A story of Fire, Survival, & Dreams
Donation protected
A Story of Fire, Survival and Dreams
The Fire
Around 1am on February 20th, 2011, my dear friend, Elizabeth, awoke to the intense, orange flames of a fire climbing up the sides of her home. She was able to get her son, two-year-old Henry, and her parents, visiting from Texas, out safely. The fire was catastrophic, a total loss, as described by the local news stations (Wral video .)
As Elizabeth and her family began to pick up the pieces of what was left of her smoldering home in the early morning hours after the fire, she developed some difficulty breathing. As a precautionary measure, she went to the hospital. Within hours, she was intubated and admitted to the ICU with an inhalation injury. Her organs began to fail and within 24 hours she was placed on ECMO (extracorporal membrane oxygenation), a mechanical support system that ensures vital organs continue to receive oxygen when the lungs are damaged. Doctors describe ECMO as a “last-ditch” life sustaining treatment with a 50% mortality rate. Like many of her friends, I was mentally preparing for the slim likelihood she would survive – hoping and praying not only for Elizabeth but also for her young son, Henry.
On February 28th, after eight days on ECMO, Elizabeth's heart began to beat on its own again. ECMO saved her life, but not without significant consequences. Her organs had continued to fail, resulting in significant swelling. She required two faciotomies on her right calf to prevent muscle, nerve and tissue damage. Her left leg did not receive enough blood flow, causing gangrene in her left foot. It was amputated several weeks later. Several revision surgeries over the next week removed more and more of her left leg, eventually leading to complete amputation, hip and all, up to the level of her pelvis.
Elizabeth was not out of the woods after surgery. For six weeks, she was comotose and/or delirious. For eight weeks, she was on mechanical ventilation and continuous dialysis. As I reflect on what it was like to visit her, so close to death, it’s hard to believe the vibrant, sunshiney mama bear is alive today. I knew as her friend that Elizabeth still had so much to offer this world. Her will to live, to provide inspiration to others, and most importantly, to love, guide, and parent her son are the tools of the miracle that is Elizabeth. She has taught me how to be a mother, a survivor, and a caregiver.
After 10 weeks in the ICU, Elizabeth finally was transferred to a rehabilitation unit. She had to learn how to live life without a limb. She could not sit or stand on her own and was discharged to her parents’ care, totally wheelchair bound, requiring a slide board for transfers, and on multiple medications for her intense pain.
The Bills
The hospital bill alone was astronomical, more than a million dollars. 8 days of ECMO. 56 days of dialysis and mechanical ventilation. 70 days in the ICU. 21 days in rehabilitation. Elizabeth was a state employee at the time and insurance covered the vast majority of these initial costs. But walking again after losing her left foot, leg, and hip has proved an expensive dream.
Unable to keep up with the physical rigors of her prior position, she looked for a job in the private sector. There, too, it was difficult to find accommodations for her disability. As a result, she has been independently employed for two years. For a period of time Elizabeth was uninsured and had to pay for healthcare and a surgery out of her own pocket. She still requires frequent (and expensive) hospitalizations, and travels to and from New York City for medical appointments. Her insurance covers some basic costs, but flights and hotel rooms in one of America’s most expensive cities add up.
Unfortunately, the fire was not the only tragedy in Elizabeth’s life. The ink was still fresh on divorce papers when the flames erupted. She had been living with her toddler son after separating from her husband, and was just beginning to figure out what life was like as a single mom. Then she lost a leg. During her recovery, Elizabeth has faced continued legal bills stemming from a long custody battle. After years of exorbitant medical and legal costs, Elizabeth has no financial reserve left.
The Future
The fire was five years ago. Between hospital visits, family court, seeing patients, and taking care of her son, Elizabeth has been fighting to walk again. She “interviewed” many doctors in search of one willing to replace her hip with an artificial prosthetic and lengthen her amputated side. Some told her that her dream was impossible, that she needed to accept she would live the rest of her life in a wheelchair. A big problem was that the only prosthetic available to her for some time was this medieval-looking, hard plastic, girdle thingy. She had to remove it EVERY TIME SHE WENT TO PEE.
Two years ago, Elizabeth found her doctor, Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, chair of plastic surgery at NYU, a world-renowned plastic surgeon known for performing the first-ever face transplant in the United States. Over the past 30 months, his team has completed nearly a dozen surgeries to extend Elizabeth’s limb, so that she will be have a “normal” prosthetic -- you know, the kind that doesn’t need to be removed to pee -- and walk again.
Despite so many medical setbacks, Elizabeth is poised to be able to carry her own groceries in from the car. She will be able to climb stairs and maybe even dance with her lovely, vibrant, spirited young man, who is now seven years old. She will be able to stand on her own to pin on his boutonniere when he goes to his first school dance. Her prosthetic may allow her to swim! And not in circles!
Now, money is all that stands in the way of Elizabeth’s dream. Her prosthetic is to be fitted and made at Prosthetics in Motion in NYC. The initial appointment is February 10th through February 16th, 2016. Costs will include the week away from work, travel expenses, lodging/food expenses, as well as her portion of the cost of the prosthetic. We anticipate that this next phase of treatment, which also includes frequent physical therapy, gait training, and follow-up visits with the prosthetist in NYC, will incur a cost of at least $20,000. Please consider donating to help Elizabeth reach the finish line & to walk again.
