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From: Arthur Hebert <seacajun_at_gs.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] Update; Larry Koenig
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 23:32:12 -0600
Update from Larry's sister


We are pulling for you, Brother!





So you know,


   After his successful surgery on his arm and wrist, while he was sitll


in recovery, the anesthesiologist noticed that Larry was not breathing


right. Lu was conscious, so they talked to him about it and said they


were going to intubate him again. He didn't argue, as he really was


having trouble breathing. 


   So now he's on a ventilator which is at least inflating his lungs to


an extent that he was unable to do.  True to form, Suke's given me the


silver lining(s): with intubation they can send down a catheter to vacuum


his lungs and remove the mucus that was beginning to build up in the


bottom; and it will keep his lungs from collapsing, shutting down, and/or


developing pneumonia ... and he'll be getting plenty of air and should be


able to sleep well. On the other hand, he cannot talk, and those little


talks with Janell have become precious to both of them.


   The just brought him back from another CT scan, this time of his


chest, to try to determine whether the shutdown was due to the anesthesia


(getting so relaxed the lungs shut down) or a blood clot in the lung.


Since they brought him back and didn't report a clot, the ICU nurse said


that was probably not the deal.


   They're giving him two pints of blood now because he apparently lost a


bunch during the surgery ... but his "blood gasses are good." 


   Here's something good: he can move his right fingers, suggesting that


no nerves have been pinched by the rods in his arm or wrist. That's


evidently a real concern, since the orthopedist can't see nerves as he


inserts the rod, and sometimes they have to redo it if something gets


blocked or cramped. In fact, he's responding well to commands and/or


suggestions.


   Thec says he's going to make it. The nurses remind her that he's not


out of the woods yet, but she notes that he's so much better... we can


see the edge of the clearing.


   Blessed Be.


Love,


Karen





PS - Arthur, thanks again for going all the way out there to rescue the


kayak and equipment. That has to have been a relief for Janell, one less


thing to worry about.








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