Well Wishes for Duchess Kolfinna

Wenzel · Post by **Wenzel** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:56 am

Putting a few prayers in for her myself. Glad to see that she's been improving.

broinnfinn · Post by **broinnfinn** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:55 pm

Proxus wrote:Because I know many of you here are good friends of her Grace Kolfinna I am posting this to counter any rumors you may have heard.

Any updates will be posted by Duke Sven to Caid and I will cross post em here when they are made.

From Duke Sven.
======================
To all of Kolfinna's friends. I know that there are many stories and rumors
floating around about Kitty's condition so I thought that I would let everybody know what is going on.

Kitty was hospitalized early Sunday morning and is now in the Intensive Care unit at the Antelope Valley Hospital. She was not feeling well on Sunday at Highland war so after her pelican ceremony we (me actually) packed everything up and came home. On Monday I took her to urgent care where she was diagnosed with a fever. She was given an IV of saline to help her dehydration and was sent home to rest. She stayed home from work last week and on Thursday her cough was getting worse so we went back to urgent care to get some prescription cough medicine. At urgent care she was re-examined and given a chest x-ray and was diagnosed with pneumonia. She was given prescriptions for antibiotics and a codeine based cough medicine. She took her prescriptions but her cough kept getting worse. She also did not react well with the codeine medicine so her condition worsened. On Saturday night her pulse rate increased dramatically and her cough was getting even worse, so we went to urgent care for the 3rd time.

When they checked her in, her vitals were not good. Her pulse was 130 bpm and her blood pressure was low. They also measured her blood oxygen saturation level and it was around 60% (95% is considered normal). The nurse put her on oxygen and her level got a bit better, but after 3 hours they had her breathing pure oxygen and her level was only reaching 85%. She was given steroids, more IVs and quite a few antibiotics. She also had another chest x-ray that showed that the pneumonia had gotten worse. At ten PM it was decided that she needed to be transported to the hospital.

In the emergency room she was put on positive pressure oxygen mask that actually pushes oxygen into your lungs. This raised her oxygen percentage but caused her a lot of pain. At 3 AM the emergency room doctor decided to put Kitty on a Ventilator, a tube that is pushed down your throat and pumps oxygen directly into your lungs. Since this is a painful, invasive procedure, Kitty was sedated and is now sleeping constantly and will be until they remove the tube. Over the last 2 days Kitty has been seen by many doctors but currently it is not known exactly what infection she has. The doctors are treating her with many antibiotics and trying to keep her oxygen level as high as possible. Last night she suffered from a collapsed lung and they put a tube in to help fight that. Since then her oxygen percentage has gone up and is now ranging between 89 and 92%. This is not as high as the doctors would like but it is much better then her numbers on Monday.

Currently her vital signs are pretty good and she is sedated and holding herown. She is effectively unconscious and the hospital is discouraging her from having too many visitors. I will keep everyone posted and will let you know of any changes. Please cross post this to any list that you think that it should be on. -- Sven

Please pass my prayers on to her - my mother went in with severe pneumonia and osteomyelitis as the very same time as Kitty did, and is also on a ventilator, so I know intimately what you are going through. This is a long haul thing and I will be thinking of her often.

When she wakes up - tell her I said Welcome to the Flock. She's a tough gal - she'll pull through.

And when she does, I will fly out there IMMEDIATELY, because it might be my ONE opportunity to beat her before she recovers. :wink:

Best wishes,

Bri
Duchess Gleann Abhann

LR of E · Post by **LR of E** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 5:29 am

I heard second hand last night that her condition has changed, and not for the better. Now more than ever she needs your prayers and thoughts. I'll let others who are closer post the details.

Morgan

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:31 am

On my knees as I type this prayer:

Lord, please help my friend in this time of need. She needs your touch. Her husband needs his wife. Lord, help my friend get better and live a long and happy life.

Amen.

-Aaron

Cellaigh O'Donoghue · Post by **Cellaigh O'Donoghue** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:21 am

Kitty update site.

http://www.kolfinna.sca-caid.org/

Amanda M · Post by **Amanda M** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:28 am

I'm glad they figured out what was going on. Now they can start giving her antivirals and steering treatment in a direction.

Kenwrec Wulfe · Post by **Kenwrec Wulfe** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 2:59 pm

They will both be in my thoughts and hopes.

