Support Marty & Darry Brown Through Covid-19

Hi,

My name is Ashley Husk. I'm fundraising for my parents, Marty and Darrell "Darry" Brown.

Marty & Darry are both fully vaccinated. However, on Sunday, August 8th, Darry started feeling Covid symptoms. He tested on Monday and was given a positive result. He was out of work that week. By Saturday morning, Marty started feeling Covid symptoms as well and tested later that day. She also received a positive result. They both quarantined in their Monkton home together.

On Monday morning, August 16th at 1:15am, Marty was awoken by the sound of Darry gasping for air. She woke him up and asked if he was ok, he said "I'm fine". But she went and got her finger pulse oximeter anyway. His number was 80 (normal numbers are between 95-100). She turned on the light and his skin was gray and then he passed out. She immediately called 911 and he was taken by ambulance to UVM Medical Center, where he has remained ever since. This week, several times throughout his stay, Darry's oxygen has dropped into the 70's. Today, August 19th, he was moved to the ICU since he requires more oxygen. He is on a BIPAP machine which is helping him breathe and get stronger. It's unknown at this time how long he will remain in the hospital.

This Covid diagnosis is just the tip of the iceberg. Last year in March, 2020, Marty was diagnosed with Thymoma cancer. She underwent an extremely invasive surgery to remove a large softball-sized tumor in her lung cavity, resting on her heart, and then proceeded to complete 30 rounds of radiation. Due to her compromised immune system, she needed to leave her job as a server. She was out of work from April to December. In May, 2020, Darry was laid off from his job at Heritage Ford due to the pandemic, where he had worked for 32 years. Darry secured a job later in the year with the City of Burlington as an interim job, and just recently landed an impressive position with a large local organization. He is set to start at the end of the month, but with him still in the ICU, it's unknown what that looks like at this time. Marty is at home, all alone, fighting Covid on her own.

If you know my parents, you know they are the most caring, giving, kind and hardworking individuals. They have remained passionately in love for 28 years - having just celebrated an anniversary on August 6th. They are extraordinary parents and grandparents to their five adult children and 3 grandchildren and 3 precious dogs. They are beloved members of the Monkton, Vermont community. My parents have never asked for anything. They've never received a handout. They always try to donate to other GoFundMe's. My mom is an incredible chef and is the first to drop off food for a friend or neighbor in need.

With Darry's continued hospital stay unknown, no income for either of them at this time until they recover, the hospital bills from my mothers cancer treatments, and now these hospital bills piling up, I am asking for help for them. I know they are too proud to do it on their own. They deserve to have some financial stress alleviated during this heartbreaking time. All funds would go directly to my parents to help cover the costs of their hospital bills and all other living expenses during this time.

I will provide updates as often as I can. I truly appreciate any and all support you can provide at this time.