The Gillis' Medical Funds
Donation protected
It brings me great sadness to be writing this right now. You don't prepare yourself for something like this, nor do you ever think it could possibly happen to you or your family. But in spite of everything, we are staying strong and will get through it together because that is the Gillis way.
It all started in Jan 2003, my dad had a heart attack at 49 years old. Called arteriosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries." At this time he was also diagnosed with (hypertension) high blood pressure. High blood pressure is called the "silent killer" because gone untreated can cause fatal heart attack and/or stroke. Over time even when treated and under control can cause kidney damage. It is a mean and serious disease.
At that time my dad had a stent put inside one of his coronary arteries that was 90% blocked. This saved his life and the high blood pressure, high cholesterol was and has been treated with medication. Over the next years he worked hard as always, providing for his family which was number one besides his love of God. If you have ever met my dad, you know how much of a handy man he is. As that year progressed we finally remodeled the manchaca house and sold it, bought the 11 acres where my dad did everything himself... of course...cleared the trees for the house... dug the septic system.. put in water lines etc. A lot of stress.
In 2014, more chest pain got him to the emergency room... Atrial Flutter is when the top section of heart beats too fast and erratically causing severe pain. ( like an electrical problem) He had to be put on more medication.
And now here we are. This time started back in November during this remodel. (we did kitchen one year, master bath the next, living area sub floor and flooring, windows,doors,paint, A/c unit was leaking in my room etc...)
He apparently injured his neck and was enduring and working through the pain as he always did. This neck/cervical pain was progressively worsening to the point so severe that every night he was ready to lay down about 7pm to rest his head and neck. It was on about January 12 while working on the suburban when he realized the battery was dead that he thought he may have pulled a muscle in his lower back probably from favoring his already weaken neck vertebrae. He was unable to do much on Friday. Up for very short spurts then had to lay flat in bed. The back pain now was so severe he was distracted from the neck pain that was still there. Lying flat seemed to make back pain bearable.
He insisted for my mom to go to work that next day and he would be fine getting around.
God sent Will and I to him on Saturday for sure. Both my brother and I went home Saturday morning to pick up a few things and saw how much pain my dad was in laying there. He was now so tense with pain he could not get up without the paralyzing pain. We called the ambulance that day to get him the care he needed.
After my parents got home 6 hours later from Emergency visit #1 they thought he would get better because they sent him with pain meds and muscle relaxers that did not help the pain or his blood pressure. The next days were pure hell. He progressively got worse.
In the mean time, my mom had a breast biopsy (2 areas) scheduled that she really believed was no big deal considering she had the same one done 11 years before that was fine. My dad being proactive, made an appointment with a neurosurgeon and while trying to get there, my mom had to drive my dad to the ER once again for visit #2. This time they performed an MRI of his entire spine, blood pressure elevated gave him IV pain medication. We were told he'd be admitted so they can find out the cause and ease his pain. My dad did not want the meds that made him sleepy and yet still in pain. The doctor injected some a numbing medicine in his back muscle and sent him home AGAIN. The injection seemed to ease and relax the spasm enough to only drive home. ( this is 1 am in the morning ) He could hardly walk up the stairs to the front door and walked straight to bed.
A few hours later my mom called 911 frantically because his right side was weak. This time she insisted on a different hospital. After few tests my dad was diagnosed with a stroke..TIA's...he was hospitalized for 9 days before they could regulate his blood pressure , control his back and neck pain. My dad was distraught that he could not be with my mom through her own tragedy.
Simultaneously, my mom was diagnosed this same week with invasive ductal breast cancer one biopsy negative one biopsy positive .
The pathology report took about 1 long arduous week. She had a consult with 2 surgeons. Both agree that an MRI will show them a better picture of what's going on before we know the exact stage. There are many different types. My mom's is hormone positive; the most common type. The surgeon thinks grade 1-2. I do not know if grade and stage are synonymous. Both Drs recommend surgery. We are not sure until after this Thursday appointment as to what type of surgery.
My parents are amazing human beings. It is incredibly hard to see them going through this and has definitely turned my life upside down. I can only imagine the stress all of this has brought my parents. If I could, I would pay for all of the medical expenses, medications, tests, physical therapy, and surgery myself, but unfortunately that is just not possible.
Being able to do these things with the money raised will ensure safety for my dad, while also allowing us to explore other medical options for both him and my mom. We don't know what the future holds, but, just like a lot of other families, we will stick together with positivity and faith. We are in this together and we will get through whatever life throws at us, together.
It is very difficult asking for help. I don't want people to see only what is wrong, but everything that is right and beautiful, too. We don't want pity, only compassion. It is hard, but we recognize everyone is fighting battles. Anything helps, especially prayers.
Thank you from my family to yours and God bless.
