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Perry social news—2B
Lifestyles
Rare disease takes toll on Douthit; real battle begins
Sy JIMMY SIMPSON
Staff Writer
For years, Leroy Douthit has had plans just like any other 32-year-old
living in society. He just didn't know he would have to make a few
adjustments along the way.
Douthit was recently diagnosed with pneumococcal sepsis. The rare
disease affects approximately eight people each year in the United States.
Only one usually survives.
And like most people who suddenly learn of medical problems even
before having time to react, Douthit’s news was devastating.
"The doctors told me that there are 40 different strains of pneumococcal
sepsis, but that they only have a cure for 23 of them...," Douthit said from
his hospital bed this week."
After talking with doctors, Douthit said he was told that all persons
actually carry the virus, primarily in their ears and noses, but are able to
combat the virus by the body’s spleen. Douthit, however, had no spleen,
and was unable to avoid the virus.
It was on Aug. 23 of this year that the Northrop employee and his
family were making a trip to Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport to
pick up his brother, Charlie.
Douthit's brother had visited a year earlier, and was making a return
visit to spend additional time with his brother. The two had already
mapped out plans for the stay; extensive fishing and recalling memories of
childhood from years past.
But halfway to the Atlanta airstrip, Douthit began to feel ill. The
symptoms, he thought, felt more like a cold. After all, the flu had been a
common occurrence in Houston County.
But by 9 p.m. that evening, Douthit's condition worsened. His
temperature had risen to 105 degrees. He was disoriented and unusually
combative with his wife, Rose, and brother on the return trip.
After administering ice packs, aspirin and cool showers, Douthit’s
condition never improved. He was rushed to Perry Hospital.
Once at the medical ward, Douthit continued his unusual combativeness
with nurses and doctors. Physicians noticed his skin color had began to
turn purple. Blotches began to cover his body.
While doctors drew blood to conduct tests, Douthit was connected
immediately to I.V. He was in for the fight of his young life after going
lEP Pauline Lewis |
7 ’ t Society editor
Hospitalized: Leon Boatright (Steve’s dad), Bill Odom, Lee Jones, Leroy
Douthit, Larry Wagoner (friend of Cliff Woods), Horace Minyard (Carol
Montgomery’s uncle), Chelsea Tackett (Judy Poss’s niece), Margaret
Costelle, Stan Gann, Margaret Hardage, Mr. Adams (Tom Adams’ dad),
David Wright (Belinda Baker’s friend)) and Leßoy Douthit.
MEADOWBROOK REHAB: Johnny Brewer, Meadowbrook of Atlanta,,
Newton House 4th Floor, 320 Parkway Dr., NE Room 403-2, Atlanta,
GA 30312 (404)577-6769.
11l
Recuperating at Home: Kate Howard (Stevee and Bridged Howardd’s baby),
Linda George (Dr. John Yarbrough’s sister), Alice Connell, Lindsey Bell,
John and Leila Clifton, Wister “Bud” Williams, Lucille Pritchett,
Kathleen Ayer, Louise Bentz, Tina Davidson, Adrian Harris, Ray Hooten,
Eva Meeks, Jerry Pierce, J. J. Morrow, Laura Green (Sheila Harris’s
friend), Charis Schemm (Vicky Schemm’s baby), W. M. Moss (Bobbie
Newton’s father), Roselyn Mullen (Marie Lewis’s mother), Mary Julia
Fowler (Rosemari Patterson’s mother), W. O. Stewart (Joe’s grandfather),
Marvin Barckley (Carol Cheek Barckley’s father-in-law), Sheldon Shelton
(Frank Shelton’s grandson) and Korrie Kice (Janet Modrell’s niece).
11l
Sympathy is Extended:
-To the family of Virginia “Ginny” Fuller, upon heer death on Friday,
September 23, 1994.
-To Doroihy “Dottie” Stephens upon the death of her brother, Roberrt
Howard Johnson, Sr. on Friday, September 23, 1994.
11l
Congratulations !
-To Angela Marie Light of Byron and Stephen Allen Young of Fort
Valley, upon the announcement of their engagement. The bride-elect is
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Light Jr. and the granddaughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Horn of San Diego and the late Mr. and Mrs. Herman
Light Sr. and die late Mr. and Mrs. Orel Dennis, all of Mansfield, Ohio.
The groom-elect is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Young of Fort
Valley, Ga., and the grandson of Mrs. G. P. Lowe Sr., the late Mr. Lowe
and the late Mr. and Mrs. B. A. Young. Both the bride-elect and the
groom-elect are graduates of the Westfield Schools.
