Benner Family Emergency Medical/Fam
My name is Bridgette. I am a Respiratory Therapist in Maryland. In respiratory care we travel many avenues. We specialize in the diagnosis , treatment and care of individuals with heart and lung issues. We respond to codes, start hearts, manage ventilator life support in babies, children, adults and geriatrics among a host of other things. If it breathes we take care of it. We work 12 hour or longer shifts several times a week. We go home tired, wake up tired, and do it all over again. We care for the sickest of the sick, and we put or hearts into our work. The young lady in the photo above is Judy a fellow therapist, with her are her son and husband Danny. 5 days ago while Judy was at the hospital caring for patients on life support, she recieved a phone call from her baby sitter telling her that she needed to come home immediately because her husband who had been suffering from flu-like symptoms had taken a turn for the worse. Judy went home and took her husband to the hospital where they learned that Danny did not have the flu, but was diagnosed with the Strep B virus, better known as The Flesh Eating Virus and it is attacking Danny's body rapidly. Within the last 4 days he has been placed on life support, dialysis machine, a host of pumps , tubes and medicines, in the Infamous Shock Trauma Unit where he is now critically ill. Imagine taking your loved one to the hospital for what seems to be the flu only to one week later have them fighting for their life. He has had a surgery everyday to cut away muscle that has been attacked by this virus. They have removed tissue and muscle from his chest, leaving it open, as well as one of his arms. Today is his 5th surgery. This surgery will claim his arm which is too badly damaged from the virus to save. They are trying to save his legs, but are not sure if it will be possible. Judy is being a true mother, telling her son that his dad is just in the hospital sick, but she knows that she may have to tell this 9 year old more than he can understand. I started this page because Judy is such an amazing person. She cares greatly for her patients, family , friends and co-workers. She is also the primary breadwinner of the family right now and she only has a PRN (whenever necessary) schedule. With all of these things going on she is really scared. She is wondering how she is going to pay the mortgage, take care of the hospital bills, just live day by day right now while fighting with her husband for his life. We have reached out to her friends, co-workers that we know and hope and that everyone can help alleviate the financial burden that suddenly falls on one of our members of the Respiratory family here in MD. With costs mounting every single day there is no way we can do it all for her. I am praying that those of you out there reading this, will find it in your hearts to contribute anything no matter the amount, to help this young family through this tragedy. Judy and Danny are simpy the best people. There is nothing they wouldn't do for anyone in need. Please for just a moment, if you could imagine yourself in her shoes, having your entire existence turned upside down in just a matter of days. No one is equipped to deal with that. How do you go from "Good Morning" today to having a doctor ask, "Do you want us to do everything?". How does that even happen? Judy has done her best in this short period of thime to handle everything, and of course she has moments when she is paralyzed with fear of the unknown, and moments when she just bursts out crying in the middle of a conversation. This morning she started crying just telling me that this was "Their house" how could she not stay there. This fund will be used to help Judy pay her mortgage, babysitter(s), car notes, hospital bills, household bills, etc until she is able to return to work caring for other peoples families. If you cannot contribute, please include this caring sweet family in your prayers tonight. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. God Bless.