The Fire
Around 1am on February 20th, 2011, my dear friend, Elizabeth, awoke to the intense, orange flames of a fire climbing up the sides of her home. She was able to get her son, two-year-old Henry, and her parents, visiting from Texas, out safely. The fire was catastrophic, a total loss, as described by the local news stations (Wral video .)
As Elizabeth and her family began to pick up the pieces of what was left of her smoldering home in the early morning hours after the fire, she developed some difficulty breathing. As a precautionary measure, she went to the hospital. Within hours, she was intubated and admitted to the ICU with an inhalation injury. Her organs began to fail and within 24 hours she was placed on ECMO (extracorporal membrane oxygenation), a mechanical support system that ensures vital organs continue to receive oxygen when the lungs are damaged. Doctors describe ECMO as a “last-ditch” life sustaining treatment with a 50% mortality rate. Like many of her friends, I was mentally preparing for the slim likelihood she would survive – hoping and praying not only for Elizabeth but also for her young son, Henry.
On February 28th, after eight days on ECMO, Elizabeth's heart began to beat on its own again. ECMO saved her life, but not without significant consequences. Her organs had continued to fail, resulting in significant swelling. She required two faciotomies on her right calf to prevent muscle, nerve and tissue damage. Her left leg did not receive enough blood flow, causing gangrene in her left foot. It was amputated several weeks later. Several revision surgeries over the next week removed more and more of her left leg, eventually leading to complete amputation, hip and all, up to the level of her pelvis.
Elizabeth was not out of the woods after surgery. For six weeks, she was comotose and/or delirious. For eight weeks, she was on mechanical ventilation and continuous dialysis. As I reflect on what it was like to visit her, so close to death, it’s hard to believe the vibrant, sunshiney mama bear is alive today. I knew as her friend that Elizabeth still had so much to offer this world. Her will to live, to provide inspiration to others, and most importantly, to love, guide, and parent her son are the tools of the miracle that is Elizabeth. She has taught me how to be a mother, a survivor, and a caregiver.
After 10 weeks in the ICU, Elizabeth finally was transferred to a rehabilitation unit. She had to learn how to live life without a limb. She could not sit or stand on her own and was discharged to her parents’ care, totally wheelchair bound, requiring a slide board for transfers, and on multiple medications for her intense pain.
The Bills
The hospital bill alone was astronomical, more than a million dollars. 8 days of ECMO. 56 days of dialysis and mechanical ventilation. 70 days in the ICU. 21 days in rehabilitation. Elizabeth was a state employee at the time and insurance covered the vast majority of these initial costs. But walking again after losing her left foot, leg, and hip has proved an expensive dream.
Unable to keep up with the physical rigors of her prior position, she looked for a job in the private sector. There, too, it was difficult to find accommodations for her disability. As a result, she has been independently employed for two years. For a period of time Elizabeth was uninsured and had to pay for healthcare and a surgery out of her own pocket. She still requires frequent (and expensive) hospitalizations, and travels to and from New York City for medical appointments. Her insurance covers some basic costs, but flights and hotel rooms in one of America’s most expensive cities add up.
Unfortunately, the fire was not the only tragedy in Elizabeth’s life. The ink was still fresh on divorce papers when the flames erupted. She had been living with her toddler son after separating from her husband, and was just beginning to figure out what life was like as a single mom. Then she lost a leg. During her recovery, Elizabeth has faced continued legal bills stemming from a long custody battle. After years of exorbitant medical and legal costs, Elizabeth has no financial reserve left.
The Future
The fire was five years ago. Between hospital visits, family court, seeing patients, and taking care of her son, Elizabeth has been fighting to walk again. She “interviewed” many doctors in search of one willing to replace her hip with an artificial prosthetic and lengthen her amputated side. Some told her that her dream was impossible, that she needed to accept she would live the rest of her life in a wheelchair. A big problem was that the only prosthetic available to her for some time was this medieval-looking, hard plastic, girdle thingy. She had to remove it EVERY TIME SHE WENT TO PEE.
Two years ago, Elizabeth found her doctor, Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, chair of plastic surgery at NYU, a world-renowned plastic surgeon known for performing the first-ever face transplant in the United States. Over the past 30 months, his team has completed nearly a dozen surgeries to extend Elizabeth’s limb, so that she will be have a “normal” prosthetic -- you know, the kind that doesn’t need to be removed to pee -- and walk again.
Despite so many medical setbacks, Elizabeth is poised to be able to carry her own groceries in from the car. She will be able to climb stairs and maybe even dance with her lovely, vibrant, spirited young man, who is now seven years old. She will be able to stand on her own to pin on his boutonniere when he goes to his first school dance. Her prosthetic may allow her to swim! And not in circles!
Now, money is all that stands in the way of Elizabeth’s dream. Her prosthetic is to be fitted and made at Prosthetics in Motion in NYC. The initial appointment is February 10th through February 16th, 2016. Costs will include the week away from work, travel expenses, lodging/food expenses, as well as her portion of the cost of the prosthetic. We anticipate that this next phase of treatment, which also includes frequent physical therapy, gait training, and follow-up visits with the prosthetist in NYC, will incur a cost of at least $20,000. Please consider donating to help Elizabeth reach the finish line & to walk again.
Organizer and beneficiary
Lindsey Kennedy
Organizer
Chapel Hill, NC
Elizabeth Bullard
Beneficiary