Help Samantha with her medical bills!

Many of you who work in behavioral health and/or shelters may know Samantha like I do. I met her at La Frontera EMPACT 5 years ago when we were working as case managers for people living with mental illness, substance abuse issues, and homelessness. Samantha was always assigned to the clients with chronic medical conditions because she could bring them hope, given that she had endured many medical procedures in her past (including an LP shunt in 2009 and VP shunt in 2010 with 4 revisions--aka 4 additional brain surgeries to repair the shunt).

A few months ago, Samantha suffered from two syncopal episodes of the brain, which caused her to pass out and lose muscle control. Since then she has been hospitalized multiple times and was reduced to using a walker and then a wheelchair because she was falling often. One of her last falls caused a subdural hematoma to the left side of her brain, and later led to 2 brain surgeries because her blood was not clotting.

Despite what she has going on medically, Samantha always has a positive attitude. I am so impressed with her resilience as she was hospitalized for almost a month without any visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I can only imagine how mentally trying it must be to recover at the hospital in isolation.

Samantha will be be unable to work for the next year due to her medical condition, so I am organizing this fundraiser to help her and her family with medical bills and living expenses during her road to recovery. 2020 has been a tough year for all, but if you are are able, I would love your support in helping Samantha come out of this stronger and more resilient than ever before.  <3

We love you, Samantha!