UPDATE on Mae's Condition:
Per email from Kenneth Mullinax:
Mae's mental condition/past and present
Mae has been on Morphine, Atavin from March 13 until April 9. It has had a devastating effect on her lucidity but one which we believe is temporary.
The same was true with my own Mother who we induced into a coma from October 12, 2002 until mid December 2002 while she was at UAB and suffering from a much worse case of the same condition.
With my Mom, Dr. Aqel did so for the purpose of alleviating the intense pain which occurs with a severe dissection as well as to make Mom as physically still as possible so homeostasis might occur and thus prevent her aorta from rupturing. It took Mom a full month from the time she was taken off the morphine until she her mental facilities were in order.
Mae has been off all major pain killers since last Tuesday.
She is still very fatigued yet her mental senses are doing better as each day progresses. Today, was my first day to be with her since my cousin Shane Magouirk has taken the lead. He is co-guardian with Beth, his older sister and he is spending the weekend in Birmingham. My family met with him in Mae's room today at 11:00 CST.
Observations of Mae in CCU
Mae continues to recognize us and individually greets us.
She is having difficulty speaking in that a nasal feeding tube is down her throat. Also, the lack of proper hydration for so long while at the Hospice LaGrange has had a deleterious effect on her throat.
Yet, she greets us and answers questions in a whisper. I was interested to see if she could comprehend and execute a request and she did so today. I asked her if Lonnie Ruth was in the room. She opened her eyes and stated yes. I then said: "Aunt Mae, would you please point your finger at Lonnie? She opened her eyes again and looked at me and around the room and pointed directly at my Mom. I applauded and she looked back at me and smiled. I could have cried with joy.
Health outlook
Her blood pressure was better than mine. It was 138/77 with a pulse of 68. Her condition remains at STABLE.
She is still on several IV's and a feeding tube. I was told she is no longer on morphine yet they anticipate giving her a mild pain killer for localized pain in her neck. They are hoping to introduce orally administered liquids, broth and jello tomorrow but the feeding tube will stay in place for now.
Will the tube interfere with nourishment of that sort?
Medical prognosis
Although Shane has opened the visitation period for all members of our family, I have not been privy to any detailed medical information on her condition or prognosis. While I am thankful that my cousin has shown such largesse in allowing us to have open visitation with Mae, I am still very circumspect at the entire affair. WE MUST HAVE FULL MEDICAL ACCESS AND TOTAL INVOLVEMENT IN HER MEDICAL DECISION MAKING.
Future of further court proceedings
Therefore, while we will remain gracious to our Ga. relations, and somewhat restrain ourselves from overtly proactive media relations for the time at hand. However, I am advising my Uncle and Mother to go forth with the formal motion which lays at the table of the new Judge, State Superior Court Judge Jeanette Little, who is a respected jurist, member of the Georgia bar and a decent person.
This is the motion to formalize via court mandate full and equal visitation for our full family and full access to all medical information. I still believe since a clear and present conflict of interest exists in terms of Beth Gaddy and her two siblings being the sole benefactors of her estate, I feel at the least that we should file a motion for a 50-50 guardianship between Gaddy-Magouirk and Mullinax-McLeod.
While things are quiet now, it is reminiscent of the quiet on the Maginot Line in France circa 1940. If Mae has a medical crisis or a turn for the worse, what would prevent Beth from assuming her domineering and absolute control.
I feel a 50-50 guardianship is appropriate in light of her conflict of being both in control of all medical conditions and being one of the major beneficiaries of Mae's assets when she dies. For just as Michael Shiavo, Beth stands to benefit financially when her grandmother dies.
BTW-- so much for light posting, huh?
Mae's mental condition/past and present
Mae has been on Morphine, Atavin from March 13 until April 9. It has had a devastating effect on her lucidity but one which we believe is temporary.
The same was true with my own Mother who we induced into a coma from October 12, 2002 until mid December 2002 while she was at UAB and suffering from a much worse case of the same condition.
With my Mom, Dr. Aqel did so for the purpose of alleviating the intense pain which occurs with a severe dissection as well as to make Mom as physically still as possible so homeostasis might occur and thus prevent her aorta from rupturing. It took Mom a full month from the time she was taken off the morphine until she her mental facilities were in order.
Mae has been off all major pain killers since last Tuesday.
She is still very fatigued yet her mental senses are doing better as each day progresses. Today, was my first day to be with her since my cousin Shane Magouirk has taken the lead. He is co-guardian with Beth, his older sister and he is spending the weekend in Birmingham. My family met with him in Mae's room today at 11:00 CST.
Observations of Mae in CCU
Mae continues to recognize us and individually greets us.
She is having difficulty speaking in that a nasal feeding tube is down her throat. Also, the lack of proper hydration for so long while at the Hospice LaGrange has had a deleterious effect on her throat.
Yet, she greets us and answers questions in a whisper. I was interested to see if she could comprehend and execute a request and she did so today. I asked her if Lonnie Ruth was in the room. She opened her eyes and stated yes. I then said: "Aunt Mae, would you please point your finger at Lonnie? She opened her eyes again and looked at me and around the room and pointed directly at my Mom. I applauded and she looked back at me and smiled. I could have cried with joy.
