crossposted from Kos
His good friend Jen says tonight:
Gilly is NOT doing well. He backslid last week, just as an overzealous (and cost-conscious) hospital was trying to push him out of the ICU and in to rehab well before he was ready.
More after the jump.
[…]
Then…one night about 4 nights ago, he had complications with an infection–very serious stuff; that’s all I’ll say for now. When I got to finally see him-now back in the full bunnysuit ICU, he looked and WAS worse than ever before. He’s not going anywhere for a while. He’s suffering from a system-wide infection, heavily sedated, and hooked up to more tubes than a plumbing supply store carries.
In short, a full recovery is pretty much out of the question. Getting out of the hospital PERIOD is an unknown percentage also, one that can’t be ignored.
I don’t know any other way to say this:
He may not make it.
I hope that one day he laughs at me for even positing this. But the day when he’ll be anywhere near communicative, nevermind near a computer, is very far off.
Health care in America, folks.
Steve Gilliard needs our prayers, our expertise (for you medical Kossacks) and the stomach to fight for quality health care based on patient needs, not the need for the hospital to empty a bed.
I’ve missed Steve’s voice on so many issues: Sharpton, Sean Bell, Imus, the surge, Cheney in Iraq, the levees. It cannot be time for him to leave us yet.
Write Jen at jenonymous@gmail.com.
Or visit The News Blog at http://www.thenewsblog.net/ to at least show some love and get some word.
