Campaigning for a MIRACLE for Amanda Shirey

Amanda is the daughter of John and Janice Carroll Bailey and the first granddaughter of George and Betty Carroll (daughter of Grady Emberson and Nannie Satterfield Emberson). Some of you may recognize the names as they were active for many years in both the Pentecostal Church of God and Assemblies of God in Wichita Falls.  Additionally, both her father (John Bailey/Retired) and brother (Matt Bailey) are Wichita Falls police officers.  Amanda has one sibling; Amy Bailey Daulton.

Amanda's mother (Janice) and I are cousins.  We had our first daughters (Amanda and Genavie) 3 months apart to the day.  We made our mothers grandmothers for the first time and the list goes on making my heart extremely heavy for Amanda and her family!  .  Many times I've thought, especially with the girls being so close in age; what would it be like to get a call that your 38 year old daughter isn't breathing and is being taken by ambulance to the hospital.  I can't begin to imagine the shock felt or the toll this situation has taken on Amanda herself and her family emotionally, physically and financially. 

Matt & Amanda have been married 18 years.  In January of 2017 they became foster parents.   After fostering Christian & Jay for six months, they adopted them on July 26, 2017 (Amanda's Birthday).  The boys are now 6 & 8.  Keep in mind these boys had a rough start in life and both have disabilities but Matt & Amanda loved them unconditionally and are making a home for them.  Matt has stepped up to being a temporary single-dad although their family does step in to help with the boys so Matt can be with Amanda as much as possible.  Ultimately, the boys need their mom home!  Being away from the boys has also been extremely hard on Amanda.

Will you join me in "fostering this family"  with unconditional love like they've shown to their boys?   

Please share this with your friends and family and help CAMPAIGN FOR A MIRACLE!  There is power in numbers!  

As this is shared, it's our prayer that:

* Massive amounts of prayers will be sent up for Amanda!

* Tax Deductible Donations will be made to help alleviate financial burden!  No amount is too small. The donations that are made will go directly into a non-profit account that the family has set up in support of Amanda's (and the families) expenses during this time.

* Encouragement will be given to Amanda and her family!  
If you would like to send cards to Amanda, I'm sure she would love the thought and additional encouragement.  Sometimes it's the little things we do to show our love that goes a long way!  Below is her current address.  If/when it changes, we will update it.

Amanda Shirey (Patient)
Kindred Hospital Tarrant County - Fort Worth Southwest
7800 Oakmont Blvd.
ICU Room #8
Fort Worth, TX 76132

* Connections will be made to assist with Amanda and her family during this time.  You just never know who a "share" might reach.

AMANDA'S MEDICAL SITUATION:
Years ago, Amanda had scoliosis.  She had surgery (rod placed in back) and has been fine for many years.  In mid-2021 she started having muscle weakness in her right arm.  She was seeing her primary doctor to determine the cause of the weakness. The family thought it might be somehow related to her previously having scoliosis.  Whatever the case, little could they ever image, this was the beginning of a horrific journey for all of them!  A journey which has now continued for 5 plus months.

AMANDA'S JOURNEY:
October 13, 2021
She was taken by ambulance to United Regional Emergency after collapsing at home and being in cardiac arrest.  She spent 1.5 days in the ER before getting moved to ICU.
October 15, 2021
She is being kept sedated and on a ventilator while tests are being ran.
October 17, 2021
Ongoing attempts to take her off of the ventilator were made but with no success due to her heart rate increasing.  She  has continued to have serious anxiety attacks.
October 18, 2021
She was finally taken off of the ventilator.  The tube had been removed for about 15 minutes and then she stopped breathing so they had to insert another tube and put her back on the ventilator.
October 22, 2021
She is still at United Regional with no real diagnosis.  She's waiting to be transferred to UT Southwest Hospital in Dallas.  This move didn't take place because a bed never became available for her. 
October 28, 2021
After having therapy over the past week, the pulmonologist and respiratory therapist determine she still isn't strong enough to be taken off of the ventilator and are now considering putting in a trach so she can get the breathing tube removed from her mouth/throat.  Testing continues but with no real diagnosis.
November 2, 2021
A bed became available at University of Oklahoma Medical Center so Amanda was moved there.
November 4, 2021
Now at University of Oklahoma Medical Center and being diagnosed with possibly having Myasthenia Gravis (MG), they began PLEX treatment.  
November 5, 2021
Her throat tube was removed and a trach tube put in.  She also had a feeding tube put into her stomach.
November 10, 2021
She finished the PLEX treatments and is waiting on approval to be moved to a rehabilitation facility back in Wichita Falls.
November 12, 2021
She was moved from University of Oklahoma Medical Center back to Wichita Falls and admitted into Promise Hospital.
December 11, 2021
She was off of the ventilator 7.5 hours!
January 25, 2022
She went through occupational therapy without being on the ventilator and was also able to go without any oxygen for about 20 minutes.  At this point, she was able to walk over 200 feet using an assisted device.  Progress is being made! 
January 27, 2022
She had to be taken from Promise Hospital back to United Regional Emergency due to complications.  Sadly, it was determined she had been prescribed and given too much Xanex, was dehydrated and had pneumonia.
February 28, 2022 
She is still hospitalized at United Regional waiting on a bed to become available at a "higher level of care" hospital.
March 5, 2022
She is now diagnosed with having advanced ALS.  The family desperately wants to get her moved to an advanced facility so they can get a second opinion.  Because of having a trach in place, the acceptance of a transfer is difficult.
March 22, 2022
She was transferred to Kindred Hospital in Fort Worth where she is currently in ICU and being re-evaluated.