Help Melissa Dobbins (Preheim) during her recovery
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I'm starting this Go Fund Me for my best friend, Melissa Dobbins (Preheim). She has had an extremely scary three months and has a long road of recovery ahead of her. I want her and her husband Dustin to be able to focus on her health; her physical and mental strength. I don't want the burden of bills to weigh on either of them or overshadow what's most important, Melissa's recovery.
Melissa was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in January, but the medication prescribed for the condition caused holes in her colon. The bile was leaking into her abdomen which led to sepsis.
On February 15th she was transported to the hospital via ambulance and underwent emergency surgery. Her colon was almost completely removed and they left her open so they could monitor the multiple infections she was fighting. She went back in for surgery on the 17th to check for more dead tissue in her intestines and to attach her intestine to her abdominal wall. The surgery went well and they were able to close her up and remove her breathing tube.
She was being monitored closely because she was still fighting the infections, but she was improving every day. She was miserable from the swelling. Her legs, feet, arms and hands were swollen to 3 times their normal size and her body was expelling the fluid through her pores so she was constantly wet. She was doing better, but her gallbladder wasn't working that great which caused bile to back up causing liver issues. The fungal and bacterial blood infections cleared up, but her white blood cell count went up so they ordered a CT of the abdomen and found another infection starting.
On March 3rd she went back in to surgery. They cleaned out the infection and added a vacuum tube to help with the fluids. They found that she hadn't healed at all. The steroid that they're using for the ulcerative colitis is slowing the healing process plus she isn't really able to eat yet so she isn't getting any nutrients. They added a new feeding tube that is passing her stomach into her intestines in order to bypass the ulcers and they reduced the amount of steroids they're giving her. They also had to remove a little more of the colon that was left because of dead tissue.
As of March 7th she is in step down ICU, her white blood cell count is down to 12 and her swelling is going down. We are hopeful that no other surgeries will be necessary and that she can focus on healing and her recovery.
Melissa's body has been through so much in the last few months and is still working so hard. In addition to her inability to eat she has been mostly sedentary since all of this started in early December which has caused her to become extremely weak and will require physical therapy.
There will be significant time off from work for both Melissa and Dustin and the bills will continue to come, including medical bills. I'm asking friends, family and anyone else with a generous heart to donate whatever you can in an effort to make this extremely difficult time just a little easier.
Any amount helps and is greatly appreciated. Please continue to pray for her and her loved ones. I will be diligent about providing updates as I receive them. Thanks for reading to the end and please share the link!
Melissa was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in January, but the medication prescribed for the condition caused holes in her colon. The bile was leaking into her abdomen which led to sepsis.
On February 15th she was transported to the hospital via ambulance and underwent emergency surgery. Her colon was almost completely removed and they left her open so they could monitor the multiple infections she was fighting. She went back in for surgery on the 17th to check for more dead tissue in her intestines and to attach her intestine to her abdominal wall. The surgery went well and they were able to close her up and remove her breathing tube.
She was being monitored closely because she was still fighting the infections, but she was improving every day. She was miserable from the swelling. Her legs, feet, arms and hands were swollen to 3 times their normal size and her body was expelling the fluid through her pores so she was constantly wet. She was doing better, but her gallbladder wasn't working that great which caused bile to back up causing liver issues. The fungal and bacterial blood infections cleared up, but her white blood cell count went up so they ordered a CT of the abdomen and found another infection starting.
On March 3rd she went back in to surgery. They cleaned out the infection and added a vacuum tube to help with the fluids. They found that she hadn't healed at all. The steroid that they're using for the ulcerative colitis is slowing the healing process plus she isn't really able to eat yet so she isn't getting any nutrients. They added a new feeding tube that is passing her stomach into her intestines in order to bypass the ulcers and they reduced the amount of steroids they're giving her. They also had to remove a little more of the colon that was left because of dead tissue.
As of March 7th she is in step down ICU, her white blood cell count is down to 12 and her swelling is going down. We are hopeful that no other surgeries will be necessary and that she can focus on healing and her recovery.
Melissa's body has been through so much in the last few months and is still working so hard. In addition to her inability to eat she has been mostly sedentary since all of this started in early December which has caused her to become extremely weak and will require physical therapy.
There will be significant time off from work for both Melissa and Dustin and the bills will continue to come, including medical bills. I'm asking friends, family and anyone else with a generous heart to donate whatever you can in an effort to make this extremely difficult time just a little easier.
Any amount helps and is greatly appreciated. Please continue to pray for her and her loved ones. I will be diligent about providing updates as I receive them. Thanks for reading to the end and please share the link!
Organizer and beneficiary
Erin Cerio
Organizer
Coeur d'Alene, ID
Dustin Dobbins
Beneficiary