Amanda's Amazing Return

July 29, 2022 was Wekiva Elementary teacher Amanda Clodfelter’s birthday. Instead of celebrating, Amanda went to the emergency room at South Seminole Hospital.

Emergency surgery was performed on July 30th as diverticulitis perforated Amanda’s colon, causing her body to become septic. The surgeons removed her sigmoid colon and she woke up with an ostomy bag. The surgeons also had to drain multiple abscesses in the abdomen as well as place drains as more abscesses continued to form. She was placed on many antibiotics and liquids since she was unable to eat or drink. She was on oxygen for months and had scheduled breathing treatments. She remained in ICU for many weeks then moved to PCU and medical floor before going to rehab to relearn how to walk and do everyday things including how to chew & swallow.

After leaving rehab in September, Amanda was home for only one day before she was feeling the same symptoms and ended up back in the hospital. Fistulas formed inside the abdomen causing sepsis again. Drain #6 was placed at this time and the antibiotics were continued. After a few weeks she was discharged with home health care. Starting from scratch learning how to walk and rebuild strength and muscles.

On October 29th, Amanda returned to the hospital. As before, the fistulas created more sepsis. Drain #7 was placed. Amanda celebrated Halloween and Thanksgiving and even weathered a hurricane in the hospital. She is still in the hospital today.

On December 1st, Amanda had a major surgery that took 3 surgeons nearly 10 hours. The ostomy bag will remain for now. Recovery time is unknown, and she is currently in the ICU.

Amanda has been on family medical leave all this time. She hasn’t had a paycheck since August, and the hospital bills keep coming. Amanda has been heartbroken that she could not start her school year at Wekiva and looks forward to going through rehabilitation a 3rd time so she can get back in the classroom and teach.

Amanda is a long-standing union member and leader. We hope you can support in any amount possible.

In Solidarity.