Sent November 9th 2007, to my family

I have been sitting on two boxes of baby announcements for weeks and just can't bear to send them out at a time like this. Suzanne and I have been blessed with a beautiful baby girl, perfect in every way. But instead of celebrating Gabby's little milestones, we're spending every waking moment at the hospital trying to make sense of everything that's happening.

I would now like to update you with the latest news, as it has been difficult to disseminate the rapidly changing information. Suzanne's infection is pretty much complete and she's now dealing with the after effects of the toxins. The bacterium was identified as Streptococcus pyogenes. This bacterium, similar to many others like it, produces several types of toxins which are more harmful than the infection itself. Here is a concise summary I found online:

"Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome can happen following a streptococcus infection in the body, most often a skin infection or an infected wound. ...The person's blood pressure drops dangerously low, and he or she may have fever, dizziness, confusion, difficulty breathing, and a weak and rapid pulse. The skin may be pale, cool, and moist, and there may be a blotchy rash that sometimes peels. The area around an infected wound can become swollen, red, and have areas of severely damaged or dying flesh. The liver and kidneys may begin to fail, and bleeding problems may develop"

As a result of the infection described above, Suzanne was given several very strong vasoconstrictors (Pressors) to increase blood pressure to the vital organs. The effect is that the limbs receive much less blood, and therefore oxygen, than the core. As a result, they become blue, and eventually necrotic. It is the same as what happens to people who get frostbite. Unfortunately, the lower legs were void of oxygen for too long and have just today been amputated. The dead and dying tissue needed to be removed to prevent the spread of future infections. Additionally, her arms are also in jeopardy. The exact word the surgeon used was "iffy." I saw the open wounds on her legs prior to the operation and was shocked to see the extent of the damage. I was able to see one of her arms as well and was not encouraged.

From all reports from both the local medical staffs at both hospitals, as well as personal friends in the medical community, she is lucky to be alive. Sepsis (septic shock / toxic shock) is an illness that damages the internal organs causing failures at alarming rates. And where we are today, with her mind in tact, spirits up, and family support where it stands, we can make it through a bump like this. There have been great strides made in prosthetics and rehabilitation. I am confident that Suzanne will pull through in this time of adversity to successfully regain her mobility.

My parents have reported in with your words of encouragement, prayers and generous gifts. I can't even begin to express my sincere appreciation for your support. I look forward to reporting in again soon with some good news. Our first priority at this time is to get Suzanne home with Gabrielle, where she will be able to recover quickly in an environment where she is comfortable and able to get back to being a mommy.

I know you have been reluctant to email us, as we've been overwhelmed dealing with the weeks news. But if you want to send a note to Suzanne I will print them out for her to see. And I'm sure she'd love to hear from you.

I hope all is well with you and yours.

Sincerely,

Patrick