Elann Community Chat Center - General Chat - Update on Bets. More prayers.

Elann Community Chat Center - General Chat - Update on Bets. More prayers. - Messages http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Elann Community Chat Center - General Chat - Update on Bets. More prayers. - Messages en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Jitbit AspNetForum Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:13:24 GMT Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:13:24 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Dianepurls bets wrote:

I just unwrapped the most beautiful blanket
Who do i thank

BETS!!

Well this is a wonderful day to see a post from "you"!! Tracy and I are so pleased that your recovery has brought you home so quickly and you are doing so well, so soon:-)

Those dogs of yours must have been doing back flips when Mom came home!

I am glad that you like your blanket. So many warm thoughts and prayers went into the making of it. It's a extra large HUG just for you and I hope it keeps you and yours warm and cozy for many years to come!

Take care:-)
Diane]]> Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:13:24 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from benne bets wrote:

I just unwrapped the most beautiful blanket
Who do i thank

Bets! YOU ARE BACK! YAY!!! I am so glad to see you here posting! You scared us all and we really don't want you to do that anymore, okay?!

I'm glad you like the blankie. Ann and all the rest of us knit love in every stitch. We wanted to wrap you up in the hugs of your friends.

Now that you're home I can start calling and sending you gag gifts,

Benne]]> Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:05:04 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from benne bets wrote:

I just unwrapped the most beautiful blanket
Who do i thank

Benne]]> Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:04:26 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Jamie I'm delighted to know that the community blankie arrived so you can feel all those squares. We do love you!
Jamie]]> Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:49:53 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from CatBookMom bets wrote:

I just unwrapped the most beautiful blanket
Who do i thank

So happy to know you're home and that the blankie arrived. Libby organized the group effort, and we all knitted prayers and healing thoughts into every stitch.]]> Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:14:50 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Daryl bets wrote:

I just unwrapped the most beautiful blanket
Who do i thank

Yayyy! BETs, now you are truly home! We all love you, and I agree, please dont do that again. We are so glad it arrived safely and with love.]]> Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:54:37 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from omaw-656643 ]]> Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:36:05 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Billie Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:06:05 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Marta bets wrote:

I just unwrapped the most beautiful blanket
Who do i thank

Well, Hello!!! We've all been waiting for this moment!!!

So glad to know you are making such good progress - and you liked your blanket! Yeah! As Ann said, it is from all of us, but Libby did the planning and all the heavy lifting.

We look forward to hearing directly from you, when you feel up to it. We've missed you!

Many hugs!]]> Sun, 13 Mar 2011 16:39:07 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from acb Sun, 13 Mar 2011 10:51:57 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from bets Who do i thank]]> Sat, 12 Mar 2011 10:37:27 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from benne
Mark just called to give us an update. He said Bets is becoming more alert every day, staying awake and focused for longer periods of time. She was in a chair 4+ hours today. She is not able to maneuver herself at all and they put her on the tilt table again today. She responds to the nurses and smiles at them, and in typical Betsy fashion, throws her left leg over the bed rail and is getting frustrated with the tubes.

She is still on oxygen, the lowest setting, in order to completely clear her lungs and throat. She is in respiratory ICU, can only have cards, no flowers or stuffed animals, but she is loving the cards. She will continue on the oxygen until next week, probably. Mark said they will not attempt speech therapy until after she is off oxygen. I am unsure of the exact status of the trach at that point. I don’t think it will be removed, as I understood Mark.

Bets opened her cards by herself today using one hand. If they are upside down, she turns them the right way. He showed her a picture of the dog in Halloween costume and she knew it was Sunny but indicated she didn’t know when she took it. She let Mark know she wants to eat real food and stop getting food through a tube, so that’s a good sign too. She has not begun occupational or rehabilitation therapy yet, she is not quite ready for that but that will happen at the next facility. Mark said he expects her to be where she is now for the next 3-4 weeks. It’s a long, long road ahead, and the medical staff are keeping Mark well informed of the process for Bets getting better.

I asked Mark what we could do for him and told him we were worried about him. He laughed and said he was fine, tired but fine. This was his first week back at work and friends were helping him both at work and home. His request was that we keep sending cards and pictures, no packages or visitors yet, and keep the prayers and good thoughts going.

I posted this update on the elann chat group on ravelry too so everyone will know the latest news. Mark said she is a little better every day, and that's the best news.]]> Sat, 04 Dec 2010 09:08:42 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from benne Friday Nov. 26th update

Enid (mousepotato) posted this in the elann chat group on ravelry. I hope it's okay to post it here too.

