prostate issues.
Update Wednesday, December 5, 2018
J. had an appointment with a consultant and has been recommended for treatment at Guy's Hospital.
First received Tuesday, October 23, 2018
For Caroll M. in Marianna, Florida who lost her business following Hurricane Michael and is preparing to attend her first job fair in many years.
Update Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Caroll now has two part-time jobs. She is trying to save enough money to fix her house which was badly damaged in the hurricane. Her application for disaster assistance has been turned down twice and she is in the process of appealing the decision.
First received Sunday, December 2, 2018
For Dan K. in San Antonio, Texas who has a citizenship hearing on December 3.
Update Monday, December 3, 2018
Dan won his case today in less than one hour.
First received Thursday, December 28, 2017
For Walt C. in Montana who is having minimally invasive heart surgery to correct a rapid heart rate...[December 29] The catheter could not be successfully threaded due to calcium deposits in the groin area. Another procedure
will be necessary and recovery will be much longer. Support also for his wife...[January 17] Walt will have a second surgery on his right foot on Friday. There is concern about blood clots... [January 23] The surgery went
well, and no blood clots occurred. Walt will be in rehabilitation for six weeks...[November 27] After heart surgery, doctors discovered he has an aneurysm in the thoracic area and more clogged arteries. Surgery is scheduled this Thursday.
Update Tuesday, November 30, 2018
His doctors have determined that surgery is not necessary at this time.
First received Friday, November 10, 2017
For Elisabeth D. G. in Gelnhausen, Germany who has a malignant tumor in her bowel which will be treated with chemotherapy and radiation, and for her husband with Parkinson's disease...[November 20] "I have a lot of pain around my lower back, especially at night, and I have a cold with severe coughing. Necessary investigations are taking a lot of time and I hope the therapies will come soon enough to be effective. My emotional and mental planes are more stable than at the time of the diagnosis, and, sometimes there is a lot of fear."...[November 29] "The cold with coughing vanished quickly and was not followed by the usual sinusitis. The occasional extreme pain in the lower back is probably due to the tumor squeezing a nerve. Tomorrow I will enter the hospital for a two-day investigation. I have a lot to organize around my husband, house and health. Mostly I am calm, trusting and able to avoid fear and dark thoughts." ... [December 10] "My therapy starts tomorrow with one week in the hospital for chemotherapy and radiation, followed by four weeks of radiation and then another week in the hospital for more chemotherapy and radiation. I am grateful, that the tumor had not spread yet. The pain in my back is better. My children help a lot, but I have to find good long term solutions concerning my husband Michael's care. I feel that I need much more time for caring for myself. There is a lot of sadness around this theme...The new situation is difficult for Michael, he is very weak, tired and in the evening often disoriented and sometimes confused."...[January 6] “After 4 weeks of treatments I have side effects like nausea, stomach cramps, painful feelings in my hands, feet and jaw and sometimes irritation in my heartbeat and circulation. It is sometimes very unpleasant, but not dramatic. Next week there will be a new round of chemotherapy and radiation in the hospital. Finding new ways and solutions for Michael's care is a long and challenging process. It seems that a lot of old patterns - resistance, fear and attachments - must be transformed, and more helpful arrangements have to be found. I have a lot of inside and outside work to do. But I am grateful that it is possible to be so active, even though the treatments are really straining. Through all the challenges and obstacles, I simultaneously feel a great power and the certainty that I am supported and uplifted in a very profound way.”... [January 18] "My blood profile is poor. I have to go to the hospital again and perhaps be isolated because of the danger of infections and pneumonia. Treatments to the blood cells have possibly had strong side effects. Also we must find new solutions around Michael's care."...[February 4] "The blood cells are regenerating, my skin is healing relatively quickly from burns from the radiation, and the nausea is much better. While I was in the hospital, Michael had to go to a care facility. He can stay there for another week, and after that I have to make decisions around his care."... [March 8] "Very good news. The tumor has shrunk more than the doctor had expected, and in three weeks I hope to go to a rehabilitation facility for one month. I still have some side effects from the radiation. Michael now has an infection in his foot and is showing more confusion."...[March 27] "My blood values are still poor and I have a severe cold and a painful nerve in my lower back and my leg. Tomorrow I will travel to the Rehabilitation Center. Michael will stay in the facility care for one month. After this month we must experiment with new solutions."...[April 7] "I am in the rehabilitation center now and my cold has vanished. I am very worried about Michael, who has a bladder infection, fever and is very confused and apathetic."...[May 1] "After ten days in a hospital, Michael is in a geriatric rehabilitation facility. He is in very poor condition. He has to be fed, is not able to walk or lift his head. The doctors say he cannot be cared for at home anymore.
