Mary Keller

While on vacation celebrating her birthday, Mary became sick and was thought to have had food poisoning.  However, things became more complicated and she was admitted to an ICU in the Dominican Republic.  Three days later she was evacuated via air ambulance from the Dominican Republic to Fort Lauderdale where she was diagnosed with Meningitis, Pneumonia and an infection in her left mastoid.  The infection in her left ear had abscessed and was preventing the meningitis treatment to work to it's full potential.  After a 17 day stay in Florida, she was transported via another air ambulance to KU Medical Center where we received the final diagnosis.  The infections had caused brain stem strokes and she has what is call Locked-In Syndrome (LIS).  This is a very rare complication associated with around 1% of people who have a stroke. 

Mary has transferred from a local LTACH to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska.  This is her 5th stop in a different state/country while on this journey and we are hoping it's lucky number 5!  We are hopeful and encouraged that receiving rehab to help her gain back what she's lost will be they key to getting Mary back home.