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Collins Cottage Industries ~ PO Box 84 ~ Church Hill ~ TN ~ 37642
(For additional Contact Information ... Click Here)
~~ Women Owned & Operated ~~
Copyright 2004 - 2007 Collins Cottage Industries
(For additional Contact Information ... Click Here)
~~ Women Owned & Operated ~~
Copyright 2004 - 2007 Collins Cottage Industries
Payment Methods Accepted:
PayPal
Google Check
Mail (United States Only!)
PayPal
Google Check
Mail (United States Only!)
(Robert & his daughter Bree - Easter 2010)
08/16/2010 - Robert had the second set of stitches from his aneurysm surgery taken out this morning. The biggest problems he is having is maintaining his coumadin levels and he is still loosing blood around the valve that was replaced in March.
07/28/2010 - Brought Robert home from the hospital late this morning. The aneurysm only affected his Ulnar artery and they were able to take a vein from his leg to replace the bad area and shortly after surgery the circulation in his fingers had returned to normal.
Thanks to everyone who has added Robert to your prayer list -- it means so much. Karen
07/12/2010 - We saw the surgeon and he went into a high speed medical run. He believes that the aneurysm actually involves both main arteries in the arm instead of just the Ulnar. In either case Robert will have to have surgery. If the Ulnar is just involved, that vein will be removed and if both are ballooning then he will probably lose his right arm.
His veins are so important because of receiving IV medications and blood (10 units since March 17) and this episode has both of us in panic mode. His body will only handle a PICC lines for a short time, so long-term is out of the question.
Robert will have a CT Scan with and without contrast and is on medication for the next 12 hours to stop the dye from damaging his kidneys.
This time I am afraid, really afraid. Please pray for us, please!
07/08/2010 - Robert has developed an aneurysm on his right arm just at the bend of the elbow that is about 1" x 1". We are waiting to hear from the surgeon to get idea about what needs to happen. Please say some extra prayers for him and us. We have no insurance on him and the bank account is critically low.
07/06/2010 - Robert returned home after a quick tune-up. He is not feeling well and is sleeping almost all of the time. We see the doctor tomorrow and will find out what is going with the blood and kidney counts. He continues to have mini strokes and now his speech is becoming affected.
06/23/2010 - Robert is back in the hospital. Had a 2 dimensional scan this afternoon on his heart. The doctor believes that the valve replaced in March is leaking again and once again testing will be done to see how many more mini strokes he has had. He has lost a bunch of vision in his left eye and this is believed to be from a stroke. He will be receiving 2 units of blood and will have additional testing in the morning to see how many more mini strokes he has had.
Please pray for us -- it appears that his time with us may be limited by his body hating itself.
06/15/2010 - Discharged the nursing staff because of budgeting. These people that have been the team leaders in Robert's care have been great. We will miss them greatly.
06/09/2010 - Thanks to everyone that has continued to pray for us and Robert's recovery. I will do my best to keep this page updated as often as possible. Karen East Collins
06/09/2010 - Roberts PICC Line came out! No more antibotics! Now we just pray that nothing happens until his veins heal.
06/07/2010 - Brought Robert back home from the hospital after a few tune-up days in the hospital. The replacement valve continues to leak and he continues to have mini-strokes because of blood 'splashing' the wrong direction in his heart.
On the 4th of May, Roberts Primary Doctor wrote a letter concerning his health issues. I have included part of it:
"The patient has terminal lupus nephritis with end-stage chronic renal failure. The patient also has liver disease and has recently been diagnosed with Staphylococcus endocarditis and has required a valve replacement, which is currently failing. The patient is going to need to be on IV antibiotics for the next five weeks and then following the completion of his antibiotics, he will be under the care of a cardiothoracic surgeon and emergent valve replacement will need to be undertaken upon completion of those antibiotics.
The patient requires frequent doctor visits from specialists and me as well as multiple diagnostic testing and laboratory followup. He again, is terminal and his life expectancy is approximately 95% to live less than one and one-half years."
