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This is a Matter of Life and Death - important (updated 1/25/09)

1/25/09: Clark's Story - the final chapters This is the update on Clark - Please love your family and friends and appreciate the moments in life that you have - things can change on a dime and things we think are so important and significant really are not - when faced with a real crisis of the heart and life. - Jennie

12/20 UPDATE: Please continue to Pray for Clark.... - this is the update on Clark.

10/28 UPDATE: Please continue to Pray for Clark.... - This is the update on Clark for Members Only.

10/20 UPDATE: Please pray for Clark - for healing and to come out of his coma

This is the update for Clark for Oct 20, 2008 - please read and continue praying for him! - Jennie

10/11 UPDATE: Please pray for Clark - for healing and to come out of his coma

updated for Oct. 11, 2008 - to read the update on Clark, please link to this other post.

- Jennie

_________________________________________________________________________________

Updated for September 30, 2008 . . . To see the update on Clark, link to the other blog post:

9/30 UPDATE: Please pray for Clark - for healing and to come out of his coma

I truly hope that the blog gods don't delete this post as it truly is a matter of life and death and of great importance to all of us that Stage in the heat or in hot areas around the country.

Dehydration can kill you or me. It is very important to stay hydrated as we Stage or do anything physical.

My brother in law, 49 years young, went out jogging last Saturday and while running became dehydrated, sat down, and passed out. His heart stopped - he died. He was found by other joggers - no one knows how many minutes passed before he was found - and a jogger that happened to be a Doctor also came by and immediately administered CPR. The paramedics arrived and got his heart started again with the paddles, and all his vitals came back strong, but my brother in law remains in a coma - 5 days later. He is excellent health - his heart looks good, his brain seems fine, although today an EEG will determine if there is any kind of damage to the brain that did not show up earler. Physically he is beginning to respond to things but has not "awakened" yet - and that is what we want to happen. We have many people lifting this man, father, husband and friend up in prayer for a full recovery - but it does not happen like in the movies where the person just pops up and is all fine.

Yesterday a 14 year old boy dropped dead after soccer practice here in Sacramento. It was about 95 degrees outside, no humidity. The boy was in good health, no known issues. My prediction is that it is tied to dehydration and a tragedy that could have been avoided if the boy had stayed hydrated.

Another colleague (not a Stager) was moving her house and felt great pain in her legs to the point that she decided she should go to the doctor. Turns out her potassium levels were dangerously low, and - she was dehydrated. They said she was "this close" to having a major heart attack.

Coffee and energy drinks are not a replacement for water. My brother in law drank a cup of coffee and had a soda before he went running. Caffeine is a stimulant, so my guess is that under the hot and humid conditions he was jogging in, that caffeine was not good for his system, and a bottle or water or a sports drink like Gatorade would have been better. Hindsight is 20-20.

I know when I have staged in the heat, we sweat profusely as the temperatures sometimes climb up to 110 degrees. It is important to keep cold water handy, and to pay attention to our bodies. If we feel funny or something is not right, that is our body giving us a signal.

Many people that like the idea of Staging don't fully realize how physical it can be - with vacant home installs, or working with sellers that don't put on their air conditioning and we end up staging in a house that is 90 degrees. Staging IS work.

When we exert energy, we can sweat, and we need to replenish our fluids or else risk our health. It's as simple as that.

Drink water - it can save your life. - Jennie

I posted more on this and specific prayer requests on another AR group that is appropriate for that and will be posting updates on Clark's condition there. Thanks!! Jennie

9/30 UPDATE: Please pray for Clark - for healing and to come out of his coma(Members Only)

Posted by Jennie Norris, ASPM, IAHSP on 09/04/2008 10:44 AM

Comments (58)

staging, home staging, health, heat

Post is included in group: Stager's Coffee Clutch
Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...
Post is included in group: Family Ties
Post is included in group: Christianity and Real Estate
Post is included in group: ASP Stagers in the RAIN

58 Comments on This is a Matter of Life and Death - important (updated 1/25/09)

SEP

2008

So sorry, great advice, god bless!

