Tornado Pat		We are still undergoing web re-construction To find the old site visit the Contents page Site Map (Index) and use your back button on pages that do not yet have buttons or links back.
Keeping up with Pat Macleod Schmidt

Hospital address University of Utah 50 North Medical Drive Salt Lake City, Utah 84132 E-mails, cards and notes will all go in Pat's new scrapbook. We know your love is here.Debra Subscription Information The Aunt Pat Mail List	Today is September 21, 1999
	Larry's Story -The Tornado
	Recent Photographs
	Click on the link to September 17th to see Pat in the Sunshine
	September 19	September 20

Some Older Pictures From 1 Week Ago As No One Is Currently Visiting With a Digital Camera

	Pat & Betsy Looking at Pictures of Home		Brigitte, Pat & Rodeo During a Quiet Moment

Monday 9/20/99 Update From Phil

Another Sunday Evening 9/19/99 Update From Katherine Osten

Hi fellow PLSers. Mike Cuthbertson here. Phil will be out of town for a week, so I will be attempting to update the website. Bear with me as I am new at this. Update for Monday, September 20, 1999 I spoke with Larry tonight, who is in good spirits, but is quite tired. He is flying solo today, but is anticipating help tomorrow through the weekend. Pat's cousin Debra's oldest son, Aaron Rex, will be in Tuesday and Wednesday. Tim Lawler may be there Wednesday or Thursday, with Richard Thompson and Katherine Osten returning Friday and staying through the weekend. It is great that Larry will have experienced help while he is in Las Vegas Friday and Saturday. The latest news from the hospital is that they are short one NCC bed. They have three patients waiting with only two additional beds available. They were talking today about moving Pat back to the floor to free up a bed. Larry, after meeting with the doctors talked them out of this plan, since Pat still needs the immediate response time of the NCC or an ICU in case of aspirations. They came up with a back-up plan that if they absolutely have to have the bed, they will move Pat up to the burn unit where ICU care can be provided. The problem with this plan is that Larry and Pat will have to start over again with a new nursing group. Big bummer if they have to break up the current team. Pat's condition continues to improve. The fluid around her heart is gone and the volume of fluid out of her chest tube is down to a level that the doctors feel her body can deal with if the pneumonia is gone. Tomorrows x-rays will determine if this is the case. If so, the chest tube can be removed, and barring any further complications, Pat may be transported to Denver on Monday or Tuesday of next week! Keep that positive, healing energy flowing her way! Pat is standing or walking around (with help) once or twice daily. Her right arm is coming around slowly. Her left arm is still more responsive than her right. Larry reports that she is walking, running, or riding her bike with her legs almost constantly. With the tremendous progress that Pat is making with her therapy program, Larry also tried to get additional therapy for Pat today. This is made difficult by the fact that therapy and NCC usually are not heard in the same sentence. Therapy typically starts after the patient is out of NCC. Pat will get therapy 2 times per day. Today the doctors installed a pic in her left arm today. This is a more long term version of an IV with less chance of vein collapse & infection. This also is a step towards transporting Pat to Denver. Note to Tom, they are using 3M products. That's about it for tonight, Larry & Mike		We couldn't get Larry's internet to connect yesterday so this is an update on Pat for Sunday, September 19th, written on Monday the 20th. Richard and I drove back from Utah on Sunday and are in Summit County today. At sister Kay's request, we asked a representative of the hospital staff what Pat's condition status is at this time. According to Nurse Julie, Pat is not in "critical" condition anymore. She is "stable". Her status has been stable since an earlier point in time when she was moved to another room. Larry determined that his and Pat's comfort levels are higher with Pat in the neuro critical care unit, which is why he had her moved back and will continue to insist that she remain in this room until she is ready for the trip to Colorado. Pat's vital signs are now being checked every four hours instead of every two, as they were initially. Another positive step forward. Missy, the Physical Therapist, came in to get those muscles stretched out in Pat's arms. Missy and Larry were able to lift both Pat's right and left arms up high over her head today, showing good progress, especially on the right side. Larry loaded Pat up with 1 lb. weights on her legs to encourage muscle toning and will add more day by day in 1/2 lb. increments. Richard and I missed seeing the morning walk down the hall; Larry said it wasn't quite as far as on Saturday. A touching moment today when Pat reached out with her left hand to hold on to Larry after he announced he was leaving for a short time and had let go of her hand. To see their mutual devotion to each other is heartwarming. Pat couldn't have a more attentive and loving partner. He has the same strong determination that she has to see recovery to the greatest extent possible. This deliberate movement and others like it are occurring with more and more frequency each day. Every small baby step she takes is just another step closer to recovery. As we were driving back to Colorado through Utah with weather all around us, at one point we realized we were in that same grey area that Pat and Larry are in now. The storm was behind us and the sunshine lay straight ahead. Katherine and Richard
		This is a letter from Shirley Schmidt, Larry's mother in Texas: September 11, 1999 To All Caregivers, Doctors, nurses, hospital staff, Larry and Pat's many friends and family: I wish to thank you for all your care and giving of yourselves, prayers, cards, etc. It is very much appreciated. I'm so thankful to God that he placed the doctors, nurses, and staff in Pat and Larry's path at the very moment of their greatest earthly need to save her life. God granted them all the skill and knowledge to continue to help make her a whole person again. Thank you all friends, family and caregivers of Larry and Pat for all the prayers, love and support (PLS) each have given Larry and Pat . That has been very important to help Larry and Pat through all the trauma and obstacles put in their path. "May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you." Psalm 33:20 Many thanks all, Shirley Schmidt P.S. For those of you that don't know, Larry stated, "Mom you may be needed later in Colorado, so stand-by."