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Hello Everyone....
I just wanted to take a few minutes to update you on our daughter, Allison Pressnell.
Allison is doing well. Her surgery in Rochester, Minnesota at St. Mary's Hospital with the Mayo Clinic went really, really well. The 8 stents the doctor placed inside her lower inferior vena cava and iliac veins in April looked great, haven't moved and show NO build up on them which is really great. That was a concern due to her blood clotting disorder. Dr. Bjarnason was just thrilled with that. She continues to have a completely clotted off right renal vein but her body, in the amazing way God created our bodies, has grown multiple, multiple collateral vessels that sprout off the kidney and get blood back to the IVC and to the lungs for re-oxygenation. He doesn't anticipate any problems from that blockage. He doesn't expect it to shrivel up like the IVC did when it was clotted. He said we need to keep routine checks on her kidney function tests and always be aware of it but otherwise, good to go. While she was there and they were in there, they checked out her heart, which can be of concern with IVC abnormalities and problems. I had NO IDEA this was coming so I literally saw it on the consent she signed about 2 minutes before going back to the surgery suite. It alarmed me but I held myself and didn't let her know I was concerned as I had very good confidence in the doctor. She was semi-sedated for part of the procedure where she had to hold her breath and push down to test the strength of the stents and other areas so she heard them say, "Ok, we are in the right atrium, let's go into the right ventricle, etc." She said, "I thought, wow, they're in my heart". I thought that was cool. Her arteries were clear, no plaque or signs of clots and so the heart gets an A too. The doctor, Haraldur Bjarnason, and his assistant, Timothy Scribner, were just ecstatic with the results. They could be just faking it but it really feels like they care about her. Mr. Scribner called twice yesterday and once today to check on her. He actually talked with Allison today and she was beaming from ear to ear that he would call and talk to her.
They gave her some hefty doses of Heparin to thin her blood at the end of her surgery. Her INR was 1.3 and that is dangerously low for someone with her disorder. So they wanted to get it back up as soon as possible. She had to then have Fragmin shots in her abdomen for a few days. She took her last shot yesterday. We went to her doctor in Birmingham today because the day we left to go to Minnesota she was beginning to feel poorly, like a cold. She has asthma which has had a hard time controlling for the past 7 weeks or so. So Wednesday she had 'that cough' that I know is her asthma. Travelling on a plane isn't good and changing environments doesn't help that. It didn't hinder her surgery but by Thursday evening I knew we needed more medicine. So I got some there at the Mayo Clinic Pharmacy and then on Friday, while we were still in Minnesota, I called her doctor here and explained the situation and they called in antibiotics and a stronger inhaler for her and my family picked it up so that when we got home to Alabama, we would have it. She has pretty much been in the bed since coming home until this morning. Today her doctor was testing her INR to see where it is so we can get it back in what they call "therapeutic range" of 2.5 to 3.5, mainly around 3 or a little above. He also gave her a shot and more medicine for her asthma for her nebulizer and such.
So....she is doing good and got a good report from her surgery. They will call us about when to come back but anticipate the next time to only do ultrasound testing and such, but nothing invasive, unless it warrants it. I feel very good about her doctor here. He is in communication with the doctors in Minnesota and he communicates well with Allison and me too. Allison is really getting to a good place of 'owning' her own health issues. Our next "thing" will be getting her in to a specialized doctor for her PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and endometriosis. We have to see a reproductive endocrinologist for this. Her womb is also slightly heart shaped and so all of those things combined with her Factor V Leiden status require a more in depth doctor in that area. As far as her stents and venous system she should be able to have children one day, if she and her future husband (whoever that may be) should choose but that is why we have to go for further testing and evaluation this way. At one point we were told she should just have a hysterectomy and never consider it. That was within the last year. So those issues are kind of in her head and things we will only begin to address now that we have the more pressing matters situated.
