Tiffany’s Recovery Support
Donation protected
On June 24, Tiffany was rushed to the hospital by her family with excruciating pain in her back and chest. She would soon find out that the small tear in the lining of her lung had become much larger and 70% of her lung had collapsed as a result. The 19 days following left her hospitalized, nearly entirely immobile, and terrified as the doctors consulted then even more doctors to try to figure out how to get her lung to stand back up on its own. She had Spontaneous Pneumothorax which is documented in fewer than 200,000 patients a year. She was told she had three options.
The first procedure was putting in a chest tube. About one week in it was decided that didn’t work. In that time period the lung had collapsed again due to hospital error. On July 4th they moved forward with the second option which was video assisted thoracic surgery and bleb resection and mechanical pleurodesis. They also put in a new chest tube at this time. That didn’t work either. One week post op they insisted that they move forward with the third and final option which was chemical pleurodesis with doxycycline. Basically medical jargon for an agonizingly painful procedure involving pouring chemicals down her chest tube, but Tiffany held strong and as a result was discharged 4 days later.
Her journey is far from over. She has been fitted with a flutter valve over her chest tube. She is home and in her own bed, surrounded by Archie and Ryan and her comforts as she begins the next stage of recovery. She’ll still need numerous doctors visits and X-rays. It will likely be months before she is able to work again, and will need continued support and care as she navigates her tedious recovery.
To know Tiffany is to know just how generous a human can be and if you’ve been lucky enough to indulge in her delicious baked treats, you’re even luckier. She never hesitates to give all of herself. Not just in your time of need, but in any given moment. It’s our turn to return the favor and lift her up, to show her the love that she has shown so many of us. Let’s help her find her way back to the life she loves, out in a Kayak with her mom and walking the neighborhood with Ryan and Archie. She’s tough as hell, and I know she’ll come out even stronger.
The first procedure was putting in a chest tube. About one week in it was decided that didn’t work. In that time period the lung had collapsed again due to hospital error. On July 4th they moved forward with the second option which was video assisted thoracic surgery and bleb resection and mechanical pleurodesis. They also put in a new chest tube at this time. That didn’t work either. One week post op they insisted that they move forward with the third and final option which was chemical pleurodesis with doxycycline. Basically medical jargon for an agonizingly painful procedure involving pouring chemicals down her chest tube, but Tiffany held strong and as a result was discharged 4 days later.
Her journey is far from over. She has been fitted with a flutter valve over her chest tube. She is home and in her own bed, surrounded by Archie and Ryan and her comforts as she begins the next stage of recovery. She’ll still need numerous doctors visits and X-rays. It will likely be months before she is able to work again, and will need continued support and care as she navigates her tedious recovery.
To know Tiffany is to know just how generous a human can be and if you’ve been lucky enough to indulge in her delicious baked treats, you’re even luckier. She never hesitates to give all of herself. Not just in your time of need, but in any given moment. It’s our turn to return the favor and lift her up, to show her the love that she has shown so many of us. Let’s help her find her way back to the life she loves, out in a Kayak with her mom and walking the neighborhood with Ryan and Archie. She’s tough as hell, and I know she’ll come out even stronger.
Organizer
Ashley Lockwood
Organizer
Rye, NH