Stand by Ivy: Facing a Rare Infection

After months of back pain and many ER visits with no answers, Ivy had an MRI on Monday, March 10th. As soon as her results were read, she was admitted into the hospital the next morning. She has Discitis Osteomyelitis, a rare bone infection in her vertebrae (T5-6) and the disc in-between. After a biopsy of her spinal fluid and more tests, it was also found that two of her rib bones are also infected and there's pneumonia in one lung. Two days ago, they put in a PICC line that starts at her arm above the elbow and goes to her heart. She is still hospitalized while the infectious disease team of doctors decides the best course of action. She does not have a discharge date yet. Once she is released, she will have 6 to 8 weeks of intravenous antibiotics and at-home health care, followed by more tests and MRIs to ensure the antibiotics are working.

Ivy has been working hard as an aesthetician and business owner. She has not been able to work since this started, and the medical bills are racking up, not to mention monthly bills like rent and utilities.

Any contribution, big or small, would mean the world to her and help cover medical and daily expenses.