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Michelle’s Story

Site created on October 8, 2021

We write this with a heavy heart and are asking for your prayers.

Our Mom, Michelle Fluegge, tested positive for COVID-19. She is unvaccinated and diabetic. Her symptoms started off as a typically head cold but she was overly tired and fatigued. She was checking her vitals frequently and was stable. Just when we thought she was on the upswing, her oxygen dropped from 93 to 66 in a matter of minutes on Tuesday, October 5th. Thankfully our Dad, Greg Fluegge, found her breathing heavily and took immediate action to get her to the ER. When Mom arrived in the ER, they put her on oxygen immediately and ran several tests. They discovered she has Pneumonia in both lungs which is called Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). This is life threatening and is caused by COVID-19. The Doctors and Nurses tried all COVID-19 treatments and her body was reacting negatively to them. She was then put on a non-invasive ventilator. Due to her condition, she needed an invasive ventilator which New Ulm did not have. We were waiting for a room and ventilator to open up. Thank God, a miracle came through and she was taken by helicopter to the ICU at Abbott Northwestern, MN where she is heavily sedated and in critical condition.

The Doctors expect Mom to be on the ventilator at least 30 days if not months. She does not qualify for the ECMO machine because she is diabetic. ECMO is the highest level of life support- beyond a ventilator, which pumps oxygen via a tube through the windpipe, down into the lungs. The ECMO process basically function as a heart and lungs outside the body.

Her lungs are severely damaged. Currently she is stabilized and the ventilator oxygen is at 65%. They’re putting her in a prone position which means they’re putting her on her belly to help alleviate pressure on the lungs.

Unfortunately, due to her having COVID, she is not able to have any visitors at this time.

To all of those unvaccinated with underlying medical conditions, politics to the side, please get vaccinated right away. We would hate to see you or anyone in your family to have to go through something like this. This feels so surreal.

We want to thank all the Nurses and Doctors who are fighting to keep our Mom alive. We also want to thank all our family and friends for their thoughts, prayers, and kind gestures.

We are also asking prayers for our Dad, Greg Fluegge, who has COVID-19 and is also battling his way through this with a recent loss of his mother.

Please continue to pray for a miracle!

Newest Update

Journal entry by Linda Manyara — Nov 25, 2021

Hey everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving! We have SO much to be THANKFUL for this year! Mom has been a true miracle. After 18 days in the ICU and 10 days on the COVID unit/Medical Floor at Abbott Northwestern in Minneapolis and 18 days at the short-term rehab facility, Mom was discharged on Saturday, November 20th. She was excited to come back home, but realized life looks a little different. With Mom being a go-getter, it has been an adjustment for her to ask for help and to slow down as she is only able to walk/exert energy for short periods of time. She was initially discharged without oxygen and went to her follow-up appointment yesterday with her primary Doctor in New Ulm and after observing Mom, they put her back on oxygen. She is now on 1 Liter of oxygen to use as needed when doing any activities. She does not need to use oxygen while sitting or sleeping at night.

Thank you for all your prayers, thoughts, support, and love.

Psalm 86:12: I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

Wishing you and your family a happy Thanksgiving!

Love the Fluegge Family!

Read More of the journal titled "November 25, 2021"

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