Let help the Kelly's recouperate!

Hello, my name is Andrew Lazenby. I, along with many of the people they have impacted over the years, are raising funds to help Micheal & Brittany Kelly and their family in the coming weeks as they face many medical bills and disruption to their routines. As many have now heard, Michael has experienced some unexpected health issues and has undergone emergency surgery to repair the spinal damage and the recovery is likely to be long and hard.

The Kelly's have been strong in building community in Rock Hill and have led by example in making this community one that is welcoming and home to everyone. Now is the perfect time for us to all show them how a community can come together and show our appreciation and support.

-Pre-surgery update via family-

"Michael was admitted Thur. From what we thought started as a pulled muscle, then shingles, then meningitis, to now an abscess on his cervical spine. He’s had just about every procedure they have to offer here at CMC. MRIs, Lumbar punctures, CT scans, EKG, Echocardiogram, and hundreds of blood tests. Nothing like a true midlife medical once-over!

What we do know, he has a bacterial infection in the blood. We’re being moved to CMC Main by air within the hour and he’ll have surgery to remove the abscess on his spine. I’m packing up the room while he does his final test here at CMC Pineville with a lower MRI. What we don’t know, how the heck did he get this bacteria in his blood or what caused the abscess. "

-Post-surgery update via family-

"Michael is in recovery. They went in and made 2 incisions at T5-6 and C5-6. Both are 2” incisions. They got the worst parts of the abscess that were pushing the most and causing the most threat to his spinal cord, The good news/bad news is the abscess has hardened and in order to get the whole thing, they’d have to cut him from the top of his neck to under his ribs. The procedure would cause permanent damage and deformity. At his age, the doctor did not want to go this route. However, the abscess is still there. The doctors are hoping that with 6 weeks of IV antibiotics, he can rid the infection on his own and the abscess will shrink down and be eliminated.

Right now the biggest risk is more infection and what impacts that could cause again. He may have to have a second surgery. We’ll be here for a few more days. But overall, the surgery went well the doctor said. Infectious Diseases will take over from this point and try to figure out the source of infection and attack the infection with the best possible medicine. He’ll have a follow-up MRI in 4-6 weeks to compare and make sure the abscess is shrinking"

Please consider donating to this campaign as medical bills and unexpected expenses are sure to mount in the coming weeks and months. I will give regular updates regarding progress with the permission of the family as we learn it. If you are not able to donate to this for any reason, please share it with your family and friends and hug them while you're at it.

100% of the proceeds of this Gofundme will go to the Kelly family and they have been notified that this is being started. The funds will be used to cover medical bills and day-to-day expenses as Michael heals back to his laid-back and easygoing self that we all know and love. Updates will be provided as they are received.