Jennie - No one would dream of deleting this post. This is valuable information, and I appreciate your reminder. You might consider putting this one in the Family Ties and Christianity and Real Estate groups, as there are some great prayer warriors there.

Jennie,

Thank you for this valuable information. We are often so focused on the tasks at hand we forget to eat or drink. As a matter of fact, my husband calls me to remind me to eat! I am deeply committed to drinking water which is critical to the brain. I drink it immediately when I wake up as well as throughout the day. My prayers are with your brother-in-law.

Warm wishes,

Anita

Thank you - I will do that! - Jennie

Thanks for the blog and sorry about your brother in law

Very sorry to hear about your brother in law! We always keep a packed cooler on big move days including water/gatorade for our movers.

Very good advice!

Oh my goodnesss! My husband always concerns me. He has to go into attics. They're SO hot! And he doesn't drink enough water. But at least he now puts forth an effort. He doesn't scare me as much as he did in the past. BTW, I'm in FL. So I understand just how hot and humid it can get.

I'm sorry for your loss!

My Father eneded up in the hospital about 10 years ago for "Heat Exaustion". He had been working too long in a hot space without drinking anywhere near enough water. He was lucky that there were others around and they called an ambulance or my story would not have a happy ending.

Again, I'm very sorry for your loss!!

Drink Water!! It is not complicated, but if you don't do it you could die.

Jennie, Sorry for your loss. Thanks for chiming in on this issue, it just may save a life!

It's easy to forget to drink water, but it's so important. Of course, death is the worst case scenario, but lethargy, headaches, and bladder infections are other effects of skipping the agua. Good reminder, thanks!

Jennie, my prayers are with you and your family. Keep positive and rely on the support of others when you feel like you are getting down. Thank you for sharing your personal story for the benefit of others!

Excellent advice, especially true for those of us who work in desert areas! Thank you for the reminder and warning and our thoughts and prayers are for your family.

Jennie ~ How horrible! My thoughts and prayers are with your family and your brother-in-law. Physical activity in these hot months takes its toll and I seem to always be reading about athletes collapsing and recall a football player died a couple of summers ago at a practice. Water breaks should be mandatory in everything - sports, working outside.

What great advice and I don't think people are aware of how dangerous dehydration can be. I ride horses and have to be very careful to not just hydrate, but to hydrate with electrolytes before getting on. Thank you for your reminder. My prayers are with you in regards to your brother-in-law.

Sorry to hear of your loss. Here in Miami, we have lots of heat and humidity. Staying hydrated is very important.

How horrible. Your brother in law and family are in my prayers.

My husband is reminding me to drink...drink...drink! This is one post I will not forget. Thank you for this priceless reminder!

We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Here in Arizona, water is so very crucial. We always carry water around with us and also pack extra for our clients.

Jennie, how very very sad to hear about your brother in law. Thank you for sharing this story. My good wishes go out to you and your family.

I worked in the pure drinking water business for 15 years so I do know the importance of drinking water every day.

My father will tell you that you will go rusty drinking water and only drinks tea or has soup. He is dehydrated every day of his life but won't believe it. You can pinch the skin on the back of his hand and it stays standing up. A sure sign of dehydration.

Jennie - I am so sorry about your brother-in-law, I certainly hope he has a full recovery. This IS very good information, thank you for sharing it.

I will keep your brother-in-law in my prayers....

You and your family are in my thoughts. I hope all goes well for him.

NEVER would I work in a house when the owner wouldn't turn on the AC. I tell them that they can save money after I leave. The electricity is cheaper than my medical bills.

Last house I staged they turned off the fridge to save electricity. The first thing I did was to turn it on so when I came back to stage it would be cold. I took a dozen bottles of water and tossed them in. They didn't say anything and just smiled.

