[Woodcarver] update on Pat O'Dea

[Sandy Holder]

Thanks Jim for filling us in on Pat's condition. It still doesn't sound like he is out of the woods and we will keep him on our prayers list for a good recovery. He has a long way to go and from what you relate there is still a lot of hope he will recover well. We appreciate your keeping us in mind.
 
Sandy - Evart MI
Wood Carvers Roundup June 11-14, 2008
www.evartroundup.com


From: Jeodea at aol.comDate: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 13:54:20 -0400To: woodcarver at six.pairlist.netSubject: Re: [Woodcarver] update on Pat O'Dea

Hi ,
I have had many inquires from members of the list regarding my brother Pat's condition. Many of you have meet Pat at the woodcarvers roundups where he has taught basic power carving classes. 
 

Pat has been in the  intensive care unit of the Venice Regional Medical Center, FL for the past 58 days. He is still in a coma like condition. He had a fungus infection  and a bacterial  infection in the brain which they did surgery to remove. During that surgery it appears he had a mini-stroke. The good news is that the brain now appears infection free, the swelling caused by the surgical intrusion  gone, and there is no obvious physical damage.  Occasionally it appears he can hear us and follow simple commands.
 
The most immediate problem now is reducing the fluid pressures inside the brain caused buy a lack of natural draining of those fluids. The natural draining appears to have been impacted by scar tissue in the ventricles of the brain. The scar tissue was most likely caused by the fungus infection that was removed by surgery in the brain (this is also the infection which took his knee 12 years ago). The continued high fluid pressures seem to be causing his coma like state. They have had temporary drain tubes in place which have let staph infections in and don't seem to have worked well. Yesterday they put in a permanent drain tube which hopefully will reduce the fluid pressure in the brain as well as reduce the probability of his getting staph infection. However, due to the scar tissue in the ventricle, this new drain may not work and need to be moved or replaced with another kind.
 
Next immediate problem is getting him off the respirator. He does breath some on his own but not enough. The tube down his throat has brought a staph infection into his lungs that they haven't been able to get rid of. Yesterday they put in a tracheotomy tube to eliminate the mouth tube and which hopefully will  help get him get breathing on his own.
 
It is just wait and see now. When he awakes, they can assess any brain damage caused by the fungus and the mini-stroke. When all the above is cleared up they can address the cancer on the kidney.
 
If he doesn't awake soon then they will probably transfer him to a long term acute care facility. 
 
You can send him an email card at http://www.veniceregional.com/ecard/   use CCU 321 for the room number. we read him the cards on the days when we have indications that he can hear us, we save them all for when he awakes.
 
It is going to be a long haul. When there is any significant good news I will let post another email.
 
Thanks
Jim O'Dea


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