Natasha Richardson injured in skiing accident- Page 9

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 9:31pm

Oh my God. I can't believe this. I'd like to believe that these reports are not credible, but I remember this same exact song-and-dance when the Heath Ledger news broke. I got to see her recently...she was so wonderful in the Little Night Music reading.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 9:40pm

Eris that is NOT new! It's an ENTIRE article of SPECULATION!

Doctors who specialise in treating head trauma have speculated that injuries sustained by the actress Natasha Richardson when she fell while skiing in Canada could have caused a brain clot....

He stressed that he cannot speak specifically about Richardson's case.

Try reading the figgin' articles before you post them! Sheesh...

Updated On: 3/17/09 at 09:40 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 9:41pm

How reliable is the UP?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 9:42pm

As reliable as some of the posters here, just reporting old gossip and conjecture.

[marie_elise]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 9:52pm

Poor love. I fear the worst but hope for the best. It might be best to not linger on this all night. There's likely not to be any more news until the family releases a statement.

[LionessInWinter]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 9:53pm

Pal Joey, I enjoy your posts elsewhere and understand your reticence to believe or listen to these reports, but your outrage is misguided IMO. It is perfectly logical, yes, speculation. I can tell you that as soon as I read the first reports this morning that she was in the hospital after a fall on the slopes, albeit on the bunny slope, I posted to another board I hang out on that while I thought she could just have a concussion, I guessed that she had something more in line with a subdural hematoma. The reason I guessed this also was because there was such a lack of details coming out that said to me it was much more serious than was being said, despite them saying it was serious.

All I can say is I speak from years of experience of treating those types of patients with those types of injuries, from seemingly innocuous events. I've seen them all across the spectrum, from those that recover completely all the way to those who did not, still living with no significant quality of life.

Did you happen to watch Larry King with the 2 Neurosx Chiefs explaining this type of injury? Of course no one not involved can say that's definitely what happened to her, but it's not unlikely either. It was my first thought upon hearing this story as I said. And I'll bet those MD's have connections and do know all about what's going on with her, but can't say officially.

I'm sorry this distresses you so, but I think the outrage is unnecessary at this point. If it all turns out a lie, rage on.

ETA: And if it wasn't true, I can't imagine the family or spokespeople or someone wouldn't nip all this in the bud to at least give an indication that the situation was different and stop all the handwringing about the worst. What would be the point of letting the world spin around like a top with such untrue info out there without at least trying to calm a little of it down?
Updated On: 3/17/09 at 09:53 PM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 9:57pm

Honestly, I think PalJoey is just trying to be positive and hopeful, which is a beautiful thing.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 9:58pm

I personally wish this post would be deleted.

In a few hours an official announcement will be given and we'll know her condition.

Until then... its all speculation.

Period.

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 10:33pm

there hasn't been a time frame for the announcement has there? I know its tomorrow, but they haven't said whether it would be in the morning or midday?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 10:41pm

PJ...I DO read the articles before I post them. That was the first article I had seen where actual doctors discussed the possibilities. Thus making it new.

If I had posted a link to Billy Bush from Access Hollywood giving his "expert" opinion on head injuries then you can bitch at me. But, I didn't. If an article has information different than other ones already posted then I'm going to share it. I realize that none of the doctors actually examined Ms Richardson but they know the field better than any of us. I, personally, see no problem with sharing the opinions of actual doctors with the site for people who may not understand what is going on to read.

I'm sorry you're upset about this but railing against me and other posters isn't going to change anything.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 10:47pm

I posted on the other board that the lack of any denial is not a positive sign. Still, Medscape Nursing just featured a collection of "Miracle" patients. In many cases, they were deathly ill but "one more" tx was tried and their was a successful resolution. I just had 2 pts in the last month whose heads were barely being held onto their necks. Both had surgical tx and Radation ( ok they were onco dx) one has already gone home and the other will later this week. Were they cured? no. Did we prevent their iminent demise and buy them some time with a reasonable quality fo life? yes. And that will have to be enough.
Do't get me wrong. There is a time to rejoice and a time to mourn. but What information do we actually have?
1/ a fall on a ski slope w spontaneous comunication and mobilization
2/ change of status to unwell w headache and transfer to local hospital.
3/ Next of kin informed and transfer to tertiary tx centre.
4/ Arrival of NOK
5/ Other family/friends contacted transfer to U.S.
That's it.
I'll call time on a code- when I've got valid info to back it up. Til then, "stayin' alive, stayin alive"....

