[AGL] about Cissi Alex's condition - this is Margaret Martone's email which I am forwarding

[Michael Eisenstadt]

Well, dear ones, I've been off to the East Coast to visit with my 
children, Tony & family, in from Japan (along with Tony's grandparents, 
aunts, uncles, cousins, and little sister) and then spent 4 days in 
Seton Hospital in Austin.  I'm in great shape for the shape I'm 
in...primo coronary arteries and heart chambers...apparently my numbness 
in fingers and toes are due to two slight disk protrusions.  So, this is 
one of the reasons why I haven't been letting all know about Cissi.

On Saturday, as I was being released from Seton, Carlos and I were asked 
if Dr. Lindsey could do another surgery.  It seems that the megacolon 
that had been decompressed had an area of ischemia that was not good and 
probably growing.  They wanted to resect her colon and it would have to 
be done open incision...and, her chances of surviving just the surgery 
were not that good.  So, we said NO.  There were a number of factors, 
the biggest one was that the doctors said that she would never be able 
to live alone again and we knew that wouldn't be what Cissi would want.  
So, we told the doctors that we would just trust the Lord.  Yesterday 
(Monday, 8/8/11) they asked Carlos to give permission for "comfort care 
only."  He, David Smith and I talked and decided that it was in Cissi's 
best interest.  She is and has been very, very ill and IF she were to 
recover, she would be very ill for a LONG time and then an invalid!  
This is not what Cissi would want.

Today, Tuesday, she has been moved from ICU to Room 717 at Seton on 38th 
Street.  Lucinda was just there and held her hand and feels that she 
might be hearing her.  Perhaps wishful thinking, perhaps not.  If you 
have the inclination, you can go tell her good-bye and that she is so loved!

I'm not sure how proper it is for me to say this, but I'm just gonna 
charge on through...we all know that Cissi lived on about $700/month SS 
only.  Not sure about where the $255 govt. death benefit comes in, but 
the cremation is going to cost about $850 or so!  So, we may ask that 
those who actually physically knew Cissi to throw in a little $$ to help 
us get this paid for.  We plan a memorial for her at a later date at a 
place that we have not yet decided upon...but, it'll happen!

Sorry that it is not good news; but, on the other hand, perhaps the Lord 
just decided he needed her more than we did and we realize that we don't 
have a lot of control over anything...

maggie/margaret