I don’t know if anyone has posted this, but they have moved Betsy to a rehabilitation center, about 5 minutes from the hospital says Mark. They moved the night before last and yesterday mark she was resting comfortably.

She is still in and ICU unit there but these people specialize in pulmonary rehabilitation.
He also said this place is very progressive. Before they moved her he went to take a tour of the place and he said they do a lot there for the patients including musical therapy, they had a lady playing the harp in the middle of this area where patients are able to enjoy and benefit from it. They also do pet therapy. They bring animals in, but Mark says that when she’s in a better place and is able to receive those kinds of visits he will be able to bring the dogs in, one at a time of course.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thom copied this from Betsy’s FB page for me to post. It's from Friday as well. It is encouraging to know she is well enough to leave the hospital.

Betsy was moved out of the hospital on Wednesday night into a convalescent care facility and is becoming more responsive everyday. It looks like she will be there for at least a month but it’s a very nice facility and much better than a hospital room. She will continue to be in intensive care just a little while longer …but the doc says she’ll be able to be upgraded shortly. A little bit more recovery time is needed and only time will get her there! She also needs some recovery time to get the vocal cords working again.

I'll post again if I have more news.]]> Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:04:55 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from patw benne wrote:

Update on Bets Tuesday evening

Mark just called me and Bets had a good day today, the best day so far. She is still on the respirator but they did breathing trials and she was breathing on her own up to two hours at a time several times today. She had her eyes open for over a hour at a time and had them open when Mark got to the hospital this morning. She does not follow commands but her lips were dry and she bit her lower lip. Mark asked her if she could bite her lip again and she did. She followed him with her eyes and he said he can tell she wants to speak. She reached for his hand. These are all awesome signs because her permanent ability to see, hear and speak at all were greatly in question a day or two ago.Her vitals look good and her oxygen and CO2 levels are good. Her breath volume is good and he hopes she can come off the respirator tomorrow. After she is off the respirator, they will begin to do a full assessment, which can not be done right now. She has had no movement at all of her right arm but she does feel pain in her right leg and moves it when pain tested. She is continuing to move her left arm and leg.

The relief in Mark’s voice was palpable and I am so relieved that he saw so much to be hopeful about today. It’s still a long road but right now, it is so much more hopeful than last Wednesday and Thursday when her chances of survival looked so bad. I think Bets is surprising some folks, which is just as it should be. Mark said he was going to tell her she had to get well soon before a bunch of knitters came and carried off her yarn. I told him we would give her a couple of days more before we showed up and kicked her butt.

I am so sorry to hear this news about Bets. She is the ligtht of this forum and it warms my heart to see and read all the wonderful energy and prayers going out to her. I will certainly add my prayers to everyone here that she can recover from this awful stroke and that her recovery will be complete in time.

PatQOC]]> Mon, 29 Nov 2010 08:36:50 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from patw mousepotato wrote:

I have an update. Please if you could help me pass this along to all the other forums I would greatly greatly appreciate it.

She is in ICU, heavily sedated, and on a respirator. I was relieved to know that she was not alone when the stroke happened. She was at a meeting and they were able to call the ambulance right away and then airlife took her to a hospital in SA. It was due to a spike in her blood pressure, at the moment they are trying to manage it but are having difficulty getting it under control, which is the reason they have her heavily sedated.

Her husband is there with her and family.

Betsycandle2

]]> Mon, 29 Nov 2010 08:26:22 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Jamie Wed, 24 Nov 2010 08:58:24 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Daryl Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:25:05 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from benne

They put a tracheotomy tube in and Mark said the trach is really helping her breathe more easily but she is still on the vent for a little longer. Her color is good and the procedure went off without a hitch. The doctor said she’s not quite ready to come off the vent completely yet. Mark also said the trach site looks like a somebody did it in the garage and the doc told him it wasn’t pretty but it works. I said that Bets and I would say they MacGyvered it.

When he put chapstick on her, she pressed her lips together, doing what every woman who puts lipstick on does. She said "yes" to him very faintly when he asked her a question, so that's great news. She also puckered her lips up for a kiss when Mark left tonight.

He is looking forward to the blanket and is very happy that so many people are sending love and prayers and requested that we keep up what we are doing, we are making a difference for her, and for him. I assured Mark that we are with them for the long haul of recovery and rehab. He is really touched by all the love and support for Bets, and for him and the family.]]> Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:13:28 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Billie I'm not sure if you're on Ravelry.com, but for simplicity, the Elann group on Rav has become Command Central for the blanket. Libby is organizing us and the yarn being used is Sonata, in two specific colours. You will want to catch Libby to find out what still has to be assigned.

