Sad News on Judy Burk

[Wite3]

great people and hoping for the best for judy...

Joshua

[ibuysportsephemera]

I just received the email below. Prayers for Judy, John and their family.

Many of you have written to say you are praying for Judy. Your prayers are greatly appreciated – and important. Others have indicated their support in other ways. Thank you.

On Wednesday, Dec. 9, Judy had a heart attack that was not diagnosed until Dec. 11. Her only symptoms were a fever, weakness in her legs and minor nausea that passed quickly. She thought she had the flu, or a virus.

When she had not improved by Friday, Dec. 11, we took her to the emergency room of a Pittsburgh hospital, where she was diagnosed with a “moderate” heart attack. She was admitted to the hospital, and on Monday, Dec. 14, catheterization revealed a 75 percent blockage in her anterior descending artery, a 90 percent blockage in a branch from it and a 90 percent blockage in an artery. Cardiologists debated stents vs. bypass surgery and then told us that stents would take care of her problem.

A stent was placed in the anterior descending artery and two in the branch artery the next morning, Dec. 15. I left the hospital that evening, assured that Judy was doing well and would be able to come home in a couple of days.

At 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16, I received a call from the hospital saying that blood clots had formed in the stents. By cell phone, I reached Judy, who was terrified, as I drove to the hospital. I reached the hospital and was able to comfort her before the procedure began to deal with clots. As I understand it, the cardiologist who installed the stents broke up the clots with a wire. Afterwards, she was moved to a cardiac ICU unit. Approximately four hours later, she went into cardiac arrest and suffered a stroke. (The stroke was not discovered until 24-36 hours later.)

The three heart attacks – two in the hospital – and stroke have damaged every system in Judy’s body. She is comatose. The day after the cardiac arrest, she was able to open her eyes when her name was called and to move her right hand and foot and left hand when asked to do so. Since then, she has only been able to open her eyes. She does not respond to any “commands.”

Her heart has improved and is pumping almost as well as it did before the heart attack. Yesterday, she experienced a high heart rate and atrial fibrillation, which have now been dealt with, and today she needed medications to increase her blood pressure.

Her kidneys have improved, and she no longer needs dialysis. Her liver function has improved but is not yet normal. Her digestive system seems to be working adequately. (She is being fed through a nasal tube.)

I now find myself dealing daily with two medical schools of thought. One asserts that the longer she goes without waking up, the less likely it is she ever will. The other believes that if her systems below the neck can essentially return to normal and be stabilized, then her brain will have an opportunity to recover. They say her recovery could take weeks or months. Neurologists say they see nothing in her CT scans or MRIs to indicate that she cannot have a decent recovery. Effects of asphyxia remain unclear. Doctors claim she was without oxygen during the cardiac arrest for not more than a couple of minutes, but what oxygen the brain received when the heart was pumping weakly is unknown.

Judy’s medical condition changes daily. The key seems to be whether her body can become well enough and stable enough for her brain to have an opportunity to heal. She’s not there yet.

Judy and I have been married for 41 years, but that doesn’t seem like nearly enough time together. Recently we talked about how we wanted to spend our time from now, in our early seventies, until we reached 80. Whatever additional time we can have together will be a joy and a blessing. I hope you will continue to pray for her. -- John

[batsballsbases]

John
Prayers sent!!!! Stay strong she will need you...

[Tim Kindler]

Judy & John and many of you who are close friends to them,

My best wishes, thoughts, and prayers go out to all you and I'm so happy to hear that she is making progress. I know it is with reserved optimism that this news has been presented, but at least there is some improvement. I only met Judy and John a few times at the Nationals at their auction house booth, but in my discussions with them, they seemed like really great people. Here's hoping that John and Judy get to spend some more years together!!!
Tim Kindler

[JasonD08]

John


Keep your head up and we will pray. Hopefully they put her into cooling coma to preserve brain function. My 15 year old daughter suffered a cardiac arrest 2.5 years ago and 10 minutes before shocked to normal sinus rhythm. It is a miracle and I know she was young, but they expected brain death. This year she sang on the Grand Ole Opry, and received a 27 on her ACT. Also was accepted into Belmont in Nashville and is graduating this spring. Please talk to her and let her know you are there. SHE DOES HEAR EVERYTHING and will remember. Do not lose hope and be positive. When my daughter first woke up and spoke to my wife.....she said "momma I didn't give up I kept fighting to stay here". THey know and I believe if your wife was only down a couple of minutes and organs improving she will come out of this. She can hear you so play music and keep talking to her. My family sends prayers your way.


Jason