I hope you're okay after reading all of this. I do tend to write a lot, but there is a lot to say, and I promise more. Please keep in touch with me, and thank you for your concern. Most sincerely, Jane Rose

More From Ed's Aunt Jane - Wednesday, February 14, 2001

I promised a longer note about everything that happened, so here goes, and it is long. I hope it answers some of your questions and concerns. Please feel free to post it anywhere else you know Robin might have been part of chats or bulletin boards; I haven't been able to locate them all directly.

Let me start at the beginning, with Faith's birth on Tuesday, Feb. 6. All Robin's other babies had to be induced, and Faith was scheduled to be, too. However, SHE had other plans! Ed called me and my husband Tony at 6:30 Tuesday morning to say this one wasn't going to wait, and could we take care of getting Robin's parents from the airport, which Tony did. I arrived a little later.

When they got to the hospital room, Robin was on her side and a sonogram (I think) was being done, and everyone was asked to leave the room so they could roll her over. When they did, they discovered Faith's head was already out! Since they weren't quite prepared, everyone went running for supplies, the doctor, etc. Tony said it wasn't even a minute later before they heard Faith's cries from out in the hallway. When we were allowed back in the room about 30 min. later, Robin remarked that this was her easiest delivery of all and that she didn't even have to push! When she held Faith for the first time, she even remarked, "Finally! One that looks like me!" She was really happy about that.

We stayed to visit until around 3 pm, when it was obvious Robin needed some rest. I believe Ed took the rest of the family home not long after that himself. He'd had to take everyone to the hospital since Faith came early, so all the kids were there that day. I'm sure they said good-bye to their Mom then, at that point it being a "see you later" thing. They didn't know she was sick, and I'm sure Robin wouldn't have wanted them to know and worry.

When we were there, Robin was pretty shaky, but we understood that was normal for her right after delivery. But she apparently remained shaky, and later that night she began running about a 103 degree fever and cramping with some bleeding. I don't have all the details on what exactly transpired, but early Wednesday morning they took her in for a D&C with possible hysterectomy. I understand she was in good spirits and talking and joking with the nurses all the way until she was put under for surgery.

From that point on, all I know is that they weren't able to control or stop her bleeding, and when it became apparent that it was a life-threatening issue, her doctor and the staff did literally absolutely EVERYTHING possible to safe her life. However, they lost the battle and Robin passed away at approximately 10:30 am.

Her doctor and the entire staff at Seton Hospital were horribly shaken by what happened. I understand her doctor was so upset that he had to go home for the day, but he and the rest of the staff in attendance made sure to see Ed that day to tell him they did all they could and offer their support. All of them were weeping along with the rest of us.

The autopsy showed that it was the Strep A virus that ended her life. We were told by a very knowledgeable medical researcher on Strep A (who happens to be one of Ed's Aunts), that upon review of Robin's case, this Strep was so aggressive that even if she'd been given massive doses of the correct antibiotics as soon as the symptoms started, that might have bought her an extra 24 hours. But in what state would she have been? We don't know.

We also don't know how she contracted it. The Saturday prior to all this, Robin sent some of us a note saying she'd recently had a touch of the flu, but was feeling better and it was nothing to worry about. In doing some reading on Strep A, Tony and I have seen where "flu-like symptoms" can sometimes be a precursor of the illness, but there's no telling if it was related to this or not. The hospital is on alert and we hope no other cases of this turn up. If they do, then maybe we'll get some idea of where it came from. But there's really no way to know. Of the hospital staff and her doctor, no one is to blame and we hold no ill will toward any of them.

Faith has passed every medical test with flying colors. If it is possible that Robin had the Strep before Faith was born, then it is nothing short of a miracle that she is alive, much less doing as well as she is.

Robin's funeral was beautiful, with many flowers and lots of music, which Robin loved. Her church family has been outstanding in their support, and we thank them for everything they've done and continue to do. Ed's employer has also been a great provider of support and help, and are giving him as much help and time as he needs to get things taken care of.

Their children are doing as well as possible. Summer, at six, is really the only one with a true grasp of their loss. One of her first comments was that the other kids wouldn't remember their mommy. We're all doing our best to make sure all of them will have many great memories of her. Both Robin's and Ed's families are large and very supportive, and she had a great many friends who are also doing what they can to help.

Ed's parents will be here a while. His Mom, Chris, will be staying indefinitely to help raise the kids. They've been living in Venezuela the last few years but were planning to move back to Houston next month. Now that this has happened, Chris will definitely stay and Ed's Dad will probably be close by. Retirement is an option for him, but that decision has not yet been made.

Tony and I have taken on the task of helping inform people who were her friends via the internet about what has happened, hence this note. It seems there are hundreds of people whose lives Robin touched, and we wanted to be sure you knew the situation. Everyone in Robin and Ed's family is doing as well as possible at this point, but your continued prayers and support are appreciated.

Many people have asked about donating or contributing to any memorial fund that may be set up. Tony and I expect to be involved with it, and will let you know when something is established. However, it's taking some time to get Faith's social security number and also get their bank accounts straightened out, since Robin was the organizer in the family and held all the accounts in her name. Once these details are worked out and the family has had a chance to determine what would be most appropriate, I'll send another posting.

Thank you for all your prayers and kind words and thoughts for Robin and Ed's family. They really are appreciated to an extent that words cannot appropriately convey. All of you are wonderful for being so concerned and sympathetic.

If you wish to send any questions or further comments, please feel free to e-mail me directly. I'll be overseeing "communication with the masses" on Ed's behalf for some time. I'll be glad to try and answer any questions I can. In turn, please let me know of any memorial pages set up or bulletin boards that might have a lot of condolence notes posted. I'd really like to see them and print them out for a possible remembrance book. Thank you again for all your support and help.

Jane Rose
[email protected]

(02/09/2001)Robin G. Nordmeyer - Robin G. Nordmeyer, age 34, of Dripping Springs formerly of California, died unexpectedly Wednesday, February 7, 2001. Robin was devoted to her family and to her church, both of which she loved most in life. She was a member of the Christian Life Church and the loving mother of four beautiful children and devoted wife to her husband, Edward. She was gifted with a lovely voice which she used for God's praise, singing as a soloist and in the church choir. She was a wonderful seamstress and shared this talent by sewing for many people. Robin is survived by her husband, Edward F. Nordmeyer III, of Dripping Springs; children, Summer Elizabeth, Luke Austin, Elijah Seth and Faith Cheyenne; parents, John and Janie, Fisher, of Fremont, California; grandparents, Henry and Delta Fisher, of Arizona; brothers, Jonathan Fisher and wife, Angie, of Fremont, California, Mark Fisher, of Pacific Beach, California; sister, Tiffany Fisher, of Fremont, California; and numerous aunts and uncles, cousins, niece and nephew. The family will receive friends at Harrell Funeral Home 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 9, 2001. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 10, 2001, at Christian Life Church, 4700 West Gate Blvd., Austin, Texas 78745 with Pastor Rex Johnson officiating. Interment will be in Forest Oaks Memorial Park. Arrangements by Harrell Funeral Home (Austin), 4435 Frontier Trail, Austin, Texas 78745 512-443-1366.