Love, the Gillis family.
"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint." -Isaiah 40:31.
It all started in Jan 2003, my dad had a heart attack at 49 years old. Called arteriosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries." At this time he was also diagnosed with (hypertension) high blood pressure. High blood pressure is called the "silent killer" because gone untreated can cause fatal heart attack and/or stroke. Over time even when treated and under control can cause kidney damage. It is a mean and serious disease.
At that time my dad had a stent put inside one of his coronary arteries that was 90% blocked. This saved his life and the high blood pressure, high cholesterol was and has been treated with medication. Over the next years he worked hard as always, providing for his family which was number one besides his love of God. If you have ever met my dad, you know how much of a handy man he is. As that year progressed we finally remodeled the manchaca house and sold it, bought the 11 acres where my dad did everything himself... of course...cleared the trees for the house... dug the septic system.. put in water lines etc. A lot of stress.
In 2014, more chest pain got him to the emergency room... Atrial Flutter is when the top section of heart beats too fast and erratically causing severe pain. ( like an electrical problem) He had to be put on more medication.
And now here we are. This time started back in November during this remodel. (we did kitchen one year, master bath the next, living area sub floor and flooring, windows,doors,paint, A/c unit was leaking in my room etc...)
He apparently injured his neck and was enduring and working through the pain as he always did. This neck/cervical pain was progressively worsening to the point so severe that every night he was ready to lay down about 7pm to rest his head and neck. It was on about January 12 while working on the suburban when he realized the battery was dead that he thought he may have pulled a muscle in his lower back probably from favoring his already weaken neck vertebrae. He was unable to do much on Friday. Up for very short spurts then had to lay flat in bed. The back pain now was so severe he was distracted from the neck pain that was still there. Lying flat seemed to make back pain bearable.
He insisted for my mom to go to work that next day and he would be fine getting around.
God sent Will and I to him on Saturday for sure. Both my brother and I went home Saturday morning to pick up a few things and saw how much pain my dad was in laying there. He was now so tense with pain he could not get up without the paralyzing pain. We called the ambulance that day to get him the care he needed.
After my parents got home 6 hours later from Emergency visit #1 they thought he would get better because they sent him with pain meds and muscle relaxers that did not help the pain or his blood pressure. The next days were pure hell. He progressively got worse.
In the mean time, my mom had a breast biopsy (2 areas) scheduled that she really believed was no big deal considering she had the same one done 11 years before that was fine. My dad being proactive, made an appointment with a neurosurgeon and while trying to get there, my mom had to drive my dad to the ER once again for visit #2. This time they performed an MRI of his entire spine, blood pressure elevated gave him IV pain medication. We were told he'd be admitted so they can find out the cause and ease his pain. My dad did not want the meds that made him sleepy and yet still in pain. The doctor injected some a numbing medicine in his back muscle and sent him home AGAIN. The injection seemed to ease and relax the spasm enough to only drive home. ( this is 1 am in the morning ) He could hardly walk up the stairs to the front door and walked straight to bed.
A few hours later my mom called 911 frantically because his right side was weak. This time she insisted on a different hospital. After few tests my dad was diagnosed with a stroke..TIA's...he was hospitalized for 9 days before they could regulate his blood pressure , control his back and neck pain. My dad was distraught that he could not be with my mom through her own tragedy.
Simultaneously, my mom was diagnosed this same week with invasive ductal breast cancer one biopsy negative one biopsy positive .
The pathology report took about 1 long arduous week. She had a consult with 2 surgeons. Both agree that an MRI will show them a better picture of what's going on before we know the exact stage. There are many different types. My mom's is hormone positive; the most common type. The surgeon thinks grade 1-2. I do not know if grade and stage are synonymous. Both Drs recommend surgery. We are not sure until after this Thursday appointment as to what type of surgery.
My parents are amazing human beings. It is incredibly hard to see them going through this and has definitely turned my life upside down. I can only imagine the stress all of this has brought my parents. If I could, I would pay for all of the medical expenses, medications, tests, physical therapy, and surgery myself, but unfortunately that is just not possible.
Being able to do these things with the money raised will ensure safety for my dad, while also allowing us to explore other medical options for both him and my mom. We don't know what the future holds, but, just like a lot of other families, we will stick together with positivity and faith. We are in this together and we will get through whatever life throws at us, together.
It is very difficult asking for help. I don't want people to see only what is wrong, but everything that is right and beautiful, too. We don't want pity, only compassion. It is hard, but we recognize everyone is fighting battles. Anything helps, especially prayers.
Thank you from my family to yours and God bless.
Love, the Gillis family.
"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint." -Isaiah 40:31.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sarah Ann
Organizer
Austin, TX
Linda Gillis
Beneficiary