Barbara Gausman

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your prayers, support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

Babs was admitted to the ICU at Frankfort Regional Hospital in Frankfort, Kentucky from her "home away from home",  Stewart Home & School. She had been battling some  health issues for about 6 months and had seen several specialists. Frankfort Regional is a wonderful place, and they were able to restore her health and tackle  the major issue facing her upon admission - sepsis - and all the related clinical problems  associated with it. As far as the systemic issue plaguing her, Frankfort Regional recommended a tertiary care facility and more specialized expertise, and transferred her to University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky on November 11. 

U of L Hospital suspected lymphoma and on November 14, Babs underwent a routine surgery to remove a lymph node to confirm the diagnosis. A series of complications arose - she vomited when they intubated her and they couldn't wake her from the anesthesia. After many heart-breaking hours, she finally awoke. She was  moved to ICU and she was facing a huge battle ... fighting the aspiration pneumonia and ultimately, beginning to breathe on her own. During those difficult days, all 6 of her brothers and sisters were with her in Louisville. We were prepared for the worst, and we were told that she may have to be re-intubated once they tried to extubate her. Eight days later, she was extubated and, in a style only those of you who know her would appreciate, she immediately started laughing and cutting up with the nurses and doctors. God's Loving Hand!

Babs had overcome a huge hurdle, only to be faced  with another ... one that is lasting much longer.  After lengthy testing, biopsies, and diagnostic  imaging, she was diagnosed with NHL (Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma), specifically Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, on December 2. There were many difficulties encountered before treatment could begin ... among them, the fluid build-up around her chest and lungs began to take its toll and she was in respiratory distress and moved again to ICU. Babs underwent thoracentesis on both sides of the lungs and once the fluid was removed, breathing became easier.

On  December 8, Babs was transported to Centennial Medical Center to the amazing Sarah Cannon Cancer Center. Our hopes for her ongoing care were complete and she was finally where she could receive the best possible care ... within the HCA Family.  If there was ever a blessing bestowed upon us, it is that we (Becky, Marty, and now Tyler) are employees of HCA ... the greatest network of healthcare facilities in the world!

Babs has a long way to go but one thing we all know is that she is a fighter - she has proven that to us time and time again! She is expected to receive 6 rounds of chemotherapy. Her first treatment began on December 10 and will be complete on December 16.  She has a potential  serious complication ... a bowel obstruction caused by the lymphoma that is being watched very closely by her Hem-Onc medical team. 

The outpouring of love from so many family and friends has been overwhelming. We only ask that you continue to keep her in your prayers. She loves receiving and reading cards (and photos, of course). She is not able to receive flowers, fruit or plants. Her hospital address is:

Barbara Gausman,  3rd Floor,  Room 3300
Centennial Medical Center
Sarah Cannon Cancer Center
2410 Patterson Street
Nashville, TN 37203

Heaven's Very Special Child

A meeting was held quite far from earth.
It’s time again for another birth,
Said the angels to the Lord above,
This special child will need much love.
Her progress may seem very slow.
Accomplishments she may not show.
And she’ll require extra care,
From the folks she meets way down there.
In many ways she won’t adapt
and she’ll be known as handicapped.
So let’s be careful where she’s sent.
We want her life to be content.
Please Lord, find me parents who
will do a special job for you.
They will not realize right away
The leading role they’re asked to play.
But with this child sent from above
Come stronger faith and richer love.
And soon they’ll know the privilege given,
In caring for this gift from Heaven.
Their precious charge, so meek and mild,
Is Heaven’s Very Special Child.