03/22/04
Russ Morgan is Pam Cantwell's oldest brother. Russ was medically retired from the Army a few years ago as a Major (Chaplain). He served in Vietnam in '69 where he contracted Hepetitus C. He was in an Air Assault Unit over there, jumping from helicopters down ropes into the jungles. (Agent Orange perhaps???, Who knows??) He got out of the Army after Vietnam then went back in the Army as a Chaplain's Assistant. Two years ago he had to have a liver and kidney transplant. He is in the hospital right now in St. Louis because his lungs keep filling with fluid. He has a shunt in his side to keep them draining. They will do a biopsy tomorrow (03-22-04) on his kidney to try to find out what is causing it. We hope it is his medication that just needs changing that is the cause. I just got off the phone with him and he is in good spirits with his normal sense of humor! Russ has a wife, named Pam also, two grown daughters and a 17 yr old son. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Thanks so much.
Pam Cantwell
04/03/04 Update
Russ got to go home for the weekend and had to be hospitalized again today. The left lower lobe of one of his lungs continues to fill up with fluid. They are also testing to see how much this has affected his heart. They are also wanting to put a larger shunt into his lung which is very painful. The doctors also told him he will need another kidney within 3 or 4 months. The whole family has offered him one but Russ refuses. He says the kidney won't last very long with his condition. Please keep Russ and his family in your prayers. He is such a fine family man, brother and minister. Thank you.
04/05/04 Update
This has been a real roller coaster ride for our family. Russ returned to the hospital after his weekend at home due to difficulty breathing again. One doctor said he thought it was his heart this time. Tests showed it wasn't, thank God! His lungs continue to fill with fluid and they had to put a larger tube in his side with a different pump to help with the drainage. They had already pulled a whole liter from his lungs. The lasix and all the other meds were not stopping it. Now the fluid is trying to "gel" making it harder to pump out. A lung specialist came in today and will try a different med that should thin the fluid. Russ's only kidney is functioning at 60% so that is a lot of the cause. Please keep him in your prayers. Thank you, P.
04/15/04 Update
Well Russ is still in the hospital. He developed pneumonia and they cultured his lungs again. He is on strong antibiotics and it has made him very sick to his stomach. Yesterday he had another really bad day. He needs prayers for healing AND prayers for encouragement right now. He is so tired. Please keep him in your prayers. Thanks to you all and God Bless you.
04/17/04 Update
Russ went home from the hospital yesterday after 26 days and many ups and downs!!! Thank you to everyone that prayed for his recovery. He still has some pneumonia but they feel they have him on the right meds and have discovered the cause. It seems he has been aspirating his food which caused the problems with his lungs. Now he has to eat sitting up and cannot lay down for at least 2 hours after eating. He must walk a lot too which he loves! He is very happy to be home. Please pray that his only kidney will come back and start functioning at 100%!! Thanks again for your prayers and may God bless you! P.
