Gina's Ongoing Fight To Survive

I would like to introduce you to my dear friend, Gina. Gina and I were next door neighbors when we lived in the Uintah Basin and she was not only a great friend, but was like a second mother to my kids. 16 years ago she suffered from a severe medical incident that left her entire abdomen septic for weeks. The sepsis then made it's way into most of her vital organs and over the last 16 years Gina has gone through multiple (like over 30!) surgeries and procedures to remove the infected and diseased organs.

Two years ago, after the doctors discovered two large abdominal masses that had every indication of being cancerous, Gina was forced to relocate to Salt Lake City to be closer to the Huntsman Institute for the removal and treatment of the tumors. Her Oncologist was very skeptical about doing further surgeries stating that even one more could prove to be fatal. Unfortunately, the side-effects of multiple surgeries and the presence of the sepsis caused her bladder to quit functioning and a surgery to implant a device that would send signals to her bladder had to be performed.  After that surgery, her condition continued to deteriorate and even more surgeries were deemed necessary.  It was either have more surgeries, and risk that she might not live through them, or die from the complications. In March, Gina had two different surgeries on her kidneys, but the worse news came in April. After months of forcing her body to have bowel movements, her colon shut down entirely and a surgery was done to completely remove her colon after which an ileostomy bag was placed on her abdomen.

Throughout this entire process, Gina was somehow able to maintain a full-time job with health benefits, and raise her daughter. However, in 2013 when she relocated to SLC, she was classified as "disabled", lost her benefits through her employer and went on Medicare. This incredibly long battle has been a complete emotional, physical and mental strain. She is now burdened with the cost of monthly ostomy supplies from the removal of her colon. Those, along with the numerous medications and endless hospital visits and testing, have left my sweet friend feeling hopeless and in despair.

Gina doesn't remember what it's like to live without pain. Her entire lifestyle has changed and she could really use a boost to help her through these challenging times. She's trying her hardest to live a "normal" life and enjoy her daughter and two grandchildren, but she knows that normal isn't a reality for her anymore. She has never NOT PAID A BILL in her entire life, and has always worked to support herself, but that is no longer an option. It would mean the world to me to be able to lift her spirits and remind her that life is worth living. Anything that you can do to help her with her medical bills would be greatly appreciated. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!