Support the Dilullo Family

They say the lord won't give you anything you can't handle ... but sometimes the weight can get a little heavy.

My friend Dannette was young when she discovered she had an autoimmune disease. This means on a basic level — the immune system — attacks the body's own healthy tissue. Which required a splenectomy. I met her in her late teens and by then she had already had many major spinal surgeries. (9 total) So she's a fighter.

She now is married with 4 beautiful kids. 5 and under and also takes care of her mother who they live with. She spends her days taking care of others.

Through this past year her youngest Little Tony (now 1 year old) was in and out of the hospital from different viruses. He had human metanumovorus which he spent 20 days in the hospital, and was also admitted later with RSV and Pneumonia. He was admitted to Beaumont and children's hospital.

About two weeks ago Dannette woke up and felt this insane pain radiating through her back and entire body and couldn't move. They had to take her by ambulance to Beaumont. The next day the pain went into her shoulders and hands and could barely move at all without excruciating pain.

They are a traditional family where the husband works and the mother raises the children. While the family has been a tremendous help the brunt of the weight in the home is falling on Joe, Dannette's husband. About 3 months ago Joe started a new job and was let go this week.

Dannette found out she had sepsis and pneumonia and one more kicker is she has no spleen. Your spleen is important for your body's defence against germs, when your spleen is removed or doesn't work properly you are at higher risk of infections which means the infection can be life-threatening.

Dannette may need surgery on her spine and possibly her shoulder and hip. She definitely will need physical therapy as she hasn't been able to move her left side for the majority of the two weeks. She will also need to be on IV antibiotics for 6 weeks. We are looking at a slow recovery process for a mom of 4. They get their mom is sick but they don't get why they can't be with their mommy.

On the first day, her phone was lost/stolen in the hospital which made communication difficult. She has seen her mother only once since this happened as they're in the same hospital. Her husband has made a collage wall to help give her strength as she fights through the pain and pushes to heal.

It is one of those moments in life where they as a family need a hand enough to see them through. Ease the discomfort of household basics food/bills and medical.

I thank you for your love support and prayers and I ask you to share with your friends and family. It takes a village sometimes!

***UPDATE***

Dannette is still in the hospital, it’s going on 3 weeks now. She has sepsis in her blood and septic arthritis, most of her joints r becoming septic. She has had 2 surgeries (shoulder and hip) because those were severely infected and then the infection has moved into her spine. They are trying to figure out if the benefit exceeds the risk to do surgery before or after the antibiotics are completed. Both hands, her other shoulder are affected as well but they think the high dose of antibiotics may help those and hopefully won’t need surgery. She still needs 6 weeks of IV antibiotics. She has not been able to walk yet but can take a few steps. She is in such severe pain with it, and hoping they can figure it out soon.

This has sent them into a whirlwind and are trying to catch their breath. Joe and his mom are handling all 4 kids so im sure u can imagine it’s a lot. In the mean time Joe lost his job because they couldn’t let him take any more time off work, so they are just trying their best

Thank you for all the continued prayers! It means so much to them!