Support In Overcoming Medical and Financial Strain

In July of this year, we were able to make a dream come true and moved to the U.P. of Michigan. This was something we had wanted to do for so long and had been working hard towards for the last few years. Of course, life has a way of throwing you curveballs when you least expect them.

My job had been undergoing changes for a while, but it all came to a boiling point in mid-September. After several months of being short-staffed, overworked, and mistreated by management, we were told that they would be cutting the pay of everyone in my department. So, I took the steps I felt necessary and found a new job. Things take time though, and it was several weeks before I got my first full paycheck, and benefits had yet to kick in when the unexpected happened.

My husband, Jake, found work as a handyman doing renovations and repairs on rental properties. His work often kept him out of town for several days at a time, but he made some great friends and started doing volunteer work, helping to build a new Children’s Museum in the community where he worked. In late October, he came home earlier than expected because of pain he was having near his tailbone.

At first, we thought it was a bruised tailbone or a pulled muscle, so we treated it as such. We tried rest, ice, heat, ibuprofen, Tylenol, and even a TENS unit, but nothing seemed to help for more than a day. His condition progressively got worse, and after 4 days we took him to a walk-in clinic. We were told he had an infection (there was no open wound or discharge) and given antibiotics and told to keep a close eye on him.

But it was already too late for the antibiotics to help. That night, on his way back to bed from the bathroom, he suddenly collapsed. We rushed him to the ER, where we were told he had nearly gone septic. They kept him in a medically induced coma, hooked up to a ventilator and feeding tubes for nearly 3 full days, while he underwent a total of 3 surgeries to remove the dead and infected tissue. We were told that he had a cyst, which had likely been there for years without us knowing. Somehow, it had become infected and developed into a flesh-eating bacteria that spread through the tissue around it. He stayed in the ICU for 6 days before being moved to another area of the hospital where they could give him the daily care he needs. They are keeping a close eye on him, as this type of bacteria has a habit of reappearing later. As of today, 11/16, he has been in the hospital for a total of 18 days, and we have no clear release date yet. Although he seems to be mostly out of the woods, he has a long recovery ahead and we have been told he will likely be out of work for several months.

Because it is cold and flu season, no one under the age of 14 is allowed to visit patients in the hospital. I had some amazing family members who volunteered to care for our daughter Lily so that for the 1st week I could be at the hospital as much as possible. Still, we have pets at home that also need us. So, multiple times per day, I would make the 1-hour drive back and forth from the hospital to make sure they were not neglected. My work and Lily’s school have both been very understanding about our extended absences and empathetic during this hard time. Lily is back in school, and I have also gone back to work, with some small adjustments to my schedule so that I can still visit Jake a few times a week and learn how to administer some of the daily care he will need when he does eventually come home.

These last couple of weeks have shown all of us just how quickly our worlds can be turned upside down. I have gotten advice from hospital staff, family, and friends on how to get help and have taken many necessary steps to improve our financial situation. It all takes time though, and we are still waiting for answers.

We have had several family members who have stepped up and helped with what they can. Rent, utilities, gas, food, and other bills are all going to start adding up soon and we haven't even seen the start of the medical expenses yet.

We would love and appreciate any help you can and are willing to give. Every little bit will be a huge help.