(DU'er's sister) St. Luke's to continue care of heart patient

[Judi Lynn]

May 3, 2006, 2:45AM
St. Luke's to continue care of heart patient
Decision eases uncertainty after transfer to Chicago falls through

By TODD ACKERMAN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital decided Tuesday to keep treating a severely ill heart patient, ending a two-week battle with the woman's family over the hospital's plan to take her off life support.

The revocation of the plan follows the involvement of a new doctor, found by Texas Right-to-Life, who hopes Andrea Clark can be rehabilitated to the point where she can be transferred to another facility.

"The odds are against her," acknowledged Dr. Matthew Lenz, the doctor assuming Clark's primary care. "She's in critical condition and any new complication could be life threatening, but we're going to give her a fighting chance."

In a statement, St. Luke's said it will continue "an aggressive search" for a facility to treat Clark long-term.
(snip/...)

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3836489.html

If you have not seen her posts yet, here is the first one regarding her sister and the hospital in Houston:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=938139

Best wishes for her improvement, Melanie. It's only right St. Luke's has relented.

[Hekate]

1. TY for the update. I'm so glad to hear Andrea's still hanging on...

...and I'm certainly glad she's getting personalized care.

Melanie, our thoughts are with you and your family.

Hekate

[nicknameless]

2. Good decision

;)

:toast: To Andrea getting better and to her awesome sister. :grouphug:

[Andromeda]

3. My prayers are for Andrea Clark and her family...

[wakeme2008]

4. This is just IMHO but I would want to moved that lady fast

When she starts speaking, St Lukes has a major problem. :grr:

[Oversea Visitor]

5. n/t

:kick:

[gademocrat7]

6. My thoughts and prayers are for Andrea and her family.

[Dogmudgeon]

7. Finally, the RTL movement lives up to its name

Well, a couple of members, anyway. It's a start.

I, too, am pulling for Andrea. It's a shame that people have to be that sick before policy gets discussed, but at least it's happening.

--p!

[IndyOp]

8. It is appropriate the Doctor is being cautious...

Andrea seems like quite a fighter -- at age 5 having been one of the first patients on a heart/lung machine.

My hope is that Andrea and her family will be treated with great respect and sensitivity from here on - no matter what happens.

O8)

[knitter4democracy]

9. The right thing happened.

That's what we were working for. The new doctor sounds like he's got her care in hand, and it sounds like Andrea's slowly getting better. Who knows how that will go, but this way, it's her decision and her life. This is a good thing.

Apparently, the hospital got sick of all the negative attention it was getting. At least we know now that it works. There are others in Texas in the same boat, so it's time to change that law.

[OhioChick]

10. Great News

Prayers for the woman and her family.

[elehhhhna]

11. Andrea bridged the gap between us Lib'ruls & the right to lifers--

So miracles do happen.

[etherealtruth]

13. Touche`

O8)

[kiteinthewind]

12. Prayers to you and your family, Melanie.

:kick:

[Ilsa]

14. I hope Andrea is able to walk into an Ethics committee

meeting and give some greedy bastards a piece of her mind.

Sorry to sound so negative, but I'd love to see that on the news and for the Imperial Blivet that signed it into law to hear about it as well.

[liberalla]

15. Amen!

Especially that Dr. Giveon (her former doctor) who signed off on removing her from the equipment, then went on vacation!!! what a weasel!

[midnight]

16. I'm happy to hear Andrea is fighting with her sister.

Fragile as things are, this is good to hear.

[Vidar]

17. Glad for her & her family.