Health outlook
Her blood pressure was better than mine. It was 138/77 with a pulse of 68. Her condition remains at STABLE.
She is still on several IV's and a feeding tube. I was told she is no longer on morphine yet they anticipate giving her a mild pain killer for localized pain in her neck. They are hoping to introduce orally administered liquids, broth and jello tomorrow but the feeding tube will stay in place for now.
Will the tube interfere with nourishment of that sort?
Medical prognosis
Although Shane has opened the visitation period for all members of our family, I have not been privy to any detailed medical information on her condition or prognosis. While I am thankful that my cousin has shown such largesse in allowing us to have open visitation with Mae, I am still very circumspect at the entire affair. WE MUST HAVE FULL MEDICAL ACCESS AND TOTAL INVOLVEMENT IN HER MEDICAL DECISION MAKING.
Future of further court proceedings
Therefore, while we will remain gracious to our Ga. relations, and somewhat restrain ourselves from overtly proactive media relations for the time at hand. However, I am advising my Uncle and Mother to go forth with the formal motion which lays at the table of the new Judge, State Superior Court Judge Jeanette Little, who is a respected jurist, member of the Georgia bar and a decent person.
This is the motion to formalize via court mandate full and equal visitation for our full family and full access to all medical information. I still believe since a clear and present conflict of interest exists in terms of Beth Gaddy and her two siblings being the sole benefactors of her estate, I feel at the least that we should file a motion for a 50-50 guardianship between Gaddy-Magouirk and Mullinax-McLeod.
While things are quiet now, it is reminiscent of the quiet on the Maginot Line in France circa 1940. If Mae has a medical crisis or a turn for the worse, what would prevent Beth from assuming her domineering and absolute control.
I feel a 50-50 guardianship is appropriate in light of her conflict of being both in control of all medical conditions and being one of the major beneficiaries of Mae's assets when she dies. For just as Michael Shiavo, Beth stands to benefit financially when her grandmother dies.
BTW-- so much for light posting, huh?
posted by Straight Up with Sherri at
4:10 PM
5 Comments:
I am so glad for Mae's daily improvement! I continue to pray for her.
And Ken, it is as I have been thinking, that all is not in the clear quite yet, and we need to still be in prayer and ready to help in the case of any reversal or when Mae leaves the hospital.
By
Anonymous, at 6:35 PM
The 50/50 guardianship sounds like a good compromise, but maybe it should tilt slightly, say 60/40, in favor of the people with no financial conflict of interest!
By
Christina Dunigan, at 8:39 PM
It's funny, but not really, how many people are happy to accuse Beth Gaddy of wanting to "off" her grandmother for the inheritance. I haven't seen it reported anywhere if we're talking stocks and palatial mansion or 50 year old furniture in a shack, or even less.
I love, but not really, how you people jump to conclusions before you have the facts in hand.
By
Anonymous, at 1:44 PM
Anon
I love how people like you don't check the facts. Not sure if we are talking stocks or what?
Why not reading the actual court papers filed to find out? They have been posted here...
The FACT that Mae is doing well now, seems to speak volumes about weather or not Mae should have been in Hospice, silly little facts like that must just burn your toast, huh?
By
Straight Up with Sherri, at 2:21 PM
Some response. I still haven't seen the elderly woman's financial worth reported anywhere. And your snide comment didn't get me any closer to the information. What I have seen are conflicting reports about Ms. Gaddy's "cut" of the inheritance. One article/commentary said the inheritance (whatever it may amount to) is to be split amongst the grandchildren. Another report claimed Ms. Gaddy was the sole beneficiary. In any case,it's not really the amount that is relevant. What my comment referred to was the willingness of people to believe that Ms. Gaddy must not have her grandmother's interest at heart because there is money involved. It's only normal that the people one considers themselves closest to would stand to inherit the most. And it is only fitting that the people one considers themselves closest to make the critical decisions for someone if they are unable to. Is there potential for conflict of interest? Of course there is. What I complained about, and still have a beef with, is your willingness to assume the worst about those with whom you disagree, and completely overlook the potential for bad actions on the part of those with whom you agree. Case in point: I still haven't seen any retraction from you about having irresponsibly passed on slanderous allegations about Mr. Schiavo now that it has been reported in the reputable press that he has been cleared of any and all allegations of wrongdoing. And I haven't seen a bit of criticism of the person responsible for broadcasting over the internet personal information about Ms. Gaddy that made her vulnerable to harassment or worse. It seems that once you take your stand, those that stand with you are faultless and those who don't are evil. And that goes for your snotty comment implying that I'm not happy that the elderly woman is doing well. I'm happy for her. What I'm not happy about is your complicity in increasing the potential for a difficult family situation to become more tragic with your irresponsible postings. Would you have felt any personal responsibility at all if some nutcase who got information off your website tracked Ms. Gaddy down and assaulted her? Would you?
By
Anonymous, at 12:41 AM
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