Hope this helps...

Billie]]> Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:59:12 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from MacChick benne wrote:

Enid, thank you so much for passing on the information to us. Thank God Bets was not home alone!

Libby called me a few minutes ago with the news and I am in shock that our Bets is going through this. I am on for blanket squares, just tell me what I need to do. I know how much my blanket that all of you made meant to me when I had surgery and all the other thoughts and prayers from all of you have carried me through a lot. It's my turn to help for Bets. She is always the first to get going for others, so now we can return the love.

Count me in for squares, too; I know I've not been here very often through the past few years and missed alot of these; Jean emailed me to tell me about this.... count me in for squares... HW?]]> Sun, 21 Nov 2010 04:53:04 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from benne
Bets' brother posted on her Facebook wall this morning and said her fever from the infection broke yesterday, and she was off the vent and breathing on her own for most of the day yesterday. She was awake most of the afternoon. Mark is very encouraged by these developments, after her recent setback.

I will post again if I have more news, but if you are on FB, you may read updates there before I do since I don't have FB. Keep the thoughts and prayers going!]]> Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:27:20 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from benne
Mark just called me and Bets had a good day today, the best day so far. She is still on the respirator but they did breathing trials and she was breathing on her own up to two hours at a time several times today. She had her eyes open for over a hour at a time and had them open when Mark got to the hospital this morning. She does not follow commands but her lips were dry and she bit her lower lip. Mark asked her if she could bite her lip again and she did. She followed him with her eyes and he said he can tell she wants to speak. She reached for his hand. These are all awesome signs because her permanent ability to see, hear and speak at all were greatly in question a day or two ago.Her vitals look good and her oxygen and CO2 levels are good. Her breath volume is good and he hopes she can come off the respirator tomorrow. After she is off the respirator, they will begin to do a full assessment, which can not be done right now. She has had no movement at all of her right arm but she does feel pain in her right leg and moves it when pain tested. She is continuing to move her left arm and leg.

The relief in Mark’s voice was palpable and I am so relieved that he saw so much to be hopeful about today. It’s still a long road but right now, it is so much more hopeful than last Wednesday and Thursday when her chances of survival looked so bad. I think Bets is surprising some folks, which is just as it should be. Mark said he was going to tell her she had to get well soon before a bunch of knitters came and carried off her yarn. I told him we would give her a couple of days more before we showed up and kicked her butt.

Mark thanked us again for all the prayers and thoughts, and we need to keep them going as much as ever.

I posted this over on ravelry as well and I'll continue to post here and there as I have more news. Mark said he would keep me updated in a day or two or as there are changes. He was not able to speak with the doctor today.]]> Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:26:59 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Della Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:12:55 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from suzann Hi, This is Betsy's brother Fred and I got back from San Antonio last night. The general plan for the next week will be to get her off the respirator and ultimatly remove the feeding tube. Once she is able to follow commands she will go into therapy. It appears that the the signal from the brain to the outer right extremities is not broken however a full assessment cannot be made until she is fully concious. Progress for recovery will be slow and in tiny, tiny steps. Thursday morning I received a text from my daughter Valerie who spent the night with her at 6:25 in the morning that she opened her eyes for the first time since Sunday , yesterday she flexed her right foot when her leg was pinched and today her leg moved. I will post updates to first keep everyone updated and secondly when Betsy recovers she will have a diary kept by others to help her fill in the gaps. My email is fredfowles@hotmail.com if anyone would like to contact me.]]> Mon, 15 Nov 2010 07:57:14 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from suzann Mon, 15 Nov 2010 07:42:15 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from benne
Bets’ brother just posted this

Hi everyone - it’s Sunday evening and Betsy’s been opening her eyes and it’s quite apparent that she recognises us. Her progress is slow, but we can see it everyday. It seems like she wants to speak, but it’s still a little early. She made quite a few faces today. Some good, some confused, but it is all very encour…aging. I’m blown away by all the Facebook posts, I’ll be sure to read the new ones to her tonight. Maybe one of you will share with me the Secret of the Ho-sista hood! =) She’s not ready for visitors yet, but we are overwhelmed by the postings here. Can someone share with me the knitting site with the posts? I’d like to share those with her as well!

