Give Back to Denise- Medical Expenses

Many of you know Denise Heckel. If you haven't had the good fortune to have met her, let me tell you about my friend. Denise is a giver; she gives of her time, her resources, and her money to help others. If you're in need, she'll go out of her way to be there for you. If you just need someone to listen, to pray, or to build you up, she's your girl. She thinks of others above herself and will give you all she’s got, and with a cheerful smile. Well, now it’s time for us to give back to her. Denise is in dire need of assistance due to a medical emergency.

For three weeks, she'd had severe shoulder pain, initially diagnosed as just a pinched muscle- it wasn't. It was a pocket of bacteria that eventually migrated into her spinal fluid. The infection worsened, causing weakness in her legs, which over the course of two days, resulted in total paralysis from the waist down. It then began to move from there, causing her to lose function in her arms. After being life-flighted to a larger hospital, she underwent surgery, where they cut her from the bottom of the neck to the base of her spine. In a six and a half hour surgery, the infected spinal fluid was drained in an effort to release pressure on the spinal cord, some of the spine was also shaved off to removed infection. This also necessitated removal of bone from the lower back, which required the permanent insertion of rods.

Denise now faces a long recovery, during which she will hopefully regain full use of her limbs; right now, she is still paralyzed from the waist down. Denise is an artist, who works in the very physical medium of pottery. Her husband Lloyd is self-employed. They Have No Health Insurance. The expenses incurred will include an extended hospital stay, physical therapy, follow-ups with doctors, and assistance at home, on top of the life-flight and surgery. It will be quite some time before Denise can get back to the art she loves. We never know what tomorrow will bring any of us. It is my hope that you'll be able to help in any way you can. Let's be thankful for our good health and the blessings we enjoy, and be willing to share them with our sister in need. Any amount will be appreciated. Feel free to leave Denise a comment. She will read each and every one as she is able. Thank you very much!