Natalie Durkin Textile Artist

09/29/2024

https://www.instagram.com/p/DAgkbvrp4Fk/?igsh=dW9xcDc4ZHR0YTZh

09/12/2024

Mom passed peacefully away this afternoon, just before 4pm central time. I am feeling an infinite number of emotions, most of which are ineffable and defy description with words. I am relieved not having to expend the immense amount of energy and worry and concern that was in play every minute of every day, but the cost means a world where I no longer have my mom in it.

Even in my bereft state I have tremendous gratitude for having just navigated this process with my stepmother’s passing at the end of June. I sit present to the truth that perhaps her parting gift to me was experience and knowing, which as a result facilitated my being able to shepherd my own mother through her final breaths in such short succession. It is unbelievable to me that I’ve lost both my mother figures in the span of 2 months.

I am so proud of my mom. She had an egregiously hard and distressed 24 hours until I shook enough cages to get appropriate comfort medication and orders on board. I am proud of me for being her protector and advocate, blazing her path to a quiet and dignified passing.

That said, I don’t at all know what to do next, but I don’t need to know that today.

Much love to you all, and please keep the support and calls/texts coming. I know the only way I’ll get through this is with the love and support of my chosen family.

Play some Frankie Valli or pick a tune from Jersey Boys musical and turn it up if you feel so inclined. And have a vodka martini with a twist… for my complicated but very much loved mom, Christine.

May she fly free and far and play among the stars.

https://gofund.me/c97abf3d

09/09/2024

Hi everyone, I know I've sent a barrage of updates these past few days but there are things going on that I believe deserve reporting. Mom isn't doing very well. I spoke to her twice yesterday, once in the morning and again in the evening and she sounded even worse by evening time. She has a terrible cough, she feels truly lousy, and she is not eating. She is scared.

I waited until the full swing of the hospital work week began this morning to put a call into her nurse, who updated me on the latest. When she was admitted, she was in AFib, which is something she deals with and has a pacemaker as a result. She apparently returned to normal sinus rhythm, but this morning she was back in AFib and her HR was 160. She was started on an additional IV medication to bring her heart rate down, and it responded. It was 120bpm when I spoke with the nurse, which she said is an ideal HR for AFib patients.

The blood cultures have not grown anything over the past 4 days, which is great news, but they continue to draw samples to keep culturing. The bacteria they found in her blood is resistant to many antibiotics, but they have her on 2 IV drugs that should work, and the doctor's notes indicate she will need 2 weeks of IV antibiotics. My question/concern is how she developed this cough while on nuclear levels of antibiotics, but all I can do is ask and keep an eye on things. Nurse said that respiratory therapy would by to suction mom's airway which should also help with comfort. I won't lie, having this just on the heels of being in the ICU with my stepmother on a ventilator, I don't love hearing that RT will be in to suction the airway. Been there. Seen it. Would prefer to not be back in that territory anytime soon... if ever. But here we are. Not because it's super graphic or invasive, I just know that you're not doing well if RT has to come in and perform this for you. No escaping reality.

The nurse said that mom continued to refuse food this morning, but that she would go into her room when lunch came around to see if she could entice her to eat a little something. She said mom just wants to be left alone to rest, and in her words "Who can blame her?" Her nurse was hopeful that with the heart rate back into a more comfortable and safe range mom may start to feel better.

I have made arrangements at work to take Wednesday off so I can make a day trip up to see her and get an in person assessment on how she is doing. I am not catastrophizing by any means, and yet I am a realist. Mom could absolutely recover from this. And it is also a possibility that it's just too much to fight. Time will tell.

Mom isn't answering my calls, so she doesn't know I am on my way up soon. If I don't hear from her today I will call the nursing station and ask them to let mom know I am coming. I asked the nurse her personal opinion as to how she is doing and if she thought I needed to drop everything and haul it up there and she said "not necessarily." Again, saying that she may start to feel better with the corrected HR and continued antibiotics.

I am concerned, I have been peppered with upticks in general anxiety, but that could be any given Tuesday for me, medical situation notwithstanding. I am doing my best to stay present, to take care of myself as best I can, reach out to friends and to spend time with the inside and outside animals for diversion and comfort. Thank you all for the continued well wishes and donations. They make this ordeal survivable for sure. Thank you for being part of my lifeline.

