Help Catherine St Clair, medical costs for Lisa

Catherine St Clair took on the role of caregiver to her adopted sister after their parents deaths 14 years ago. Her little sister, Lisa Mowdy, was born with severe Cerebral Palsy, and is total-care on life-support. In September, the computer base that runs her lateral-rotation mattress (designed to prevent pressure ulcers) started malfunctioning, producing screeching and screaming. Catherine has fought her three insurance carriers for months trying to get the mattress system replaced but - BECAUSE she does not CURRENTLY have a Stage 3 or worse pressure ulcer - they deny the application for a replacement.

On the morning of December 27th, the unit caught on fire - while Lisa was still in the bed! Her nurse physically dragged Lisa off the bed and onto the floor to get her away from the flames and black smoke billowing out of the unit. Lisa’s niece pulled the base unit off the bed - while it burned - and threw it into the yard to douse it with water to put out the fire. Because the house filled with smoke, Lisa’s nurse had to take her outside in the cold air to avoid inhalation of the toxic smoke and fumes.

Lisa needs the mattress system and hospital bed replaced as soon as possible. She is currently sleeping on a regular mattress that requires Catherine to physically turn her every two hours during the night to reduce pressure sore risks.