Gina's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Hello everyone. My name is Tammy and I am a friend of the Holden family and I am setting up this Go Fund Me campaign to help cover the major medical expenses recently incurred by the Holden family. Gina, a beautiful wife of 23 years to her beloved husband, Tim, a wonderful mother of six biological children and one exchange student from China, and devoted follower of Christ underwent surgery to fix a brain aneurysm that could have cost her her life. Thankfully, she survived surgery and is now home with her family but is in need of constant supervision and care. The medical expenses as well as the continued, around-the-clock care Gina needs will require funds that they simply do not have. Asking for help is not an easy thing to do, but as believers in Christ, they believe that God will supply all their needs; I believe this too! So here's her story. I believe God will use his people to help meet all their needs.
After having suffered an episode of positional vertigo in May, 2014, which required a trip to the emergency room via ambulance, the doctors on-call did a CT scan and found that Gina had a brain aneurysm. At the time, they said it was insignificant and that she should have it checked in a year. A year later she went to see a radiologist and an MRA was done. It was determined that the aneurysm had grown significantly and Gina was sent to Duke to have an angiogram. This test showed that the aneurysm had grown; however, the doctors at Duke said Gina could wait 6 months and repeat the angiogram or have surgery. They would let Gina decide what to do. At this point, Gina and Tim decided getting a second opinion at UNC was best. Without hesitation the doctors at UNC wanted to do surgery and Tim and Gina agreed that this was the best solution. There was <1% chance of any complications. Though having brain surgery was a scary thought, they thought the statistics were in their favor. The surgery went well, but during the procedure to clamp the aneurysm, the doctors determined it would take two clips to repair the aneurysm (they were originally told one clip). The doctors found two areas that were so thin they could see blood swirling around (which is what is present when aneurysms rupture). They successfully repaired the aneurysm with two clips and Gina now has two plates supporting her skull where the incision was which required 40 staples.
Gina came through the surgery with flying colors. She spent less than 24 hours in ICU then was moved to a regular room. They thought everything was great! The next day everything changed. Gina was very confused and memory loss had set in and the Gina we all knew was no longer there. As a result, she had to undergo another CT scan, MRI, and 2 EEG’s. Originally the doctors thought she had suffered a stroke, but it was determined that she had suffered brain seizures instead. In addition, they saw considerable swelling around the repair. It was during this time that we all wondered if Gina would ever be the same.
Gina came home six days after surgery and needs 24 hour care, 7 days a week. She cannot be left alone and has physical, occupational, and speech therapy 3 times per week. During these first few weeks, Gina has struggled to know the names of her children, her own birth date, and can be child-like during conversations. Though this new normal is very hard for Tim and the whole family, slowly, day-by-day, we are all seeing God work miracles in Gina's body. There have been slight improvements along the way, but the road ahead will be long and hard. Though God is working to restore her to full health, I am asking that those of you who are reading their story to donate any amount that you can to help cover their escalating monetary needs. Please show your love and support by donating to help this beautiful family as they face extra living expenses and major out-of-pocket medical costs.
Equally as important, I ask that you lift Gina and her family up to God in prayer. He is faithful and He is our Healer!!!
After having suffered an episode of positional vertigo in May, 2014, which required a trip to the emergency room via ambulance, the doctors on-call did a CT scan and found that Gina had a brain aneurysm. At the time, they said it was insignificant and that she should have it checked in a year. A year later she went to see a radiologist and an MRA was done. It was determined that the aneurysm had grown significantly and Gina was sent to Duke to have an angiogram. This test showed that the aneurysm had grown; however, the doctors at Duke said Gina could wait 6 months and repeat the angiogram or have surgery. They would let Gina decide what to do. At this point, Gina and Tim decided getting a second opinion at UNC was best. Without hesitation the doctors at UNC wanted to do surgery and Tim and Gina agreed that this was the best solution. There was <1% chance of any complications. Though having brain surgery was a scary thought, they thought the statistics were in their favor. The surgery went well, but during the procedure to clamp the aneurysm, the doctors determined it would take two clips to repair the aneurysm (they were originally told one clip). The doctors found two areas that were so thin they could see blood swirling around (which is what is present when aneurysms rupture). They successfully repaired the aneurysm with two clips and Gina now has two plates supporting her skull where the incision was which required 40 staples.
Gina came through the surgery with flying colors. She spent less than 24 hours in ICU then was moved to a regular room. They thought everything was great! The next day everything changed. Gina was very confused and memory loss had set in and the Gina we all knew was no longer there. As a result, she had to undergo another CT scan, MRI, and 2 EEG’s. Originally the doctors thought she had suffered a stroke, but it was determined that she had suffered brain seizures instead. In addition, they saw considerable swelling around the repair. It was during this time that we all wondered if Gina would ever be the same.
Gina came home six days after surgery and needs 24 hour care, 7 days a week. She cannot be left alone and has physical, occupational, and speech therapy 3 times per week. During these first few weeks, Gina has struggled to know the names of her children, her own birth date, and can be child-like during conversations. Though this new normal is very hard for Tim and the whole family, slowly, day-by-day, we are all seeing God work miracles in Gina's body. There have been slight improvements along the way, but the road ahead will be long and hard. Though God is working to restore her to full health, I am asking that those of you who are reading their story to donate any amount that you can to help cover their escalating monetary needs. Please show your love and support by donating to help this beautiful family as they face extra living expenses and major out-of-pocket medical costs.
Equally as important, I ask that you lift Gina and her family up to God in prayer. He is faithful and He is our Healer!!!
Organizer
Gina Geer Holden
Organizer
Wake Forest, NC