As most of my friends know I have been battling an ongoing a MRSA Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus infection for a very long time. Four years ago I had sinus surgery and this staph infection made a new home in my left sinus cavity passage.
I waited for another four long miserable years and in the meantime researched out all the top specialists in the United States. This included New York, Chicago and Houston. I confidently settled on an excellent Doctor in Newport Beach, CA. Dr. Daniel did an extensive surgery and harvested my own rib, an ear and a section of scalp fascia to regenerate what the staph had destroyed before in my face. I waited patiently ten days and thought I was in the clear and headed back to Texas. I woke up this past Monday morning (Memorial Day) and my abscess was back in full force. I was truly heartbroken, almost to hysteria. My wonderful husband, John and I spent the day in the Emergency room. I was given I.M. antibiotics and some in pill form.
Obviously not able to fly back to California I could not consult with my physician. Yesterday, Dr. Daniel sent me to a colleague of his at the globally recognized Texas Children's Hospital. This facility is the most incredible in the world. This was my first introduction to the brilliant Dr. Sam Stal, who is chief of surgery at TCH. He cultured my nose and brought in his associate, Dr Sheldon Kaplan who is Chief of Infectious Diseases. I knew in my heart I had the A-TEAM! I went from borderline hysteria to these men putting me at ease. They both agreed the staph strain had been out of control in Texas and they felt like this was no easy journey I was about to endure. Once they survey the culture for various strains they will decide by later today or tomorrow if my antibiotics are having any effect. I guess I will know in the next few hours if I have to be admitted back into the hospital.
You can only imagine how I felt when I left the hospital yesterday and most of today. To say I felt defeated and crushed is an understatement. I have been home studying all I can on the MRSA virus and how you can protect yourself. Please take notice and take these precautions to protect yourself and your loved one from this virus that lays dormant in all of us but killed 19,000 last year.
I feel a bit like Chicken Little-Revere, shouting "the Staph/MRSA is coming!" But I really don't think that enough about this is being told. Do you even know what I'm talking about when I say Staph and MRSA?Why is that? Mainstream media doesn't talk about it much because it isn't "fun" news - (but they would talk about it a lot if alcohol based hand gel was an expensive product advertised on their channel!) No, a bacterial infection that is resistant to almost all our present-day antibiotics is scary. We don't really want to hear about it, do we? It used to be that this was mainly a problem for older people, sick people, or anyone with a weak immune system. I personally have had Meningitis four times, so my own immune system is much weaker than most. Alas, there have been cases of perfectly healthy middle school aged children who are fine one day and the next day they're on life support.
A new study found that invasive MRSA infections, the kind that attack the blood or bones, occur more than 94,000 times a year in the United States. In 2007 studies show more people died from the MRSA staph than Auto Immune Deficiency Syndrome related cases. While most of those infections occur in hospitals, others are picked up in the outside world. Here, expert tips on how to protect yourself.
1. Wash your hands—a lot.MRSA passes by touch. Use soap and hot water. And carry a hand sanitizer when you don’t have access to a sink. Use bleach wipes to clean your keyboard and all phone sets. Wipe your cell phone down often.
2. Be on guard at the gym.Bring your own yoga mat, and wear workout gear that covers your skin.
3. Check it out.Pay attention to pimples or spots that look like spider bites. If they become painful or red, see a your doc—or visit a drop-in clinic or an ER. And don’t be shy about asking about MRSA.
When I first contacted this in 1995, I assumed (like many) I had been bitten on my upper leg by a spider. I went to the Doctor when this hard, hot boil started to form. The Doctor did not treat me for staph since it was not rampant and virtually unrecognized then. I had been in Coronary Intensive Care Unit for six days before I woke up from a coma. My leg was saved but I nearly lost it in this process. This happened so fast -- in almost 72 hours.
Keep in mind you MUST regularly clean your bathroom, kitchen, and all other rooms, as well as your personal items. Wash clothes and other items that are contaminated with hot water or bleach, when possible. Drying clothes in a hot dryer, rather than air-drying, also helps kill bacteria in clothes.It also helps to carry sanitizing wipes for public bathrooms, phones, shopping carts, and door handles. It also helps to carry a small bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Please, please take the precautions necessary!!
Today we had a home full of love and laughter! Chip, Jenna and their precious twins Rees and Parker brought Caryn, Johnny with their little angels, Zoe and Xander. Soon we had Daniel and Veronica plus their friends.....Hailey and Lucky plus their friends! We had more events happening than the Olympics! Bocce Ball, horseshoes, Indy 500, swimming.....we burned as many calories as we ate!
