Help Lisa Slovak Marak Fight For Health

The past year has been full of Covid-19, long hauler symptoms with respiratory issues, surgery, and ongoing reprocussions post surgery.

Hello!

My name is Cheryl Duckworth. I've been a friend of Lisa's for about 10 years and with approval and support from Lisa and her boys, we are putting together a GoFundMe to support her ongoing journey to recovery.  

 Not physically able to work, medical bills not covered by insurance, and unexpected moving expenses...they need your help. Any amount can help.

Proverbs 31:25

She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future.

Lisa was healthy before all this started…..Working her self-employed businesses steadily each day, gardening, biking with her boys, an active healthy lifestyle!

Then, October of 2020 she tested positive for Flu-B, a sinus infection, and the dreaded Covid-19 on the same day. No fun.

Received a cocktail of medication that was available at the time, and though got through the 1st 5 days, one week later she was in the ER with pneumonia.

Borderlining being admitted because of her blood oxygen level, it was decided she was "more safe" getting through it at home and advised when to return if needed.

For the next 6 weeks tested positive for Covid-19 5x, suffering through Extreme weakness and fatigue, ~87-90 02 levels, nausea, but what has been the worst for the next 4 months was her respiratory and breathing problems.

She did her best to get through Christmas and make the best for the boys and then rounded the New Year. With the help of the Pulmonologist, 5 COPD medications, with 2 inhalers and nebulizer,  ...February through April... there were "good" days and bad days.

Whether struggling to the steps of the house to watch the boys play, overseeing planting and gardening, or simply trying to wash a few dishes and struggle back to bed or the couch...she did her best. It looked more positive and slowly forward moving. The odds of getting back to work in a couple months were looking better.

Afraid of getting it again and the chance it could be worse...well that didn't seem like a valid option.

You see, February 2020 she had an awful 48 hours believed to be that virus thing ...not really "discussed" in the US just yet and certainly not in Ennis, Texas...yet. So this bout since October 2020 is the 2nd time... and it has been worse.

She had to think about the future, her 2 growing boys that need their mama, and wanting to live rather than give in.

Early May, still weak and respiratory issues but better than it had been, she felt like taking the 1st vaccine dose was her best option to help live once the antibodies and T-cells were less or gone....research was saying.

Within 2 weeks her gallbladder tanked, along with her liver and complete digestive track being effected. Breathing issues got worse, 3 bouts of strepthroat in 6 weeks, extensive blood work, testing, multiple CT scans, few ultrasounds, various specialists including GI specialist, Pulmonologist, ENT... she was getting help and attention for various issues however nothing could explain why the Extreme pain in the gallbladder, liver area, very poor digestion, while having ongoing extreme weakness, fatigue, and breathing issues. No gallstones, no thickening of the gallbladder wall...what in the world!

God Please. She would beg for help, what was wrong, why couldn't anybody help!

Finally, a very specific and painful 2 hour long test on the gallbladder and liver helped lead to the surgeon referral....Finally.

July 20th, 2021, after 6 weeks of waiting with increasing, debilitating pain the gallbladder was removed. To no cause of her own, such as dietary or lifestyle, it was 3 times the size, severely inflamed and sick, it almost ruptured, it had adhered to the liver and had to be corderized off...But it was gone and good riddance.

Healing is a process and can take time however the issues still continue.

It has now been roughly 8 weeks since the surgery. The liver continues to have issue, All of the intestines and colon are extremely inflamed and swollen (no she is Not pregnant!) with a "sore throat" like feeling throughout, digestive function is greatly suffering, and another serious issue has developed from it all.

More testing is being done at this time for direction and help to heal Lisa and get back to her healthy, independent, entrepreneuring, helping others, and Living life with her boys, self again!

She's so tired and exhausted of it all. There have been very rough days, very scary days, days of laying there struggling to breathe or even to eat, making sure life insurance is up-to-date, the Will is good, and her boys will be taken care of...those are dark days.

Family, friends, God and Faith have helped pull her through the deep valley's and highest mountains.

Ephesians 6:10

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

She has stayed faithful and grateful for what she Does have and things aren't worse!

Please, consider donating what you can to support this amazing family and strong woman.

They need your help with

$4,000 for general finances since she is still not able to physically work,

$4,500 for medical bills not covered by insurance, and now

$1,500 for moving expenses due to the property they are living on will be developed and the house will be moved away very soon.

It is very difficult for Lisa to ask for help because she is an independent woman that helps others.

Please, continue to send all the positive thoughts and prayers to her and her family.

With close friends and very special people in her life, they have convinced her it's temporary and reaching for help is okay....there are people that want to reach back! 

 If you're not comfortable about making an online donation, you can contact Lisa directly, her Zelle account, or there is a benefit account setup at CNB in Ennis under Lisa Marak for face-to-face or transfers.

#LisaFightsForHealth