Show your support for Becky and Darryl!

UPDATE FROM BECKY-

Darryl and I are overwhelmed by everyone's generosity. We don't even know how to begin to thank you all. Darryl met with his orthopedic surgeon this morning and he will have to have another surgery. Best case, the surgeon will take out the current hardware and replace it with new hardware. Worst case, if the surgeon finds infection when he's in there, he will have to put a spacer in and let the infection clear and then open him up again to put in the new hardware. He is checked in the hospital now, not sure when surgery will be, all we know is not today. Thank you again for all of your support, love and help. We appreciate you all so much! I'll reopen his caring bridge site to keep everyone up to date.

Caring Bridge Link

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I feel blessed to have special friends in my life that would do anything to help me if I was in need. Today, I am asking for help for one of those special friends, Becky, and her husband, Darryl. The last few years have been nothing less than overwhelming for them, as Darryl has been battling many major health related issues. Most who know Becky would NEVER know of these struggles because her servant heart never wavers. You will see her volunteering her time and talents to many people and organizations; stepping up to make sure no one is left out, no one feels unwanted, and making sure that if you need help, she’ll be there to give it- It is just how Becky’s heart works! I love this about her, and I would love for her and Darryl to feel the same love and compassion right now in their time of need.

Some may already know how challenging the last few years have been for them, but here’s a little recap of what has been going on and why your help would be so greatly appreciated.

Darryl spent the month of April 2021 (31 days) in ICU at St. Joseph’s Hospital with Covid. He was on a ventilator for 11 days and miraculously came out of it, but not unscathed. He was on oxygen for the rest of that year. The steroid medications he received to save his life caused avascular necrosis, or death of bone tissue, causing him to need a left hip replacement in March of 2023, with a right hip replacement scheduled as soon as he healed and could get it scheduled. At the end of August of 2023, Darryl was laid off and shortly after, in September, ended up in the hospital with pneumonia for 3 days with no insurance. Darryl has been out of full-time employment since then, however he did get insurance at the beginning of 2024 and recently he started receiving disability. Praise God!

In February 2024, Darryl had a right hip replacement scheduled, but ended up in ICU again with pneumonia and severe sepsis, this time for 5 days. Since February, he has been on oxygen full time. He finally had the right hip replaced on April 12th and was feeling better and more hopeful! On April 19th, his blood pressure dropped causing him to collapse while standing and he landed on his JUST replaced hip. He took an ambulance to the ER for Xrays and had a follow up with his surgeon. The surgeon said the metal stem they had just placed the week before had been pushed down and had spun a little and there was also a small break in the hip bone. If the break doesn’t heal, he will have to go back in and have the hardware replaced AGAIN. Praying that it heals on its own, but waiting for it to heal on its own requires more rest and recovery time and more follow up visits. If you’ve seen any of Darryl’s posts through all of this, you will see quite quickly how much he loves and appreciates Becky and the selfless care she has given him through all of this. Caregivers are SO OFTEN depleted, but they don’t quit on us; they keep going, and that is exactly what Becky continues to do. Since his hospitalization in 2021, Darryl has suffered avascular necrosis in both hips and his shoulder, all needing to be replaced, congestive heart failure, and acute respiratory failure with hypoxia. We do not know how long he will need to be on oxygen as his lungs were severely damaged from Covid.

My family and I know firsthand how hard it is to keep all the wheels spinning in a household when you are dealt major health problems. It is emotionally exhausting, mentally taxing, and just plain awful!

All that Becky and Darryl have faced and are still facing is taking a tremendous toll on their finances, draining nearly every dollar. Becky works extremely hard to find extra work opportunities outside of her full-time employment. You will find her doing a host of “odd” jobs around the Brainerd Lakes Area for a few extra bucks. I call her my “coupon girl” because she most often has a coupon for everything. She pinches every penny, barters, and trades for things, and would STILL give you everything she had if you needed it.

Sometimes it’s difficult to ask for help, but it shouldn’t be. God didn’t give us this beautiful life so we could live in our own little box or corner; oblivious to our brothers’ and sisters’ needs- NO, he blessed us with this life to love and care for each other in his image. I am hopeful that if you are able, you will help Becky and Darryl out. Your help will go towards medical bills, deductibles, medications, and everyday life! Thank you so much and God Bless!