Friday, September 22, 2006, on way back to San Francisco, California~

Dear Audrey~

I was horrified to learn that Susie had to have more emergency surgery. I am truly sorry! Is there anything, anything at all, that I can do? If need be, I can come out there once we recover from our two-week Alaskan vacation. As of this writing, we are still on the ship: we are on our way back to Callifornia; we should be there sometime tomorrow morning or afternoon. Let me know; you have my cell number! Or better yet, I can call you as soon as we get into our motel! Either way, I will be in direct contact with you!

Whatever is wrong with Susie sounds very serious. When (and how) did she get sick? Judging from what I have heard, it sounds like Susie may have necrotizing fasciitis (pronounced nek ro tie zing fas she eye tiss), which is a very rare (but deadly) bacterial infection that attacks the tissues. It can kill in only a few short hours. Treatment is very aggressive; but then it has to be if the patient is to have any chance of surving this disease.

Now, I am not a doctor, nor can I make a diagnosis, but this is what it sounds like to me.

The patient is treated with a combination of agressive antibiotic therapy, surgery (if the spreading of necrosed  tissue is rapid, which, ultimately, destroys the tissue; this is why it becomes damaged or necrosed [gangrenous]), and lots of praying. It is only by a miracle that anyone who has NF survives.

As a nurse, I have seen many patients (both old and young, children and adults) with NF, and not many of them survive; happily, though, some do survive, and they recover with little (or no) lasting effects. But NF can and often does leave a person disabled (removal of affected body parts) or weakened for many months after they recover.

I know of several patients  who had NF, adn it is an incredible experience I will likely never forget. NF is nasty business, and we have to do everything in our power to wnsuer that a person has the best opportunity for surviving this deadly infection.

Not many people have heard of NF unless a friend or family member has had it, but NF does not discriminate: it affects the young and the old, the rich and the poor, the famous and common folk (in fact, the Muppets' creator, Jim Henson, died as a result of necrotizing fasciitis, although it was initially reported that he died from pneumonia), healthy and infirm, black, white, Native American, and Hispanic.

It is more common than people may realize, and it can occur from something as simple as a bump to the leg or other body part against something hard, stepping on a nail or other sharp object, or even a minor scratch to an overwhelming septic infection where bacteria invades the body as a direct result of medical care or surgery.

For more information on NF, you can go to www.webmd.com, or any of the other health-related web sites that are out there on the Internet. There is an excellent web site put out by the Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation you can check out. It talks in detail about the disease, and it has personal stories by and about people who have survived or encountered NF sometime in their lifetime. There are, however, graphic photos of people who have had NF; if you have a weak stomach, then I'd advise not to go to this particular site; but NF is NOT pretty. I know from personal experience just how bad it can be being an RN.

Their address is www.nnff.org.


Well, how is the weather there? I hope it is good where y'all are at. I know you probably haven't gotten around to enjoy it with Susie being in such bad shape, but I am glad that you are there for her. I just hope Lacey and Maria are in good hands; they are probably worried about their big sister as much as you are (if not, even more so).

In the meantime, I will cover Susie (and your family) in prayer. I will miss church on Sunday (unless we find an Assembly of God church  in San Francisco), but I'll be back at my home church, Christ Community Assembly of God, come Weds. evening with the family.  I will have our prayer team pray for you guys!

I am going to go now. Time to get the kids something to eat before they nag me to death! LOL Take care, Audrey, and again, if you need anything, please don't hesitate to call (or e-mail) me! Or, if Susie's condition changes, I'd like to know about it ASAP! (Good news OR bad news!!)

May God be with you during this time of hardship, and know that He is with you ALWAYS. Just pray and believe for a Miracle for Susie; after all, God is still in the Miracle-Making Business! :)

God bless you, honey!

~As always, your friend, Louie May. :( >tears!<