Jami Hyde Perserverence

Hi, my name is Merry, and I am fundraising to benefit my cousin, Jami Hyde.

Jami is a single mother living with an inoperable partial bowel obstruction. Jami's health has declined significantly, and she lives in constant pain. She maintains an around-the-clock IV schedule (hydration, nausea meds and IV nutrition), and is unable to work to provide for herself and her son, as she prepares to send him off to an out-of-state college in January.

Jami's foremost concern is providing the security of a home for herself and her son. She asks for help to ease financial burdens so she can remain in their home, continue to receive proper medical care and buy food.

Jami survived ovarian cancer in 2007 and had two hernia repair surgeries in 2008. Invasive “mesh” entanglements and infections from those hernia repairs began to surface in 2013, requiring her to undergo numerous life-saving surgeries...the latest in 2021. She continues to suffer from a recurring, open-wound staph infection - Jami has been ill and physically compromised with medical issues for 16 years. Her struggle is one that many of us could not endure, but Jami perserveres! She has never given up and even though her doctors say there is nothing they can do, she continues to pray for a miracle cure.

I appreciate your consideration of Jami’s situation and ask that you please pray for Jami, and to make a donation if you are able. If not, I pray that you will be an ambassador for Jami and share her story to encourage others to help, if they can. Thank you for your prayers, and God bless! #WithMyFullHeartJami

Update 12/14/22: Due to your prayers and generosity, we were able to meet the most urgent needs and have paid Jami’s past-due housing costs! Thank you so much for all of your support! Now the focus shifts to raising money to keep her current on housing, as well as meeting her day-to-day needs such as groceries, medications and personal necessities. Please consider sharing Jami’s fundraiser information with others in your network, so we can continue to provide much-needed support to Jami and her son. Every donation is valuable…thanks again!

Update 12/23/22: Jami had several appointments last week and some went better than others. She met with the Surgical Oncologist who is familiar with her extensive surgical history and has performed nearly all of Jami’s surgeries since 2016.

They discussed surgical options for her chronic partial bowel obstruction, and she learned that in her case, she would be at an extremely high chance of operative complications from exploratory surgery and would be at incredibly high chance of enterocutaneous fistula, worsening of her chronic mesh infection, and worsening of her bowel obstruction. This type of surgery would only be considered if it were a lifesaving intervention, but it could also be life-ending. So unfortunately, the trip to Mayo is no longer necessary, as this obstruction is something Jami will have to live with for the rest of her life.

In the past, TPN nutrition (processed through the blood system via IV) was a temporary nutrition solution for Jami. Now though, she will need TPN nutrition forever. Sadly, the life expectancy of someone using only IV nutrition is 2 to 3 years. It is sustaining her currently but weakens the immune system and any infection or medical complication could affect that timeline. Bottom line, a body needs to eat and process nutrition through the digestive tract in order to survive. Jami tries to eat, but suffers horrible sickness and unbearable pain afterward, which keeps her up every night. She needs to see a nutritionist, as well as find pain management, both of which will be out-of-pocket expenses.

Jami is and will continue to be unable to work. She has no income, yet she still has the same expenses most of us have…medical, housing, utilities, groceries, insurance, vehicles, vet bills…everything, but no way to pay for any of it.

Each of you have been so giving and Jami is truly humbled by your generosity! Another supporter has come forward with an offer to match every donation made between now and New Year’s Day up to $2,000, so your $10 becomes $20, having double the impact! It would be a huge blessing for Jami to receive another $4,000 before the end of the year! Please be an ambassador for Jami and share this update with your friends and family and ask them to share with their friends. Let’s get Jami the help that she needs!

Thanks again for keeping Jami in your thoughts and prayers!

UPDATE 12/29/22:

To those of you who have donated this past week, we made it to the $2000 goal and our generous supporter who pledged to match up to that amount has done it! It is awesome and amazing that this was accomplished in just one week!

Many thanks to all of you who have donated to Jami’s fundraiser over these past few weeks…your loving kindness has made such a difference! Jami’s outlook has truly been lifted by your outpouring of generosity during this difficult time.

Please continue to be an ambassador for Jami by sharing this update with your friends and family, as well as asking them to share with their friends. As always, thank you for keeping Jami in your thoughts and prayers!

New Year’s Day 2023, from Jami:

I want to start 2023 with words of gratitude that are overflowing from my heart.

The fundraiser has been unbelievable, for so many reasons. Since we posted it, I have been amazed at how many people care, how many people think about me, and how many others have situations like this in their lives.

I have had many struggles with my health since Trey was born. A few of my family members had discussed setting up a fundraiser, but I was reluctant. I had always been able to figure things out. If I had to have a surgery (which as a lot of you know, has been several times), I just told myself I had to work hard and really pull it together to be able to have an income to provide for my family, as well as heal my body. I just somehow was always able to make it through…asking for assistance wasn’t something I felt I should burden anyone with.

This time is different, though. This time, I am not able to make it without help and support. I need to be able to provide for my son and I am not able to work to make it happen…I wasn't going to be OK this time. Trust me when I say it's hard to ask for help! It's hard to make yourself vulnerable and allow people to see and hear all the things we may not want to share with others.

I have chosen to be present and to do the best I can to manage the pain the best I can, to nourish my body as much as possible, and to cherish time with loved ones. Once my oncologist informed me there is really nothing that can be done, the most important thing became just living in the moment. I will be able to be present in my son’s life as much as possible and thanks to you, nothing will separate us! The fundraiser is helping to make that possible. Your outpouring of generosity is greatly appreciated!

Jami

Update 1/13/23:

It’s “Fun Raising Friday” and today, let’s put a “13” spin on it!

To make Jami’s Friday the 13th a good luck day, let’s make donations in any increment of “13”…as little as $13 makes a difference…every dollar helps! Make your donation, then share this update and challenge your friends and family members to keep it going!

Thank you for joining in the fun for this quick fundraising boost!