Support Nancy (Papi) Jameson after Medical Emergency

Friends, family, and beyond--

In early October, our friend Nancy (Papi) Jameson started experiencing a pain in her right foot that worsened daily; She has been on an excruciating journey ever since. She saw two doctors who told her it was a bruised toe and sent her home with ibuprofen. When the pain became unbearable she went to the Emergency Room, only to be denied care again, told to go home and “stick it out”. Her toes were blackening at the tips, and the slightest touch would send her into a screaming, searing pain. On her third visit to the ER, a doctor finally realized their mistake-- it was a vascular emergency and she would need to be rushed to Baystate Hospital for immediate intervention. She had two major blood clots behind her knee that were completely blocking circulation to her lower leg, not to mention putting her at risk of a stroke. By this point her foot had gone nearly a month without blood flow; it was dying.

She immediately underwent surgery that would attempt to remove the clots and balloon open the arteries. It was obvious that at least one of Papi’s toes would need to be amputated; doctors encouraged her to consider the possibility of losing the entire foot. After surgery she’d have to wait around in the hospital for at least another week, hoping the missing pulse would return. Friends came and went, Papi was in extraordinary pain yet constantly making the nurses laugh; It was the only time I’ve ever genuinely had fun in a hospital. The stents in her leg restored crucial blood flow but paradoxically increased pain due to reperfusion, a type of tissue damage that occurs when blood flow is reintroduced to a previously starved area. A pulse was detected near her ankle-- doctors were starting to feel optimistic about keeping the foot, but at this time she underwent another surgery to remove the toe whose tissue was now beyond repair.

Weeks go by, watching, waiting. Papi has a UTI from the external catheter at the hospital and the antibiotic isn’t working, on top of everything else. Her pain meds make her vomit. Another visit with her surgeon-- we're glad to hear that blood flow to her foot is improving, but another toe has tissue damage and she goes into a third surgery. When they get her on the operating table, they find exposed bone. Another partial toe removed, but at this point Papi is grateful to have her foot.

After months of pain, suffering, and medical negligence, Papi is finally on a path to recovery. She has a visiting nurse who assists with wound care and a physical therapist who is teaching her how to walk again. She hasn't been able to wear a shoe on her right foot for three months. She is exhausted; both from lack of sleep due to pain, and from her body working overtime to heal her traumatized foot. This all comes on the heels of what has already been difficult year for her.

Many people know and love Papi, and it has been tough to keep everyone in the loop-- please share this with anyone who would want to know what she's been going through.

My hope is that raising these funds will ease Papi's recovery by covering a few months of rent and some medical expenses, providing for her some much needed rest and peace of mind. We don't yet know the extent of those expenses, but have already received a $2k bill for her hospital room. Papi lives simply on a meager social security check yet has always been quick to share with those around her. Let's show up for her now, when she really needs it <3

All my gratitude to you,

Kristine