The Whitman Family Needs Our Help!
Donation protected
We are starting this profile in our fundraising efforts to help the Whitman family with all of the expenses that they have incurred over the past year as a result of Chris Whitman’s ongoing medical condition.
On March 13th, 2014 Jill and Chris Whitman received news that most people couldn’t imagine. Chris was suffering from a stage 2 pilocytic astrocytoma...a brain tumor. The doctors had a positive outlook with surgery and treatment, planned for April 23. However, he was admitted to Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) on the 16th of April with hydrocephalus, had a biopsy the 18th and was taken for craniotomy where doctors resected half the tumor on April 23rd. After putting in a shunt on April 30th, Chris was sent to rehab for the month of May and it was decided to start a series of 30 radiation treatments from July 8-August 18 during which Chris was cleared to go back to work part time….let the healing begin!
And heal he did...While he was tired at the end of his day which doctors attributed as a side effect to radiation, no one knew how exhausted until he was let go from his job in October and left unable to collect unemployment. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving this year, Jill noticed he wasn't acting “himself” so she brought him back to Penn and it was discovered that his shunt was blocked. Surgery was scheduled Dec 1st and he was sent home 2 days later only to come back Dec 12 with similar symptoms. He had another shunt revision Dec 15th but after being home a short time, and still not “right”, Chris was diagnosed with shingles on his face and was sent back to HUP. The family was thrilled to have him home for Christmas, but Jill realized on Sunday when he wasn't acting right that they needed to go right back to Penn where he was admitted for 22 days with encephalitis due to the shingles virus going to his brain fluid and developed pneumonia during this stay. Chris then spent 18 days in rehab. After being home for a month, Chris woke up on March 21 with elevated heart rate so they were sent back to Penn diagnosed with clots in lung and leg. He was moved to rehab but after only 8 days he was admitted with extremely high sodium and severely dehydrated. He is currently (4/11/15) back at the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania in ICU.
When I replay the Whitmans’ story, I feel helpless. I have spoken to so many people who want to help, but like me, don’t know what to do! Right now their immediate desire is to get Chris home, but that comes with it’s challenges as well. Jill’s parents, friends, bosses and neighbors have been a Godsend, but without Chris’s job and insurance, the costs of medical bills, rehab and home care have been a challenge. Those of you who know Jill’s strength understand it is hard for her to ask for help, so we are asking for her. The stress of the past year have driven her CRPS into full body RSD and she needs our help and our prayers
Thank you in advance for your donation, and no donation is too small. I have set this up so funds will go directly to Jill and her family for medical costs. In addition, or if you can’t support financially, please keep Chris, Jill and their girls in your thoughts and prayers during his recovery.
Please “share” this link.
On March 13th, 2014 Jill and Chris Whitman received news that most people couldn’t imagine. Chris was suffering from a stage 2 pilocytic astrocytoma...a brain tumor. The doctors had a positive outlook with surgery and treatment, planned for April 23. However, he was admitted to Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) on the 16th of April with hydrocephalus, had a biopsy the 18th and was taken for craniotomy where doctors resected half the tumor on April 23rd. After putting in a shunt on April 30th, Chris was sent to rehab for the month of May and it was decided to start a series of 30 radiation treatments from July 8-August 18 during which Chris was cleared to go back to work part time….let the healing begin!
And heal he did...While he was tired at the end of his day which doctors attributed as a side effect to radiation, no one knew how exhausted until he was let go from his job in October and left unable to collect unemployment. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving this year, Jill noticed he wasn't acting “himself” so she brought him back to Penn and it was discovered that his shunt was blocked. Surgery was scheduled Dec 1st and he was sent home 2 days later only to come back Dec 12 with similar symptoms. He had another shunt revision Dec 15th but after being home a short time, and still not “right”, Chris was diagnosed with shingles on his face and was sent back to HUP. The family was thrilled to have him home for Christmas, but Jill realized on Sunday when he wasn't acting right that they needed to go right back to Penn where he was admitted for 22 days with encephalitis due to the shingles virus going to his brain fluid and developed pneumonia during this stay. Chris then spent 18 days in rehab. After being home for a month, Chris woke up on March 21 with elevated heart rate so they were sent back to Penn diagnosed with clots in lung and leg. He was moved to rehab but after only 8 days he was admitted with extremely high sodium and severely dehydrated. He is currently (4/11/15) back at the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania in ICU.
When I replay the Whitmans’ story, I feel helpless. I have spoken to so many people who want to help, but like me, don’t know what to do! Right now their immediate desire is to get Chris home, but that comes with it’s challenges as well. Jill’s parents, friends, bosses and neighbors have been a Godsend, but without Chris’s job and insurance, the costs of medical bills, rehab and home care have been a challenge. Those of you who know Jill’s strength understand it is hard for her to ask for help, so we are asking for her. The stress of the past year have driven her CRPS into full body RSD and she needs our help and our prayers
Thank you in advance for your donation, and no donation is too small. I have set this up so funds will go directly to Jill and her family for medical costs. In addition, or if you can’t support financially, please keep Chris, Jill and their girls in your thoughts and prayers during his recovery.
Please “share” this link.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kristin Hokanson
Organizer
Phoenixville, PA
Jill Whitman
Beneficiary