Russell Smiley Memorial Fund

Melody Martorana is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Deanna Smiley.

Donation protected

Thank you to all who have donated, followed and shared Russell’s story. Sunday, March 26, 2023, Russell succumbed to his complications and passed away in his mother’s arms. This family still has a long road of grieving and will need to cover medical expenses, living expenses and now funeral arrangements. Please continue to share so that they can garner as much support to carry them through this excruciatingly painful time.

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Hi, my name is Melody and I’m a close friend of Deanna Smiley, Russell’s mom. (There’s a link at the very bottom of this where you can follow his journey based on the updates I receive from Deanna.)

Russell is a 17 year old young man who is suffering from life-threatening complications caused by H1N1, also known as swine flu. Within a week of becoming ill, he had to be air lifted to a pediatric hospital in Utah, where the staff has indicated he is currently the most dire case they are treating. Since being transferred there last week, he has been intubated, is about to receive his 3rd chest tube and is starting plasma therapy, all while medically sedated and paralyzed. He is suffering from aggressive pneumonia that has made it necessary for him to be placed in ECMO, and has had to undergo dialysis. His heart has gone into arrhythmia multiple times making it necessary for them to shock his heart 6 times in less than 3 days. MRSA has been found in his blood, and he’s suffering from renal failure. His liver has also suffered. The doctors are very concerned about the blood saturation to his organs and his extremities, especially his toes. If a solution cannot be found, amputation may become a possibility.

His mother, Deanna, and father, Aaron, are both at his bedside.

If by a miracle he pulls through, he will need extensive recovery after care and rehab. While we don’t want to consider any possibility but a miracle, every foreseeable outcome has its own unbelievable emotional and financial burden that no family should have to face alone.

Several of you have asked how you could help. Any contribution you can offer will help to lift some of the financial weight at this difficult time. If you aren’t able to contribute financially, your prayers and support are still very much needed and beyond appreciated by his loved ones. Thank you for whatever support you are able to offer and please share with others.