Thank you SOOOOOOO much for all the love and support everyone has extended to us. The prayers are the most important of all and Allison got a message from someone in South Africa last week telling her they, at their congregation, had been praying for her. I can't tell you what that does for my child's faith. It is truly a blessing and gift. Additionally, Barry, Allison and I would like to thank everyone, everyone, everyone who has helped us financially with the costs back and forth and the part we've had to pay, etc. We are SOOOOOO blessed to have that support as well. Someone asked me why we would even consider such an expensive treatment (travel, etc.) for her when we KNEW up front that we couldn't pay. And my only answer was that having exhausted ALL other avenues locally and even on a state level and in Florida too that I KNEW when they called and asked us to come to Rochester, Minnesota for them to evaluate and help Allison that my God WOULD make a way. I don't mean that in any haughty or irresponsible way either. I just knew that if it came to money being the thing stopping us that it would work out. So for the financial help so very, very many of you have given for the initial trip in April and/or the recent trip last week, we are humbled to the point of disbelief (if that makes sense) greatly. WE have learned so many, many lessons in this 'journey' as I'm sure many of you have in various health trials you've been through. One of the things I would mention now is the generosity and love and GENUINE concern expressed by everyone, specifically through financial assistance. These trips have been costly. We are thankful that Barry's employer has allowed him all the time off he needed. We are thankful for the insurance that has definitely paid the greatest portion of the medical costs (The first trip for JUST the doctor visits, testing and surgery cost close to $80,000).
Barry and I want to say a special thanks to Greg and Nancy Picogna. They have generously given of their time and assistance to be a 'center reference' for collecting funds and asking for funds on our behalf. This at a time when BOTH of their fathers have been seriously, seriously ill and continue to fight for their lives. We have been friends with them for many years and they are both people of Christian character. Thank you to them for ALL their help, love and assistance.
There are many others to thank but I'll not try and name them because I know I'll forget someone. Just know that we truly and deeply love, appreciate and thank our wonderful and most high God for you in our lives. Primarily for the prayers, love and concern but the physical blessings you have bestowed on us as well.
In Christian Love,
Jennifer & Barry Pressnell
I just wanted to take a few minutes to update you on our daughter, Allison Pressnell.
Allison is doing well. Her surgery in Rochester, Minnesota at St. Mary's Hospital with the Mayo Clinic went really, really well. The 8 stents the doctor placed inside her lower inferior vena cava and iliac veins in April looked great, haven't moved and show NO build up on them which is really great. That was a concern due to her blood clotting disorder. Dr. Bjarnason was just thrilled with that. She continues to have a completely clotted off right renal vein but her body, in the amazing way God created our bodies, has grown multiple, multiple collateral vessels that sprout off the kidney and get blood back to the IVC and to the lungs for re-oxygenation. He doesn't anticipate any problems from that blockage. He doesn't expect it to shrivel up like the IVC did when it was clotted. He said we need to keep routine checks on her kidney function tests and always be aware of it but otherwise, good to go. While she was there and they were in there, they checked out her heart, which can be of concern with IVC abnormalities and problems. I had NO IDEA this was coming so I literally saw it on the consent she signed about 2 minutes before going back to the surgery suite. It alarmed me but I held myself and didn't let her know I was concerned as I had very good confidence in the doctor. She was semi-sedated for part of the procedure where she had to hold her breath and push down to test the strength of the stents and other areas so she heard them say, "Ok, we are in the right atrium, let's go into the right ventricle, etc." She said, "I thought, wow, they're in my heart". I thought that was cool. Her arteries were clear, no plaque or signs of clots and so the heart gets an A too. The doctor, Haraldur Bjarnason, and his assistant, Timothy Scribner, were just ecstatic with the results. They could be just faking it but it really feels like they care about her. Mr. Scribner called twice yesterday and once today to check on her. He actually talked with Allison today and she was beaming from ear to ear that he would call and talk to her.
