Death of my Aunt, Gladys Trentham Russell

March 2008 at funeral of her sister, Kate Stogner.

I scanned the obit, but it would not display here large enough to read. I have uploaded it to my Fotki website. Click here to view thumbnail. Click on the thumbnail to enlarge for reading. There is also an article about her death in the Daily Times today. It is here, also.

Gladys Trentham Russell died at 1:10 p.m. 7/16/09. She was 92 years old. Born Jan. 8, 1917.

Receiving friends Sunday, July 19, 2009 from 4 to 7:00 p.m. with brief service at 7:00 p.m. at Smith's Mortuary in Maryville, TN.

Burial on Monday, July 20, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in Grandview Cemetery in Maryville, TN.

Gladys had been very weak last couple of months experiencing a lot of abdominal pain the last few weeks. She underwent colon surgery in August 2008 for removal of tumor that was cancerous. She chose not to receive any treatments.

Gladys update from Sandra

Everyone,
Thanks so much for your prayers and concern during mother's
recent hospital stay. She spent a week - 9/9-9/17 - because
of inflammation in her abdomen around the surgical site of
her bowel resection.  The main treatment was IV antibiotics
and pain medication.  She is doing some better, but will
remain on a mainly liquid diet for another couple of weeks.

We took her back to her apartment in Morningview Assisted
Living yesterday afternoon, so she is much happier!  Please
continue to pray that she will improve, and regain her
strength.  She continues to be very weak, and time will
tell if she will be able to continue living in the assisted
living apartment.

We really appreciate all of your prayers, calls, messages
and visits!

Thanks so much.
Sandra

Update on Aunt Gladys from Sandra

Everyone,
Some of you are aware that mother was readmitted to the
hospital last Tuesday evening for excessive pain near her
recent incision site.  She was doing very well after her
bowel resection done on Aug. 9th, and had returned to her
apartment in assisted living on Sat. Sept. 6th.

Unfortunately, that was very short-lived. She has been in
the hospital for a week this time, and the doctor informed
me this morning that her pain is coming from the lower
right side of her colon.  Apparently, it is very inflamed
and swollen, which causes her extreme pain each time she
eats. They are able to control the pain with morphine,
but that isn't a good long term solution.

The doctor says poor circulation in the area is the main
cause of it not healing as it should.  At 91 years old,
mother's circulation isn't good, so the healing may take
a long time, if at all.  I am not sure whether or not she
will be able to return to assisted living if she must be
on strong pain medication - probably not.

She is very alert, and aware of all that is going on with
her. Just pray that the Lord will do whatever is best for her.

Thanks for your support!
Sandra

Gladys back in hospital on Sept. 9th

Gladys spent three days back in her room. She called Sandra Tues. afternoon saying she was having a lot of pain. At recommendation of the assisted living staff, Sandra took Gladys to the ER. A CT scan without contrast showed swelling and inflammation in the area of her surgery.

She was admitted that night and has continued to have pain, which seems to be much worse in the evenings. She has been on IV antibiotics since being admitted.

A CT scan with contrast was done Saturday and they should get results of it on Monday and find out what the Doctor recommends next.

When Sandra went to see her around noon today, Gladys was sitting up eating her lunch. Seemed to be okay then.

Gladys is back in her apartment

Talked to Sandra today. Gladys was moved back into her apartment in Assisted Living on Saturday, Sept. 6th.

Sandra was met at the door by staff yesterday when she went to see her Mother. Gladys did not go to breakfast or lunch on Sunday. She promised Sandra she would go for the evening meal, but she only ate a couple of bites. She is still drinking her Strawberry Ensure.

It's only been four weeks since her surgery. We hope she will begin to regain her appetite, so she can build up her strength.

Please continue to pray for the family during these trying times.

Lillian

Update on Aunt Gladys

Spoke to Sandra this morning. Gladys will be staying in transitional care for another week or so. She is just not strong enough to return to her room at this time.

She gets short of breath when she walks any distance (Still using walker). She is still not eating enough to regain the strength she needs to be able to go back to her quarters.

She is very disappointed! She wants to go back to her room!!

Please continue to pray for her.

