It Is Our Turn to Help Tammy Vincent

If you have had the pleasure of knowing Tammy Vincent, you will know how true these words are.  Tammy is a woman with the biggest heart. She is always doing for others and loves taking care of everyone else. Throughout the years she has volunteered in our community through numerous different nonprofit organizations.  There have also been times she has extended care to others by either dropping off groceries outside a needy person’s door or sending flowers to cheer someone up (even though she tried her best to not let anyone know as she is a very humble person). 

Tammy’s family means the world to her. If you have ever spoken with her I am sure she could not help but mention her husband, children, sister, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and honey bears (her two pups).  She lives every day for her family.  She has always been there for eachand every one and now it is our time to be there for her  

Currently, Tammy is at Bellin Health Hospital in Green Bay, WI. We do not know how long she will still be there. So, to rewind a couple of months. February 5, 2021 she had extensive foot surgery on her left foot. This is something like number 6-8 of surgeries on the same foot after complications since October 2019. Her surgery on February 5th was a 6 hour successful surgery and she was released and came home February 6th. Well, over the course of the evening of February 6th to the morning of February8th Tammy became more exhausted and lethargic. She ended up being transported via ambulance to Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital here in Manistique where they thought there may be complications from her surgery. Her blood pressure could not maintain a normal level on her own. Her surgeon from Bellin Health along with Schoolcraft Memorial agreed and arranged for her to be airlifted to Green Bay as soon as possible. 

When she was finally stabilized in the ICU we were notified that she was septic, with possible cellulitis starting.  We were also told that if she would have been transported by ambulance she would have never made it. The ICU staff was able to stabilize her with two blood pressure medications (just to keep her blood pressure from bottoming out), antibiotics, pain meds.Her kidneys were not functioning properly, she was extremely dehydrated and she was getting bowel secretions sunctioned from her stomach. The next day, Tuesday, February 9th, she seemed to be stabilized. She has asthma and COPD so she was getting regular nebulizer breathing treatments.  However, that night, she was sedated and placed on a ventilator. She remained on a ventilator from February 9th until February 24th. During those two weeks she had multiple tests run including xrays, CT scans, blood work, and MRIs. She also had surgery that revealed her small intestines had fused to her colon so there was a major blockage. She had part of her small intestines removed, and a temporary ileostomy placed until she could possibly be healed. 

Throughout the last week she was on the ventilator the ICU doctors and nurses would turn her sedation off for numerous hours to try and wake her enough for her to give a response. However, no matter how many hours went by she would never respond, not even to any of us family who made the drive multiple times to tryanything to get her to wake up. The doctors kept running brain scans to ensure brain activity for which there was so they had no idea why she wouldn’t wake or even respond. The weekend of February 20th the ICU started focusing on comfort care for her as we were not sure if or when she may ever wake up. Finally, on February 24th the doctors removed the ventilatorand hoped for the best. 

Well, Tammy is one of the strongest people as the next day she opened her eyes. The following weekend she was moved out of the ICU into a patient room with a nurse’s aide by her side 24/7. Tammy has been diagnosed with a veryrare neurological condition named Autoimmune Limbic Encephalitis, which means swelling of the brain. She lost all ability to move, speak, eat, and has short term memory issues. She has been receiving Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Occupational Therapy daily.

However, over the past two weeks she has made such amazing progress. She learned how to swallow again and began eating food, and is just being supplemented by the IV food nutrition now.  She learned how to hold utensils again, she is now speaking but if she tries to communicate too long of a sentence she may forget her train of though. Today, she moved herself to the edge of her bed, and even stood up supported by a walker. Her road of recovery is still a long road but we are so proud of her that she is progressing like she is. 

Now, our family is very proud and humble but financial help is well needed. My dad took two weeks off of work straight at the beginning and has lost quite a few days of pay since. Green Bay is a 3 hour drive one way for all of us. Every weekend as many of us as possible have been making the trip to see Tammy so she is not solely alone. The trip and lodging are becoming expensive and when Tammy makes enough progress she will be moved from Bellin Health to a skilled nursing facility so she can continue getting the daily therapies and medical assistance she requires. We have no idea of a timeframe for how long she will be at a skilled nursing home so further expense will accrue.  

If all anyone can give is $1 we will be extremely grateful. We ask for Tammy and family to be in everyone’s thoughts and prayers. 

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers during this trying time.