Life is fleeting

And some of us are willing to die in our pursuit of losing this excess baggage that we have.

This weekend, we lost one of the ladies who was in Brazil having surgery with Dr. Marchesini. Nancy Rudolf was apparently doing fairly well after a routine, successful duodenal switch on Thursday with Dr. M. On Saturday, Dr. M's assistant doctor was doing rounds and discovered that Nancy had fluid in her lungs. He called Dr. M in, who called a pulmonary specialist in after examining her himself. They took her into surgery and got the bleeding stopped, but she went into cardiac arrest soon after surgery and they were unable to revive her.

Nancy apparently had a congenital condition that had been undiscovered until this time. She had a pulmonary embollism that had been around for goodness only knows how long - a walking time bomb - and there was nothing that Dr. M could have done more to save her. This is his first post-operative death in doing the DS and is apparently taking it very hard.

So please, pray for Nancy's family and the shock they have had. This vibrant, fun woman was taking the first step in what should have been her new life. And unfortunately it was cut short. Rest in peace, Nancy. You and your family are in my prayers tonight.