A Request for My Grieving Mother
Donation protected
I write this on behalf of my dear mother, who is too aggrieved to speak for herself.
Recently, her father (my grandfather), has been very ill. He was a very strong man who for many years lived by himself in his home on one of the smaller islands of Hong Kong. He had a fierce spirit and indomitable will, something he passed down to my mother and I. He chose to live a full and healthy life, and a long one too.
However at the age of 91, his immune system wasn't quite what it used to be and he contracted pneumonia a few times. He fought through the first times but it took a toll on him. For the last couple months he was bedridden at the hospital.
On May 20th we got the urgent message that he contracted pneumonia again, and this time he fell into a coma and had to be put on respirator and life support. The entire family flew out to Hong Kong the next day at great cost. For the next week we spent every day visiting grandfather.
My uncles who were pulmonologist and cardiac specialists worked long and hard with the primary case doctor to create a detailed and meticulous treatment plan for grandfather. And it worked for a bit, as they were able to avoid a tracheotomy and grandfather was able to wake from the short coma. We were even able to communicate with him as he was conscious and alert, however grandfather couldn't speak or write.
Most of the family and I flew back because of work or school commitments. However, my mother and the youngest uncle stayed there to attend to him. The youngest uncle stayed at my grandfather's home to maintain it and to take care of official business while my mother who's a registered nurse supervisor visited him daily and helped with communicating between the primary case doctor and my pulmonologist uncle.
We had good hopes of a recovery, although the prognosis was still grim as it was highly likely that he would get a secondary infection or aspiration pneumonia and would most likely not survive another round. This morning I received a brief text from my mother that my grandfather, despite our best efforts, passed away on the 29th of May, 19:00pm HK.
And here I am now, writing this here to ask for help. I much dislike asking for help with nothing to offer in return, but unfortunately I have no choice because the situation is desperate.
Expenses so far are close to $10,000 USD not counting in lost wages. My mother already quit one of her nursing jobs because they wouldn't give her the vacation days. She took on a new one that was more lenient, however now that she has to stay even longer they may or may not let her keep the job. In addition, she is taking on additional costs of living in Hong Kong and grandfather's funeral. She's trying to save money by staying at a tiny room (practically two prison cells in size) and spending every moment at grandfather's side. We have no idea how much longer she'll need to stay over there to wrap up things or how much more things will cost.
That said, any amount helps. $5 USD is enough to buy a single meal for my mother. Her room costs $65/night. Transportation fees round out to about $20/day. And I have no idea how much the funeral will cost.
I have nothing to offer in return for your gratitude except for my most sincere and heartfelt thanks and on behalf of my entire family. I apologize for the long story and I thank you kindly for taking the time to read it all.
Have a wonderful day.
~Phyrnna
Recently, her father (my grandfather), has been very ill. He was a very strong man who for many years lived by himself in his home on one of the smaller islands of Hong Kong. He had a fierce spirit and indomitable will, something he passed down to my mother and I. He chose to live a full and healthy life, and a long one too.
However at the age of 91, his immune system wasn't quite what it used to be and he contracted pneumonia a few times. He fought through the first times but it took a toll on him. For the last couple months he was bedridden at the hospital.
On May 20th we got the urgent message that he contracted pneumonia again, and this time he fell into a coma and had to be put on respirator and life support. The entire family flew out to Hong Kong the next day at great cost. For the next week we spent every day visiting grandfather.
My uncles who were pulmonologist and cardiac specialists worked long and hard with the primary case doctor to create a detailed and meticulous treatment plan for grandfather. And it worked for a bit, as they were able to avoid a tracheotomy and grandfather was able to wake from the short coma. We were even able to communicate with him as he was conscious and alert, however grandfather couldn't speak or write.
Most of the family and I flew back because of work or school commitments. However, my mother and the youngest uncle stayed there to attend to him. The youngest uncle stayed at my grandfather's home to maintain it and to take care of official business while my mother who's a registered nurse supervisor visited him daily and helped with communicating between the primary case doctor and my pulmonologist uncle.
We had good hopes of a recovery, although the prognosis was still grim as it was highly likely that he would get a secondary infection or aspiration pneumonia and would most likely not survive another round. This morning I received a brief text from my mother that my grandfather, despite our best efforts, passed away on the 29th of May, 19:00pm HK.
And here I am now, writing this here to ask for help. I much dislike asking for help with nothing to offer in return, but unfortunately I have no choice because the situation is desperate.
Expenses so far are close to $10,000 USD not counting in lost wages. My mother already quit one of her nursing jobs because they wouldn't give her the vacation days. She took on a new one that was more lenient, however now that she has to stay even longer they may or may not let her keep the job. In addition, she is taking on additional costs of living in Hong Kong and grandfather's funeral. She's trying to save money by staying at a tiny room (practically two prison cells in size) and spending every moment at grandfather's side. We have no idea how much longer she'll need to stay over there to wrap up things or how much more things will cost.
That said, any amount helps. $5 USD is enough to buy a single meal for my mother. Her room costs $65/night. Transportation fees round out to about $20/day. And I have no idea how much the funeral will cost.
I have nothing to offer in return for your gratitude except for my most sincere and heartfelt thanks and on behalf of my entire family. I apologize for the long story and I thank you kindly for taking the time to read it all.
Have a wonderful day.
~Phyrnna
Organizer and beneficiary
Phyrnna Zorich
Organizer
Chicago, IL
Evan Sitt
Beneficiary
