Connie's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Please help support Connie Swartzlander’s family during this very difficult and tragic time.
As many of you know, Connie was an amazing woman who was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother who could easily put a smile on anybody’s face. Everyone that knew her loved her. Her presence alone brightened everybody’s day. She was the type of person who always put other people’s needs in front of hers. She can be described as a fighter for as long as anybody can remember, battling lung disease for 10 years. As a result, she received lung treatments in the amount of $6,000 a month.
In August of this year she was diagnosed with stage three Pancreatic cancer. She underwent a Whipple procedure, which led to a stay at UPMC that was supposed to last 4-5 months.
Connie showed her amazing strength (doctors, surgeons and medical staff described her as a medical miracle) by fighting to make it out of the hospital through intense therapy, and was back home in only 38 days. She was supposed to be in the ICU with a feeding tube, trach, vent and in a medically-induced coma for the first 14 days before transfer to the step-down unit, and instead after surgery she was speaking and proclaiming that she kicked cancer’s ass and giving everyone a thumbs up.
It only took her 8 days to transfer into the step-down unit. From there it only took her less than a month to recover enough to start and finish rehab, which was supposed to take 90-plus days on its own, before being released and allowed to return home.
After coming home the bills started adding up with the home visits, wound specialists, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutritionalists, and home health nurses who came on a weekly basis. Meanwhile she also had to maintain her bi-weekly lung treatments for her prior health problems.
On November 23, the day before Thanksgiving, she received an early Christmas present at her post-op visit. Here they were supposed to discuss her upcoming chemotherapy schedule. Instead, they were able to announce that she was cancer-free and would not need to undergo the chemo treatment.
Yet another miracle!
Over the next month, however, she battled post-op complications, such as vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and as a result required 24-hour, around the clock care.
On Christmas Eve she was rushed to the hospital and admitted with severe dehydration and a possible infection. During the next 12 hours she took a turn for the worse that led to a life flight from St. Margaret’s to UPMC Presbyterian, where she went into an emergency exploratory surgery to diagnose a potential multi-organ failure.
Doctors said that the organs were not necrotic, but looked inflamed which could be caused by a potential infection. Her body was trying to compensate for her acidic blood levels, decreased blood pressure, low body temperature, jaundice, decreased kidney function, and fluid in the lungs.
On December 26 at 6:30 am, she went into cardiac arrest. The medical staff performed rescue procedures, but at 8:13 am her fight was over.
Nurses and doctors said Connie fought her heart out through her least breath.
Connie and her husband Ty took in their grandchildren, Katie and Austin, two years ago when their mother passed away after a long bout with breast cancer. Ty is now left raising the two at the age of 81. On top of working, and raising two kids, these added expenses from medical bills are taking a toll on Ty and the family.
Prayers, thoughts or any monetary donation would be very much appreciated during this difficult time.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
As many of you know, Connie was an amazing woman who was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother who could easily put a smile on anybody’s face. Everyone that knew her loved her. Her presence alone brightened everybody’s day. She was the type of person who always put other people’s needs in front of hers. She can be described as a fighter for as long as anybody can remember, battling lung disease for 10 years. As a result, she received lung treatments in the amount of $6,000 a month.
In August of this year she was diagnosed with stage three Pancreatic cancer. She underwent a Whipple procedure, which led to a stay at UPMC that was supposed to last 4-5 months.
Connie showed her amazing strength (doctors, surgeons and medical staff described her as a medical miracle) by fighting to make it out of the hospital through intense therapy, and was back home in only 38 days. She was supposed to be in the ICU with a feeding tube, trach, vent and in a medically-induced coma for the first 14 days before transfer to the step-down unit, and instead after surgery she was speaking and proclaiming that she kicked cancer’s ass and giving everyone a thumbs up.
It only took her 8 days to transfer into the step-down unit. From there it only took her less than a month to recover enough to start and finish rehab, which was supposed to take 90-plus days on its own, before being released and allowed to return home.
After coming home the bills started adding up with the home visits, wound specialists, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutritionalists, and home health nurses who came on a weekly basis. Meanwhile she also had to maintain her bi-weekly lung treatments for her prior health problems.
On November 23, the day before Thanksgiving, she received an early Christmas present at her post-op visit. Here they were supposed to discuss her upcoming chemotherapy schedule. Instead, they were able to announce that she was cancer-free and would not need to undergo the chemo treatment.
Yet another miracle!
Over the next month, however, she battled post-op complications, such as vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and as a result required 24-hour, around the clock care.
On Christmas Eve she was rushed to the hospital and admitted with severe dehydration and a possible infection. During the next 12 hours she took a turn for the worse that led to a life flight from St. Margaret’s to UPMC Presbyterian, where she went into an emergency exploratory surgery to diagnose a potential multi-organ failure.
Doctors said that the organs were not necrotic, but looked inflamed which could be caused by a potential infection. Her body was trying to compensate for her acidic blood levels, decreased blood pressure, low body temperature, jaundice, decreased kidney function, and fluid in the lungs.
On December 26 at 6:30 am, she went into cardiac arrest. The medical staff performed rescue procedures, but at 8:13 am her fight was over.
Nurses and doctors said Connie fought her heart out through her least breath.
Connie and her husband Ty took in their grandchildren, Katie and Austin, two years ago when their mother passed away after a long bout with breast cancer. Ty is now left raising the two at the age of 81. On top of working, and raising two kids, these added expenses from medical bills are taking a toll on Ty and the family.
Prayers, thoughts or any monetary donation would be very much appreciated during this difficult time.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Organizer and beneficiary
Katie Marie Swartzlander
Organizer
Pittsburgh, PA
Charles Swartzlander
Beneficiary