Antoinette Petersens Medical Journey

Antoinette and Kevin were married in March 2018. A Fresh and exciting time for this newlywed couple! Antoinette's two brothers also followed in the matrimonial bliss, and married within the next 12 month period. Thursday January 31st, 2019, on the flight to her youngest brothers wedding, the planes descent caused Antoinette's (fondly called Annie by her friends) ear drums to rupture, causing extreme pain. The following day. February 1st, (Friday before the wedding) she was in so much pain and was taking pain medication (ibuprofen). Saturday came and the wedding was very special. She was well enough to make it through the wedding but was still in much pain and declining in how good she felt.

February 3rd, Sunday morning about 5 am, Annie was up getting the day started, but shortly thereafter, Kevin found her on the floor, unconscious and non responsive but breathing. Kevin, with Annie's parents rushed her to the emergency room at Taylor County Regional Hospital, where they ran tests, and the family was told she was in a diabetic coma. All were very shocked, since they were not aware she was diabetic. She was in a critical state.

The hospital said she needed better care, and Annie was intubated because of her shallow breathing, then Life-flighted to UK (University of Kentucky Hospital) where she was given the acute care needed for her delicate condition. She remained unconscious all day Sunday and into the evening. She began to become alert and opening her eyes, but the hospital then had to keep her sedated (to keep her calm and from pulling out her tubes)
Monday morning, She was beginning to respond to touch, opening her eyes, nodding her head and squeezing hands, but still non verbal. By the end of the day, they removed the breathing tube and she was more alert. She had 5 IV ports and about 15-20 different fluids that were being given to her. Tuesday morning she began to verbalize, and her voice was low and raspy.

Thanks be to God Annie woke and began her journey to recover. Her kidneys needed to recover, and stabilize as well as physical therapy to establish walking and strengthening exercises for her normal movements, from the trauma. She had assistance to re-establish muscle strength after all the stillness and IV ports. She was finally at a place they allowed her to leave ICU, and she was sent to a regular hospital room, but there were no beds available, so she was transferred to a third hospital. This third hospital was part of the same hospital system, but down the road, Good Samaritan Hospital. She was doing well, and they put her on an IV to flush her kidneys, and then her legs swelled up. Unable to walk, and this was something else her body had to deal with. There she was told she could be released in a 'few days', but She ended up back in ICU, Monday the 11th of Feb, due to her kidney instability, severely elevated blood sugar level of well over 500, as well as Pneumonia and a cold. Pneumonia being the least of their worries... For a day and a half they monitored her, they were able to bring Annie's blood sugar down to normal, then with her improvement she was moved back to a regular room, Tuesday evening, the 12th. Annie is, as of today, February 15th, is still in the hospital, waiting to be released from the third hospital.

All the while, her husband, dad and mom are keeping vigil as she is a couple hours away from her parents home, and several states away from her own home.

The financial struggle is, Annie is not covered by insurance. As a newly married couple, they were trying to get over some initial year expenses in order to add her on, but even with an insurance policy or a shared medical plan obtained now, all of this will be "pre-existing" and not covered. Please consider helping out this young couple through this medical situation. These expenses included in the GoFundMe amount are; The three hospitals, emergency room, multiple doctors, ICU, blood tests, IV, medications, MRI, CT scans, and other testings, Life Flight, unpaid time off work, as well as travels home (missed/lost planned flight home) are expenses they did not expect. We are thankful for the doctors, nurses, nutritionists, hospitals and staff that have been instrumental in assisting Annie with her journey to a healthy state and stabilize her blood sugars. Please keep them in prayer and if you are able to send a gift, please do so prayerfully. Thank you for reading and praying and prayerfully considering a financial gift to help this young couple.