Just want to add my love and prayers for Lindel and her family Wishing her a fast recovery. Nan South Carolina,USA ----- Original Message ----- From: "conaught2" <conaught2@charter.net> To: <DONEGALEIRE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 12:49 PM Subject: Lindel Needs Your Prayers > Many on the list may not be aware that Lindel has a serious heart problem. I received the following message from her Mom Merle O'Donnell on May 20. > > "Helloooooo! I'm writing this a night before we head off to Christchurch for my operation and mum will be filling in the (gory) details, to let you know how it all went. I hope she says its all good!!! No idea when I'll be home and able to email anyone, but you'll hear from me soon :-) > > Mums bit - > > Well, I hate to say it after that cheery little > message, but it all went horribly wrong!! The > scariest 24 hours of my life! The surgeon extracted > one old line and in doing so, tore a hole in her heart which quickly bled into her pericardium. Fortunately they were able to stop the bleeding, but a drain had to be inserted to remove the blood which had collected > and she was monitored for further bleeding. Somehow we all got thru the night. I have never seen anyone in so much agony as our poor Lindel...doped to the eyebrows on morphine and still no pain relief. > Anyway, today the drain was removed and she was transferred to the Coronary Unit at Christchurch hospital where she is recovering and under constant survellance and assessment. Tonight the pain had > eased a little, and she was showing some spark, especially when she learned how much of her money we have spent over the past couple of days (I'm in charge > of her wallet!) So that's a very good sign she's on the road to recovery. So, sorry to be so slow in advising you, but it has been a very hectic and stressful time." > > After receiving this message a few days later the news was better and Lindel was starting to improve. She was able to go home. Then on June 5, I received the following email from Merle. > > "Hellooo, > You must be wondering what has happened to Lindel since she has been off line since Wednesday. She is back in Christchurch hospital after developing an infection on Wednesday. Unfortunately, I have no > further news for you other than the med team have taken bood cultures and and we are awaiting the results. Meantime they are managing her pain and sedating her, but have not yet pput her back on anti-biotics which I find rather distressing...reason? It's a long holiday weekend here (!!) We, Don, > myself and the two boys visited her in hosp yesterday and found her quite chirpy for a while, but she tired quickly and soon needed further medication. It appears now, contrary to previous assessment, that the > infection may be in the pacemaker lines. Please keep up your prayers, she's a very sick girl." > > I told Merle I would let you know what was happening with Lindel because she needs everyone's prayers. > > I got to know Lindel several years ago and immediately she was such a great help. A few years ago when I spoke with Mike Mackle(Member) from New Zealand I told Lindel about it and asked her if she was familiar with the town Mike was from. She laughed and said she had attended Mike's family reunion. She is related to Mike through the Mackles and thus to me, but of course we haven't figured it out yet, since the Mackles seems to be numerous but elusive! Lindel is most generous and lets me send her information and pictures of Ballyhillion and Clonca Parish, Malin Head, County Donegal and she posts them to her Donegal list. > > Lindel is an amazing person. She has a toddler Connor and son Liam who is about 4, yet she has had the time to help so many people with their family research. > > Many prayers are being sent to Lindel from all over the world for a speedy recovery. Go raib maith agat. > > Beannachtai, > Margaret (Mairead) > > ______________________________