=========

I am so hopeful for Bets! This is a good sign, a long way to go, but so much better than a couple of days ago!]]> Sun, 14 Nov 2010 18:03:52 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Theresa fom Queensb
Bets has been very very good to Tim since I very first met her here and if Tim could type that himself, he would. I wish I could post the concern on his face and the way he moved his fingers when I asked him what he wanted to say, because I know Betsy would appreciate that.]]> Sun, 14 Nov 2010 06:07:47 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from benne
I asked Mark about how he is doing and he said he has a good support system, someone is helping him with the dogs, and his family is close, so he's good except for worrying about Bets. I told him that Bets would expect us to try and take care of him too because that is what she would be doing if it was one of us. I am so worried about her but I have hope for her recovery.

If I learn anything else I will post here and on the elann chat group on ravelry. Mark said he would let us know of changes and updates and he was calling Enid when we hung up, so I think we will know when there is news. In the meantime, we should all knit something pretty and colorful and think of Bets.

]]> Sat, 13 Nov 2010 09:43:48 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Libby Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:19:51 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Alice Trueman
Count me me, Libby. Just tell me what weight/colour.
Alice]]> Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:43:43 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Alice Trueman Libby wrote:

Enid, thank you so much for telling us this.

Now ladies lets get to some action. Betsy is in need of some good will and lovin'. I'm thinking in terms of a blanket. We all know the drill.... knit a 12 x 12 square... send it to me.... we will discuss the yarn type and colors.... Betsy LOVES color....

So who's in? email me at l_stypa AT hotmail.com

(I know we generally keep this blankie stuff secret and dont post it HOWEVER I think we can make an exception AND I dont know everyone's email addy that loves her and I dont want to exclude anyone.

Libs

]]> Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:41:36 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from birdlady
Libby, I'm in too for the blanket.

Email addy is dneuhs AT hotmail DOT com
Denise]]> Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:23:49 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from suzann Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:24:46 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from benne Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:09:18 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from mousepotato I appreciate the info. I'm glad you called, them.

I talked to a girlfriend of ours in Bet's town. She went over to their house and has food coming. She said they would be good for a couple of days. And she also offered to walk the dogs for them. I thought about printing all this stuff out and sending it to Mark.

I'm in on the blanket.

enid AT enidation.com

is my email addy.

enid]]> Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:11:30 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Marta
And thanks, Benne, for the latest update. I am still in shock.]]> Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:47:26 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from benne They are trying to control the bleed and BP and will keep her sedated until then, and then see how and when she wakes up. She said she will keep me updated with phone call or emails on her mom’s condition and will also let us know when Bets is allowed to have flowers and things sent to her at the hospital. They are a lot of Methodist hospitals in SA but Bets is in Methodist Main Hospital on the Medical Campus. I will post here as soon as I have more info.

I passed on to Christina that many people are praying, lighting candles, saying incantations and thinking of Bets and the family and she said they appreciate it very much.

I posted this on ravelry in the elann chat group.

This is so hard to believe this is happening to our Bets.]]> Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:50:31 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from benne
Libby called me a few minutes ago with the news and I am in shock that our Bets is going through this. I am on for blanket squares, just tell me what I need to do. I know how much my blanket that all of you made meant to me when I had surgery and all the other thoughts and prayers from all of you have carried me through a lot. It's my turn to help for Bets. She is always the first to get going for others, so now we can return the love.]]> Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:14:10 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Libby

Now ladies lets get to some action. Betsy is in need of some good will and lovin'. I'm thinking in terms of a blanket. We all know the drill.... knit a 12 x 12 square... send it to me.... we will discuss the yarn type and colors.... Betsy LOVES color....

So who's in? email me at l_stypa AT hotmail.com

(I know we generally keep this blankie stuff secret and dont post it HOWEVER I think we can make an exception AND I dont know everyone's email addy that loves her and I dont want to exclude anyone.

Libs]]> Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:53:29 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Daryl Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:34:39 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from Marta Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:25:50 GMT http://www.elann.com/Commerce.web/forums/messages.aspx?TopicID=150737 Message from mousepotato
She is in ICU, heavily sedated, and on a respirator. I was relieved to know that she was not alone when the stroke happened. She was at a meeting and they were able to call the ambulance right away and then airlife took her to a hospital in SA. It was due to a spike in her blood pressure, at the moment they are trying to manage it but are having difficulty getting it under control, which is the reason they have her heavily sedated.

Her husband is there with her and family.

Betsycandle2]]> Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:16:51 GMT