Support Katie during her Craniectomy recovery

As many of you already know, Katie was diagnosed with a severe Staphylococcus infection in her scalp back in March. This turned septic, became an emergency and she had to begin an extremely high dose of intravenous antibiotics. These continued for 9 weeks through a PICC line as her system battled the infection. During that time, she has undergone two surgical brain procedures, ultimately leading to the removal of the titanium plate, which replaced that part of her skull lost during brain surgery to remove a tumour 14 years ago. She has spent some 4 weeks on the Neurosurgical ward in Perth Charles Gairdner hospital, being closely monitored and slowly recovering her functionality, a week of which was in the High dependency unit. She is now back living with her boyfriend Tim in a house which they rent together in Dunsborough Western Australia , where I (mum) am helping her get back on her feet until I have to leave in early June.

 

The Craniectomy surgery has left Katie with a large hole in her skull, resulting in her having to wear a helmet until the surgical team deems it safe to fit a new plate in 3-6 months time. At the same time, plastic surgeons will perform a skin graft to reinforce the thickness of her scalp.

 

As I write this, it has already been a total of 2 months during which Katie has not been able to work and earn the income she needs to survive. This is a rapidly growing stress factor added to an already awful situation. We do not yet know an exact time frame in which she will be able to start back at her job (which she loves and where she is loved back), but it is possible it won’t yet be for another 6 months. Katie has been working tirelessly towards gaining permanent residency in Australia but, since she hasn't yet qualified, she is not entitled to any form of sickness and other benefits. Though she is covered by a reciprocal medical agreement and holds private health insurance, there are still a lot of medical expenses which aren’t covered, such as out patient blood tests at $150 per test, per week and weekly antibiotic prescriptions at $70 per week; and this is obviously before basic living expenses. Consequently, Katie will soon run out of funds and with no prospect of earning again for, potentially, another six months. 

It goes without saying that everyone's emotional support and kind words have been priceless in her journey back to self-sufficiency. But her rate of recovery is greatly hampered by the stress of not knowing how to fund the ongoing medical expenses until she can return to work. We are doing our level best to help but if anyone is able to help us alleviate her financial stress by contributing any amount, no matter how small, she would be so grateful. We know there couldn't be a worse time to ask for help owing to the financial pressures everyone is under in the current economic climate, but the situation is pretty dire and we have to try every avenue.