Joyce Marie Ross (1938-2022)

ROSS, DETTMAN, WULF

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 8/15/2022 at 08:05:29

Joyce Marie Ross, 83, died unexpectedly, but peacefully with her family by her side on August 5, 2022 at Genesis East.
Joyce was born on 9/20/1938 in Davenport, Iowa an only child to Merle and Dorothy (Dettman) Wulf. She married Bob Ross on October 2, 1955. She worked several years as a part time switchboard operator and talented gift wrapper at the downtown Petersen Von Maur. Her pride and joy were her loving Great Grandchildren and spending as much time with them as possible. Graveside services will be private. Memorials may be made to University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

In honor of our Mom, we wanted to share a small portion of her long health journey. She rarely complained or spoke of her health issues and she most likely would have preferred her story to stay private, however, we on the other hand thought if sharing would help just one person get through the day or gently touch a heart to give extra hope and strength we knew she would approve and delighted to have helped anyone. She was always well aware there were others enduring issues far greater than hers.

Her heart problems started in 1979 at the age of 40 when she underwent a unique open heart surgery where the Doctors sealed a congenital hole in the middle of her heart with a Dacron patch, which saved her life. Her parents were always told she had an innocent heart murmur and our Mom was also told the murmur was innocent until other Doctors discovered it was not.

In 1981, she developed a resting pulse that would race to 210, which meant three and a half times each second, her out of control heart pumped blood to her body. She experienced a constant pounding in her chest and fatigue. Her Doctors treated her with medicine and periodic cardioversions for eight years until the treatment no longer helped and her condition worsened. The heart disorder called "automatic atrial tachycardia," which at that time was extremely rare and the excision surgery was even more uncommon, but without the surgery her otherwise healthy heart would have worn out prematurely. The Quad City Times wrote an awesome article about her and the procedure, which now 32 years later will help us to explain.

On February 28th, 1990 at the age of 51, the Doctors performed the rare seven hour surgery using a small electrode probe attached to the Doctor's finger to pinpoint the portion of the right atrium that was sending rapid electrical messages. Her heart had scarring and sutures from her previous surgery, which left the heart distorted and made the procedure even more trickier and it was possible the tachycardia was originating in more than one site. The anesthesia had to be delicately controlled because it could have temporarily wiped out the tachycardia. The Doctors designated sections of the heart by number similar to a bingo card and they measured the electrical activity of each section to search for the haywire site. They cut out the pea sized appendage, which immediately restored her pulse to 70 and then they sewed the heart back together, which again the phenomenal Doctors saved her life. A day later she was up and out of bed walking around and we even caught her cleaning her hospital room. We knew then we finally had our Mom back to normal. Her energy was back and she was released a week later and able to rediscover a normal life.

She did have her fair share of difficult health issues throughout her life just as many of us do and handled each one with eloquence and grace. Her last being in January with poor leg circulation and then vein surgery in April. Her wound clinic visits were two to three times a week up until entering the hospital in July and for the first time in her life she said she was tired, but she kept her tiny body moving and just a month ago going to the Elvis movie one week and Minions movie the next week with Anna, Jada and Kaylynn as they were always doing something together or visiting her at home.

On July 30th she went into the hospital by ambulance and was diagnosed with severe dehydration. It took a few days for her to start feeling better and on Thursday August 4th, all of us including Mom were excited to be discussing plans to bring her home in a few days. On Friday morning August 5th, she developed hypotension, which couldn't be controlled so they moved her to ICU. She held on until all of us were by her side, which she would have chosen no other way. Her strength and passion for life were undeniable. She was an amazing Wife, Mom, Grandma & Great Grandma and we all loved her dearly. We are grateful for the lifetime of memories she gave us to be shared every day and she will always remain a blessing in our lives and heart forever.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband Bob and her children Sherry Ross (Mexico), Susan (Louis) Walker and David Ross. Loving grandchildren, Brandon (Sherri) Ulfig, Anna (Kevin) Walker-Ruffin, Kurt Ross and the brightest shining lights in her life were her Great Grandchildren Kaylynn and Jada Ruffin and Tyler, Trevor and Torri Ulfig. Her "special" Aunt Carol Dettman and special "cuz '' Mark Dettman. Several nieces, nephews and cousins. Last, but never least her two "special" lunch buddies, sister-in-law Karen Ross and cousin Marge Reimers.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her infant daughter Gloria, sister-in-law, Delores Telsrow and brother-in-law's John Ross and LeRoy Feldhahn and several Great Aunts and Uncles.

Thank you to the ICU for doing all you could do to save her and your compassion and hugs were heartfelt.

Thank you to the wound clinic for your compassion. She thought all of you were "sweeties."

Thank you to all the Doctors, Surgeons and Anesthesiologists for your compassion over the years with exceptional care.

"Compassion is always needed and always relished"