update on Jean Walsh

[Tom Walsh]

I've taken a break from hospital duty to check my emails.  Here's an update on Jean, with apologies to medical experts for this layman's imperfect efforts to describe what is happening:

 

She was admitted to Methodist University (Central) Hospital early this morning (Thursday) with a very low hematocrit count (the proportion of blood volume occupied by red blood cells).  Normal for women is about 38%; Jean's count was 18%, indicating a significant internal blood loss.  In Jean's case, it appears to be related to her liver disease (non-alcohol-related cirrhosis).  Impaired blood flow from the disease can cause the formation of enlarged veins (varices) in the lower esophagus, which can rupture and result in internal bleeding. 

 

Today she received 5 units of platelets, and tonight she is receiving 2 units of packed red blood cells.  Tomorrow she'll have an endoscopy, a look inside which should help confirm whether or not this is what is happening.  If that's it, there's not a whole lot that can be done about it at this point, other than to increase dosage of a medication she is already taking that helps combat the formation of varices but does not stop it from happening.  To solve the root problem, it will probably take a liver transplant, for which she doesn't yet qualify.  In the meantime she'll probably continue to lose blood slowly and will have to be replenished now and then. 

 

As many of you know, Jean has had a low blood count for some time, causing her to experience fatigue (though she has continued to work long hours in her job and to carry on her volunteer work at church).  But this is lower than we've seen before.

 

I was with her all day today, and Courtney and Meredith (Meredith having just returned home from Massachusetts on Wednesday evening) were also present.  Having two daughters in the nursing field sure helped with interpretation of what was happening, not to mention the comfort their presence afforded their mother (and me).

 

Jean has grit to spare and hopes to come home from the hospital sometime Friday, depending on what the tests show.  She is especially hopeful of performing with the choir Sunday as we present our Christmas Cantata in worship, something on which we've been working hard.

 

I should add that, as we discovered in the course of the day, the phone in Jean's hospital room wasn't working.  We learned that some of you tried to call and couldn't get through.  After several hours of requests, we finally have a new phone there.  To make matters worse, our cell phones petered out during the day, with a message about "network problems."  So you couldn't reach us that way either.  But before we became incommunicado, we did hear from the pastor and some others, and we greatly appreciate everyone's concerns and prayers.  We hope to see everyone Sunday, back in the pink.

 

Tom

 

cell: 335-6770

 

 

 

www.fordharrison.com Thomas J. Walsh, Jr. 795 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Suite 300 Memphis, Tennessee  38120 Phone: 901-291-1552 Fax: 901-291-1501 twa...@fordharrison.com

 

[Malinda E. C. Fitzgerald]

thank you for the update. Please let he know we are praying for her
recovery. Don't let her push herself too much. Malinda

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[Marian Bacon]

December 18, 2009
8:39 a.m.

Dear Tom,

Will you tell Jean that I am praying for her along with my boss,
Sandi, who is a prayer warrior for me?

I will pray for a speedy recovery and things will turn out fine with
Jean during this difficult time in her life.

Love,

Marian

[Jody McClendon]

Can we give blood for her?   At Methodist Central or Lifeblood?  Jody

 

--

[Danny Frazier]

Tom,   I am at the library, so my computer time is limited.  But, just know that I am praying for Jean and the family.  All will be well; God is in control.   I will write more later.   Danny --- On Fri, 12/18/09, Tom Walsh <TWa...@fordharrison.com> wrote:

From: Tom Walsh <TWa...@fordharrison.com> Subject: Prescott Church List update on Jean Walsh