Stephen C. McKinney Memorial Thread (1969-2001)

[caamora]

I knew God wouldn't let one of the good ones go! The world needs more people like you, Furls!

God bless you and I will keep you in my prayers.

[duchess of malfi]

They moved her out of CCU around 3am this morning! Dad called a little while ago and we all got to talk to her for a brief moment. She sounded so much better! Heading down that way in a few minutes. Just thought I would spread more good news!

Thank goodness.

[Menolly]

Speaking with Russ via MSN at the moment while he is home showering and changing clothes for the first time in three days. Tracie is still holding her own, and with the morphine drip is resting about 80% of the time.

Russ wanted me to thank everyone again for our good thoughts and prayers. With special thanks to Fist for updating us all via his text regarding what happened in the OR. I am assuring him we will all continue sending our good thoughts and prayers throughout the long storm ahead. And I know we will...

[Menolly]

Fist received a text from Russ about an hour ago. He forwarded it to me and asked me to post, since he is without internet access on his current phone.

Tracie back in CCU with sepsis. Liz says caught early, can get rid of it soon. Lung filling w/ fluid. Please all keep her in prayers. Thx Russ.

[Fist and Faith]

We;re still sending LOVE, Tracie!!!!!!!!!!

[Seareach]

We;re still sending LOVE, Tracie!!!!!!!!!!

[Heart Song]

Hi everyone. Thought I would come on with an update on Tracie's condition. She's back in CCU as a precaution due to the development of a bacterial sepsis infection that probably stemmed from the pnuemonia she had and not the surgery. Her lung began filling with fluid again, but she is responding well to the treatment. We are all hoping that she will be out of CCU in a couple of days. Liz is very confident that the sepsis was caught in time, and Tracie will respond well to the anitbiotics. Her heart rate is irregular (another reason she is back in CCU). She is alert at times, but most of the time she is sleeping.

Russell refuses to leave her side.

The kids are all upset that they can't see her, not while she is in CCU. The age limit is 16, so only Brooke and Heidi are allowed in for short visits. It's actually a good thing, as we don't want them to see her with tubes, hoses, and needles going in and out of her. At least not the littler ones.

Take care everyone.

Anna

[Savor Dam]

Thanks Anna, both for the update and for being there to help.

[Dromond]

Thanks Anna, both for the update and for being there to help.

Yes.

[Fist and Faith]

Anna, will you please ask a nurse to give Russ some shot to knock him out for at least several hours? I believe he could use some sleep.

[Heart Song]

You are all very welcome. I know how special Tracie is to all of you. As special as she is to us. And Fist, I'm afraid it would take a small army to hold Russ down to give him such a shot.

He actually just called here, and he told us that Tracie had a very good night. Her fever has broken. Good sign that the antibiotics are kicking in. Her heart rate is still doing crazy things though, and she is getting help breathing through a ventilator. She's slowly coming back to us.

I'm not sure if you all knew that Tracie has had a compromised immune system herself for a few years now. My guess is that she kept mum about such things. That is just the type of person she is, she is always doing for everyone around her and when her body threatened to stop her from doing what she calls her "life's work" she would push it to do what she wanted. Caring for Alex really became the straw that broke the camel's back. And she thought then when she began to experience the sypmtoms of the NHL, that it was just fatigue from the strain.

Tracie has got to be THE most selfless person I have ever known. And that includes her brother. Although, I believe he sent me here because he knew what was about to happen and he knew I would be the one to get her to do the testing for the NHL. I recognized the symptoms right away.

Anyway, not sure why I said all that. I guess I just needed too. Everyone here knows how special Tracie is, I think I just wanted to reafirm it. She will ALWAYS put others before herself. Until such a time, and we are at it now, when she has to put herself first. And knowing her like I do, it's probably pissing her off right now.

[Menolly]

Everyone here knows how special Tracie is, I think I just wanted to reafirm it. She will ALWAYS put others before herself. Until such a time, and we are at it now, when she has to put herself first. And knowing her like I do, it's probably pissing her off right now.

ayup.
And that, along with her being uplifted by family, friends, and this community, will see her through. In whatever way HaShem deems is best.

We Love you, Furls!

[Fist and Faith]

Tracie, if you don't take care of yourself, you'll be too sick to help others. At best you'll be too sick to help others. So lie down and shut up. (Texting is, obviously, still ok.)

[Fire Daughter]

So lie down and shut up.

Uh, I hope I'm not in the room when Mom reads that!

Dad called again about a half an hour ago. She's wide awake and is insisting they take out the vent tube. Not that she can talk with it, but apparently she is making gestures, and not very polite ones at that, for them to take it out. It was so good to hear Dad laugh. He sounds so tired, I'm with you, Fisty, he really needs to sleep, but he won't until he is sure she is on the good side of mending. Like Anna said, not even a small army could drag him from her side now.

On behalf of my brothers and sisters, I want to take this opportunity to thank you all so much for the love, support and prayers you have given our mother. We all would be truly lost without her. Thank you.

[Fist and Faith]

So lie down and shut up.

Uh, I hope I'm not in the room when Mom reads that!

I did say she could still text.

Dad called again about a half an hour ago. She's wide awake and is insisting they take out the vent tube. Not that she can talk with it, but apparently she is making gestures, and not very polite ones at that, for them to take it out. It was so good to hear Dad laugh.

I'm literally laughing now, just picturing it!

[Edge]

Thank you for keeping us updated! Sending all my prayers for a complete and fast recovery, Furlsy.

[Harley Guy]

So, this is why I'm getting all these msg's and txt's to sleep. Between here, the AIDS board and adoption board Trace belongs too, there seems to be a campaign to knock me out. To lay these concerns to rest, I'm fine all. I doze off and on. Trace is the important one here. She's doing better this morning, actually kicked me out for awhile, Julie is down there with her right now, so I came home to shower and change clothes. They were finally able to remove the ventilator around 6am this morning and she is really liking that. Might be able to move her out of CCU today sometime, depends on her heart rate, which is really being strange. Not sure what is going on there, the Drs are baffled by it. Sepsis can cause drops in BP and racing heart rates, but Tracie's heartbeat is just irregular. Makes no sense. Her BP is holding steady.

She wanted me to thank all of you again for all of your love and prayers during this "bump along the path" as she calls it. She says she misses everyone and doesn't want any "gloomy thoughts", she'll be back soon. She also wanted me to send you all huggles...

HUGGLESSSSSSSSSSS from Tracie, and from all the rest of us too.

"God bless you all, my cup runneth over" (Tracie)

Oh, and Eric...I'm telling her that you told her to "shut up". Heh.

[Menolly]

Thank you for the update, Russ.
...although I do wish you would take a nice solid nap for several hours while others visit with Tracie...

Keep gaining strength and revel in all the Love and Light being sent your way, Furls! For now, focus on you.


*gently, gently, Menolly*
...yes'm...

[MsMary]

Although I haven't commented before, I have been following the updates and am keeping Furls and family in my prayers and thoughts.

(((Hugs)))

[Fist and Faith]

Oh, and Eric...I'm telling her that you told her to "shut up". Heh.

Ya think I'm scared of her? Is that what you think?? All of you??


Where's that form to legally change my name...