Connie Riggs' Broken Femur Fund

My name is Caitlyn Riggs. My mother, Connie Riggs, was taken to the emergency room on April 8, 2022. She had persistent nausea, vomiting. She could not hold any food or liquid down.. She could not stand. She could not walk. She showed signs of a pressure ulcer on her tailbone. She was cognitively impaired to the point she could no longer complete a sentence.

The hospital informed us that she had a urinary tract infection, high ammonia, low magnesium, low phosphorus, low potassium. She was dehydrated and malnourished. The psychiatrist thought she had dementia but the neurologist disagreed. She was put on a feeding tube. Because of her cognitive impairment she pulled it out. They then surgically put in a feeding tube. She put on a few pounds. She was transferred to Hillcrest Village for Rehabilitation.

While at Hillcrest, due to her immobility her pressure ulcer trippled in size and became infected. She started eating, drinking. She began to stand. She worked hard to build up her strength. She had a fall and broke her hip.

We started another journey to the emergency room. She had her surgery 2 days later. She returned to Hillcrest Village 3 days after her surgery. Her cognitive ability finally started to improve.. She progressed slowly but surely everyday. Her pressure ulcer was almost completely closed. On her 100th day and last day of Medicare coverage, she had another fall and broke her femur.

Since she maxed out her days of Medicare coverage at a lower level facility the only other option was to go to a higher level of care rehab. We are currently at Southern Indiana Rehab Hospital. She is only alloted 10-14 days here which is no where near enough time. She won't be able to put any weight on her bad leg until late September. She is just now getting the staples out. She will be discharging this weekend and my family needs some help!

Since she will be wheelchair bound we must rearrange the layout of our home. We need to get a ramp ($3,000) because of the set of stairs in front of our home. We need a power lift recliner($500) that measures 21 inches from the floor to the seat cushion. We need some help($350) with covering the cost of briefs, wipes, pressure ulcer treatments and bandages, bed pads, towels, sheets, medications, etc.

We just want her to be as successful as possible. She is a warrior. My father and I have been with her everyday advocating for her and ensuring she is receiving the best care possible. We had to be her voice for months until her cognitive abilities returned.