Welcome to our Katie site. It has been created to keep friends and family updated about our loved one.
Be sure to read the latest in the journal, view the photo gallery, and drop us a line in the guestbook.
Katie had her tonsils and adenoids removed September 18, 2008 and complications arose that caused Katie to develop a large amount of pulmonary embolyisms (blood clots in her lungs) which were not detected by ultrasounds and an MRI. Ultimately this led to Katie having difficulty breathing and then a heart attack due to the lack of oxygen caused by the clots. A first responder a few houses down was on the spot immediately and Katie was revived and rushed to the Fairview Lakes Hospital in Wyoming ,MN (5 miles from Katie and Brandon's home). Katie regained consciousness and spoke with doctors in the emergency room, but due to the seriousness of her condition, she experienced another arrest, was revived and airlifted to the University of Minnesota, Fairview Hospital. Here they were able to see that Katie has a massive clot bridging the pulmonary artery and is blocking 80-90% of the blood flow to her lungs. Additional clot-busting medicine was injected directly into the clot, but it was not effective in reducing this massive clot as quickly as necessary. The OR team was alerted upon Katie's arrival and was prepared to move forward if necessary if the clot-busting process did not have the results necessary. Katie is currently undergoing open-heart surgery where surgeons will remove the large clot from her pulmonary artery. Katie is in critical condition and is on razor's edge, but she is strong, young and is a fighter. We appreciate your prayers for Katie, the doctors, and all involved. We are thankful for your love and support and we will keep this site updated so you can be updated more quickly than we can call to everyone.
Thank you and please keep Katie in your thoughts and prayers.