Hi Jennie, I am so sorry to hear about your brother-in-law, I will pray for him and your family - please keep us updated on his condition.. Thanks for this important reminder.. God bless,

jennie Im so sorry about your brother in law. I will keep him in my prayers. Keep us posted thanks

Thank you ALL for your thoughts and prayers - Clark (my brother in law) is still about the same as he was yesterday - and is supposed to have an EEG today to determine if there is any brain damage. We don't want any - and so please pray for that specifically. He is gradually regaining some skills, but has not come out of the coma - and so it just is frustrating to sit and wait for any change or sign that he is going to be OK. - Jennie

Jennie - So sorry about your brother in law and will keep him and his family in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks for the much needed reminder.

Wow Jenny I am so sorry to hear about your brother in law. I will say a prayer for him that he recovers quickly. thanks for sharing this important message. KH

Jennie, Thank you for posting this. I am so sorry to hear about your Brother-in-law. Janine V. had told me over the weekend about him and he has been in our thoughts and prayers. You are so right, life gets so busy and we don't think about what our bodies need. I had a friend that passed out from dehydration and it took her weeks to recover from it. The best to your family.

You are absolutely right! Man...I pray that your brother-in-law recovers quickly. I am going to feature this in Christianity and Real Estate...so that others will be aware of his need for prayer. GBU!

Jennie, a quick post from one of your former students here in NC! I am so sorry to hear about your brother in law. We'll continue to lift him - and your family - up in prayer.

Another good thought is that everyone should be certified in CPR. What a difference it makes in saving a life. Last spring, myself and a colleague took a CPR course- never thinking either one of us would use it - but that it was very good training to have. Never say never. My colleague was at the gym shaving in the locker room and noticed another man struggling - and then collapsed. Fortunately, my friend was able to start CPR right away - and there was a defibrillator on hand at the gym - another incredibly important tool which they used to revive the guy . . . Today, the man who had the heart attack is doing well and on his way to a full recovery.

Thanks for the good tips on staying hydrated.

Again, sending good thoughts and prayers your way!

Again, Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers and keep them up for Clark. We have a network of people praying for him all over the US now - and although I cannot be with my twin sister in person to comfort her, I can help keep Clark in the prayer chains of those willing to pray for his full recovery - and work in the spiritual realm. - Jennie

Jennie, I'm sorry to hear about your brother-in-law. I will put him and your family on my prayer list. Please keep us updated about his progress.

Thank you for reminding all of us to drink more water!

God bless!

SEP

2008

Jennie,

Oh My Gosh! I am so sorry that your brother-in-law had to go through this! I hope all will be well. This is a wonderful post. The fact that your brother-in-law is young and healthy is scary to know because it reminds us of how fast our bodies can get de-hydrated in these high temperatures. Also a reminder everyone to check on the elderly in your neighborhoods and see how they are doing from time to time. A lot of them are on their own and may not have someone to remind them to drink additional water during this heatwave! Jennie, my best to you and your family that all will be well!

Jennie-this is such an important post. Dehydration is so dangerous. I am so sorry about your brother in law and we will pray for him! Blessings to all of you!

I learned from my doctor recently the proper amount of water (in oz.) we should drink each day is 1/2 our body weight. So if you weight 150 lbs you should drink 75oz. of water eavery day to be properly hydrated. That is alot of water-but I am much healther and thinner now.

Jennie - my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Kathy

Jennie, Thank you so much for sharing this with us! It is absolutely a VALUABLE piece of information and reminder. I shutter to think about the times when staging vacants with no A/C only to realize that I left the small beverage cooler at home! Your brother-in-law is in my prayers.

Teresa

Jennie,

Am praying for your brother-in-law. I'm sure everyone is doing the same.

Twice (you'd think I'd learn...) I got so wrapped up in staging that i didn't drink water, and both times I wound upwith a severe headache and nausea. Now i always have water with me, and drink it! Great reminder.

