by Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Oct 01/97) - Aneurysm patient Violet Mackenzie continues her recovery in an Edmonton hospital, her husband, Chris Rodgers, said yesterday.

Mackenzie, who underwent a rare heart-stopping procedure to repair a brain aneurysm 11 days ago, remains in intensive care.

An aneurysm -- Mackenzie's was the size of a strawberry -- is a weakening of an artery wall.

She continues to improve and is very alert, Rodgers said.

Mackenzie, a Yellowknife resident originally from Rae, is likely to be in intensive care for another week. She is expected to be transferred to another ward for a few days before, hopefully, being transferred to Stanton Regional Hospital.

"She really wants to get out of bed and move around," Rodgers said.

But if she stands, she gets passes out, Rodgers said.

As part of her recovery, Mackenzie is taking medication to artificially keep her blood pressure up, causing the dizziness, he added.

Rodgers is staying at an outpatient residence near the hospital.