Teresa has returned home

Hello everyone,

My name is Chris, and I am reaching out to you with a heavy heart and a hopeful spirit. My beloved mother, Teresa, has been diagnosed with Tularemia, also known as "Rabbit Fever" and is now in terminal condition. As anyone who has faced a serious illness knows, the emotional and financial toll can be overwhelming. I am starting this GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for her medical expenses and to ensure she receives the best care possible. 

All current and future donations will not be used towards her final expenses and cremation. 

Timeline of Events

On June 5th, she was admitted to the ER with breathing complications and was held for 8 days. It was determined at the time that she had developed pneumonia but with proper medical care she was discharged after an 8 day stay. She returned home on June 13th. One week later, on June 20th she returned to the ER with similar symptoms as before: difficulty breathing and a low oxygen level. On Saturday, June 22nd she was formally diagnosed with Tularemia, or Rabbit Fever. She has been on oxygen since the 20th, however, was placed into a medically induced coma early morning, Monday, June 24th. She was removed from the ventilator the following Friday and showed some signs of improving but on a small scale overall. We knew at that time she had a very long road ahead of her, but she's a fighter. One week later, July 6th and her lungs are not improving. She has such a high amount of lung scarring that she feels like someone holding their breath underwater and the feeling like you can't breath. We are currently looking at the possibility of a tracheotomy in place of a long term ventilator. The hospital staff and team of doctors are currently working as hard as they can to get her accepted into any lung transplant program as the only viable option for her now is to get a double lung transplant. We are asking for any and all support at this time.

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Current Status

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As of August 4th:

Mom is in terminal condition and will continue to be surrounded by family until she decides she is ready to go. 

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As of July 11, 2024:

Mom is currently on a high-flow oxygen machine for respiratory therapy more than anything as she is still connected to the ECMO machine that is doing all the work for her lungs. The infectious disease doctor is keeping her on one of the three antibiotics to continue fighting the bacteria to alleviate her pneumonia. Her medical care team are currently contacting multiple hospitals to get her on a transplant list.

Her current hurdle is being able to get up and walking. Obviously, when you can't breath, you can't do much physical activity. Additionally, due to the inability to breathe, she has frequent panic attacks that require medication that makes her sleepy.

If she can push through the therapy, there is a good chance she will be accepted by one of the transplant hospitals. Her most recent CT scan shows that her left lung is completely scarred and is beyond saving at this point. Her right lung has about 35% that isn't completely scarred over and in much need of replacement as well. We remain eternally grateful and hopeful that she finds success.

Thank you all for your support.

About My Mother

My mother is the heart and soul of our family. She has always been there for us, providing unconditional love, support, and guidance. Her strength and resilience have been a source of inspiration for everyone who knows her. Despite facing this challenging illness, her spirit remains unbroken, and she continues to fight with all her might.

The Challenge She Faces

Unfortunately, the cost of care is expensive even with Medicare. Our family has been doing everything we can to manage these expenses, but we have reached a point where we need help. The funds raised through this campaign will be used for:

Medical bills and hospital stays

Essential medications and treatments

Housing expenses to catch back up

Long-term stays for her husband

How You Can Help

Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference and will be deeply appreciated. If you are unable to contribute financially, sharing this campaign with your friends and network would mean the world to us. Your support and kindness during this difficult time will not only help alleviate the financial burden but also give my mother the strength to keep fighting.

Thank You

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any support you can provide. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and compassion. Together, we can make a difference in my mother’s fight against this illness.

With sincere gratitude,

Chris and Family