They gave her some hefty doses of Heparin to thin her blood at the end of her surgery. Her INR was 1.3 and that is dangerously low for someone with her disorder. So they wanted to get it back up as soon as possible. She had to then have Fragmin shots in her abdomen for a few days. She took her last shot yesterday. We went to her doctor in Birmingham today because the day we left to go to Minnesota she was beginning to feel poorly, like a cold. She has asthma which has had a hard time controlling for the past 7 weeks or so. So Wednesday she had 'that cough' that I know is her asthma. Travelling on a plane isn't good and changing environments doesn't help that. It didn't hinder her surgery but by Thursday evening I knew we needed more medicine. So I got some there at the Mayo Clinic Pharmacy and then on Friday, while we were still in Minnesota, I called her doctor here and explained the situation and they called in antibiotics and a stronger inhaler for her and my family picked it up so that when we got home to Alabama, we would have it. She has pretty much been in the bed since coming home until this morning. Today her doctor was testing her INR to see where it is so we can get it back in what they call "therapeutic range" of 2.5 to 3.5, mainly around 3 or a little above. He also gave her a shot and more medicine for her asthma for her nebulizer and such.
So....she is doing good and got a good report from her surgery. They will call us about when to come back but anticipate the next time to only do ultrasound testing and such, but nothing invasive, unless it warrants it. I feel very good about her doctor here. He is in communication with the doctors in Minnesota and he communicates well with Allison and me too. Allison is really getting to a good place of 'owning' her own health issues. Our next "thing" will be getting her in to a specialized doctor for her PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and endometriosis. We have to see a reproductive endocrinologist for this. Her womb is also slightly heart shaped and so all of those things combined with her Factor V Leiden status require a more in depth doctor in that area. As far as her stents and venous system she should be able to have children one day, if she and her future husband (whoever that may be) should choose but that is why we have to go for further testing and evaluation this way. At one point we were told she should just have a hysterectomy and never consider it. That was within the last year. So those issues are kind of in her head and things we will only begin to address now that we have the more pressing matters situated.
Thank you SOOOOOOO much for all the love and support everyone has extended to us. The prayers are the most important of all and Allison got a message from someone in South Africa last week telling her they, at their congregation, had been praying for her. I can't tell you what that does for my child's faith. It is truly a blessing and gift. Additionally, Barry, Allison and I would like to thank everyone, everyone, everyone who has helped us financially with the costs back and forth and the part we've had to pay, etc. We are SOOOOOO blessed to have that support as well. Someone asked me why we would even consider such an expensive treatment (travel, etc.) for her when we KNEW up front that we couldn't pay. And my only answer was that having exhausted ALL other avenues locally and even on a state level and in Florida too that I KNEW when they called and asked us to come to Rochester, Minnesota for them to evaluate and help Allison that my God WOULD make a way. I don't mean that in any haughty or irresponsible way either. I just knew that if it came to money being the thing stopping us that it would work out. So for the financial help so very, very many of you have given for the initial trip in April and/or the recent trip last week, we are humbled to the point of disbelief (if that makes sense) greatly. WE have learned so many, many lessons in this 'journey' as I'm sure many of you have in various health trials you've been through. One of the things I would mention now is the generosity and love and GENUINE concern expressed by everyone, specifically through financial assistance. These trips have been costly. We are thankful that Barry's employer has allowed him all the time off he needed. We are thankful for the insurance that has definitely paid the greatest portion of the medical costs (The first trip for JUST the doctor visits, testing and surgery cost close to $80,000).
Barry and I want to say a special thanks to Greg and Nancy Picogna. They have generously given of their time and assistance to be a 'center reference' for collecting funds and asking for funds on our behalf. This at a time when BOTH of their fathers have been seriously, seriously ill and continue to fight for their lives. We have been friends with them for many years and they are both people of Christian character. Thank you to them for ALL their help, love and assistance.
There are many others to thank but I'll not try and name them because I know I'll forget someone. Just know that we truly and deeply love, appreciate and thank our wonderful and most high God for you in our lives. Primarily for the prayers, love and concern but the physical blessings you have bestowed on us as well.
In Christian Love,
Jennifer & Barry Pressnell
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