Proxus · Post by **Proxus** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:04 pm

The latest on Kitty
September 22, 2009 â€“ 10:15 pm
We finally have a diagnosis. Kitty has the Swine Flu. I know that it sounds terrible, but at least we know what it is. The nice thing about this is that the doctors and nurses now know exactly what they are fighting and can concentrate their efforts to get her better. The hardest part about this for me has been the waiting and uncertainty, but at least some of the uncertainty is gone. At this point we just have to wait until she is strong enough to get off the respirator and breathe on her own. I have talked with many nurses and doctors and have heard a variety of guesses as to when that will be, but the simple truth is we just have to wait until she is healthy enough to get unplugged. I will keep everyone posted and let you all know if anything changes. Thanks so much for all the support and encouragement you have given me and all the love that you have for her. I talk to her every day and let her know how much everyone misses her. She will be back soon. â€” Sven
=========================

Thank you all oh so much for all your prayers. I have been copying and sending this thread on to Sven every couple of days.

Here is the final update I will post here as Sir Auggie has created a website for sven to post updates on. You can continue to post your well wishes prayers etc. here and I will ensure they get passed to her grace.

Thank you,

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:07 pm

Lord, PLEASE continue to help my friend, please!!

-Aaron

Baron Alcyoneus · Post by **Baron Alcyoneus** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:20 pm

Proxus wrote:The latest on Kitty
September 22, 2009 â€“ 10:15 pm
We finally have a diagnosis. Kitty has the Swine Flu. She will be back soon. â€” Sven
=========================

That is what a friend suggested to me on Saturday... She and her daughters got it, and it sucked for her(taking care of herself, and 2 girls didn't let her recover as quickly as she could have). They won't test for SF in KS unless the person gets admitted to the hospital, because they are *expecting* 1M cases (for a pop of 2.5M in KS)

Blaine de Navarre · Post by **Blaine de Navarre** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:43 pm

The funny thing with the H1N1 is how some people seem especially vulnerable. We were all together the weekend Kitty got sick, so we have to have all been exposed, but she's the only one who got more than a little sniffle...

broinnfinn · Post by **broinnfinn** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:34 pm

Baron Alcyoneus wrote:
Proxus wrote:The latest on Kitty
September 22, 2009 â€“ 10:15 pm
We finally have a diagnosis. Kitty has the Swine Flu. She will be back soon. â€” Sven
=========================

That is what a friend suggested to me on Saturday... She and her daughters got it, and it sucked for her(taking care of herself, and 2 girls didn't let her recover as quickly as she could have). They won't test for SF in KS unless the person gets admitted to the hospital, because they are *expecting* 1M cases (for a pop of 2.5M in KS)

At this point, it is assumed that well over half, and as high as 90%, of the cases of flu this season will be H1N1. Since it is a new virus that is the result of the recombination of 4 distinct strains (two swine, one avian, one human), we have very little community resistance to it, which is why it may spread quite quickly to become the dominant flu strain.

It seems very hit or miss when viewed in a small population because of the way it's spread - generally by contact with surface droplets (surface-hand-mucosa) or aerosolization. You can literally put your hand in the wrong place on a surface, not wash your hands before you rub your eyes or bite your nails and you contract it. The person behind you puts their hand in a slightly different place, and they're fine.

Like your momma tells you - wash your hands. Compulsively. And keep them off your face.

The antisocial shall inherit the earth. :wink:

Bri.
(your friendly neighborhood infectious-disease lady)

Amanda M · Post by **Amanda M** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:40 pm

I for one will be getting vaccinated. I will be at high risk of exposure because of my job. I don't need to get it then bring it home to my family.

Blaine de Navarre · Post by **Blaine de Navarre** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:40 pm

There are again some rumours spreading about Kitty's condition (mostly here in Caid, may not have spread to the rest of y'all). Please, if you hear anything from anyone other than Sven, please don't pass it on.

Sasha_Khan · Post by **Sasha_Khan** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 10:41 pm

The best place for updates is here:

http://www.kolfinna.sca-caid.org/

Sven updates as he can, and there is an RSS feed available.

Anjouleme · Post by **Anjouleme** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:38 pm

Can someone with first hand knowledge please provide an update? There are some pretty heartbreaking rumors flying about Calontir right now. . . Please please please tell us what's going on.

Cunian · Post by **Cunian** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:11 pm

http://www.kolfinna.sca-caid.org

Derian le Breton · Post by **Derian le Breton** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:17 pm

-Derian.

audax · Post by **audax** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:19 pm

Cunian wrote:http://www.kolfinna.sca-caid.org

What does that mean? It's pretty freaking cryptic.