04/29/2010 - Robert had another couple of set backs and spent 2 weeks in the hospital. The new heart valve is leaking and in 4 days he had 6 units of blood.
03/18/2010 - Prayers have been answered! Robert went through 6 hours of surgery without any problems / issues.
07/28/2010 - Brought Robert home from the hospital late this morning. The aneurysm only affected his Ulnar artery and they were able to take a vein from his leg to replace the bad area and shortly after surgery the circulation in his fingers had returned to normal.
Thanks to everyone who has added Robert to your prayer list -- it means so much. Karen
07/12/2010 - We saw the surgeon and he went into a high speed medical run. He believes that the aneurysm actually involves both main arteries in the arm instead of just the Ulnar. In either case Robert will have to have surgery. If the Ulnar is just involved, that vein will be removed and if both are ballooning then he will probably lose his right arm.
His veins are so important because of receiving IV medications and blood (10 units since March 17) and this episode has both of us in panic mode. His body will only handle a PICC lines for a short time, so long-term is out of the question.
Robert will have a CT Scan with and without contrast and is on medication for the next 12 hours to stop the dye from damaging his kidneys.
This time I am afraid, really afraid. Please pray for us, please!
07/08/2010 - Robert has developed an aneurysm on his right arm just at the bend of the elbow that is about 1" x 1". We are waiting to hear from the surgeon to get idea about what needs to happen. Please say some extra prayers for him and us. We have no insurance on him and the bank account is critically low.
07/06/2010 - Robert returned home after a quick tune-up. He is not feeling well and is sleeping almost all of the time. We see the doctor tomorrow and will find out what is going with the blood and kidney counts. He continues to have mini strokes and now his speech is becoming affected.
06/23/2010 - Robert is back in the hospital. Had a 2 dimensional scan this afternoon on his heart. The doctor believes that the valve replaced in March is leaking again and once again testing will be done to see how many more mini strokes he has had. He has lost a bunch of vision in his left eye and this is believed to be from a stroke. He will be receiving 2 units of blood and will have additional testing in the morning to see how many more mini strokes he has had.
Please pray for us -- it appears that his time with us may be limited by his body hating itself.
06/15/2010 - Discharged the nursing staff because of budgeting. These people that have been the team leaders in Robert's care have been great. We will miss them greatly.
06/09/2010 - Thanks to everyone that has continued to pray for us and Robert's recovery. I will do my best to keep this page updated as often as possible. Karen East Collins
06/09/2010 - Roberts PICC Line came out! No more antibotics! Now we just pray that nothing happens until his veins heal.
06/07/2010 - Brought Robert back home from the hospital after a few tune-up days in the hospital. The replacement valve continues to leak and he continues to have mini-strokes because of blood 'splashing' the wrong direction in his heart.
On the 4th of May, Roberts Primary Doctor wrote a letter concerning his health issues. I have included part of it:
"The patient has terminal lupus nephritis with end-stage chronic renal failure. The patient also has liver disease and has recently been diagnosed with Staphylococcus endocarditis and has required a valve replacement, which is currently failing. The patient is going to need to be on IV antibiotics for the next five weeks and then following the completion of his antibiotics, he will be under the care of a cardiothoracic surgeon and emergent valve replacement will need to be undertaken upon completion of those antibiotics.
The patient requires frequent doctor visits from specialists and me as well as multiple diagnostic testing and laboratory followup. He again, is terminal and his life expectancy is approximately 95% to live less than one and one-half years."
04/29/2010 - Robert had another couple of set backs and spent 2 weeks in the hospital. The new heart valve is leaking and in 4 days he had 6 units of blood.
03/18/2010 - Prayers have been answered! Robert went through 6 hours of surgery without any problems / issues.
03/16/2010 - We got word yesterday that Robert is at peak physical condition for surgery. There are no active infection in his body and all blood work looks good - even for his kidneys.
The survival rate for this surgery is right at 40% and yet we are prepared to bring Robert home. He has a fantastic attitude and told me that he would walk with me each morning - just give him a few days to get back on his feet!
