From: xxxxxx@webtv.net (Duane)
Date: Thu, Aug 23, 2001, 5:20pm (CDT-2)
To: cher
Subject: Pamela

Hi Cher... How are you. First let me apologize for not writing lately.

I've cut way back on my e-mailing... maybe this thing has lost some of it's luster for me, who knows

But I'm writing to let you know Pamela is in the hospital in critical condition.

She went in last Fri eve with severe back pains. They did an MRI and found a cracked bone.

While she was in the hospital, she had a heart attack, I don't know how severe, her colon burst and kidneys failed.

They performed emergency surgery on her colon yesterday and she got thru that ok, and I just called and she's off dialysis, but she's still in very critical condition. Her sister even had a priest perform last rites because they weren't sure she'd make it thru the night.

I'm going down there in the morning, it's about a 4 hour drive. I'll try to keep you posted from my brothers house. I'll be staying with him for a few days.

Can you let some of your mutual friends know?

thank you.

c-u later
Duane

Please send a card & continue to pray

===========================

From: (Duane)
Date: Fri, Aug 24, 2001, 7:31am (CDT-2)
To: (C. C.)
Subject: Re: Pamela

Hi Cher,

I just called the hospital and Pamela is about the same as yesterday. Still very critical. I'm leaving within the hour to head down there.

Hi Cher,

I'm at my brother's. I saw Pamela yesterday, and met her sister Reneé too, she's a terrific lady btw. Anyway, poor Pamela has so many tubes going in and out of her and hooked up to so many machines.

But yesterday she was responding to people for the first time... she would nod when asked a question, and she would squeeze your hand and she was moving her arms and legs a lot.

Renee said that was the first time she had done any of that.

She's still very, very critical though and has a long way to go, but those were promising signs.

Oh and she can't have any flowers.. no one in ICU can. Someone had sent some and Renee had to take them home.

I'm going back this morning, but she has a new nurse for the weekend who only allows 1 visitor per hour for 5 minutes!

I'll write later and let you know how she is today.

c-u.... oh, I'll be at this addy probably until Monday... depending on how Pamela is.

c-u later,
Duane

1.8/26 Who is Duane?

Hey Cher,

I saw Pamela a few times today and she's improved a lot in the last 24 hours.

I was listening to the nurses talking among themselves while they were in her room taking readings, changing IVs, dressings etc and they were saying how good she was doing.

They told us she's not over the hump yet, still critical, but showing improvement. She was bleeding a lot from the surgery, but that's slowed down, they only had to give her one unit of blood today and her blood pressure and heart rate are better too.

She was reacting to us again, nodding and squeezing our hands and she was moving more too. All good signs.

Renee's a little more at ease too... poor thing hasn't had a lot of sleep the last several days and today she put in a full days work. Her restaurant is only 5 minutes from the hospital so she can be there right away if she needs to be.

I'll write again tomorrow. cya later.... Duane

PS tell everyone thank you for all the prayers.. they're working!!

Hey Cher,

Well, there was a little improvement today... but still a long ways to go.

They took her off the respirator for about 45 minutes today, so she was breathing on her own, and with her asthma and emphysema (sp?) that's hard enough when she's healthy. But that was another good sign.

And the nurses are "cautiously" optimistic. Considering everything she's been thru the last week, they're very pleased with her progress.

I have to go back home tomorrow, but I'll go see her first, and I'll keep in touch with Renee and keep you up to date.

cya... Duane