Updates2

September 24, 2001

At 11:30 a.m. on Sunday (September 23, 2001), Mary Beth lapsed into a coma after suffering some respiratory distress apparently caused by continued swelling in her brain. Mary Beth remains in a deep coma. She remains unable to breathe on her own and is attached to a ventilator. Keith is by her side as are her parents. Doctors are continuing to assess her condition at regular intervals. The situation is very serious. Please keep Mary Beth, Keith, their children and Mary Beth's parents and siblings in your thoughts and prayers.

Fortunately, Mary Beth did have the opportunity to see all of her children before this downturn. Keith left with the children on Friday to drive to Pittsburgh. They arrived on Saturday and had a good chance to visit with Mary Beth.

At 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Mary Beth began experiencing some mild seizure-like symptoms. Her parents took her to the emergency room at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Mary Beth was given medication to control the seizures and was admitted to the hospital. Keith spent the night with her. She was restless and did not sleep very well. At 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, Dr. Kirkwood's assistant assessed her and did not seem overly concerned. He adjusted Mary Beth's medications slightly. By 10:15 a.m. Mary Beth fell into a deep restful sleep.

At 11:30 a.m., however, Keith noticed that Mary Beth was experiencing respiratory difficulty. He thought that she was trying to clear some phlegm from her throat and requested help from the nurse. While the nurse was giving assistance, Keith noticed that Mary Beth's lips had turned blue and that she had stopped breathing. He ran into the hallway and yelled "code blue". Within minutes, a team responded, inserted a trache and had Mary Beth breathing again. Probably no more than a minute or two elapsed. She was then attached to a respirator.

Mary Beth has not regained consciousness since falling asleep at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday. Dr. Kirkwood has examined her. He believes that her respiratory difficulty and her current unconscious state is a result of continued swelling in her brain caused by the cancer. He also believes that the swelling will soon compromise other vital functions.

Sunday everning there was a spontaneous gathering of over 100 people at our home filling the first floor, spreading to the upstairs and out in the front yard to join together in prayer for Mary Beth and Keith. Mass was said at Visitation Church today for Mary Beth and a rosary attended by over 40 people followed thereafter. The rosary will be said on Wednesday evening for Mary Beth and her family (as is has been every Wednesday since Mary Beth's diagnosis) at the home of Dick and Bernadette Miller, 1250 W. 56th Street.

Please continue to keep Mary Beth and her family in your prayers.

~ Steve Miller ~

September 18, 2001

Dear Friends of Mary Beth's,

Those of you with whom we correspond at Christmas know that my communiques are nothing if not tardy. It seems that having a website to post to has not changed that. Two weeks since my previous post, Mary Beth has completed her first round of Temodar treatments with little side effects. She is also overcoming a bout with a skin rash reaction to dilantin. The dilantin has now been replaced by phenol barbital. She was helped through that challenge by former ND roundballer, turned dermatologist, Maggie (Lolly) Mauris. Mary Beth has begun to be weaned from her decadron, with the hope that the edema remains negligible.

The children are doing well. We have transitioned to the school year with a minimum of hiccups. (Vis Moms, the boys can wear those shorts into December, can't they?) To date....

           Kelly's been in the paper more times the first two weeks for her STA tennis than her Dad has been
           in his life!

           Patrick opened the hole for the winning TD in his football game last weekend!

           Daniel (so duh) and the twins (surprise) are scoring goals on the soccer field!

The children and I may be traveling to Pittsburgh this weekend to be with Mom. If you live along the route, lock your doors. Keep those prayers coming (but hold the great breakfasts and dinners, until we get back!)

Our love back to you,
Keith, MB and family