Please pray for my son - his surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 8:00am.
02/25/2010 - Robert is not stable for open heart surgery due to a major infection. He will be on antibiotics for the next 14 days and during this time he will be going through physical rehab to strengthen his body for surgery.
The open heart surgery will be to replace and aorta valve that is has infection clinging to it. Bits and pieces of the infection are beginning to break off and has caused several mini-strokes that has affected the vision in his left eye, plus right-side arm and leg issues.
02/23/2010 - Robert is in ICU in critical condition and once he becomes physically stable then he will have open heart surgery.
08/14/2009 - Roberts condition is critical. He was admitted into the hospital with Bilateral Pneumonia in both lungs, congestive heart failure, failing kidneys . . .
08/22/2009 - Robert had major complications and was placed in ICU. His condition didn't look good and many prayers around the world were answered.
09/02/2009 - Robert is home - weak in body and mind. His recovery will be long and difficult. He is on 19 medications now and five of these are for blood pressure.
God is in control and we have witnessed miracle after miracle! Thank each of you for your prayers and support.
02/23/2010 - Robert is not well and once again in ICU in critical condition. Once strong enough he will under-go open heart surgery to correct life threatening damage that lupus has caused over the years.
The survival rate for this surgery is right at 40% and yet we are prepared to bring Robert home. He has a fantastic attitude and told me that he would walk with me each morning - just give him a few days to get back on his feet!
Please pray for my son - his surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 8:00am.
02/25/2010 - Robert is not stable for open heart surgery due to a major infection. He will be on antibiotics for the next 14 days and during this time he will be going through physical rehab to strengthen his body for surgery.
The open heart surgery will be to replace and aorta valve that is has infection clinging to it. Bits and pieces of the infection are beginning to break off and has caused several mini-strokes that has affected the vision in his left eye, plus right-side arm and leg issues.
02/23/2010 - Robert is in ICU in critical condition and once he becomes physically stable then he will have open heart surgery.
08/14/2009 - Roberts condition is critical. He was admitted into the hospital with Bilateral Pneumonia in both lungs, congestive heart failure, failing kidneys . . .
08/22/2009 - Robert had major complications and was placed in ICU. His condition didn't look good and many prayers around the world were answered.
09/02/2009 - Robert is home - weak in body and mind. His recovery will be long and difficult. He is on 19 medications now and five of these are for blood pressure.
God is in control and we have witnessed miracle after miracle! Thank each of you for your prayers and support.
02/23/2010 - Robert is not well and once again in ICU in critical condition. Once strong enough he will under-go open heart surgery to correct life threatening damage that lupus has caused over the years.
____________________________________
We proudly dedicate this site to our 26 year old son Robert, who suffers daily from the cruel chronic inflammatory disease, Lupus. He is our hero, living life to the fullest when able and showing us that just because your sick doesn't mean you can't do normal things.
Robert's illness hit him with a vengeance at age 16 and the Doctors prepared us for the worse. Two weeks after his initial admission into the hospital he came home; his body weak and his mind clear.
During the years that followed the onset of Robert's illness, he has come out of the darkness of being on life support, has conquered emergency lung surgery, survived a massive stroke; and even to this day continues to work a part-time job when able.
Life is not easy! Each day we praise God that Robert has remained with us a little longer against all odds. He is our son, best friend and inspiration for living.
Robert's illness hit him with a vengeance at age 16 and the Doctors prepared us for the worse. Two weeks after his initial admission into the hospital he came home; his body weak and his mind clear.
During the years that followed the onset of Robert's illness, he has come out of the darkness of being on life support, has conquered emergency lung surgery, survived a massive stroke; and even to this day continues to work a part-time job when able.
Life is not easy! Each day we praise God that Robert has remained with us a little longer against all odds. He is our son, best friend and inspiration for living.
To learn more about this disease visit The Lupus Foundation of America
I have taken the time to put together important documentation for both the doctors office and hospital that may make things easier if you are on a massive amount of medication. If interest - click here!
Robert's Medical Fund