Those of you inclined to pray -

- please pray for my aunt Pat. She's in the hospital with necrotizing fasciitis.

Yes, that is flesh-eating disease, and I wish this were a joke. To date the doctors have removed four rather large areas of tissue/gangrene, leaving the wounds open so they can monitor things for a bit (surgery was Wed. morning, I think). They've gotten her hydrated and her blood pressure up, are pumping antibiotics into her and have given her on-demand morphine. The antibiotics "aren't taking hold as well as" the doctors would like, and there's been some discussion about hyperbaric treatments. At the same time, they would like to get her up and walking a bit later today.

Understandably, the hospital is restricting visits to immediate family, for just a few minutes at a time, and only after full gowning. Nothing leaves the room. My uncle is a wreck, but all four of their kids and families live in the same community, and he has a lot of support.

Even assuming the infection has been stopped, there is still a long, painful recovery period ahead. When you can, please pray/send good thoughts to Pat and her family. I'll update when I have new information.