Prayer Request (Final Update 10.21)

MSL209 · #1 10-17-2009, 05:44 PM

I am starting this thread to request prayers for a family member. My sister-in-law (age 20) while at work stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest. She (Erika Anderson) is currently @ St. Joseph's hospital in Stockton, CA. Her current condition is not so great. Please pray for her life and recovery.

I understand no all of the Calguns community is religious. I am not trying to press religion on other members.

Thank you.

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(10.18)

She has been heavily sedated for the past few days. She was slowly taken off from her sedative drugs this morning. She can barely open her eyes, but will acknowledge people by staring at people she recognizes. She was taken off from her respirator and was barely able to breathe on her own for a short time (better than the past few days when she could not on her own). Her vitals are good considering her condition. She is having seizures today as well though I am not sure how severe. The doctors believe she has some brain damage. The severity and whether it is permanent or not is unclear. I would say she is doing better but not out of the woods by a long shot.

Keep her in your prayers. And again thank you.

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(10.19)

The seizures seen yesterday were extremely minor (facial muscle twitching).

The doctors have conducted EEG (brain activity scan) and say the results are better than yesterday, but they fear her condition won't improve. They claim that when she follows people with here eyes when they talk to her as well as grasping my BIL's hand and then squeezing harder when he tries to take it away is just a "natural reaction". I realize these are doctors, but I in no way am convinced nor willing to accept that she can't recover. Just this last Saturday the fam was talking to her and my wife mentioned that she needs to get better for the Disney Land trip and her heart rate rose on the monitor, coincidence or excited about the DL trip? Her Mom also in an attempt to get her to wake up said without yelling "Wake up Johnny Depp is here" and they said she tried HARD to open her eyes. She also responds to pain. I believe she is still there and while she can't be 100% right now, she will come back in time. I guess only time will tell. Not everything is medical and scientific, there is also faith and belief. All we can do is hope and pray for the best. I don't know if we need a miracle yet.

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(10.20)

She has been off from her sedatives since yesterday. She has been opening her eyes an following people more now. Encouraging news. While she was awake, her Mom was talking to her and mentioned how here dogs are missing her and she started to tear up. Kind of confirms my thoughts earlier. She is scheduled to have her breathing tube removed, so she can breathe on her own now. Between my work schedule and kids, I have not been able to visit her yet (only my wife), but as long as the baby sitter comes through today I can actually go visit her.

Thanks again for the support guys.

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(10.20 Post Visit)

Well, just before I got to visit her today my BIL got there and touched and talked to her and her heart rate went up to 160+ and they had to drop it (I'm guessing with drugs). She is now back to being unresponsive to stimulation. A CT scan has showed a new development...brain swelling. I still got to visit, but just my luck it is during a bump in the road. She has come out of the unresponsive state before and I'm sure she will again. I don't know, but it seems like what is causing the situation in the first place happened again today, luckily under a controlled environment. I think with the CT scan the doctors are closer to finding an explanation and a course to treatment. They are administering medication that should stop the swelling. Right now she just needs to rest. Maybe she is trying to wake up too hard and needs to put her energy into healing instead of worrying about waking up for the time being.

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(10.21)

God has taken an angel back to heaven today.

The swelling in her brain did not subside and was too much for her to take. It is the belief of the doctors that the brain damage that she sustained after she went into cardiac arrest and the episode last night was what caused her brain to swell.

While we loose a loved one, I find comfort in knowing that the body she leaves behind will save other people's lives.

On behalf of the family thank you all for your support. I am sorry I couldn't have brought better news.