[LionessInWinter]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 10:51pm

I'm always hopeful, could never have done my job well without it, but my friends know my middle name is "pragmatic". And there's no harm in that either, because I couldn't have done my job and kept sane without it either.

ETA: And they aren't mutually exclusive.


And I see just now in BWW's story that they spoke to someone to confirm she's brain dead. Not official of course. HOW could BWW of *all* sources say such a thing!! OMG, the speculation!!

Updated On: 3/17/09 at 10:51 PM

[Yero]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 10:55pm

I still cannot wrap my head around this. I'm confused, devastated, and speechless. All I can do now is wait.

[BNN]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 10:57pm

For those still following/hoping: TMZ reported that Vanessa Redgrave visited Ms. Richardson at the hospital she is currently at. I wont link to it, but its out there if want to read it.

I don't see anything wrong with speculation, until the official statement I think we are speculating as a means of hoping for the very best but preparing for the worst.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 10:59pm

The NY Times weighs says Lenox Hill.
Natasha Richardson Being Treated in New York

[Kevn520]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 11:01pm

Wow, her mother looks totally devastated in those pictures.

[LionessInWinter]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 11:04pm

(Sabrelady) Did we prevent their iminent demise and buy them some time with a reasonable quality fo life? yes. And that will have to be enough.

And that's really the crux of it isn't it...quality of life. I was thinking about that in relation to Natasha when I was out for my jog a few hours ago. That so many hope for her to be alive...but at what cost? And really, what is "reasonable"? And for whom? That's all very individual for people as we both well know.
I was thinking about it all in relation to a Palliative Care/Hospice case study presentation about a cancer patient I went to last week, probably not unlike your patients. And her choice of quality of life vs. treatment wouldn't be like what you or I might choose, and it wasn't what her family would've chosen for her. But that's a whole other off topic discussion.

Interesting she's at Lenox Hill. I wouldn't have guessed there.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 11:14pm

"Interesting she's at Lenox Hill. I wouldn't have guessed there."

Really? Why not?

Lenox Hill's the only one I imagined she'd be in.

[LionessInWinter]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 11:21pm

Actually I was thinking NYP-Cornell. They had done some amazing neurosx work on at least a couple of in-the-news patients in the last year or so. Not saying Lenox Hill isn't good, it certainly is, just didn't think about there. Professionally, I'm familiar with their neuro dept also, though I don't work there. I know no one at Lenox Hill and have no opinion of their neuro work. I know they're good for other issues.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 11:22pm

"Wow, her mother looks totally devastated in those pictures"

You just want to give her a big hug - if she wasn't Vanessa Redgrave that is.

It must be so horrible to see your child in such a state. No matter how old they get they're always your child.

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 11:25pm

While it may be nice to know where she is, I don't really think they should have snapped the photo of Vanessa (Its the media, they don't care, but w/e)
Obviously this is a very hard time for them and I think the media needs to step down, but... then again, they never back down

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 11:27pm

I see, Lioness, thanks for the info.

It just seems to me that Lenox HIll is the "prestige hospital" and I don't mean it in a superficial way. It supposedly offers some of the best care by their staff.

[LionessInWinter]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 11:29pm

I know that was my first thought about those pictures...how horrible it must've been to have a camera pointed at her and flashed in the face like that at this of all times.

ETA: So is NYP-Cornell, Jane. I saw Robert Altman walk by me while I was sitting out in front of it on a bench enjoying the beautiful weather one day about 3 weeks maybe before he died. He looked so frail and wasn't walking steady. I've seen/heard about quite a number of high profile people there, both famous and just plain people injured but involved in big news stories.
She's in good hands at Lenox Hill. Updated On: 3/17/09 at 11:29 PM

[sabrelady]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 12:10am

The Head of Neurosurg @ Lennox is VERY qualified plus he doesn't publish a lot - which can mean he's more "hands on" in the OR than some who are investigating or trialing some new invention. (yes, I searched a couple of on line journals)
I believe that extrapolating from that that she was transfered w the plan of pursuing additional tx and is to me hopeful.
Cos surgeons don't like taking on pts who are too poor a risk-
it ups their insurance and spoils their stats.
( yes it sounds like a line from House it is also too true)

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 12:17am

When I first saw this headline my first thought was that a group of fans had gathered outside the hospital with candles. But upon closer inspection it's that her friends and family are gathering.

The bit about the exams twelve hours apart is interesting news - I didn't know that.
'Vigil' For Natasha Richardson in New York