Just how much Senate experience does Barack Obama have in terms of actual work days? Not much.
From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate. That's how many days the Senate was actually in session and working.
After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World, and fill the shoes of Abraham Lincoln, FDR, JFK and Ronald Reagan.
143 days -- I keep leftovers in my refrigerator longer than that.
In contrast, John McCain's 26 years in Congress, 22 years of military service including 1,966 days in captivity as a POW in Hanoi now seem more impressive than ever. At 71, John McCain may just be hitting his stride.
Think about IT!!!
Anyone that really knows me KNOWS I love to give "good letter" I do not decide thoughtlessly when I choose whom is most valuable of my time. I have been a "fan of the pen" for years and I find it quite cathartic.
I recall writing one of my first letters in high school to "legal eagle" Joe Jamail after he won the Pennzoil case. The Houston Post interviewed him and he was giving a diatribe of how Samson whipped Goliath. Well, as he had his feet perched upon his hand carved desk there was a hole in the sole of his shoe. This was worthy of a letter.
Many letters has passed over twenty years. My first one post marriage was a rather poignant one to the National Trust that owns Cliveden Estate. I carbon copied the entire Board and the Chairman of the Express Newspapers. I will not bore you with details, but they had it coming.
This brings me to my latest letter snapped off from my blackberry at 35,000 feet yesterday. I was flying back from my surgery and post-recovery in Orange County, California. After we went airborne I could hear little babies muffled screams and wails. I was concerned; I asked the man next to me in #2B "Do you hear that?" His reply was "I am trying not too" Well, I excused myself to go to the restroom and the flight attendant informed me "This woman just went in with her newborn, that is what all the commotion is. She could be a while." From this moment I glanced at my watch and noted the time. Bless this poor young Mother, 28 minutes later she emerged looking like she had just had an audition for Survivor. She was red-faced, disheveled, her 5 month old son was hysterical. I swear at times it sounded as she was attempting to flush him down he was so upset. When she emerged I could not help but touch her on the arm and said "if I had any idea you needed help I would have stepped up but you were already inside by the time I heard your baby" She apologized to me and said "I am so sorry you had to wait, but there is no changing table in first class" I have mentioned this on two occasions I had to my friend that is high up at Continental. It is a long flight back and forth from London when dodging for a bathroom with a little one. Naturally, when I saw the frustration in this sweet Mothers eyes that is all I needed to hear before I got my "Ralph Nader-Nancy Drew-Lois Lane cape" on and fired off a letter to the Chairman of Continental.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Attention: Chairman, Continental Airlines
Dear Mr. Kellner:
I would call you "Larry" since we have met numerous times socially but since this is a complaint letter of sorts I will stick with formalities.
My husband, John and I are platinum status of your airline. My daughter, Sinclair is a mere 21 months old and has already taken 18 international flights, not considering the many domestics. The thing I find most irritating usually begins after your "warm and fuzzy speech" about being the airline with the "youngest fleet" and the "state of the art aircraft", this is all "white noise" considering you do not properly accommodate parents traveling with small children. I agree, service is usually top notch but when I fly, always first class and I usually have my daughter with me. I am not able to change her in a first class bathroom since there is no changing table. Which means I have to trek all the way to the back of the plane and hope there are not five people in front of me and usually by this time we are both most uncomfortable. I am quite confidant you have never had to hold a baby while pulling your pants down to go to the bathroom and bob them on your hip while washing your hands - then tending to a crying infant that is dangling mid air? Yeah, didn't think so.
Why in the hell would I want free booze, free head phones when I have to deal with the agony of no proper bathroom accommodations? Although my daughter is yet to turn two, we even buy out the seat next to us for extra room and stuffed animals. Keep in mind she stays in my lap. Could you please apply the dozens of seats I bought and never used to the "Kidcare FIRST CLASS Potty Fund?". Honestly, I can even Chair a Ball and raise the funds myself.
My husband and I are also loyal clients of Netjets and have been for some time. We have special request such as his Johnny Walker Blue, my Dr Pepper and a changing table. They always come through. Nevertheless, I'm confidant Warren Buffet, as well you know, the primary owner of NetJet's, has never had to potty while holding a newborn either.
Alas, I am traveling solo today from Orange County I just watched a desperate teary eyed woman with a 5 month old emerge after 28 minutes (I timed her since I have felt her pain on more than one occasion). That left four others waiting for the restroom. This poor woman was so upset and the baby is now hysterical and is entertaining most of First Class. I personally love the sound of one of God's little miracles but the gentleman next to me switching heading to an International flight at IAH and going on to Argentina looks a little pinched and is one his third scotch.
