Pamela’s Story

Site created on March 20, 2018

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


As many of you know Pam has had a very long history of health, mainly breathing problems associated with her Sacoidosis of the lungs.  The past couple of years it has been progressing and requiring her to wear oxygen.  It was a battle to get her to wear oxygen, but after a few hospitalizations she reluctantly started wearing it.  Since her lungs are compromised any cold, or flu would affect her more then anyone else.  Walking from couch to bedroom could be a chore.   In her " stubborn norwegian ways" she would dismiss many of the symptoms as "getting old".  Over the past 10 days or so she "just had a little cold" and was feeling better.  However on Friday March 16th she called 911 because she couldn't catch her breath.  In the ER she was struggling to breath and very uncomfortable.  It was decided to place a tube to help her breath.  Many test were done and she was admitted to the ICU at Sanford Health.  


As of today, 2/20/2018 at 200 am,  this is what we know.  They say she has RSV,.  When she was struggling to breath,  it put a lot of stress on her heart.  The stress on her heart was causing some issues, her heart rate was very high and her blood pressure was low.  She has been on medication to correct these issues and she has made some progress.  Her heart rate is more stable now, but is still fluctuating a little but not to the extremes it had been.  She is still on medication to keep her blood pressure up in a safe range.  She is still fluctuating a little in that area.  She remains sedated and appears to be comfortable at his point.  Going to try and wean her down off the sedation and see how she tolerates it.  If they are able to wean her down and get her to respond appropriately they will see how she does breathing on her own.  She has more obstacles then  most people to make this happen.  Things are better then they were on Friday and Saturday and all we can hope for is progress, even if it is a little at a time.  Will do our best to keep you updated.  Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers, it really is appreciated.  

Newest Update

Journal entry by Jason Silseth

Mom gained her wings at 1:30 this afternoon. She is no longer struggling to breathe. We would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during her hospital stay.

Missy, Wendy, Jason and families
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