Site search
sponsored by
News
Sports
ENLARGE
Ryan Pickens remains in critical condition at Mercy Medical Center after contracting the H1N1 virus.
A 22 year-old Winston man remains in Mercy Medical Center's Intensive Care Unit in critical condition due to complications from the H1N1 virus, according to a Mercy spokesman.
A family member said Ryan Pickens, a graduate of Douglas High School, has been placed on a ventilator and is undergoing dialysis to fight the effects of the virus. This is his 19th day at Mercy, relatives said.
Meanwhile, a Winston woman remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Oregon Health and Science University, according to her mother, Ava Jones. Adria Fenn, 30, was flown from Mercy on Oct. 21; she is seven months pregnant and has muscular dystrophy, Jones said.
While Pickens and Jones both have risk factors for H1N1 complications — relatives said Pickens has a mild heart condition — Douglas County health officials confirm that otherwise healthy people continue to be hospitalized after contracting H1N1. To date, 24 Douglas County residents have been hospitalized and two have died, according to state health officials.
The second person who died was between the ages of 50 to 64, said Marilyn Carter, promotion manager for Douglas County Public Health this morning. Due to privacy issues, Public Health will not be releasing more information on the patient.
Family members said Pickens came down with what he thought was a cold a few weeks ago. His sister, Jennifer Pickens, said he began to get better, but then “crashed” and had to be hospitalized. He is unconscious and had a tracheotomy surgery Thursday, Jennifer Pickens said.
Family and friends are hosting a benefit dinner and silent auction at 5 p.m. Saturday at Douglas High School to help with medical bills and show support for the family, said organizer Darci Folsom. Pickens is without insurance after recently passing an age limit to be on his parents' plan. Admission to the spaghetti feed is $5.
Folsom, who is Pickens' sister-in-law, said many local business have donated gift certificates and products for the auction. Especially helpful, she said, was Bailey Veterinary Clinic, which has employed Ryan Pickens' mother, Julie, for several years.
Folsom said Pickens' condition has gone back and forth but that he has had a good week. Jennifer Pickens said he was “holding his own.”
“He is a strong person; he will make it through,” Jennifer Pickens said. “He has to recover; he is the only one I've got.”
Fenn's mother, Ava Jones, said her daughter was “on the rebound” and her unborn grandchild was also doing well. She said doctors expect to keep Fenn in the Portland hospital until the baby is delivered in December or January.
Fenn faces mounting medical bills even with her enrollment in the Oregon Health plan, her mother said. While Fenn's job is being held at Telecommunications Management Systems in Roseburg, she has a “lot of catching up to do,” Jones said. An account has been set up in Fenn's name and donations are accepted at all U.S. Bank locations.
• You can reach reporter Heather Morse at 957-4208 or by e-mail at hmorse@nrtoday.com.
A family member said Ryan Pickens, a graduate of Douglas High School, has been placed on a ventilator and is undergoing dialysis to fight the effects of the virus. This is his 19th day at Mercy, relatives said.
Meanwhile, a Winston woman remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Oregon Health and Science University, according to her mother, Ava Jones. Adria Fenn, 30, was flown from Mercy on Oct. 21; she is seven months pregnant and has muscular dystrophy, Jones said.
While Pickens and Jones both have risk factors for H1N1 complications — relatives said Pickens has a mild heart condition — Douglas County health officials confirm that otherwise healthy people continue to be hospitalized after contracting H1N1. To date, 24 Douglas County residents have been hospitalized and two have died, according to state health officials.
The second person who died was between the ages of 50 to 64, said Marilyn Carter, promotion manager for Douglas County Public Health this morning. Due to privacy issues, Public Health will not be releasing more information on the patient.
Family members said Pickens came down with what he thought was a cold a few weeks ago. His sister, Jennifer Pickens, said he began to get better, but then “crashed” and had to be hospitalized. He is unconscious and had a tracheotomy surgery Thursday, Jennifer Pickens said.
Family and friends are hosting a benefit dinner and silent auction at 5 p.m. Saturday at Douglas High School to help with medical bills and show support for the family, said organizer Darci Folsom. Pickens is without insurance after recently passing an age limit to be on his parents' plan. Admission to the spaghetti feed is $5.
Folsom, who is Pickens' sister-in-law, said many local business have donated gift certificates and products for the auction. Especially helpful, she said, was Bailey Veterinary Clinic, which has employed Ryan Pickens' mother, Julie, for several years.
Folsom said Pickens' condition has gone back and forth but that he has had a good week. Jennifer Pickens said he was “holding his own.”
“He is a strong person; he will make it through,” Jennifer Pickens said. “He has to recover; he is the only one I've got.”
Fenn's mother, Ava Jones, said her daughter was “on the rebound” and her unborn grandchild was also doing well. She said doctors expect to keep Fenn in the Portland hospital until the baby is delivered in December or January.
Fenn faces mounting medical bills even with her enrollment in the Oregon Health plan, her mother said. While Fenn's job is being held at Telecommunications Management Systems in Roseburg, she has a “lot of catching up to do,” Jones said. An account has been set up in Fenn's name and donations are accepted at all U.S. Bank locations.
• You can reach reporter Heather Morse at 957-4208 or by e-mail at hmorse@nrtoday.com.
