Currently, Laura is a patient at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle. She’s had quite a journey leading up to this point, and is trusting God with an amazing Faith that she’s able to share with those caring for her. She is in good spirits, has an amazing team of skilled doctors who are dedicated to giving her the very best care. She and her husband Ed are so very thankful for all the prayers and love she has been receiving. Please continue to pray for Laura, especially for her upcoming surgery scheduled for this Monday, March 7th at 9 am.
A little background. On February 17th, Laura was admitted to St. Michael’s in Silverdale for pain in her arm and a recurring low grade fever. They discovered a sac of fluid buildup that contained a persistent, growing infection situated behind her chest wall.
On February 23rd, Laura was transferred to Virginia Mason under the care of a surgeon who had previously been on a team of doctors that worked on her years ago. More on that later!
On February 24th, Laura had surgery to drain the infected sac (750 cc) and a drain was also installed. They re-inflated the remaining lower lobe of her left lung, which had collapsed from the pressure of the sac. At this point, the infectious disease doctor who was added to her team analyzed the infection for the right mix and kind of antibiotics. It was determined that the source of the infection was the prosthetic installed in her chest wall from a previous surgery, 16 years ago.
This is the “more on that later” part. 😊
Sixteen years ago doctors discovered cancer in Laura’s lung. They removed part of that lung and some of her rib cage. They rebuilt some of those ribs (prosthetic) and that is part of the cause of the infection going on in her body now. Also, during an additional surgery, the doctor nicked Laura’s artery, and had to install a mesh wall (another prosthetic).
So these two prostheses are part of what’s causing this very invasive, painful infection (part of the staph family.) Also, the infection in that second prosthetic is blocking the blood flow into her arm, causing partial numbing.
As mentioned above, Laura will be having surgery this Monday, March 7th at 9 am. This will be a very extensive surgery, with her team of five doctors on hand, and is expected to last 8 hours. After that surgery, she’ll be in the ICU and is not allowed visitors.
Please be in prayer for Laura, her doctors, husband, children and grandchildren.
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