Salli Squitieri's Medical & Recovery Fund

Hi Everyone,

Mom by miracle is still here fighting for her life.

(My mom) Salli, who most people know to be a vibrant, energetic, hardworking and engaging person  fell ill very suddenly starting on July 5th. 

Her stomach began bloating to the point that ascite fluid was pressing on her lungs and she became unbearably and severely bloated and distended, her legs and feet swelled up to about 3 X their size, she also had an infection in her arm, as well as other more personal medical issues, that I won't share here for her privacy.

Without health insurance, we could not get a primary care doctor to see her, and it took us three weeks to get an appointment at a clinic for her and that long wait enabled her conditions to grow worse. She was unable to get up on her own and completely bedridden. 

We attempted to get her seen at urgent care but her symptoms were too acute and they sent us to the emergency room, the first emergency room was beyond description and we ended up leaving without care after 6 1/2 hours (and being told that she would have to  wait another 5-8 hours before seeing a doctor)

On Saturday, August 7th, we were finally able to get Salli seen by a doctor, we were then quickly sent to the nearest hospital where she was admitted. 

There are numerous, rare, very complex and severe issues going on with both her Liver and Pancreas, but we do not yet know the full picture.

 She was admitted to Bellevue Hospital due t lack of insurance or benefits. And was in the Pulmonary unit since Saturday 8/7/21. This was a further nightmare and left mom traumatized. Tests, treatments, and then the outpatient pathway of care with  over 170 tests that have been given.

What we do know right now is that she will have a lifelong complication with her Liver, and one of her medical issues is irreversible, this condition also puts her at a higher risk for a bevy of complications and added concerns.  

Currently, she has no medical insurance, the Health Care exchange will not cover her because of her age, she was denied disability, and she was denied social security as they messed up her work history and have yet to provide a copy of it. They said it was up to us to prove it but most of the jobs were years ago and were mom and pop businesses that are long gone or owners passed away.  As a result of being denied for social security mom was automatically denied for Medicare. Mom was also denied for cash assistance as in September received her last DOL Pandemic emergency funds. We now have to appeal and fight for this.    This appeal process could literally take years and there is no guarantee they will fix it for her. 

We are working on obtaining Medicare and Medicaid, but it's a long process that we've already experienced a variety of issues with. 

Even so, we discovered that the emergency just stabilizes you and then passes you onto a primary care doctor whom can do nothing. It took about 3 month and they pass you onto a specialist with yet another wait. Each of these costing hundreds of dollars and many specialists do not take insurance, make payment plans, or take Medicare or Medicaid. And some of the treatments that she requires will likely not be covered by either coverage and will have high out-of-pocket expenses.

We have a long road ahead of us with medical care, lost work, the end of PUA coverage, and general living expenses and bills for her.     

We might also need some temporary in home help/aid to care for her while I work and to assist in keeping her living conditions as sterile as possible to prevent infection and complications. 

As it’s been approx. 6 months and conventional doctors have done nothing except give her water pills and tell her that she was going to die.

As a result mom has surrounded herself with a team of alternative doctors and treatments. These have helped quite a bit but it has now been a while since her last treatments due to lack of funds and she has slipped back wards. Topped by her now recovering from  Covid.

All funds have been depleted for doctors, meds, supplements, liver support products, special dietary needs, treatments, transport etc. 

There is nothing left and mom is unable to get her treatments which she desperately needs and without these treatments has little hope.

The amount everyone sees listed on the Go fund Me represents what was raised but these funds are long gone.

I’d like to note that even in the midst of her pain and fight for her life mom found ways to help victims of the volcanic eruptions, mudslides, earthquakes and floods that took place in St Vincent and the Grenadines.  

Mom is always there for others and now needs our help and support.

I can't emphasize enough that these Treatments and meds are imperative as is the consistency.

Without funds Salli cannot resume Treatments or obtain meds etc This is our focus 

Please help by spreading the word, sharing the link, donating etc.

Your support and love is appreciated as we navigate these next steps

Thank you