You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


News from Chicago: The bad news is that Sue has been very, very sick. The good news is that today she is much, much better. Tuesday morning, in Greenwood parlance, she 'tuck sick' early in the morning, thought she 'laked to die.' Around 6:00 am she had a terrible headache and nausea. Advil helped the headache, but she was obviously seriously ill. Shirley and I called her primary care physician in St. Louis who said we should take her to an emergency room. We went immediately to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston which is just north of our Chicago apartment where the doctor there began antibiotics after a CAT Scan showed a sinus infection in the deep sinus cavities.

At first the attending physician thought she could go home that afternoon, but Dr. Chris Costas, the infectious diseases specialist (and friend of Shirley's) thought she was too ill and admitted her to the hospital. He called in a neurologist, and the two of them have been managing her care. Their tentative diagnosis is encephalitis. They are treating her with tons of antibiotics. Yesterday morning she was particularly bad, incoherent, confused, and not communicating at all for about 10 minutes. An EEG showed irregular brain patterns so an MRI is scheduled for this afternoon. The neurologist just stopped in and was happy to see her doing so well. He has now ordered a follow-up EEG.

Sue's condition was bad all day yesterday. Den and I took turns sitting with her because she wanted 'get out of here' every two minutes or so and would try to leave. Shirley had to go back to St. Louis on Tuesday while we still thought Sue would be released that afternoon. Den came Wednesday, and he and I have been hovering since. Last night Barbara, another friend of Shirley's, arranged for someone to sit by the bedside overnight just in case Sue decided, once again, that 'it's time to get out of here.' However, after an hour's nap in the evening, she began to settle down and then was able to sleep well through the night. This morning she was almost herself again. I'm happy to report her sense of humor is totally intact.

Right now we are awaiting Dr. Costas' visit and will report more when we know more.

[Special note to Sabrina: Sabrina, My own diagnosis is that she has had a 'brain cloud.']