SOS Support Our Samantha

Samantha’s Story:
Samantha was 28 years old in February, 2020, and a teacher at Salam School, a private charter school in Milwaukee, WI, when she got pretty sick. On Friday February 14th, Samantha went to urgent care with respiratory symptoms that were diagnosed as the flu. She was given a prescription for Tamiflu and an inhaler and was subsequently sent home. She had previously run three miles on both Monday February 10th and Wednesday February 12th so she felt comfortable going home to rest after her urgent care visit. Since her symptoms did not improve, her boyfriend took her to the ER at Froedtert Hospital on Sunday February 16th.
Unbeknownst to her at the time she walked into the Froedtert ER, Samantha
was already in multi-organ system failure. Doctors were surprised that she was
able to walk into the ER with how compromised her body was. The medical team
placed her on multiple forms of life support. Samantha spent 7 weeks in the ICU and was in the hospital consecutively for 14 weeks. She had 2 open heart surgeries to place medical devices in her heart, was on a ventilator for many weeks, and had to be on dialysis for quite a while.
Samantha's 29th birthday was spent in the CVICU and unfortunately, it was the last time her family could see her for several weeks because that was around the start of the COVID 19 pandemic in Wisconsin. Up until recently she was unable to speak well and was dependent on a feeding tube for nourishment.  Samantha has had both hands, her right foot and the toes of her left foot amputated.
Prior to getting sick, Samantha was a healthy young woman who enjoyed her life, LOVED her job, and was happily looking towards her future.
There have been more stays in the hospital since Samantha returned home and she was recently hospitalized because she needed to have reconstructive surgery on her remaining foot. We hope it gives her a leg to stand on (pun intended and
Samantha approved). She has had to relearn every single daily activity and the
adaptions that come with being a multi-limb amputee. Hospital staff have been
amazed at her perseverance and determination. It is bittersweet that she has become notorious with the Froedtert hospital staff because of the unique
challenges and obstacles she has overcome. She works hard to make progress in
all areas no matter how difficult. Once home, she will need to continue working
hard to reach her optimal recovery.
Samantha lives in Wauwatosa in a home she bought with her boyfriend last April.
The home will need substantial remodeling to accommodate her needs. Family
and friends have been helping out as much as they can to set her up for success and have started the remodeling process. Currently they are trying to add a ramp
and entrance to allow her access to her home.
Samantha hopes to return to teaching someday, and no doubt she will! Samantha is one of those lovely souls who has always been concerned for the welfare of others. On her meager teacher salary she was supplying winter coats and other gear for her students and regularly provided them with essential items that they needed for a successful school experience.
Samantha's medical needs and expenses will be ongoing throughout her life. She is just at the beginning of a long journey to be fitted with prosthetics that will help her to be more independent. Her medical bills are very extensive. The goal of this
fundraiser is help her with the many home modifications and adaptive equipment
that she will need, to help cover a portion of her medical bills and to pay for the
multiple prosthetics that she will need.