In Memory of a Dialysis Hero

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In Memory of a Dialysis Hero

« on: October 16, 2007, 11:17:54 PM »

I received an email from a friend who lost relatives to Katrina because now Katrina has claimed two more. I asked my friend's permission to post this here, where Johnny's heroic efforts will be most appreciated. The loss of someone so dedicated to health and safety of dialysis patients, dedicated to family and his neighbors is truly a great loss.

His nephew, Johnny, was the Chief Biomedical Technician at the Oschner Clinic Foundation's Acute Dialysis Unit, where he maintained the purification of the water for the dialysis machines. During Katrina he was one of the few who never left. He worked for many hours, over many days, saving lives by doing what had to be done. I remember him going without sleep for days, and pushing himself for weeks. Many patients would surely have died if not for him. In the days after Katrina, the emails from my friend, some of which included forwarded IM's and emails from Johnny were compelling reading. His caring dedication to people who needed help, especially patients, was evident. His reports of the looting, and the danger he encountered protecting his home and neighborhood were chilling. He was beyond heroic and his uncle, my friend, was very proud of him. Prayers for my friend and the family will be appreciated.

Katrina Claims Two More Of My Relatives

This morning as I was coming out of a Pet Store my cell rang. It was my deceased brother’s wife. Only twice in the last five years has she called me and both of those were about death in my family. One call, was to inform me of my brother’s death and the other of her oldest son dying suddenly of a heart attack. I could tell by the tone of her voice that this was not gonna be “Good News.”

Before she got it out I asked, “Who died?” I half expected to be one of my older sisters, but she responded, “Johnny and Trish!” Johnny, as ... you may recall is my youngest nephew I wrote about who maintained the dialysis machines at the only hospital open during Katrina, and guarded all his neighbors homes from looters after Katrina.

My God! I thought, an auto accident right off! But no, the brother of Johnny’s wife shot them both dead in Houston TX during a weekend visit.

Seems that Johnny’s mother-in-law’s home on Napoleon Ave in New Orleans was destroyed during Katrina, so Johnny packed his mother-in-law and mentally sick brother-in-law up and took them over to Houston while Johnny had their house rebuilt.

Last weekend Johnny and Trish drove over to Houston to tell the family (two sisters, the mother and the whacked out brother) the house in New Orleans was ready for them to move back in.

Then none of them wanted to move back to New Orleans. The mother wanted the sisters to sign the house over to their whacked out brother and they refused. They wanted to sell it, as my niece Tammy, Johnny’s sister and my God-child, told me after I finished the conversation with my Sister-in-law.

Johnny and Trish went by her mother’s house to say goodbye for their trip back to New Orleans when the whacked out brother shot my nephew Johnny, twice, once in the side and once in the arm. Johnny died instantly, while Trish lived until Sunday morning and then died.

The brother was mad at the sisters, and we think Johnny tried to protect his wife and was shot for that.

He was the only contact with my family and we spoke daily either by phone, Ims or emails and I will miss that boy something fierce!

LOMBARD John "Johnny" Noel

Lombard age 43, of Harahan, Louisiana, was taken tragically Sunday, September 30, 2007 along with his loving wife, Patricia B. Lombard.

He was born December 26, 1963. Johnny was the Chief Biomedical Technician at the Oschner Clinic Foundation's Acute Dialysis Unit, where he maintained the purification of the water for the dialysis machines.

Also, Johnny created LWPP LLC, which provided further services to other hospitals in need of water purification. He was preceded by his father Myron L. Lombard, Sr. He is survived by many friends and family members: mother and stepfather, Doris and Joseph Letellier; beloved father of Jaret Deville; step-grandfather of Calli Graner, Jake Williams, and Dane Moore; stepfather to Christy Moore and Tonya Graner; and brother to Charles "Chuck" J. Lombard and Myron "Rocky" L. Lombard Jr., Linda H. Williams, Tammy L. Hoke and Lori L. Robinette.

He will also be missed by many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends, also employees of Ochsner Foundation Hospital, are invited to attend the Funeral Service at Greenwood Funeral Home, 5200 Canal Blvd. (formerly All Faiths Funeral Home) on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow in St. Patrick #1 Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM. To view or sign the family guest book please visit www.greenwoodfuneralhome.net


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Lorelle

Husband Mike Diagnosed with PKD Fall of 2004
Fistula Surgery 1/06
Fistula Revision 11/06
Creatinine 6.9 1/07
Started diaysis 2/5/07 on NxStage

poohkari

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Wade and I.