I just think you should consider changing tables for First Class in your next budget meeting. I feel very strongly about this. Keep in mind, I am always available for presentations to your Board as well. Please note, I have copied my other friends in various departments of your company so this makes no error reaching you. Of course, by the time you get it they may not admit to knowing me, but I have photos to prove it.
Kindest regards, Kristi
In less than one hour from the moment my plane touched down, in fact I was still in route to my home. I received a phone call on my cell phone from a number I did not recognize. This was the head of marketing that informed me that my letter did in fact reach the Chairman and it left him upset. When I heard this, I was so impressed he "felt my pain" until I heard that he considered it one of the "meaner letters they had ever received" I was stunned. I asked him if he was kidding. He informed me he was not.
I laughed and explained "if that is truly the meanest letter you have ever received your company is doing better than the analysts are saying and if you think that is 'nasty' you need to watch more late night cable"
Then came the stunner ...."Larry Kellner only flies COACH CLASS so he probably does not understand about what goes on in First Class, especially the bathrooms"
I immediately thought I wonder if Herb Kelleher, Chairman of Southwest Airlines had this tidbit of information. Mental note to self: email Herb!
After regaining my composure to keep from laughing hysterically in the phone I offered this bit of advice "if Larry Kellner is Chairman of the largest airline in the U.S. and he flies coach, he needs to get a better lawyer writing his employment agreements."
I felt so sorry that the Chairman is forced to fly coach in the wake of high gas prices that I felt his public that complains of exorbitant airline prices needs to know the sacrifices Mr. Kellner makes. I am sure with their stock plummeting from $40 to $16 that their Investor Relations department is so busy with Wallstreet they truly do not have the time to inform the General Public of the sacrifices this Chairman makes. So I let my friends at Business Week, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Times, London Express, Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News and Fox News know that this CEO wast truly "taking one for the team by flying Coach" and this explains clearly why is has NO CLUE what happens in First Class.
In turn, I copied Warren Buffett and the President of NetJets, Jim Christiansen and thanked them for my changing table. FYI: I received an email back from the head of NetJets thanking me for being such a valued customer. I was not promised extra hours but I was guaranteed my changing table and my Dr. Pepper. That is all I truly need.
I am shaking as I write this post. Today is such a monumental and auspicious occasion to me and it is not even 10 AM on the West coast. In between shaking and crying tears of joy I am just overwhelmed with happiness of how my face was just unveiled. After almost 18 years (more than half my life) and a dozen procedures that included a total of over 40 hours of general anesthesia, my journey has met its final destination this week in the hands of Dr. Rollin Daniel. I told Dr Daniel, whom I will only call "The Master" from this day forward "the last time I felt this much joy I held my daughter for the first time"
I took these this afternoon from my hotel room at the gorgeous Fashion Island. The weather was actually high 80's today and I heard it mentioned dozens of times "Can you believe this weather?" Finally, I said "I know, it is amazing" and this woman in the lobby said "Miss, We are experiencing a heatwave" followed by the look of pure stupidity she inserted my way. Then she added "Even the Saudi Royals here are shocked by this heat" I laughed (probably somewhat arrogantly) explained I was from Texas and we considered this temperature ideal. The Southern California native looked stunned and said "Well HOW hot DOES it get there?" I assured her if she really had to ask she would "never wish anyone to 'Go to Hell' she much rather them burn up in South Texas in August.....it is the temperature in which Satan graded the curve". She had to think about it a moment and then smile and said "Wow, that IS HOT!" We both got a good laugh.
As most of my friends know I had to fly out West to have (long needed) reconstructive surgery from staph infection I incurred in my face over four years ago. This has been causing me much pain, discomfort, agony and stress. About three days a week I wake up with blood on my pillow and the pain was less than tolerable. I was constantly suffering from infections and a swollen tender tip. Basically, the "colony" was still residing in tissue and this cartilage had to be replaced with healthy cartilage harvested from my ribs and ears.
Everyone that has ever encountered my son Daniel knows he is infamous for his political views and hilariously witty banter. Yesterday when I was having a very nervous day all alone on the West Coast I got this email from him and it brought a smile to my heart and a loud chuckle to everyone around me.
So far today has been a SPECTACULAR Mother's Day!! About four o'clock this morning a horrible storm cut a wide path through the neighborhood and woke everyone up. We expected to have some damage from rising Bayou and blown trees and when we went out to swing all was in full bloom chirping through the breeze.
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