Melissa Richmond's Medical Fund

Hello everyone, my name is Chrissy, my friends in the picture here are Melissa and Dell Richmond.  Melissa and I have been the best of friends for many years now and she has been fighting a huge fight at only 35 years old.  She gave me permission to share her story.  I am requesting any donations to assist them with their financial hardships.  Both of them are out of paid time off and the bills are piling up at home while Mel is in the hospital trying to get better with Dell by her side.  It has been such an unfortunate series of medical mysteries for Mel, and the complications from the "fixes" the doctors keep doing seem to be endless.  Her road to recovery is far from over and it will take months or even longer for her recovery, and recovery doesn't begin until they have all the issues completely fixed.  The money raised will go towards helping them pay their bills since they have no income.  The focus needs to be on Mel's recovery not on stressing out because she does not know how they will pay their bills. 

Last year Mel had developed some medical issues, one of those issues was swelling, since about November, maybe even before, Melissa started to retain water, no doctors seemed to really know what was going on, why this was happening.  The only history for Mel is that she had gastric bypass surgery in the past, one doctor, finally, after many tests and months passed (swelling still going on), made the decision that she needed corrective surgery for her original bypass surgery.  Her test results were showing signs of her being severely malnourished.  She was scheduled for surgery in March. Mel went to the doctor to see if she would be cleared for surgery, she was not.  She was sent to another doctor to see if they could help her, they ran more tests and she was sent home.  She did not feel well and had not felt well for a long time, but that particular day was different, and with many advices she went to the ER and was admitted to the hospital.  Little did anyone know that this was going to be her home for over a month.  A few days after she was admitted things went downhill, quickly she was moved from Lincoln to Omaha, her lungs filled with fluid.  She was sedated, completely out for the next week, tube helping her breathe, and on dialysis because her kidneys were failing.  She was also having liver issues.  Mel was diagnosed with ARDS and the doctor (I was in there when this was said) said they may never know what caused the ARDS.  So you can imagine the ICU hospital stay costs, and then rehab costs, plus minimal amount of money coming in from work, and not even getting an answer or even knowing if it could happen again.  Very frightening.

Fast forward to May 24, that was the new day she was scheduled for the corrective surgery that she didn't have in March.  The doctor's said she was ok for the surgery, that all her test results were coming back normal.  This was supposed to be a laparoscopic surgery, maximum 4 day hospital stay.  Surgery went "well" and I spoke to Mel briefly on the day after, it was short as she just wanted to check in and apologize for not calling me the day before after her surgery, I mean really?  This is Mel, always thinking about someone else before herself.  Unfortunately that was the last time I talked to her for a couple of weeks.  She developed major complications from the surgery.  Her liver and kidneys were failing due to the complications.  One Friday evening I got the most frightening text, all that was asked for was prayers, lots and lots of prayers, Dell was requesting them.  The next day was even worse, there was the phone call from Dell, emergency surgery, no one thinks she is going to make it, vitals were not good, they were going in to try to find an infection.  That was the longest day, I can't imagine how much longer it was for Dell.  But despite what evryone thought she made it through.  Mel was sedated again after that surgery and put on dialysis again to clean her blood, she was out until they backed off the meds the Tues after Memorial Day, but in that time, besides the emergency surgery, she had undergone 2 more procedures, closing her up and trying to fix a leak.  Since then Mel has been just ok.  She developed an abdominal hematoma where the options given to fix it seemed awful for her, nothing showed a good outcome.  Fortunately she overcame yet another obstacle, they were able to drain it and get rid of most of it.  She also is being fed through an IV and has 2 ports that are feeding her supplements while her intestines try and heal from the surgeries.  I talked to her today, which is why I am writing this with her permisson, it is hard for her to talk because she is unable to drink anything to help her throat, but we only focused on getting her better, positive thoughts.  Right now June 1, 2016 she is resting comfortably in her room in the ICU in Omaha. She does not know what tomorrow will bring, everyone is taking things one day at a time and she is terrified.

Mel's goal is to be out of the hospital by her birthday July 6, but honestly no one has given an expected date.  Her case is in the hands of the Mayo clinic for a second opinion, either they will decide to take her or they will come back and say that they are doing everything they should be doing right where she is.  If she is accepted then that will be even more difficult since they will be even farther away from home, but it is all about what is best for her. 

I know that any help anyone can give would be greatly appreciated and would not go left unnoticed.  I know that I personally got a thank you card from her for everything I got her from her first hospital stay.  She would do this for anyone, she has a heart of gold.  I will be ever so grateful for all the help provided, she means a lot to me and I want to see her back to herself again, just as everyone else. 

Thank you so much for reading her story.  And from the bottom of all of our hearts we thank you.  Words can't express enough how much your donations will help her road to recovery.