9/15 UPDATE: Please pray for Clark - for healing and to come out of his coma

Please go to this blog post for updates on Clark - and to continue to lift him up in prayer! I appreciate all the posts and your concern for someone special to me - and that is great part about networking and the caring people that are on this site. - Thank you - and I will keep you posted.

- Jennie

SEP

2008

I hope your brother-in-law has recovered by now. One of my friends was playing tennis this weekend and got weak due to dehydration. I know I really don't drink enough water and your blog is helping to put me back on the right track. I am going for a glass of water RIGHT NOW.

Hi Vicki,

Unfortunately, he is not OK- he is still in his coma (after 16 days) - and although he is showing signs of improvement as far as responding, he is still not totally awake. This is such a hard time for my family - and I know that it seems like such a simple thing to stay hydrated. I guess the only comfort in all this is that if my posting this has helped anyone out there to take drinking water seriously - then that is a good thing that has happened from the tragedy of my brother in law. We are hoping and praying for a full recovery - and standing on the faith we have that God is good - and hears our prayers. - Jennie

Vicki, Sorry to hear about your brother in law, being an avid runner myself it is hard to remember how important water is. I think after reading this I will give up that cup of coffee I have in the morning just before my run. I usually always have the water though. Your family will be in my prayers.

Hi Charles, - It's Jennie (Vicki was someone I was writing back to) - and I appreciate your concern - and definitely have that water (not coffee) before running! - Jennie

very imformative. Thank you very much for all this important info.

Janet Brown

JBstagingConcepts.com

321-806-9121

Thoughts and prayers for you and your brother inlaw Jennie. Very important info, thank you for sharing this very important information.

SEP

2008

Hey Jennie,

Just wanted to see how you Brother in Law was doing, I have been really concerned about this dehydration. Any chance it could ave been something that was a contributing factor. I tell you I have went to drinking 32 oz before running the last couple of days. My prayers go out to you and you family what a horrible and kinda freakish thing. Please keep us updated when you can.

Hi Chrles,

Clark is still in a coma - he has made some progress as far as responding and recognizing people when he is alert, but he is still not awake. He has made good strides as far as moving his body, lifting limbs, moving on command, etc. - but not out of the coma yet. Today they may be moving him out of the hospital - it's been over 2 weeks - and the usual rule is that is the deadline. He is still in fragile condition - the hospital didn't give him enogh fluids and he got dehydrated AGAIN on their watch - amazing. His blood pressure dropped and he went into shock - so YES - water is essential for our overall health! Drink lots of it. My prayers are with my sister and her family and we are praying for a complete recovery for Clark, and that any brain damage would be healed miraculously and over time - whatever the plan is. Of course we hope it is sooner than later, and yet I have been emailed many encouraging stories from AR people and other friends about people they know that went through a similar ordeal and are fine.

Thank you for your concern - and I have been updating his condition on the other blog post in another group: 9/15 UPDATE: Please pray for Clark - for healing and to come out of his coma that you can read for more specific updates.

- Jennie

Jennie, my thoughts and best wishes are for Clark today. Thank you for the reminder and startling caution. I know when I stage if I don't bring water with me...I don't drink. I guess that is silly to even think, I'm getting older and should drink more too.

My thoughts are with you and your family!

SEP

2008

Jennie,

Still praying for Clark and your family! Good to know that he has made some progress...I pray for his healing and a full recovery. Best wishes!

Jennie:

I am so sorry for your personal pain. Living hear in Florida, I never leave without water. Someday's I swear I sweat of 5 lbs in some of these houses, not to mention when outside painting a front door or planting bushes. And yes, when I run out of water, I don't drink, because I am always to anxious to stop the staging and get in the car and drive and get a drink. I have to change that habit!

Thank you for your blog and all the posts as a reminder to us all.

OCT

2008

October 28, 2008

It seems like the week's are flying by - and Clark is making progress. He is doing well with the physical therapy at the VA Hospital, and this week they capped his trach tube permanently - meaning for the first time in 8 weeks, he can talk.

