Honoring Dezi and supporting her little family

Dezi tragically lost her battle with Covid on Thursday December 2nd, 2021. With heavy hearts we continue to honor her and support her 15 month old baby Leo and husband Stephen. 

Dezi contracted Covid on October 25, 2021. She and her sweet little family all ended up sick with Covid at the same time. Her husband Stephen and one year old son Leo recovered within a few weeks without complications, however Dezi's condition worsened quickly. She was planning on getting vaccinated, but was breastfeeding and had concerns over the vaccine's effect on her baby.

 

Otherwise, she was a healthy young 23 year old working mother without any major co-morbidities. Within a week, she had difficulty catching her breath and she was admitted to the hospital on October 29, 2021. The family was divided with Stephen confined to the house with baby Leo and Dezi at the University of Utah Hospital. In the beginning, the hospital care involved oxygen delivered by nasal cannula but then progressed to increased supplemental oxygen via mask as she was still struggling to catch her breath. The difficult decision to intubate her was made on November 3, 2021. The intubation is basically a breathing machine with a tube down her throat that requires heavy sedation. On November 8, the situation progressed to needing further assistance with an ECMO machine that oxygenates her blood while still under full sedation and paralytics.

 

The hospital team has battled fluid and blood collecting in the lungs. A few times a week, they have been attempting to lift the sedation to ensure brain function. Recently, when trying to lift the sedation, the heart becomes irritated, preventing the staff from being able to bring her up out of sedation. While she remains in critical condition, we are all hoping and praying that she will respond to treatment and begin healing. So many thanks to the amazing healthcare team who is both ingenious and compassionate.

 

While Dezi has been in the hospital, Stephen has had to return to work since he used up his paid leave while he had Covid. He qualifies for FMLA up to 12 weeks but that is unpaid leave and Stephen is dedicated to keeping their young family's finances together. Dezi's mother has been watching baby Leo while Stephen works. Her sister Nicole has been at the hospital daily providing information updates to the family. The hospital will only allow two individuals for visits. Stephen goes from work, to the hospital, to his son and round and round each day. Dezi is very loved by everybody and we would do anything for her.

 

The goal of this fundraiser would be to pay for their maximum out of pocket insurance deductible and to enable Stephen to go on FMLA for the next few months so he can spend more time at the hospital with Dezi, at home with his son, and hopefully in the future at home with Dezi as she makes her recovery. Thank you so much for any donations.  Please pass this on to anybody you feel may be able to help. 

Donations can also be sent to:

Mountain America Credit Union-Acct # 12629520

Venmo- @Dezi21