Kelsey's Recovery
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Kelsey needs your help more then ever to get back on her feet after an unexpected health crisis. Kelsey Chadwick is a 26-year-old single woman living in Baltimore.
Kelsey, vibrant and active, began 2018 working 50 to 60 hours a week at 2 jobs, a legal assistant and a bartender, to support herself and to finance her college education. She had no benefits at either job.
Kelsey had pursued her associate degree part-time, obtaining it last year from Community College of Baltimore County. Hungry for her bachelor's degree, she took on a full course load this past Spring at the University of Baltimore.
The first week of June Kelsey's entire left arm became swollen and sore. On June 8th, a doctor diagnosed it as carpal tunnel syndrome and put a brace on her.
June 11th, with her heart racing and extreme shortness of breath, Kelsey drove herself to the nearest emergency room, Johns Hopkins Bayview. She had several blood clots in her left arm, and the brace apparently accentuated the problem and by then three clots had made it to her lungs. A potentially fatal condition.
The correct diagnosis was Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS), a specialty at Johns Hopkins. Apparently built up scar tissues from what seemingly were minor mishaps of an active life has been pinching a vessel against her first rib. This restricts blood flow, causing the blood to stagnate and clot. Surgery to remove the rib is required to avoid being prone to death-threatening blood clots and living a life on blood thinners.
Kelsey was treated in the hospital for 5 days before she was released. She is still on blood thinners with weekly blood work. And she is scheduled for the TOS surgery on July 30st.
It can take several weeks to months for the blood clots to dissolved. July 11th Kelsey returned to the emergency room with her heart racing and experiencing shortness of breath again. She was kept overnight for tests and observations. She was released with the instructions to return if it happens again.
Between the blood clots and the blood thinners Kelsey has to be very careful. Any overexertion can trigger a heart racing and shortness of breath episode. A seemingly minor cut could cause major blood loss. But would require emergency medical treatment.
Since she was first hospitalized she has not been able to work as a bartender due to the physical nature of the work, coupled with the propensity of the work for scrapes and cuts. And she has not had the stamina has lost time from work as a legal assistant.
It will be at least 2 weeks after surgery before Kelsey can begin 6 weeks of physical. It's expected to take 3 months for full recovery and to have full functionality again.
Needless to say, Kelsey is facing a major financial crisis.
She has no health insurance.
She has accumulated and will continue to accumulate for at least another 3 months, medical bills. She went from working 50 to 60 hours a week to about 30-35 hours.
After surgery, she will be out of work completely for up to 3 months.
Through it all Kelsey has kept her spirits high and her Faith strong. She just wants to get well and to be able to resume her life and her education.
A goal to raise money is set to help Kelsey to:
1) Cover her medical expenses, including physical therapy, and
2) Replace her loss of income, to cover her living expenses.
Kelsey, vibrant and active, began 2018 working 50 to 60 hours a week at 2 jobs, a legal assistant and a bartender, to support herself and to finance her college education. She had no benefits at either job.
Kelsey had pursued her associate degree part-time, obtaining it last year from Community College of Baltimore County. Hungry for her bachelor's degree, she took on a full course load this past Spring at the University of Baltimore.
The first week of June Kelsey's entire left arm became swollen and sore. On June 8th, a doctor diagnosed it as carpal tunnel syndrome and put a brace on her.
June 11th, with her heart racing and extreme shortness of breath, Kelsey drove herself to the nearest emergency room, Johns Hopkins Bayview. She had several blood clots in her left arm, and the brace apparently accentuated the problem and by then three clots had made it to her lungs. A potentially fatal condition.
The correct diagnosis was Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS), a specialty at Johns Hopkins. Apparently built up scar tissues from what seemingly were minor mishaps of an active life has been pinching a vessel against her first rib. This restricts blood flow, causing the blood to stagnate and clot. Surgery to remove the rib is required to avoid being prone to death-threatening blood clots and living a life on blood thinners.
Kelsey was treated in the hospital for 5 days before she was released. She is still on blood thinners with weekly blood work. And she is scheduled for the TOS surgery on July 30st.
It can take several weeks to months for the blood clots to dissolved. July 11th Kelsey returned to the emergency room with her heart racing and experiencing shortness of breath again. She was kept overnight for tests and observations. She was released with the instructions to return if it happens again.
Between the blood clots and the blood thinners Kelsey has to be very careful. Any overexertion can trigger a heart racing and shortness of breath episode. A seemingly minor cut could cause major blood loss. But would require emergency medical treatment.
Since she was first hospitalized she has not been able to work as a bartender due to the physical nature of the work, coupled with the propensity of the work for scrapes and cuts. And she has not had the stamina has lost time from work as a legal assistant.
It will be at least 2 weeks after surgery before Kelsey can begin 6 weeks of physical. It's expected to take 3 months for full recovery and to have full functionality again.
Needless to say, Kelsey is facing a major financial crisis.
She has no health insurance.
She has accumulated and will continue to accumulate for at least another 3 months, medical bills. She went from working 50 to 60 hours a week to about 30-35 hours.
After surgery, she will be out of work completely for up to 3 months.
Through it all Kelsey has kept her spirits high and her Faith strong. She just wants to get well and to be able to resume her life and her education.
A goal to raise money is set to help Kelsey to:
1) Cover her medical expenses, including physical therapy, and
2) Replace her loss of income, to cover her living expenses.
Organizer and beneficiary
Rob Turnblacer
Organizer
Baltimore, MD
kelsey chadwick
Beneficiary