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Help My Family

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Last October Brett was diagnosed with osteomyelitis in his jaw. It's a rare bone infection that eats away at the bone marrow and kills the bone. He has previously had two emerency oral surgeries in July and September where he had teeth removed. In October, he was hospitalized and had emergency surgery to remove part of the right side of his jaw after it had suddenly broke.  He was placed on IV antibiotics for the course of six weeks. He was on disability during that time and we had to pay cobra in order to continue his health insurance.      In October, we lost my dad to an untimely death. It was a very difficult time dealing with Brett's health crisis, the lost of my dad and just having a baby 4 months prior. I decided to be a stay at home mom because my baby and Brett needed me home. Brett wasn't in any condition to take care of the baby and himself. Plus, I had to drive Brett back and forth to Newark once a week to see his Drs for follow ups.     Fast forward to February, Brett had reconstructive surgery.  He needed to have a bone graft placed into his jaw with a permanent metal plate. He had a temporary plate put in in October to hold his mouth together. The surgery went well and the Drs were pleased with how everything turned out. However, two weeks later, Brett was having chills, feeling weak and lethargic. We rush to see his Drs in Newark, only to find out the osteomyelitis came back and ate away at the surgical site. The bone graft and permanent plate were destroyed and needed to be removed right away. Brett goes in for emergency surgery yet again. He had his mouth wired shut and was placed back on IV antibiotics for six weeks. The weekly visits to Newark and the visiting nurse continue during that time. In August, Brett was diagnosed for a third time with osteomyelitis and had to be on heavy duty oral antibiotics. If it didn't treat his symptoms he would have to emergency surgery to drain the infection and postpone his surgery for the implant. Luckily the medication worked and Brett was able to have his most recent surgery.    On September 28, Brett had surgery to remove the rest of the lower part of the right side of his jaw including three more teeth that had to be removed. The surgery lasted for almost eight hours because Brett was having heart arrhythmia and the surgeons had to closely monitor him. The doctors had checked his heart out before surgery and all seemed fine. They ran more tests after surgery and want Brett to follow with his cardiologist more regularly. It might have been the stress of the surgery weighing in on Brett that caused the arrthymia. Brett is now home and has a picc line in for IV antibiotics treatment for precaution, as the Infectious Disease Dr is concerned about the osyomeltis reoccurring. He will be one the picc line for four to six weeks. The weekly visits with the visiting nurse and to the hospital will be our norm for the weeks to come. Brett and I were informed that he will also need more surgery in the future. He would need another bone graft to be placed in the prosthetic implant because the current implant will help with bone growth and have replacement teeth put in. It has been a very stressful and emotional year for us and our family. I was lucky enough to get a part time job where I can have Elliott with me and have picked up some odd jobs here and there along the way. However, I need to take time off in order to be with Brett. I am asking for donations to help us out because we are struggling to pay the rent, to pay for our family car to get back and forth to Newark, hospital bills and with the upcoming cobra expense. We have been approved for SNAP, WIC and local food banks to help supplement the cost of food. We have applied for TANF but don't meet that criteria because we have not been late with the rent. Which we have worked hard at not being late, but our savings is almost down to nothing. We are very worried that we may not be able to cover the rent and expenses to get Brett back and forth to his Drs. Please help us in our time of need. Thank you and God Bless.
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Donations 

  • Jennifer Nicholson
    • $25
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer

Kate Stinson
Organizer
Glen Gardner, NJ

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