Sending Paula to rest!

Our mom caught what she thought was a common cold. She started showing symptoms Saturday January 18th but she just took over the counter medicine like for a normal cold. Through out the week it got worse quickly. Friday morning her granddaughter Zarynah seen how sick she was and not able to get out of bed. She called Grandma Cat who is Paula’s mother over. Once she seen the condition she was in she called 911. The ambulance rushed her to Kaiser off Cottle in San Jose. She was diagnosed with pneumonia and influenza. Her lungs had severe damage due to all the fluid. They were not able to work like normal and she struggled for air. She was able to talk the first few minutes. After that they decided it was better to put her in a medically induced coma.  Sunday the 26th they realized it was not much more they could do. Her lungs were not able to function on their own. Kaiser transferred her late Sunday night to Stanford in Palo Alto. Right after arrival the surgeons had prepped her for surgery. The Ecmo machine was placed on the side of her neck. Taking her blood out of her body and replacing it with the same blood but with oxygen. They decided to lower her sedation medication. Soon they realized she became agitated once the medication wore off. She was able to twist and turn a bit in the bed. No words due to all the tubes down her throat. She opened her eyes and looked around. They had to restrain her due to all the movement. They were worried she pull a tube out or hurt herself.  She seems to be stable for now. Still in critical condition. Her lungs need time to rest. She receives visits daily from her mother, daughters, other family and friends as well. The family appreciates all the calls, text, visits, and prayers. Many have asked what can they do. We would like her to have no worries when she does wake up and is alert. We have high hopes of her being able to continue a happy healthy life after her lungs improve. She was recently laid off her job and currently in the process of moving. We will be needing funds for her move as well as her recovery to a recovery home in the area. We are currently working on getting her medical coverage for the services she is currently receiving.