Nicole Karman

This GoFundMe page has been set up to help my ever-loving dear friend Nicole Karman and her husband Scott, with the huge medical expenses and lodging, travel, and food expenses of her husband; who continues to be by her side all these many weeks and months of her mystifying life threatening illnesses and longterm stay in the ICU at St. Vincent hospital. For those that know Nicole either personally or professionally, you know what an absolutely remarkable woman she is. Nicole is one of those individuals that quite literally “will give you the shirt off her back”. Nicole loves with her entire heart and is always doing for others. Below is Nicole’s journey in their own words. Thank you for your love, support, prayers, and any financial contribution you are able to give. Any words of love and encouragement to Nicole and Scott are also welcomed and appreciated. Thank you so much for your support! Blessings dear ones,

Nicole’s Journey

January 1, 2022 - The year started out normal. No sign of trouble.

By the time April rolled around, Nicole’s hands were getting very stiff and she thought it was Dupuytren's contracture, which she had been previously treated for, and had an appointment with her hand doctor. He was surprised at the amount of cartilage loss in her hand, especially for someone her age. Testing revealed rheumatological issues and he referred her to a specialist. Additional testing by the rheumatologist raised concerns with her kidney function and led to an inconclusive diagnostic. She was beginning to experience full body debilitating pain. By the beginning of June, she was beginning to struggle with her breathing.

By July Nicole fiercely advocated for the ability to be seen at Mayo Clinic where she spent two intense weeks of testing and consultations with a care

team. They found auto-immune connective tissue disease, and lung disease as well as began scheduling nephrology appointments to investigate her kidney function.

After one week home from Mayo Clinic, the first week of August brought on a major turn for the worse. She was admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Green Bay, WI on the 2nd and was told she would probably be in the hospital for about a week. However, by August 3rd she was transferred to the ICU and then rushed to St. Vincent CCU on the 5th where she spent the next seven weeks fighting for her life in a medically induced coma. She got a tracheostomy and was on a ventilator as well as undergoing dialysis throughout this time. During this time, the family was told that her prognosis was poor and to come say their goodbyes.

A few days later her condition defied medical explanation and doctors’ expectations and began to take a turn towards recovering and eventually she woke up. You can imagine her surprise to learn that it had been far more than one week in the hospital, and that the dog days of summer had turned into fall. Upon waking, she had peripheral paralysis; which means she couldn’t move her arms or legs. This is ongoing. She began therapy to strengthen her body with the goal to learn how to move again. They began a program to reduce her dependance on the ventilator which she is still on.

By early October, after all these weeks in the ICU, she was medically cleared to transfer to a LTAC (long term acute care) hospital to wean her off the ventilator and do more intensive physical and occupational therapy. There are not many choices available that can handle a complex case such as hers. After two weeks of searching without success in Wisconsin, and learning that no openings were projected within the upcoming two weeks, the search was expanded to include out of state locations and ultimately a spot was found in Minneapolis. On her last day at St. Vincent’s, the nurse told her that she had been in the Critical Care Unit for 75 days which is the second longest stay in their entire history!

With the transfer by ambulance to Minnesota complete, and the earlier transfer from St. Mary’s to St. Vincent’s, the transportation costs alone have exceeded $10,000.00 and that is only the beginning. Her husband Scott is her medical power of attorney and must be present to make medical decisions and sign consent forms so there are lodging expenses and of course, many other medical bills to come. Scott works remote full time and cares for Nicole full time which leaves little time for anything else. Nicole works to get off the ventilator and does intense therapy daily so that she can regain the use of her hands and feet, arms and legs. Therapy is expected to last three months or more before she can go home.

Nicole is driven, and she’s stubborn, and hopes for full recovery but that is yet to be determined. We ask for any assistance you can provide to take a little stress off of her recovery and to share this through social media and email.

Thank You!