FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Linda Northrop--medical report

[Don Miller <raincrow@xxxxxxx>]

Birders,

I am sorry to report that Linda Northrop has suffered a sudden medical 
crisis and is in very critical condition.

In my previous list serve report on Linda, I indicated that she had 
returned home from Johnson City Medical Center.  This occurred on 
December 18.   At home, she showed sporadic improvement in some areas 
while continuing to have frequent bouts of nausea.  The pneumonia 
appeared to show improvement, and Linda's spirits were generally on the 
rise, although there were both good and bad days.

On December 25, after experiencing intense pain in the lower right side 
and after another episode of nausea, she instructed that 9-1-1 be 
called.  She was taken to Takoma Hospital in Greeneville and has been 
there ever since.

Yesterday doctors diagnosed a recurrence of the pneumonia and determined 
that Linda also has an infection of Clostridium difficile.  C. difficile 
is a stubborn bacterium that may attack the intestines, especially when 
the normal intestinal bacteria are under stress, and it produces a 
variety of flu-like symptoms.  A powerful antibiotic was prescribed for 
the Clostridium, and a specialist was summoned from Johnson City Medical 
Center.  Doctors noted that Linda's small intestine had ceased to 
function but felt that this was a temporary result of the infection.

Today Linda's situation declined suddenly.  Around mid-day, her kidneys 
shut down, and she was placed in intensive care.  Attempts to re-start 
her kidneys failed.  At last report, Linda was drifting in and out of 
consciousness.  Late this afternoon, doctors recommended that her family 
be summoned.

All of us here who have kept in close touch with Linda over the last 
month are stunned by today's turn of events.  Please join us in our 
prayers and hopes for her.

Don Miller
Greeneville, Greene Co., TN

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