Karin Catania's recovery campaign
Donation protected
Hello Family and Friends of Karin -
Our dear Karin has found herself in a difficult situation. On August 23 she developed a fever and over the next couple of days, an illness had clearly developed and her temperature spiked to 103. She was rushed to Weiss Hospital on Saturday the 26th, where they started fluids and antibiotics, not really knowing the cause of her illness. Friends and family made the decision to get her transferred to the University of Chicago Hospital where Karin was known by many doctors on her team who had been treating her for the sarcoidosis. She was admitted into the ICU and they discovered through many tests that Karin developed a meningitis, an inflammation of the lining of the brain, the origins of which is still unknown.
Although (and unfortunately) her defibrillator did go off during the beginning of the ordeal (they think due to low potassium and her pacemaker needing adjustment) what she is experiencing has nothing to do with the sarcoid and her heart and lung functions, for her, are normal.
She continues to be on antibiotics and antiretroviral medications and her blood counts have now returned to normal and a couple of days ago she was moved to a regular hospital room after being in ICU for about 2 weeks.
A lot of good news except Karin is experiencing residual effects of the meningitis. She is breathing on her own, can see & hear and recognize people, and she now knows where she is and what is happening. Within the last few days, she has communicated with short sentences and has begun the slow process of PT. She has spent time in a chair (which the staff have moved her into) she remains in bed and is still being fed through a tube. In order to start eating she must pass a swallow test which of course includes being able to swallow as well as have clear communication with others. It is the latter that she is struggling with, but there have been gradual improvements in this area.
So this is where we are with our dear Karin. It looks as though it will be a long road back for our strong and tenacious girl!
This fund is being set up to help Karin on her road to recovery, whether that be in medical expenses, physical therapy, food, medication, possibly moving expenses and whatever might be needed in Karin's future.
I am quite certain that Karin has touched your life with her endless gifts of helping, listening, laughing, understanding, advising, loving, and baking! Now is a great time to return all of that unconditional love we have received over the years.
— Christopher Riley & Scott Calcagno
Our dear Karin has found herself in a difficult situation. On August 23 she developed a fever and over the next couple of days, an illness had clearly developed and her temperature spiked to 103. She was rushed to Weiss Hospital on Saturday the 26th, where they started fluids and antibiotics, not really knowing the cause of her illness. Friends and family made the decision to get her transferred to the University of Chicago Hospital where Karin was known by many doctors on her team who had been treating her for the sarcoidosis. She was admitted into the ICU and they discovered through many tests that Karin developed a meningitis, an inflammation of the lining of the brain, the origins of which is still unknown.
Although (and unfortunately) her defibrillator did go off during the beginning of the ordeal (they think due to low potassium and her pacemaker needing adjustment) what she is experiencing has nothing to do with the sarcoid and her heart and lung functions, for her, are normal.
She continues to be on antibiotics and antiretroviral medications and her blood counts have now returned to normal and a couple of days ago she was moved to a regular hospital room after being in ICU for about 2 weeks.
A lot of good news except Karin is experiencing residual effects of the meningitis. She is breathing on her own, can see & hear and recognize people, and she now knows where she is and what is happening. Within the last few days, she has communicated with short sentences and has begun the slow process of PT. She has spent time in a chair (which the staff have moved her into) she remains in bed and is still being fed through a tube. In order to start eating she must pass a swallow test which of course includes being able to swallow as well as have clear communication with others. It is the latter that she is struggling with, but there have been gradual improvements in this area.
So this is where we are with our dear Karin. It looks as though it will be a long road back for our strong and tenacious girl!
This fund is being set up to help Karin on her road to recovery, whether that be in medical expenses, physical therapy, food, medication, possibly moving expenses and whatever might be needed in Karin's future.
I am quite certain that Karin has touched your life with her endless gifts of helping, listening, laughing, understanding, advising, loving, and baking! Now is a great time to return all of that unconditional love we have received over the years.
— Christopher Riley & Scott Calcagno
Organizer and beneficiary
Christopher Riley
Organizer
Chicago, IL
Karin Catania
Beneficiary
