Jerry Cribbs - Earlier Reports

For those of you who had not seen the earlier reports on Jerry's illness and condition, here are some email reports from the past few days:

Over the weekend, we have received an update about Jerry's condition. On Friday afternoon, he was moved to Shands in Gainesville. Because he was on a ventilator, he had to be transported by ambulance rather than air lifted there. When he arrived in Gainesville, the doctors installed a shunt to relieve pressure on his brain.

On Saturday morning, they performed a procedure to cut off and remove the blood vessel that had burst. This seems to have improved things a great deal.

After the surgery, Jerry was still sedated. However, when they lessen the sedation, he can respond to the doctors and to his family. He is still on the ventilator [Jerry has since come off the ventilator and is breathing on his own- 5-10-2005] and still mostly sedated but the family is very hopeful. The ventilator may be removed as early as today. Until he is off the sedation and ventilator, the doctor will not be able to tell if there is any long term damage and if there is, what the extent of it is. However, a great deal of the issues can be addressed with therapy and rehabilitation. Again, as I said though the family is very hopeful that they have turned a corner. Jerry will likely be in the ICU at Shands for about 14 days. He cannot receive visitors other than immediate family and because of the ventilator cannot speak to anyone. Also he cannot have flowers in his room. However the family would like to receive cards for him.

You can mail cards to

Eddie Jerry Cribbs
PO Box 100351
Gainesville, FL 32610-0351

(this is Jerry's full legal name and is how he is listed at the hospital).

Jerry's wife (Roz), his son (Kyle) and his daughter (Leslie) credit a great deal of his recovery to the good thoughts and prayers being sent on his behalf and are very thankful. We will try to keep everyone updated as we learn more.

Lisa Call, Assistant Federal Defender

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