The wedding is planned for October It at First Baptist Church in Fort
Valley,
-To Wilma Gay, winner again in the Mary Kay beauty products sales
competition.
-To Jean and Vemer Lee Lassiter of Perry, who will celebrate their 50th
(Golden) Wedding Anniversary on Sunday, September 25, 1994, with a
reception given by their children in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist
Church from 2-4 p.m.
-To Fred and Rheunette Griggs who celebrated their 54th wedding
anniversary on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1994, at the Church Home for the
Aged, with cake and refreshments for the residents.
The celebration was given by their daughter, Stan Durrance and her son,
Lance Durrance.
-Shalandra Nicole Dixon and Satoria Sentonia Ragin of Perry who were
married Aug. 6, 1994
at the home of the bride’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Dixon of
Perry. After a wedding trip to Charleston, S. C., the Ragins are living in
Fairbanks, Alaska.
-To Kristie A.
Duckworth of Byron and Derrick W. Pinney of Fort Valley, upon the
announcement of their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Jacob W. Duckworth Sr. of Warner Robins and the granddaughter
of Joe B Andrews and Cynthia Andrews, both of Byron, Mrs. G. H.
Duckworth Sr. of Perry and the late Mr. Duckworth. The groom-elect is
the son of Mr. and Mrs. Butch Dugan of Fort Valley and Rodger Pinney of
Indianapolis. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Pinney of Plain
City, Ohio, Marvin Steele of Dayton, Ohio, and Mr. and Mrs. Cameron
Miller of Fort Valley. The wedding is planned for Oct. 15 atSacred Heart
Catholic Church.
m
The General Daniel Stewart Chapter, NSDAR, met in regular session on
September 14, at die home of Bobbie Richardson.' Refreshments were
served by Mrs. Richardson, Dollie Kate Newberry and Willie Dean
NeSmith.
The meeting was called to order by the Regent, Gini English.
The Chaplain, Bobbie Richardson gave the devotional message and prayer.
i r i*3§§ 1 ’ 1 3*1
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Leroy Douthit (right) and wife, Rose, with children.
into a comatose state within 12 hours.
Dr. Samuel Palmer placed Douthit in the intensive care unit, where he
would remain in a coma for eight days.
"He saved my life," Douthit said of Dr. Palmer. "He did everything he
could to keep me stabilized, and I wouldn't be here without him."
It wasn't until two weeks after being admitted that the patient's
condition allowed the doctor to transport the patient to a more specialized
environment.
His heart continued to exceed normal demands placed on it by the body,
his lungs continued to fill with fluid, and a ventilator was required just to
maintain proper breathing techniques.
Douthit would finally gain enough strength to be transported to HCA
Coliseum Hospital in Macon. He had survived the infection, but had not
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Jim
Jp&jLonghorn
’'MiixviiwJ Butcher Shop
Perry Plaza. Perry, Georgia
Houston Times-Journal
been successful in surviving complications.
The father of two small children, one six and the other four, Douthit
was told that he would never be able to run and play with them without a
prosthesis. The infection had controlled his circulatory system to the point
that not all of the necessary oxygen could be supplied to his limbs.
His legs would need to be amputated. And if he were lucky, doctors said
he might be able to keep some of his fingers.
It was on Sept. 8 that Douthit was finally stable enough to be wheeled
into the operating room. As expected, both legs were removed from the
knees down, but doctors were able to save all but three fingertips off each
of Douthit's hands.
"It's one of the toughest things to have to go through," Douthit said,
when asked about the surgery. "Having your fingers and legs amputated is
very difficult. It's extremely difficult on your family."
Douthit said a lot of his time has been spent just lying in bed, although
he is given physical, occupational and recreational therapy every day.
"It's tough to keep a good outlook," he said, "but when you're just
lying in bed, you have a lot of time to reflect on what life has been able to
offer.
"I have a lot to be thankful for: I've got a wonderful wife and two
precious kids... I want to be able to watch them grow up, to be there for
them... That's mainly why I'm still alive."
The biggest challenge Douthit now faces is learning to move from
place to place. Writing his name again will also be a challenge.
But Douthit said additional encouragement from the doctor who
performed the operation on his legs, Macon physician Dr. Keith Martin,
has also been a reason to believe in himself.
"He's been my inspiration," Douthit said of his doctor. "Not only is he
my doctor, but he's my frier.d, too. He keeps me up, and inspired. He's one
of the best doctors I've ever had."
But the biggest challenge may lie just ahead. Luckily, health insurance
will cover most of the medical expenses, but groceries and clothes will
soon be a necessity.
To help the family of Douthit, a special bank account has been opened
at CB&T here in the name of "Leroy Douthit” to assist with finances.
See Battle, page 3B
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