Update on Annika

Hello all,

A quick update on Annika. After being admitted to the hospital last night Annika was very relieved to not be put on a heparin drip (blood thinner) but rather was able to continue on the anticoagulant medicine that her regular doctor had prescribed to her earlier in the day. Her care team decided that she would not need surgery to remove any of the clots - they seemed to be in positions that were not so dangerous and with the medication would dissolve on their own over the next 3-6 months. She will be discharged this afternoon and will see a haemotologist as soon as she can to see if they can figure out what provoked these clots. It seems that she must have had clots for quite awhile as in the bottom of both lungs there is tissue that has died due to lack of blood flow. The pulmonologist assured Annika that the pain in both those spots would go away as the tissue regrows.

Lydia arrived safely from Minneapolis last night and has joined Rudi, Annika's boyfriend, in making sure Annika is getting lots of loving care. She is in much better spirits today and very relieved that she will not need surgery.

Thanks for the many many messages and prayers for Annika. She is really feeling loved and held up by all of you around the world.

Christine