Fundraiser for Kelly Lewis
Donation protected
We all agree that 2020 was a bad year. For Kelly Lewis though, it was a terrible, awful, super bad year that began with a surgery that went very badly toward the end of 2019.
Since that surgery, Kelly, a once dynamic and devoted animal rescue and rights advocate, Humane Education Specialist, Community Outreach Coordinator, volunteer, foster and transporter who worked using therapy animals with incarcerated teens has been, until just recently, bedridden.
In the last year, Kelly has endured ten surgeries, countless procedures, more days spent in the hospital than spent at home. She's been in a coma and on both dialysis and a ventilator.
She has suffered through and survived Sepsis, Covid, a mesh stint surgically implanted in her stomach that came out of place, causing internal bleeding and one of three near death experiences.
She contracted a MRSA infection in her blood system, had four ambulance rides, spent weeks spent in ICU, CCU and even had a stay in a rehabilitation center for physical therapy.
According to Kelly, the worst part of 2020 was having to look into the eyes of her family when they were called to the hospital to discuss her quality of life and were told that end of life preparations should be made.
Yes, 2020 has been a bad year, but if you ask her, Kelly will say it is the year she didn't die when the medical professionals were convinced she would.
2020 isn't over yet though, and after years of taking care of herself, her family, thousands of animals in need, uncounted homeless humans, and incarcerated teens, Kelly is drowning in a sea of medical debt, has overwhelming living expenses and now her landlord wants to sell the house where she has made timely rent payments for 9 years (even while she was in the hospital). So, moving expenses and purchasing and installing a fence for their dogs has now been added to a cup that is already over - flowing with debt.
Kelly has insurance, but when one hospital stay, with the ambulance ride, dialysis and breathing machines, specialized care, tests and surgeries total hundreds of thousands of dollars, the amount owed by the patient begins to add up as well.
Going from two incomes to one income equals disaster in most working class homes, and Kelly's home is no exception. If you add in the medical and moving expenses, it seems damn near impossible at this point. This kind of stress is not good for healing. Kelly needs us to be as generous now as she herself has been throughout the years for those who have been in need.
Currently Kelly is at home healing, but it is slow going. She cannot eat solid food, has a PICC line and is attached to an IV for nutrition 14 hours a day.
She has a home healthcare nurse and is under Palliative care services (this is one step up from Hospice care).
She endures daily pain and vomiting, but still gets up every day and works toward wellness and building her strength so she can return to work. She's supposed to use a walker to get around, but is building enough strength (and stubbornness) to sometimes leave it behind.
Her Drs. think this will not be a speedy recovery, but Kelly is tenacious when she talks about that opinion, and says, with a gleam in her eyes, "the Drs. have been wrong before".
Please join us in helping Kelly by making a small donation. Every little bit helps.
Since that surgery, Kelly, a once dynamic and devoted animal rescue and rights advocate, Humane Education Specialist, Community Outreach Coordinator, volunteer, foster and transporter who worked using therapy animals with incarcerated teens has been, until just recently, bedridden.
In the last year, Kelly has endured ten surgeries, countless procedures, more days spent in the hospital than spent at home. She's been in a coma and on both dialysis and a ventilator.
She has suffered through and survived Sepsis, Covid, a mesh stint surgically implanted in her stomach that came out of place, causing internal bleeding and one of three near death experiences.
She contracted a MRSA infection in her blood system, had four ambulance rides, spent weeks spent in ICU, CCU and even had a stay in a rehabilitation center for physical therapy.
According to Kelly, the worst part of 2020 was having to look into the eyes of her family when they were called to the hospital to discuss her quality of life and were told that end of life preparations should be made.
Yes, 2020 has been a bad year, but if you ask her, Kelly will say it is the year she didn't die when the medical professionals were convinced she would.
2020 isn't over yet though, and after years of taking care of herself, her family, thousands of animals in need, uncounted homeless humans, and incarcerated teens, Kelly is drowning in a sea of medical debt, has overwhelming living expenses and now her landlord wants to sell the house where she has made timely rent payments for 9 years (even while she was in the hospital). So, moving expenses and purchasing and installing a fence for their dogs has now been added to a cup that is already over - flowing with debt.
Kelly has insurance, but when one hospital stay, with the ambulance ride, dialysis and breathing machines, specialized care, tests and surgeries total hundreds of thousands of dollars, the amount owed by the patient begins to add up as well.
Going from two incomes to one income equals disaster in most working class homes, and Kelly's home is no exception. If you add in the medical and moving expenses, it seems damn near impossible at this point. This kind of stress is not good for healing. Kelly needs us to be as generous now as she herself has been throughout the years for those who have been in need.
Currently Kelly is at home healing, but it is slow going. She cannot eat solid food, has a PICC line and is attached to an IV for nutrition 14 hours a day.
She has a home healthcare nurse and is under Palliative care services (this is one step up from Hospice care).
She endures daily pain and vomiting, but still gets up every day and works toward wellness and building her strength so she can return to work. She's supposed to use a walker to get around, but is building enough strength (and stubbornness) to sometimes leave it behind.
Her Drs. think this will not be a speedy recovery, but Kelly is tenacious when she talks about that opinion, and says, with a gleam in her eyes, "the Drs. have been wrong before".
Please join us in helping Kelly by making a small donation. Every little bit helps.
Organizer and beneficiary
Justice for Katie and Bowie
Organizer
Atlanta, GA
Kelly Lewis
Beneficiary