Marian Edmunds Medical Fund...Let's Get Her Home!

Dear friends and family of Marian Edmunds,

My name is Christy Cunningham-Murphy. Marian has been one of my best friends my entire life. She is like a sister to me. I have watched Marian fight the body she was given with grace and determination our entire lives. Never complaining and never giving up. She has been a Type 1 Diabetic since the age of seven. She suffered a heart attack before she was 40 and now, last Friday, she suffered the scariest episode of all. One that could quite possibly take her independence or her life. But we have not lost hope. We will not lose hope! But this is a trying time for Marian's family, and I felt a responsibility to do something to hopefully lessen the burden for both her and all of them. Sweet, sweet Mernie...you're so important to so many...we really need you to wake up and get better kid! We've made so many plans! Marian's journey to ICU...

On Friday, April 28, 2023, Marian woke up with a severe headache and vomiting. Thankfully she was able to reach her mother who rushed to her apartment. EMS was called and Marian was taken by ambulance to the Medical Center in Bowling Green, KY. Once at the Medical Center, Marian's condition worsened. She had a seizure. They were able to do a CT scan with contrast and found that Marian had a large brain bleed. She was immediately flown to Tri-Star Skyline in Nashville. Once at Skyline, they informed the family that Marian was in fact in a life-or-death situation. She was put under sedation and under a heating tube as her body temperature had dropped to 94 degrees. After further consultation with the ER Doctor, the family was advised that Marian had suffered a bleeding stroke to the left side of her brain. They were trying to keep her alive in the ER until moving her up to ICU for further consultation with a Brain Surgeon and ICU Doctor. Once upstairs they found that because of Marian's Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis, her kidney function was too poor to do another contrast test (Angiogram) and she would have to rest in order for further test to be administered.

We are now at Day 7. We have had some highs and we have had some lows. We've seen her BP and cranial pressures rise to the point where another seizure or stroke could occur, so she's had to be kept under constant sedation. And then, we've had moments of pure joy where she squeezed her father's hand or winked at her childhood best friends. One thing we know about our girl, she is so incredibly tough! They have performed two more CT scans since last Friday. The bleed is getting smaller. They've adjusted her BP medicine in an effort to hopefully lower the sedation and ween her from the vent. She can only be on the vent for so many days before her parents will have to make some decisions parents should never have to make. Every day the waiting is brutal. Every day her mom and dad sit at her bedside and hope today is the day their daughter makes the progress she needs in order to survive this. We pray and pray and pray.

I'm sure you can all imagine the incredible amount of burden financially this is putting on Marian and her family. While Marian does have insurance, it will not cover 100%. Additionally, once we're past the point of Skyline, there is the potential for not only months and months of rehab, but quite possibly 24-hour care. Those two things are incredibly expensive. In addition to Marian being off work as a Social Worker during this time. She still has rent, utilities, and a car payment. Those realities do not go away during times like these. Her parents drive back and forth each day. Someone is staying with her each night. And this is only Day 7. This process could take months. All of this is in addition to the EMS in Bowling Green, the Med. Ctr., and the life flight to Nashville.

Marian's parents will be overseeing this fund, I am simply the social media mouthpiece. They will ensure the monies are used for medical expenses and any other necessities deemed important during Marian's recovery. Marian comes from the most wonderful family. Any donation, no matter how big or small will be so incredibly appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to read Marian's story. I just love her so much. I want her to wake up so badly. Any support you can give would be life changing.

Love-

Christy