Colleen's Crisis Caused by COVID
Donation protected
Hello everyone! I am a long-time family friend to this Montanan family and am organizing this account to assist someone who is like a Mom to me and who not only has been heavily affected by COVID-19, but her immediate family as well. Let me introduce you to whom I am asking you to help.
Colleen (pictured above on right) is a friendly, fun, and strong woman. She is a mother of 3 grown boys who are responsible and strong-willed like her and who also fill her heart. She is delighted to be a grandma, soon to be, 3 times over. Colleen has been a faithful and present wife to Tom for 33 years. She is beloved by her community and makes friends everywhere she goes. Colleen received a kidney transplant in 1989 and started to work in the local school in 1990. Her genuine nature and smile connected with me immediately when I met her in 1991. That was the year I started at a new school for 4th grade and she always greeted me when she saw me and built me up as a person. This is just her nature and it tied us together since. When Colleen moved on from working at the school, she became a certified massage therapist and beautician and loves to work with others to this day.
Over the years, I have grown to know Tom (above on right) to be steadfast, honest, and observant. Tom and Colleen met July 23rd, 1986 and married July 16, 1988. Colleen remincesed on their early days stating, “he became an instant dad to three boys” all under 10 years of age. He treated them as his own and was proud to watch them become adults. Tom earned his teaching degree out of Havre, MT in history and social studies. He used this degree for over 30 years to teach at-risk youth placed in Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, a residential youth treatment center. Tom retired from this job that he loved so much in September 2019. Many people also know Tom from his love of playing and observing pool. Tom was known to be calm, kind, true, and to carry his commitments through to the end. Tom holds the reputation of being “one of the good guys.” Tom and Colleen were able to make a trip to Oregon coast where they renewed their vows for their 32nd anniversary in August 2019.
Tom and Colleen took the threat of this virus very seriously from the start. They followed their medical recommendations, physically distanced, wore masks, increased hand washing, and observed their symptoms. When Colleen was notified of being indirectly exposed to this virus in late July, she and Tom isolated and quarantined for 2 weeks, only leaving home for groceries. They also took a COVID test and waited for any results. Colleen went back to work on the 16th day from their start of quarantine as she was still showing no symptoms. She received a called that day to find that Tom had developed symptoms quite suddenly. Colleen returned home to Tom who had a high fever with fatigue and increased breathing difficulty. This is where their experience with this virus became much more personal and emotional.
Colleen's and Tom's family has been hit hard by this virus. Tom became a victim to it after 10+ days in ICU with ventilator, feeding tube, transfusions, and life saving procedures. Colleen is continuing her fight against it after 2 hospital admissions with infusions and plasma. Her sons are also taking precautions for good reason. Not withstanding the mental and emotional toll this family has been faced with, Colleen has also been affected further by reduced work hours and with having to take leave from employment. The medical bills are just starting to come in and adding up along with the typical month to month expenses. She now has the death of her husband to manage while being faced with the responsibilities and costs associated with current and future recovery care and needs and continued prevention.
The hope with this fundraiser is to ease the financial burden and stressors associated with Tom's sudden death from this virus, Colleen's medical care, and day to day expenses and to allow for Colleen and her family to be better able to heal physically and emotionally. Thank you in advance for all your kindness!
Colleen (pictured above on right) is a friendly, fun, and strong woman. She is a mother of 3 grown boys who are responsible and strong-willed like her and who also fill her heart. She is delighted to be a grandma, soon to be, 3 times over. Colleen has been a faithful and present wife to Tom for 33 years. She is beloved by her community and makes friends everywhere she goes. Colleen received a kidney transplant in 1989 and started to work in the local school in 1990. Her genuine nature and smile connected with me immediately when I met her in 1991. That was the year I started at a new school for 4th grade and she always greeted me when she saw me and built me up as a person. This is just her nature and it tied us together since. When Colleen moved on from working at the school, she became a certified massage therapist and beautician and loves to work with others to this day.
Over the years, I have grown to know Tom (above on right) to be steadfast, honest, and observant. Tom and Colleen met July 23rd, 1986 and married July 16, 1988. Colleen remincesed on their early days stating, “he became an instant dad to three boys” all under 10 years of age. He treated them as his own and was proud to watch them become adults. Tom earned his teaching degree out of Havre, MT in history and social studies. He used this degree for over 30 years to teach at-risk youth placed in Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, a residential youth treatment center. Tom retired from this job that he loved so much in September 2019. Many people also know Tom from his love of playing and observing pool. Tom was known to be calm, kind, true, and to carry his commitments through to the end. Tom holds the reputation of being “one of the good guys.” Tom and Colleen were able to make a trip to Oregon coast where they renewed their vows for their 32nd anniversary in August 2019.
Tom and Colleen took the threat of this virus very seriously from the start. They followed their medical recommendations, physically distanced, wore masks, increased hand washing, and observed their symptoms. When Colleen was notified of being indirectly exposed to this virus in late July, she and Tom isolated and quarantined for 2 weeks, only leaving home for groceries. They also took a COVID test and waited for any results. Colleen went back to work on the 16th day from their start of quarantine as she was still showing no symptoms. She received a called that day to find that Tom had developed symptoms quite suddenly. Colleen returned home to Tom who had a high fever with fatigue and increased breathing difficulty. This is where their experience with this virus became much more personal and emotional.
Colleen's and Tom's family has been hit hard by this virus. Tom became a victim to it after 10+ days in ICU with ventilator, feeding tube, transfusions, and life saving procedures. Colleen is continuing her fight against it after 2 hospital admissions with infusions and plasma. Her sons are also taking precautions for good reason. Not withstanding the mental and emotional toll this family has been faced with, Colleen has also been affected further by reduced work hours and with having to take leave from employment. The medical bills are just starting to come in and adding up along with the typical month to month expenses. She now has the death of her husband to manage while being faced with the responsibilities and costs associated with current and future recovery care and needs and continued prevention.
The hope with this fundraiser is to ease the financial burden and stressors associated with Tom's sudden death from this virus, Colleen's medical care, and day to day expenses and to allow for Colleen and her family to be better able to heal physically and emotionally. Thank you in advance for all your kindness!
Organizer and beneficiary
Suzanne Walls
Organizer
Corvallis, OR
Colleen Smith Barrett
Beneficiary