Sadly the following was just posted on Vicky's website by her brother:
Be prepared for tears.....
Hi Debbie,
I just returned from visiting Vicky in the hospital. I know a lot of folks out there are concerned and would like news about her condition. Since you received the forwarded email from my sister Teri, you have the family side of things.
I'm sure Vicky would really appreciate it if someone would step in and take over the work she was doing in spreading the word about alternatives to hip replacement surgery. Vicky's daughter, Carisa Sherwood, would like to contact anyone who is a contributor to the site and might be interested in continuing the work of her foundation. If you would be so kind as to pass the contact information to me, I will be happy to forward it to Carisa.
Here then is the official word on Vicky's condition which you may post on her website:
Over the past few weeks, Vicky was battling a noro virus infection. She was suffering from dehydration and was unable to keep food down. Vicky has been on a number of prescription medications, some of which was for relief from anxiety as well as to combat periodic insomnia. I know she was quite weak and was drinking distilled water, not knowing that distilled water has no electrolytes and was stripping her body of what little in the way of potassium and sodium she had left. She was very weak and was experiencing difficulty sleeping.
Sometime during the day on Saturday the 12th of January, Vicky took some NyQuil, probably to help her sleep and to mitigate some of the aches and pain of the viral infection. What she didn't know at the time is that the small amount of alcohol in NyQuil in combination with the medications she was taking created a catastrophic event. At some point after taking the NyQuil, Vicky passed out.
Her kids discovered her Monday morning after repeated phone calls to her were not returned. Vicky was rushed to the hospital where immediate steps were taken to stabilize her condition. Her electrolytes were depleted, her body temperature was dangerously low and she had trouble breathing. A few days later, Vicky opened her eyes, and though extremely weak, she was able to respond to some questioning. She seemed to recover when a number of family members were present. She was able to tell her kids she loved them and shed some tears. She even requested that some food be brought to her.
Apparently, that was the last time Vicky was conscious. After numerous tests, MRIs, EEGs, the medical staff determined that Vicky suffered hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. In essence, the combination of the alcohol in the NyQuil with her other meds, triggered an adverse reaction in her brain that cut off the supply of oxygen. Her brain was dying at the time she expressed her love for her family and she never recovered. For the past week, we have closely monitored her condition. There has been no cognitive response, though she is able to open her eyes, breathe, cough and do a number of involuntary responses. The part of her brain that controls all the voluntary activity has ceased to function.
She is in a vegetative state and from all the research the family has been doing, it is unlikely that she will recover.
Of all the possible outcomes, this is probably the worst. The family is devastated and we are working through all the complicated considerations regarding her ongoing care.
I appreciate all the prayers and well wishes from her many friends and acquaintances. Her crusade to spread the word about alternatives to hip replacement was her all consuming passion in life.
On behalf of her family, I would like to thank all of you for your kind words and outpouring of support. I truly hope someone will be able to continue the work Vicky started. For those of you who have been touched personally by Vicky's efforts I would urge you to do what Vicky was striving to do and in the words of Vicky, "Pay it forward!".
God bless!
Mark Marlow
Vicky's brother
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