-Natalie

Hi. It’s me. Many of you know what’s been going on, but a lot of you don’t. I’ve been out of … Natalie Durkin needs your support for Help Natalie Help Her Mom

09/08/2024

Quick update- the esophageal echocardiogram showed that there was no evidence of either infection or damage to mom’s heart, which was an enormous sigh of relief. She was moved out of ICU into a regular room.

However after speaking to her this morning she has developed a bad cough, sounds weak and not great. Since it’s difficult to obtain any kind of information over the weekend I will wait until tomorrow to call her nurse for the latest info.

Please keep sending her positive thoughts. I may try to arrange a day this week to drive up to see her and check on her now that she sounds weaker.

Hi. It’s me. Many of you know what’s been going on, but a lot of you don’t. I’ve been out of … Natalie Durkin needs your support for Help Natalie Help Her Mom

09/06/2024

Hi Everyone, I want to send an update because there is some potentially concerning news. My mom has experienced a recurrent, very difficult to treat (presumed) UTI, and it has hospitalized her at least once, but has been an issue since February or March. My mom is back in the hospital again as of this past Tuesday after falling 4 times in 4 days due to weakness. She was trying to get into an uber to make a doctor's appointment this past Tuesday afternoon, when her legs gave out trying to get into the car. The driver was wonderful, made sure my mom didn't hit anything vital and softened her landing, called 911 and stayed with my mom until help arrived. She was EMS'd to Medical City Arlington, where she remains. When she arrived, her blood pressure was dangerously low, and her blood sugar was equally low. A nurse called me from mom's phone to let me know she was there. To my extreme shock, when I called the hospital the next day to find out where mom had been admitted, I found out she was in the Cardiac ICU.

Here is the situation. Whatever infection this is has become blood borne and she is now septic. They are running blood cultures to definitively identify what organism we are dealing with and what it will take to kill it. In the meantime she is on IV vancomycin, which as my friend Tracee aptly stated, is the elephant gun of antibiotics. This morning they were going to perform an esophageal echocardiogram to look for a condition called infective endocarditis, which is when a blood borne infection has made it's way into the tissue of either the lining of the heart of the heart valves. This test was probably completed a couple hours ago but I have not yet heard any results.

She was transferred out of Cardiac ICU into a regular room as of this morning and she called me before they took her in for the TEEG (Trans esophageal echocardiogram). She wasn't scared of the procedure, but she is very scared of what it may reveal.

Additionally, sometime today she is slated for a spinal MRI to thoroughly check her spine and surrounding structures since she's been falling so much.

Those of you who see me regularly know that I am on the tail end of my second covid infection, which really really sucked. I am testing negative and out of the woods, but I continue to deal with deep fatigue and very low energy. I want to make a trip up to at least visit my mom for a few hours but I need to make sure I have the stamina to make the drive there and back.

Please keep my mom in your thoughts- these conditions are likely treatable, but they aren't easy or simple conditions from which one can readily and quickly recover. There is no cause for panic, but there is reason for attentive concern.

She sounds strong and like herself when I talk to her, which is always a good sign. She is a fighter and does NOT want to give up, which again, are also good signs. We appreciate your continued well wishes, good energy and support. I will update again when I have the details and results of the latest round of diagnostics.

We love you all a lot,
Natalie (and Mom)

Hi. It’s me. Many of you know what’s been going on, but a lot of you don’t. I’ve been out of … Natalie Durkin needs your support for Help Natalie Help Her Mom

08/18/2024

SPOTTED OUT IN THE WILD! My first completed art bag sported by as she travels around New England this week. I am still accepting pre orders and am currently working on them. Support a woman artist while fighting for democracy! I donate a portion of each sale to her campaign.

I use all repurposed, second hand, scrap, and upcycled fabric to make one of a kind fabric appliqué portrait pieces.

Original image by Nate Jensen

08/14/2024

First one is FINISHED! I am working on the current batch of handmade tote bags and am accepting additional orders. Natalie Durkin Textile Artist Comment or DM for info. Support an independent woman artist while supporting democracy! I use upcycled and repurposed fabrics in all my work, each piece is made by hand and portion of every sale is donated to her campaign. GET YOURS! 🌴🥥

Original image by Nate Jensen

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08/12/2024

Working fast and furiously to get these into y’all’s hands! Still accepting orders!