Help for Lynn Hamby

Lynn has been in poor health for many years, and has been disabled for over a decade. She has been diagnosed with congestive cardiac failure, COPD, essential pulmonary hypertension, and atrial fibrillation, among other conditions Unfortunately, she contracted COVID in 2020. When she was diagnosed, her family was afraid that she may not be able to handle the toll COVID takes on the body. After spending a month in the hospital, she was able to recover enough to go home. However, her pre-existing conditions have been further complicated by the long lasting (and many unknown) affects of COVID.

 

In May, Lynn’s family was able to move her into a new apartment in the same building as her oldest daughter, Heather, to give her more support and hopefully improve her quality of life. They say laughter is the best medicine, and being able to see her beautiful granddaughters Eliana and Pamela everyday has given her a steady supply of laughter and love.

 

As summer came to an end, Lynn’s health began to decline once more and she was hospitalized over Labor Day weekend for several weeks. Lynn’s doctors decided to put her on a subcutaneous IV pump for her heart medication. They stressed to the family that this was the last shot to try and improve her heart function, along with over 30 daily medications and continuous oxygen she requires.

 

The family could not have predicted how critical living within earshot of Heather would be, as she has now become Lynn’s full time caregiver, along with raising her energetic 2 & 4 yr old daughters. Lynn’s youngest daughter Brooke has been helping out in the evenings, her brother Bobby coming to give Heather breaks during the day, and my wife Mallory driving from Iowa to stay with Lynn every week Friday-Monday since September.

 

Although Lynn’s family has been able to cover 80% of her care, there are times that someone isn’t able to be with her. If you know Lynn, you know how stubborn and sassy she can be, and was still trying to be as independent as possible. Despite the warnings and lectures from her daughters and doctors, she has had many tragic falls just trying to get herself to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

 

Lynn’s family has been more than happy to step up and give every bit of time, energy, and money they can to ensure she is loved and cared for, but it hasn’t been easy. As vacation time has dwindled, the financial strain has doubled.

 

The family has exhausted all options with trying to get some support with in home care. A nursing home is not an option due to her Remodulin pump, which is literally keeping her alive. If she were to go into a home and her pump removed, the doctor told us “death would be imminent”.

 

Lynn was hospitalized two more times in October, and is still in the hospital today. The family was able to meet with Lynn’s heart doctor last week, and her heart function is very bad. It’s hard to describe how scary it was to actually see the echo and how badly her heart is functioning.

 

She is now on a palliative care plan, as there is no cure for her condition, she is not eligible for a transplant, and they have exhausted all treatment options. She isn’t ready to give up yet and will continue the IV heart medication in hopes that it will give her as many days as possible with her loved ones. The goal is still to get Lynn home, but she now requires 100% high-flow oxygen 24/7 which cannot be provided outside of a hospital setting. Her biggest concern is being a burden on her family. Along with her daughters, she has set a goal of quality of life over quantity.

 

Lynn’s family knows that time is limited, but the doctors cannot say if we are looking at weeks or months. It’s a difficult balancing act trying to be sure to spend as much time as possible with Lynn, while supporting our own families and preparing for her end of life expenses.

 

So many people have asked what they can do to help, and honestly the only thing we want is for her to be surrounded by her friends and loved ones. Unfortunately, this isn’t an option due to the ongoing pandemic. The amazing nurses and doctors at her hospital have been lenient with the “one visitor at a time” rule, and her immediate adult family has been able to visit and keep her in good spirits.

 

Lynn has always been a social butterfly, and not being able to visit with the people she loves and cares about has been really hard on her. It would mean THE WORLD to her if you could please send her a card, or schedule a time with her daughters for a phone call.

 

Obviously since Lynn has been on disability for so many years, she has not been able to save and prepare for her end of life expenses. Her love language is definitely giving, and if you feel compelled to donate, all funds will go directly to her care and expenses. 

 

 

My name is Ashton Hamby, and Lynn is my mother in law.