My sister said he said, "Ow!" the other day when she was moving him, and the nurse said she heard him humming along to "Amazing Grace" that was playing from a CD. That is so great!

Keep praying for his complete recovery - and that he would be restored physically and mentally. His brain scan that he had this past week showed some shrinkage - but that is what they expected - and so are not saying it means that he will not recover or that he will be debilitated. Since we use only a small part of our overall brain, there are ways the body compensates, and his brain is still healing.

We need to pray for peace and no added stress with the family members - there were some issues related to controlling his care and the flow of information from doctors, and my sister had to deal with a pretty stressful situation from an individual that really was not keeping the focus on the solution and being helpful.

Thank you for continuing to lift Clark up in prayer. My children are taking posters to school today to have them signed by classmates and they will be sent to VA to help "stage" Clark's walls.

- Jennie

OCT

2008

God is good all the time, i am hopeful that Clark will have a full recovery. Give your sister a big hug for me, she has been a tropper through all of this. I suppose the faith in the lord is what is helping her to cope along with the rest of your family. You all seem to be such a tight unit. In times like this family is so important and I am glad that they have you to lean on. you have a good spirit and i know that lord will continue to bless you, in business, in life and in love.

All my best , Benita Ann

God is good!! In his on time he will bless Clark, he is a awesome God!

DEC

December 20, 2008

I wanted to update Clark's journey for those of you that have been following it and my family and I appreciate your continued prayer support.

I did get a chance to go back east to visit with my sister, and saw Clark twice. The first visit he was up and in therapy where they were working his legs, arms, and had him in cognitive therapy as well to see if he could do things on command like blink his eyes or track a ball. Sometimes he can and sometimes he cannot. He was trying to vocalize when I was there - and it was so evident that every little thing for him is a struggle, and he has to learn how to do EVERYTHING over again!

It really struck me when I saw him just lying there - and it made me very sad. My sister is holding up the best she can considering the circumstances, but she has some tough decisions to make in the coming weeks and months. The hope is that he will continue to improve and hit the goals the doctors and therapists have set for him, and that would allow him to stay in the coma re-emergence program. The flip side of that would be that he would not progress as they want him to - and he would have to go to a nursing home for care. Private therapists could be hired, but the facility change would be depressing - to say the least.

This coming week on Christmas Day at 3PM Pacific Time - we are going to sing "Amazing Grace" for Clark. It is one song that the nurses have heard him humming to several times, and seems to be a good trigger for positive response from him. My sister asked us to stop whatever we are doing at that time and sing and pray for Clark.

Thank you for your continued support for him - and I will continue to update his progress.

- Jennie

Thoughts and prayers with you. I just lost my gma last Sunday. She was a true inspiration and in her 102 years, she spread the love! God Bless, Lori.

DEC

Thanks for the update Jennie. It is good to know how and what to specifically pray for. Blessings to you, Clark and your sister.

Dear Jennie,

I was very sorry to hear about Clark. I hope that he will make a full recovery.

Please could I add to your advice regarding water. Although it is true that dehydration can kill, excess water can also kill by flushing out electrolytes such as sodium or potassium from the body, leading to water poisoning (sometimes called water intoxication or hyperhydration). That is why athletes use sports drinks, which replenish the electrolytes, rather than water.

My advice would be to drink moderate amounts of water to replace the amount you lose while exercising, but also apply water externally to lower your temperature, which in turn will reduce subsequent loss.

Thank you for posting the update. We will certainly be singing along with you at 3 p.m.

Thank you for the update. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Clark's family.

JAN

1/25/09: Clark's Story - the final chapters This is the update on Clark - if things progress as I expect, there will not be many more updates. Please love your family and friends and appreciate the moments in life that you have - things can change on a dime and things we think are so important and significant really are not - when faced with a real crisis of the heart and life. - Jennie

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