Memorials to Loved Ones Lost to ARDS

My dad, who was 82 years old at the time, was taken to the hospital by ambulance on March 2, 2009 after being found on the floor of his apartment. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and sepsis, and was doing fine for the first few days. He was on oxygen, and then on the March 12th, he was struggling to breathe, and he was intubated. One of the doctors said he had ARDS, but unfortunately, it seemed like none of the doctors knew much about it, and it was too late to have him transferred to a larger hospital to be treated since he was on a respirator. Shortly after that, his kidneys started to fail, and they started dialysis. A few days later, he wasn't absorbing the food from the feeding tube, and was bleeding from his GI tract. It seemed every day, he just got worse, and a new problem occurred daily. His poor body couldn't handle it, and he died on March 27th, 2009. .

We're having a difficult time accepting this, and there is a lot we don't understand, except that he's gone. I hope that someday there is some sort of test that can be given, and treatment for this horrible syndrome. Pictured with my dad is Vivian (Dolly), who was his wife. Sadly, Dolly passed away just six short weeks after my father. While we were sad to lose her so close to my father, we are so glad they are now together. He was survived by his 3 daughters, 2 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren who loved him and miss him everyday.

In Loving Memory of Lacey Jo Simmons

Lost on April 16, 2008

Lacey Jo turned 14 in February 2008. She was a beautiful, outgoing fun loving young lady. She loved riding her horse and any kind of sports. She played basketball, softball and ran track. Softball was her favorite. We were at a soccer match on a Friday and she started running a fever. I took her to the doctor on Tuesday because we thought she had mono. The test came back negative. The next morning she wanted me to take her to the ER so off we went. Lacey threw up for hours, but they could not find anything wrong. They took a chest x-ray but couldn't find anything. They kept us overnight and x-rayed her again the next morning. They rushed us off to St Francis in Tulsa. They had no idea what kind of pneumonia she had. We got to Tulsa on Thursday, March 6. They told us she Mycoplasma, part bacteria and part viral. Lacey stayed in the hospital ICU for 7 days; she was on oxygen, but she was talking and texting. I could tell she wasn't getting better, but I had no idea how bad she was getting. On Wednesday night, she was getting worse; her chest started to burn and they said her air sacks in her lungs had ruptured. The next morning they put her on an ECMO machine and thought after about two weeks she would be ok. After 14 days she started to bleed in her chest. They went in and tried to stop it , but it started up again the next day. We had to take her off the machine. No one thought she would make it without the machine but she did. It was a roller coaster ride. The doctors placed her on the oscillator thinking it would help. Lacey could not maintain high enough o2 sats without lots of oxygen. We would turn the oxygen down and she would do ok for a couple of days then she would go back down. We lost Lacey April 16, 2008 at the tender age of 14, but this young lady touch thousands of people during her 6 week battle with ARDS. She brought a town to their knees. There was not a sign or car in town that did not say "Pray 4 Lacey." They made Prayer Warrior t-shirts and had prayer meetings all for Lacey. I will never understand why the Lord chose to take my Lacey but I know she has a Crown of Gold.

Super girl's Mom
Leisa

leisajo@yahoo.com

In Loving Memory of Mark Gregory Ryan

September 18, 1974 – October 17, 2007

To the Family and Friends of Mark Ryan:

First I would like to thank all of you for your friendship, love and support during this most difficult year. It has meant the world to me. Mark would've turned 34 years old last Thursday, September 18th. I did a special little ceremony of my own at his brother, Aaron's grave site (Sudden Infant Death, 1973) at Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth, California. It was Mark's wish to rest near his brother.

The family has found a beautiful resting place that Mark especially liked. It is at the foothills of the Santa Susanna Mountains and it overlooks the whole cemetery. It is located at the far northwestern part of Oakwood Memorial Park near his brother's final resting place in a section called Willows Heights.

Also as most of you may know, Mark was cremated and his ashes have been spread around the Island of Oahu in Hawaii and in the Rincon waters in Santa Barbara County. These were two of his favorite places. Mark was exceptionally talented at creating music and businesses. His vision was unique. He was also a avid Lakers Fan.

Mark got sick in February 2004 with sepsis and was in the ICU for seven weeks. He miraculously recovered against all odds but he also had RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) an incurable neurological disorder that has a pain level higher than cancer. Please visit www.rsds.org.

The family is having a fundraiser for a nice memorial marker in Marks honor. We are humbly asking for your help. Any donation will be appreciated. Our goal date is October 17th because that will be the one year anniversary of his death.

