Young Single Mother with a Traumatic Brain Injury

On November 29th, Kahlan had routine gall bladder surgery. She was readmitted on December 1st for severe nausea & vomiting, but was released on December 5th. Less than 24 hours after they released her, she was found unresponsive by her dad. He was able to open her eyes before having her first seizure in her dad's arms. She was immediately taken to the ICU at Physicians Regional Medical Center Pine Ridge. She had to be intubated and to control her seizures and help protect her from further brain injuries. She has a lot of swelling in her brain. They did a CT scan and then an MRI on Thursday 12/7. The scans shows a big white spot in the shape of a worm-like structure in the folds of her brain. Right now the hospital cannot treat or diagnose her due to the lack of a the required neurological testing equipment and specially trained neurosurgeons. Friday, December 8th, the hospital was trying to get her accepted and moved to a hospital where they can diagnose and treat her. It took more than 2 days for get a hospital to accept her. On Friday, December 8th UF Health Shands Hospital called saying they had a bed for her. We were even given a room number. MedFlight in Gainesville couldn't take off last night because of the weather. Early this morning (12/9) she spiked a fever that they were finally able to get it to come down around 9am. This morning MedFlight called to say the helicopter couldn't travel that for. Her doctors and nurses spent the morning looking for a fixed propeller plane & medical transport team to take her to Gainesville. Nothing is available for days. They said maybe Tuesday, 12/12. We finally decided our last best option was to take her by ambulance 280 miles away to Gainesville. 90 minutes before the ambulance arrived to pick us up today (12/9) UF Hospital in Gainesville called to say they no longer had a bed for Kahlan. Transport took to long. They had a case come into their emergency room and gave Kahlan's bed to that patient.

The hospital in Gainesville is still willing to accept her. The doctor there is ready to see her upon arrival, when they have an open bed. We are once again checking every capable neuro ICU in the state of Florida, but have not ruled out the possibility of taking her out of state for proper care and treatment. Kahlan does not have a normal brain injury. Doctors here don't know what caused it. They don't know what it is or how to treat it. The longer she sits in a regular hospital ICU without a diagnosis and treatment, the more likely she is to have extensive injuries, possibly permanent brain damage. Her seizures are only under while she is in a medically induced coma. We are praying for the first open bed in any hospital so that she can be taken care of and our daughter can be home again. Kahlan is only 24 years old with no issues hinting at something like this. Kahlan is a loving, single mother of a 5 year old boy, a good daughter to her parents, a fun sister to her autistic big brother, lover of all animals, enjoys taking care of her patients as a CMA, and going on outdoor adventures with her boyfriend. Please help us cover costs from medical care, needing to be with her in Gainesville, travel from Naples, making sure her son is taken care of, etc.