InsaneIrish · Post by **InsaneIrish** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:20 pm

audax wrote:
Cunian wrote:http://www.kolfinna.sca-caid.org

What does that mean? It's pretty freaking cryptic.

the last post on the site so far:

From Sven
October 1, 2009 â€“ 12:06 pm

The official word:

Yes, it is true. Kolfinna will be removed from life support this afternoon. The family asks that people do NOT come out. There will be something at GWW but we do not have details yet. More information will follow.

audax · Post by **audax** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:22 pm

InsaneIrish wrote:
audax wrote:
Cunian wrote:http://www.kolfinna.sca-caid.org

What does that mean? It's pretty freaking cryptic.

the last post on the site so far:

From Sven
October 1, 2009 â€“ 12:06 pm

The official word:

Yes, it is true. Kolfinna will be removed from life support this afternoon. The family asks that people do NOT come out. There will be something at GWW but we do not have details yet. More information will follow.

Son

of

a

bitch

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:24 pm

God rest her soul.

May the Good Lord look after her husband. I know that if Maureen died I lose my â€œnice sideâ€

Brother Logan · Post by **Brother Logan** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:28 pm

fingers crossed that this is a "good" removal of life support, ie she is much better and doesn't need it anymore!

Leo

DanNV · Post by **DanNV** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:31 pm

It isn't a good removal. The following was just posted to SCA-West.

"Posted at the request of TRM Caid -

It is with deep regret and much sorrow that after getting permission from Sven, I pass on that Duchess Kolfinna will loose her brave fight with H1N1 today, October 1st, 2009. We all feel a great loss but Kolfinna's family asks that her friends refrain from coming up to the hospital.There will be a memorial at Great Western War and there will be more information on that and final arrangements posted on the website later http://www.kolfinna.sca-caid.org/

Thank you

Viscountess Lorissa du Griffin, OP
Chamberlain to TRMs Edward II & Mora II
King & Queen of Caid"

audax · Post by **audax** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:34 pm

I am just speechless.

Count Johnathan · Post by **Count Johnathan** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:46 pm

A great loss.

May god bless her soul and heal the hearts of her loved ones.

Melisent · Post by **Melisent** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:51 pm

She was a tremendous inspiration to me and many others.

This is a very sad day for the Society.

Anjouleme · Post by **Anjouleme** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 3:00 pm

My deepest apologies if my comments stirred this up here, prematurely. These were the very rumors spreading all over facebook that I was hoping were just that: rumors. I am so very heartbroken to find them corroborated.

To Sven, Blaine, Auggie, Tayisia, and all others close to her, my deepest empathies on this process and the path being walked. Kitty is a light on this earth that is rare and refreshing, and a world of people that were touched by her walk this same path with love for her, for you and for yours. Stay strong. Stay together.

Many well wishes.
Cassandra

Derian le Breton · Post by **Derian le Breton** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 3:21 pm

Looks like the site is being hammered right now, here's the latest slightly rephrased post:

It is with deep regret and much sorrow that after getting permission from Sven, I pass on that Duchess Kolfinna will loose her brave fight with H1N1 today, October 1st, 2009. We all feel a great loss but Kolfinnaâ€™s family asks that her friends refrain from coming up to the hospital. There will be a memorial at Great Western War and there will be more information on that and final arrangements posted on the website later http://www.kolfinna.sca-caid.org/

There are no words.

-Derian.

InsaneIrish · Post by **InsaneIrish** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 3:22 pm

In support and memory

[img]http://aiden-groundpounder.smugmug.com/photos/667088494_sJh7v-X3.jpg[/img]

ChristianVE · Post by **ChristianVE** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 3:36 pm

She put the belt on me. I dont cry much, but I openly weep now. The Valkyries now number one more
Christian von Eiland
KSCA

Donal Mac Ruiseart · Post by **Donal Mac Ruiseart** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 3:37 pm

.

May her soul rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon her.

My prayers go now to her family.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Thorstenn · Post by **Thorstenn** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 3:38 pm

I received the call today that she has passed, I have no words to say. Now two people I like a lot have lost their loved ones, their inspiration.
This hurts me.

Be well Sven.

Thorstenn.

Randwulfson · Post by **Randwulfson** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 3:43 pm

This is truly a great loss to the SCA and the mundane world.

.

Sven, words escape me, but it is always a pleasure seeing you smiling and having fun at SCA events. My prayers go out to you and your family and friends.

David Edwinson · Post by **David Edwinson** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 4:16 pm

I just don't know what to tell my boys, who absolutely worshiped her. They were just making get well cards for her last night. I'm going to miss her. :cry:

Well Wishes for Duchess Kolfinna

Re: Well Wishes for Duchess Kolfinna