I hope to find a better facility close to his family. In spite of all states of emergency, my tumor apparently vanished totally. I still have lymphatic edema in my ankles and poor blood values."... [June 3] "Michael has improved as he is able to eat by himself, can lift his head and is more aware. Sometimes he is angry and depressed about his situation. My lymphatic edemas are much better, but my blood production is still poor and sometimes I have a lot of pain in my muscles as a side-effect of radiation. I have had to learn to move Michael in a heavy wheelchair. He now lives in a nursing home and I am in a process of grieving and learning to accept the situation."[June 3]
Update Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Michael fell and broke his femur. He is in pain and has stiffness due to Parkinson's disease. Elisabeth has stress fractures in her sacrum and thigh, and some food intolerance which may all be the result of chemotherapy.
First received Thursday, November 8, 2018
For Miguelangel R. in Utah with a mouth injury which needs to heal before he can be scheduled for surgery to repair holes in his heart.
Update Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Miguelangel's mouth has healed. He will be having open heart surgery Thursday, November 29 at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Michael also has Down Syndrome. He will be in the hospital until Sunday, and the recovery process will last eight weeks.
First received Sunday, November 4, 2018
For Elfi I. in Austria who has just been diagnosed with breast cancer... [November 22] Elfi has surgery scheduled for Tuesday, November 27. Support for the best outcome for her and support also for the surgical team.
Update Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Her surgery went well. She needs to decide which follow-up treatment will be best for her.
First received Thursday, November 7, 2018
For A. S. in Germany who has been hospitalized with severe back pain and weight loss.
Update Saturday, November 24, 2018
A.S. is back at home. She has cancer which is affecting her spine and vertebrae. Five years ago she had breast cancer and the cancer has returned in different locations with metastatic growth.
First received Saturday, November 17, 2018
For Tita L. in Santa Barbara, California who is in hospice nearing transition.
Update Monday, November 19, 2018
Tita made her transition today surrounded by her family, two days short of her 85th birthday. Support also for her children.
First received Monday, September 17, 2018
For L.S. of Oakland, California who is dealing with a very difficult work situation...[September 22] L. took the appropriate steps to respond to the situation and is hoping she will be able to keep her job...[October 30] After the situation seemed to be resolving with her boss moving away, he escalated the situation again. She is trying to hold on for another ten days until her boss leaves.
Update Friday, November 16, 2018
L.'s boss left as scheduled but had secretly filed the paperwork to fire her. She was escorted out of the building today and offered a large severance package contingent upon her signing an agreement not to say what happened.
First received Monday, March 12, 2018
For the family of A. H. in Germany who are very worried about her: A. has been traveling through South America for more than a year and not contacted them during that time...[October 17] A. began contacting her family once a
month. She has not been heard from since July.
Update Wednesday, November 7, 2018
A. had called her mother yesterday and told her she is fine. Continued support is requested for A. to overcome her social isolation.
First received Monday, August 13, 2018
For Pat K. in Birmingham, Alabama who is having surgery on August 20 for cataracts on the right eye.
Update Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Pat has lost eyesight in his left eye from retina damage and the same process of eyesight loss is now beginning with his right eye.
Support for his medical team as they work to save his eyesight.
First received Saturday, November 10, 2018
For Fred T. in Carol Stream, Illinois who has stopped receiving dialysis and is in hospice care at the hospital; and for his wife, Marie and family.
Update Monday, November 12, 2018
Fred made his transition peacefully last night. Continued support for his wife and family in preparation for his cremation.