Update on Aunt Gladys

Email from Sandra on 8/18/08:

Everyone,
Thank you so much for your prayers, visits, and encouragement
for mother. Ten days after her bowel resection, which is a
major surgery for a 40 yr. old, she is leaving the hospital
today to go to Morningview Transitional Care. 

She is doing well with the pain, and is determined to get
her strength back again.  At 91 yrs. old, it may take a few
weeks to get her back to the point she can again live in her
assisted living apartment, but she is determined.  Mom is
having difficulty eating, as nothing tastes good wish I had
that problem!), but she is faithfully drinking Ensure each day
which will provide some nourishment.

She is most upset about missing so many Sundays at Madison
Avenue!  I appreciate all who have come to visit her.

When she gets to Morningview Transitional Care, she will be
listed as Gladys Russell.

Thanks so much for caring!

Sandra

Up on Aunt Gladys

Aunt Gladys is having good days and not so good days. Her bowels and kidneys seem to be back on course. They have been getting her to walk some. She sits up on side of bed to eat. When she walks she has pain at her incision. Pain seems to be her main problem. She may get out of the hospital Monday or Tuesday.

Update on Gladys

(Copied from email Tues afternoon)

Everyone,

Thanks so much for the prayers for mother's recovery!
After her bowel resection last Friday, we were afraid
she was facing renal failure over the weekend.  Her
doctors have done a great job of dealing with that,
and she has apparently "turned the corner" today.

The doctors have reduced the amount of pain medication
she is receiving, so the pain is a problem.  They felt
she needed to be more alert to be able to get up, and
sit in a chair, etc.  Today her bowel system worked,
so there was celebration by the nurses!

We all know that 91 years is a good, long life, but
I think mother plans to be here a good while longer.

Thanks again for prayers and support.

Sandra

Update on Aunt Gladys

Surgeon removed about 10" of her colon, untwisted a kink that was found in her colon below the tumor, and repaired a hernia. She was having a lot of pain after surgery, so an epidural was done to help control that. Doctor now thinks the kink/twist may have been causing the blockage.

At 4 p.m. Saturday, her kidneys are not working very well. She has been given a lot of IV's to try to get her kidneys working, but is not having much output yet. Nurses were trying to contact the Doctor to find out what should be done about her kidneys.

She is doing better. Not having very much pain today. Not using much pain medicine.

Please remember her and her family as you pray.

Lillian Lancaster

Surgery for my Aunt

Gladys Russell (91 yrs old)
March 14, 2008 at funeral of her sister, Kate

Gladys Russell, my Aunt, spent eight days in the hospital
week before last. She was having abdominal pain and Dr.
thought her stomach was just not emptying because the
muscles were not working right. She was put on a drug to
make the stomach contract and hopefully empty better.

She had been out of the hospital for seven or eight days
when she was re-admitted to the hospital this week due to
bleeding from colon. Her daughter, Sandra, was called
at 4 a.m. and went and picked her up and took her to the
hospital.

A colonoscopy was done Thursday. They found the bleeding came
from diviticulitus(sp?). Looking higher up in the colon, they
found a cancerous tumor that was virtually blocking her colon.
This may have been the reason for her stomach not emptying.
If not for the bleeding, the tumor would likely not have been
found.

Surgery is planned for sometime today (Friday). Doctor is to
meet with the family Fri. a.m.

Dr told Gladys that if she had to have the tumor, it was in
the best place. They should be able to remove it and do
resection. Dr. doing the scope did not think it was involved
outside her colon. He was pretty certain it is cancer. Biopsy
was taken.

Colon cancer seems to run in the Trentham family. If you
aren't being checked every five years, you should check
with your doctor. Colon cancer is so treatable, if found
early. Otherwise, it is a silent killer. THERE ARE NO SYMPTOMS
until it's too late! Ask me.... I know.

Death in family

Horace "Whitey" Yeaton, 87 year old husband of my Aunt
Gladys Trentham Russell Yeaton died on 8/14/07 at his
home.

Receiving friends and service will be Friday,
Aug. 17th at Maryville Friends Church starting
at 6:30. Memorial service at 7 p.m.

Lillian T Lancaster