Uncle George Update 10/25

Here is the latest email from my Aunt concerning my Uncle. My mom has just arrived in Italy (10/26) to be a support to them both. Our family continues to wait and pray…

Dear Friends and Family,Thank you so much for all of your kind emails, thoughts, and prayers regarding George’s condition. Please understand that at this time it is impossible for me to respond to each one of you personally.At this time, George remains stable, but in critical condition. He has meningitis and sepsis caused by staphylococcus aureus, the origin of which is two abscesses in the lumbar region of his spine. While the antibiotics are working successfully to treat the meningitis and sepsis, the abscesses are more difficult to treat and require long-term antibiotic therapy with a small possibility of surgical intervention.

We are diligently working with doctors at UCLA & UCSD in coordinating George’s care and return home.My niece, Kelly McFadden, who currently resides in Oxford with her husband, arrived at a most critical time and helped me immensely with logistical details. Our children Jennifer and Greg have been with me for the last five days and have been immensely helpful in communicating with doctors as we’ve grappled with these diseases and their course of care. Having them here has given George hope for his recovery and has comforted me beyond words. Jennifer’s command of the Italian language and aggressiveness combined with her charm has been vital to communicating with doctors and nurses to ensure George is getting the very best of care. Greg has also been vital in communicating with Valencia, his wife, who is a doctor and who is diligently monitoring George’s day-by-day condition and coordinating with medical professionals in the States. She is also working with Kristen Campbell, my niece who is a nurse at UCLA, on getting George home - a top priority for us and a day we are anxiously awaiting.

In regards to me, thanks to my precious children, I have moved to a hotel closer to the hospital in a safe area, with many English-speaking people around me. Jen & Greg have made sure that doctors, nurses, friends of doctors and nurses, the security guards, hotel personnel, and even the local cafe owners will ALL be watching out for me.But don’t worry, I’m not alone. While the kids leave Monday, my sister Jean is coming to stay with me for a week, followed by Evelyn, Greg’s sister-in-law, who is a nurse, and if necessary, Kristen from UCLA will stay out the duration until we get him home! Love and miss you. Can’t wait to see you.-Jan

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Uncle George Update

I just spent a week in Rome helping my aunt. It was a rough week of uncertainty and emotions. I felt so blessed to be so close to be able to be in Rome within 24 hours of hearing my Uncle was in the hospital. Our days were spent receiving updates from doctors, helping my Uncle receive water and eat, and praying. Aunt Fanny and I made the goal to just get through each day. As of now, my Uncle remains day to day. He is in critical condition as the doctors (who are very good) use antibiotics to fight his infections. (Please see email below my cousin Valencia sent out regarding his condition.)

Thank you thank you to all of you who prayed for myself and my family. We ask that you continue to do so, as my uncle remains in the hospital.

–Kelly

Hi everyone,
We heard some updated news this morning on George. The results of the cultures are now back and he has staphylococcus aureus growing from his blood causing sepsis and from his cerebrospinal fluid causing meningitis. He does not have pneumococcal meningitis, that was a preliminary result.
He is receiving the appropriate treatment of 3 antibiotics until they know which antibiotic will work against the staph aureus. He does not have any other complications at this point and his blood pressure and breathing are stable. He is no longer confused, but is in a lot of pain that the doctors are working on.

The hospital he is in is a good one (Ospedale Spallanzoni) – it is private and university based, so they have the latest in treatment and technology. But he is in serious condition and we do not know yet about his prognosis.
Continue to pray for George’s speedy recovery, that his body fights off his infections, that no complications arise, and that Jan continues to stay strong.

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Uncle George In Hospital

We got very bad news regarding Kelly’s Uncle George last week. He and his wife (Jan) were traveling through Italy and he got really sick. Kelly’s cousin Jen sent us this e-mail:

Dated 13 October, 2005

Please take a moment today to pray for my Dad. He has been hospitalized in Rome, Italy (there on vacation) for a severe case of the flu and back pain. He hasn’t eaten for over four days and is in terrible shape — apparently now he is in such agonizing pain with the arthritis in his wrists that he can hardly speak. The American embassy is going to send an American doctor to see him soon — my mother is alone there and it has been very difficult to communicate with the people and she cannot convince the doctors to let him get up and walk around — which is of great concern, lest he get a blood clot since he has been without his heart medication for a few days.

After we found out he wasn’t recovering quickly, Kelly flew down to Rome. She left on Saturday the 15th and is just coming home today. She’s been down with Jan and George. George is doing better but it’s going to be a process for recovery. Jen and Greg (Jan and George’s kids) just got to Rome yesterday so Kelly will come home tonight. Keep the family in your prayers. It’s been an emotionally tough time for everyone since there are so many unknowns.

Thanks,
Michael

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First Official Assignment Complete

I just uploaded my first assignment. A case study for my Developing Effective Managers class. It wasn’t a very long assignment, only 1000 words but being the first assignment I think everyone wanted to do well so it took a little longer than expected.

One down, many more to go. In fact, it’s time to review our group project due on Thursday. The workload begins….

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Oxford University Golf Club

I played my first day of golf for the Oxford golf team. We played the Oxford/Cambridge Golf Society this weekend. It was truly an experience. There is so much to explain to all those who just play stroke-play. And since I’m suppose to be writing a report I’ll have to do a more detailed explaination later.

In the meantime just know that my partner and I won the first match 5 and 4. The second match I was with a different partner and we weren’t as fortunate losing 4 and 3.

Very exciting.

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Kelly In Wonderland

I will not steal Alice’s story from Oxford. No tea parties with the Mad Hatter, no Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb, no Cheshire cat, but the adventure I will have. Unmistakably Oxford is a place of adventures and imagination. I can’t leave my door without getting caught up in the majesty of the looming spires, the green of the country paths, or the rich history of the cobblestone paths and Colleges. Each turn, each pathway leads to a new surprise. It is no surprise that Lewis Carroll considered this place a “wonderland.” For that is what Oxford is. For if “wonderland” is to be defined as “a place where wonderful things happen or exist,” then I say that defines Oxford perfectly. Oxford is truly a place of marvelous things. As I venture out into the city or take a run along the River Thames, I am overwhelmed with my own blessings.

I leave you with good cheer and a promise of more to come from Kelly’s Adventures in Wonderland.

–Kelly

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Official Classes Start Tomorrow

We had a week of orientation, college inductions, and the Freshers Fair last week. It was a great week topped off by a social gathering last night that began at “The Living Room” and ended at Keble College’s bop. I’ll make sure to add some photos soon.

Last week was a blast. The school has the early-term buzz — students are hitting the books, people are setting up computers, the library is packed yet everyone is still pretty relaxed. I’m sure all that will change soon. We’ve been warned that the Michaelmas Term is ridiculously busy. But that won’t stop my attempt to play on the golf team or be involved in the Private Equity Network (www.oxpen.org), the Marketing Network, and the Entreprenuership Network.

All that being said, I better get reading. I have Mangerial Economics tomorrow and Financial Reporting and Decision Science on Tuesday.

Cheers,
Michael

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