Please Help Me Celebrate Donna's Life and Care Costs

Dear friends and family,

It is with a heavy heart that I share the devastating news of the passing of my mother, Donna Scheuing. Taken from us far too soon at the age of 62.

Donna's sudden passing was the result of a small bowel obstruction that led to septic shock. Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, the infection tragically took her life. It was a slow 16 hours spent at her bedside, holding her hand, and telling her, "I'm here, don't be scared, you're not alone, it's okay to let go."

And as much as I wanted my mother to live, I didn’t want to watch her suffer, especially in respiratory distress. Every single part of her body was swollen, her arms, hands, feet, legs, face, even her eyeballs. She was in organ failure. I notified the doctor to stop all antibiotics and vasopressors that were keeping her blood pressure up. Just make her comfortable. Shortly after that, notification, she only lasted two hours. It was hard to watch the monitor as her heart rate and respiration rate slowly decrease. Her breathing rate was fluctuating, becoming irregular and heart rate decreasing. The doctor entered the room and gently placed the stethoscope on her chest. He then looked at me with a compassionate gaze and said, "I'm sorry, she's gone." I felt in that very moment as if my heart got stabbed with a sharp dagger.

In addition to grieving my profound loss, I am facing substantial financial obligations associated with expenses and memorial services. In this regard, I kindly invite you to extend your support by contributing to this GoFundMe campaign.

Most importantly, give the biggest hug to your loved ones, be it your family, your partner, or your friends.

Thank you,

Vanessa Assante