My cousin's 29 year old friend passed away Thursday.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

Her friends were informed via FB. The notice sent out said this:

"Sorry this is the only way I could contact all of you.

I don't know who knows what but here is everything that we know. Please add anything I may have forgotten.

Due to lack of insulin & no medical insurance Cathy hasn’t been feeling well for a few weeks.

Thursday, 4/8: it hit her hard. By the time her mom got home she was out of breath and hurt all over. Her mom called 911 and Cathy was taken to XXXXXXXXX Medical Center around 6:30pm. Her blood sugar was almost 500 when they tested it and said thank god they brought her in when they did.

Friday, 4/9: She was doing a little better but no answers when she would get out of the hospital. They needed to make sure her vital levels and blood sugar was normal before they released her.

Saturday,4/10: XXXXXXXX and I went to visit her and she was not looking so well. I was told she developed pneumonia over night and was on oxygen. Nurse said she was doing better everyday but still all of her levels were still not normal. Her blood was getting tested every two hours and her fingers looked raw.

Sunday, 4/11: Cathy was taken off the oxygen mask and was having breathing treatments every 4 hours. The respiratory nurse said she sounded much better and would probably be out in a few days. She looked a lot better and it was nice to chit chat with her.

Monday, 4/12: The only thing I heard was she was doing better but needed to go on some other antibiotics. Cathy signed for them to put the antibiotic in her arm. By the end of Monday night her arm started to swell and clot. The doctors put her on blood thinner to clear up the clots in her arms.

Tuesday, 4/13: I talked to her dad to find out that the blood thinner ended up giving her two strokes. It hit both sides of her brain and had slight damage to the left side but should recover. She was getting air lifted to XXXXXXX Hospital and was not doing so well at that time. This was around 5:30pm.

Update today, 4/14: 8am this morning, I found out that the strokes were massive strokes, a blood clot in her brain busted and the other side was slightly bleeding. The doctors couldn’t figure out how to stop the bleeding and were still working on her since last night. They can’t give her blood thinners because that is what caused the strokes in the first place. 10:30am, XXXXXXX called me to tell me that they stopped the bleeding and no new bleeding is forming. They are going to monitor her for 5 days but things are looking better.

I’m sure all of you have questions but at least this will answer some of them. I will not be on here again until later because I have to get some work done. I just wanted to fill everyone in as best as I could. Please forward this to anyone you know who knows Cathy. At this moment no visitors are allowed and they don't accept balloons/flowers in the ICU. Thank you!


UPDATE 4/15:
Cathy and her family appreciates everyone who came out last night and today to the hospital! I'm still praying for a miracle maybe it's because I don't want to accept it. If you haven't made it up there and have time please come up to XXXXXXXXX to see her in room XXXXXXXX. She loves all of you and I thank you all for being a part of my life too!

UPDATE 4/16:
Hello everyone, I'm sorry to have to inform you this way but we have been informed Cathy has passed and is now with God. Please at this time do not come to the hospital as it will be immediate family only. We thank you all very much for all of your prayers and love for Cathy. We love you all and thank you all so much again!"

My grandma was trying to comfort my cousin and told him it's God's will, etc. But really? She wouldn't have died if she'd lived in any other developed nation. My cousin was one of those people that fought very hard against even the idea of health care reform. I'm not sure the current bill would have helped her. But I wonder if he still thinks we have the best health care in the world.

[quiet.american]

1. So young. Tragic. Yet, I can't help but think even this tragedy will not change your cousin's mind.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

7. I thought that at first too, but surprisngly he seems completely horrified by it.

I realized something: I think a lot of people who are anti-HCR (of some nature) believe that it comes down to cost. In other words, you will get the care you need, it will just cost a lot because you will go to the ER. They don't think in terms of chronic diseases anymore. People don't think of diabetes as a death sentence anymore because if you take care of yourself, you can live a normal life. The idea that it absolutely is a death sentence if you cannot pay for your insulin is foreign.

The fact that he had *just* talked to her and he didn't even know there was something wrong really seems to be tearing him up inside. I think he knew she didn't have insurance, but he never really thought about what that meant in real terms.

[quiet.american]

11. Thanks for that followup --

I'm so sorry that it had to come to so much pain for your cousin for him to be open to perhaps taking a different view on HCR. I, too, had thought that diabetes' deaths were pretty much a thing of the past, until I started seeing and hearing of so many now passing away (even young and very young people) because they don't have insurance and therefore, don't have access to insulin. I do hope your cousin's pain over his friend's death will eventually ease. I know it must really be hard for him right now.

[Cha]

2. I'm so sorry for everyone's loss, SCQ..

So many illnesses are complicated and obviously need a lot of attention and just the right kind of care..I'm really sorry Cathy couldn't get what she neeeded. :hug:

[goclark]

3. What a shame ~no health insurance

:cry:

[get the red out]

4. I wish she had lived in a civilized country

We are not yet such a country, and if the baggers get their way we never will be.

[Lindsey]

5. Heartbreaking. n/t

[Peacetrain]

6. Oh my God, I am so sorry...

[NYC_SKP]

8. I'm so sorry to hear, I just read this.

Best wishes to all the friends and family.

:hug:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

9. This is so unbelievably sad

My deepest, sincerest and most heartfelt thoughts, prayers, condolences and sympathies to all affected by this tragic loss:hug: :hug: :hug:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

10. So at my grandma's 80th this weekend past, my cousin and uncle were complaining about Obama again

The complaint this time? He's dragging his feet on health care.

[quiet.american]

12. Wait. a. minute. -- is this the same cousin in your OP who fought *against* healthcare?

(And belated birthday congratulations to your grandmother!) :party:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

13. Yep! The same.

The turnaround was that fast.

[angee_is_mad]

14. God bless you

and your family.

Damn republicans!!!