Unite for Katya: Help Ease Her Medical Expenses

Hello Everyone,

If this is your first time reading this, please continue reading but if you would like to read about the latest updates on our journey, please read the Update sections below this section.

My name is Nadia Emily, and I am reaching out to our community with a heavy heart and a humble request. My precious daughter, Katya is in the hospital and needs your help.

She has been on a challenging journey since April 2020 when she was diagnosed with pancreatitis during the height of the pandemic. Since then, she has faced numerous trials, including a major surgery in December 2020 to remove half of her pancreas and part of her spleen. Complications from this surgery have caused her digestive issues, fatigue, and pain over the past 3 years. Although little by little, she has regained her strength, and overall, her health has been moving in a positive direction.

The Situation

During September 2023, Katya contracted COVID-19 and was bedridden for a little less than two weeks. On Monday, September 25, the day she tested negative, just when we thought the worst was behind us, she was struck with an excruciating abdominal pain. We rushed her to the hospital, desperately seeking help. Despite her suffering, she was sent home after a CT scan failed to reveal any issues. That night and the next day, her pain escalated to an unbearable degree, and she began vomiting around the clock. Not knowing what else to do, carrying her to the car, we returned to the hospital, and a second CT revealed she had developed enteritis, which caused inflammation of her GI tract.

After spending 22 hours in the emergency department, lying on a stretcher in the hallway, she was finally admitted. September 27, Wednesday morning, she kept saying her pain was getting worse, even on her high dose of IV pain meds and antibiotics treatment. She especially complained of swelling in her lower abdomen. A surgeon was consulted and the third CT revealed an obstruction in her small intestine.

On Friday, September 29, a surgeon performed an exploratory surgery to find the obstruction only to find a life-threatening situation: 10% of her small intestine was caught in the extensive scar tissue from her previous surgery, which cut off blood supply and was completely dead (necrotic). The surgeon had to remove the dead part of the small intestine to save her life. The surgeon confirmed if he had not performed the surgery when he did that she would have died from sepsis within a day.

Katya continues to thank God she is alive, but my baby’s post-surgery recovery journey has been extremely difficult. After enduring a major surgery and excruciating pain for days, she was given an NG tube down her throat (which has been traumatic), required a blood transfusion a couple days post-surgery due to dangerously low hemoglobin levels, and continues to be undernourished (she hasn’t eaten since September 24).

As of now, she remains in the hospital, extremely weak from having weeks of trauma, but slowly recovering. I have been living at the hospital, staying in the room with her, so I am able to keep updated with everything going on as changes happen. Katya suggested making this page so we could have one central place to post any updates on her recovery as many of you have been anxiously waiting for news. Also, we could really use a financial miracle.

Why We Need Your Help

Katya’s strength and positivity inspire us every day, but the financial burden is overwhelming. Earlier this year, Katya lost her insurance coverage because of a computer error and planned to rely on temporary insurance only until November 2023, where she would return to her old insurance during the open enrollment period. However, she was admitted to the hospital while still on her temporary insurance, and they said they will cover only $500 of the hospital bill. What sucks is that she was only 33 days away from having full coverage. 

Katya has been worried how we will pay for all of this. She knows firsthand how expensive surgeries can be, but the last thing I want is for her to be stressed about finances when she needs to focus on getting better. Therefore, I am desperately reaching out to our friends, family, and community to rally together for my daughter. Please help us alleviate her stress by helping to cover what you can of her hospital bill.

How You Can Help

1. Donate: Your contribution, no matter how small, will directly support Katya's ongoing medical expenses.

2. Share: Please share this message with your friends, family, and on social media. Katya has given her permission for you to share her story.

3. Pray: Your thoughts and prayers provide immeasurable strength to Katya and our family. We believe in the power of prayer! 

We are immensely grateful for any support you can provide. Your generosity will not only alleviate the financial burden but also offer us, especially Katya, hope and strength during this challenging time. 

With heartfelt gratitude,

Nadia Emily