Yes, Anna IS still alive--- though dragged back from the brink, as it were, but temporarily. Due to the hospital's ministrations, the poisons in her system were reduced and her circulation is better, but her liver IS failing. Still, she chose to come home, the situation in the hospital not being conducive to rest (or safety, even--- an elderly lady in the ward went off her head, threatening patients and staff, and had to be taken to a psych. hospital.) Anna did not want to die there.
She was not a favorable candidate for a liver transplant in England, but somehow found out she could get one in the Netherlands, but at a cost, of course. So, she is set to leave England on December 1st. (Don't ask me how this date was arrived at, or any of the other details, I was rather afraid to ask HER!)
Anna has, at best estimate, a 20 % chance of surviving the surgery, and as you all might know, there's no such thing as a simple recovery from transplants anyway, even for someone in better condition to begin with, what with the surgical risks, physical and mental stress, and all the anti-rejection medications needed. Even so, she feels the stake is worth the game, and claims to have resolved her fears of death in any case.
I have had 3 phone conversations with her since this began, and I will be having a final send-off call during this long weekend off, before she leaves. The first two times, she would still get blurry--- the second call, her mother said things weren't going well, and at first Anna was really wandering. However, she perks up when chatting about the Festivals, and then we talk about our families and so forth. This last time, she seemed clear and even elated--- I guess, having made up her mind, and having successfully raised the funds. We exchanged our Christmas Cards and pictures early, as she said, "just in case."
She told me to give her fondest best regards to all the DS fans and actors who befriended her since she first started coming to Festivals in 1999, and of course, on this Board.
If you wish to have me forward personal messages to her, I will assemble them in one e-mail before the week is out. She had not gotten a new e-mail account, and it still has to go through her parents' internet, which is why I am not at liberty to give out the address.
I will keep you all informed of whatever transpires.
Love,
L.