You may make a donation online by using Fundable.com, scroll down to the bottom of the page and type Mark Ryan in the search box or for your convenience click on the following link:

https://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2008-09-24.4578584003/view?searchterm=mark%20ryan

Fundable.com is a trusted website tested by SafeShoppingNetwork.com, one of Mark's creations. If you feel uncomfortable doing this online you can use my home address and the amount will go directly into a special fund that we have started.

Please pass this letter to anyone you know that may be interested in helping with Mark's memorial marker. There are so many people out there that I do not have email or regular addresses for that were so gracious to me at Mark's memorial. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thank You, Patty (Mark's Mom)

Patty Shennum - 5709 Calvin Ave. Tarzana, CA 91356 patty@safeshoppingnetwork.com

In Memory of Frances K. Powers

March 6, 1932 – November 8, 2007

Readington Township, NJ

Frances K. Powers, age 75 years, of Readington Township, NJ, died on Thursday, November 8, 2007 in the Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ.

Born in Perth Amboy, NJ, March 6, 1932, daughter of the late Joseph and Frances Kosturski, she had resided in Readington Township, NJ since 1973, having formerly lived in Woodbridge, NJ.

Mrs. Powers was employed by Van Sycle Auto Agency, Perth Amboy, NJ for fifteen years and later by Perth Amboy National Bank. She was a Communicant of St. Magdalen Church, Flemington, NJ.

Surving are her husband, Robert P. Powers; a son, John R. Powers of Hillsborough, NJ; two daughters and sons-in-law, Lynn Powers and Matteo Giordano III of Hillsborough, NJ, and Lori Jane and Steven Pasternack of Hillsborough, NJ; a sister, Valerie Kosturski of Perth Amboy, NJ; and nine grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 10:00 a.m. in St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ. Entombment will follow in St. Magdalen Mausoleum, Flemington, NJ. Calling hours will be Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to send condolences.

Memorial contributions may be made in Frances Powers' name. Please send to:

ARDS

Support Center, Inc.

7172 Regional Street, #278

Dublin, CA 94568-2324

www.ards.org

In Memory of Chanda Elaine Wheeler

August 15, 1976 – April 18, 1997

Indianapolis, IN

Chanda was born on a foggy August morning, she passed on a cool April afternoon. After a 7 week fight, ARDS had finally taken over her body. Her body went thought so many changes during this time, it was almost hard to tell it was Chanda. In the end as you could tell time was near, the swelling in her face and body went away and she returned to the beautiful 20 year old she was before this dreaded disease. We all miss you Chanda. If I could tell you just two things that I know you would hear they would be: One, I love you dearly, and Two, you have two of the greatest sons ever born. You will always be a part of our lives.

Love, Dad

In Memory of Gerald Franklin Harris

Gerald was my brother and a champion. In May of 2005 he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He was devastated at first, but quickly recovered to announce that he would 'beat cancer'. The surgeons removed two-thirds of his stomach and part of the esophagus and put it back together. He came to my house to get his chemo and endured that for four months and gained 30 pounds due to my constant food pushing. He acted like I was a pain, but he really knew I was obsessed with him surviving. He returned to Wichita Falls, Texas to get radiation. When he finished his prescribed treatments, the radiologist asked him to come back eight times for more. Jerry did and ultimately ruined what was left of his stomach. He began to lose a lot blood and actually had 30 units of blood over a six week period. I brought him back to Richardson, Texas with me and he was admitted. His only choice at this point was to remove the stomach completely, and he was now in serious condition from blood loss and aspirating blood and gastric juices into his lungs. He went into surgery on April 13th, and came out and went directly to the ICU where I heard my first ARDS diagnosis. He remained there for almost four weeks paralyzed and sedated. When they discontinued the drugs, my brother never responded with much more than an eye lash twitch and a tiny reaction to deep pain. They said he had slow brain activity. My response was that runs in the family�he will be fine and if we have to help him for the rest of his life, we will. Jerry began to lose his ability to keep his blood pressure up and we had a frightening night on the tenth of May. Jerry died in my arms on the eleventh of May with me still telling him how loved he was and how valuable he was to all of us. He left three children: Gerald Harris Jr., Christopher Harris and Meghan Harris, as well as a lot of people who miss him dearly, including me. I swore to make ARDS my own personal enemy that morning and after he is resting, the war will begin. Never have I seen such a dreadful syndrome as this take the lives and energy from the patient and the family. Jerry, we know wherever you are, you are enjoying a good joke and feeling safe knowing all of us you left love you greatly and always will.

Ellen Crockett