Shortly after being moved to a step-down room, Scioto County Commissioner Cathy Coleman has suffered a serious setback in her recovery—and her family is once again calling on the community for urgent prayers.
Coleman, 71, is now in critical condition in the Trauma ICU at Grant Medical Center following an emergency surgery Monday evening to address sepsis and bowel complications. Family members report that a portion of her bowel had to be removed due to a life-threatening infection, and the situation remains extremely delicate.
According to her granddaughter, “Nana (Cathy Coleman) took a turn for the worse yesterday. I thought we were going to lose her not once but twice… The surgeon said this case is rare due to findings in the bowel. Her bowels were the source of high infection, and part of it had to be removed and left open for now. She will have to return to the OR in the next day or two if she remains stable.”
Medical staff are closely monitoring her condition. While her vital signs have shown slight improvement and her medications are being slowly reduced, her loved ones say that she remains very sick and dependent on life-sustaining treatments.
A nighttime nurse gave a cautious update:
“She is stable, and they were able to lower her blood pressure medications and vent settings slightly. She even became a little uncomfortable, which they say is a good sign. But she is heavily sedated and not moving her extremities, which is expected at this stage.”
The family is asking the public to continue sending up prayers, just as Coleman requested during earlier moments of clarity.
“One of the last things she said to me was, ‘If anyone prays, please get the word out.’” her granddaughter shared. “So please continue to pray for her! Cathy needs a miracle!”
A prayer request circulating early Wednesday morning reads:
“Cathy Coleman’s emergency surgery lasted about 2 hours yesterday evening. She was moved to the Trauma ICU & is in critical condition. The next 24–48 hours are crucial. The doctor was cautiously optimistic but made clear that nothing is guaranteed.”
Portsmouth 5th Ward Councilman Joey Sandlin also took to social media to urge residents to rally in faith:
“I need everyone who prays to cry out right now for Commissioner Cathy Coleman! She needs a miracle! Speak life!”
Just two days earlier, the community had celebrated a moment of hope when Coleman was transferred to a step-down room, signaling early signs of recovery after her near-fatal accident.
“She was doing so good (THANK THE LORD),” her granddaughter had reported on Monday, noting that she had been moved to the step-down unit, where she no longer needed intensive monitoring.
But now, that hopeful progress has taken a sudden and serious turn.
