Help Amanda Survive After Intubation and Tracheostomy

Amanda, devoted mother of 3, has been going through a medical crisis and needs our help. On February 7th, our beloved Amanda was admitted into the ICU at City Of Hope. It began a few days before when she experienced intense lateral pain thought to be an injured rib and difficulty breathing. Amanda is diagnosed with GvHD following a life-saving stem cell transplant she received from City Of Hope 8 years ago, so these symptoms were not atypical for what she experiences daily as a result of her existing medical condition. However, these symptoms continued to worsen, as breathing became more challenging and she lost her ability to speak. Not long after, she collapsed when attempting to walk on her own. Amanda is a fiercely independent woman who will work through anything without asking for help, so when she described her pain levels as a 10 out of 10, we knew something was seriously wrong. She was rushed to City of Hope in Duarte.

They found large amounts of fluid within and surrounding her lungs, which had to be surgically drained. Testing revealed this fluid was the result of a complex pneumonia infection that had gone septic. Amanda was then rushed to the ICU, where they began aggressive treatment with antibiotics and oxygen therapy. Two days after being admitted, Amanda was diagnosed with COVID. Her CO2 levels were dangerously high, and her lungs could not function on their own. Exactly seven days after being admitted, on Valentine’s Day, Amanda was intubated under heavy sedation and full support of a ventilator.

(City Of Hope ICU on 2/14/2024, the day mom was intubated. Our mom always went out of her way to ensure we woke up to something special every single Valentines Day without fail, so we did the same for her. ❤️)

Amanda was extubated on February 19th and remained stable for a few days, but her C02 levels began to rise again. With the reassurance that her daughters would be by her side at all times to comfort and support her even while she was sedated, Amanda was again intubated on February 23rd. When discussing Amanda’s prognosis, we were informed that the best path forward would be a tracheotomy. This would allow her to be on a faster path toward recovery, wean off her ventilator, and reduce the amount of time and PT needed to get her body back into working shape. The only other option would see our mother intubated and sedated for months, further delaying her body’s recovery. Amanda fiercely advocates for herself and insists on being informed in order to consent to any procedures, so we knew we had to consult with her. It took the next two days of slowly weaning her off sedation so she could be conscious enough for us to describe the prognosis to her. On February 29th, Amanda successfully received her tracheostomy and slowly began to wake up, surrounded by all her daughters.

Thus began the next phase in her recovery. As her condition became more stable, Amanda’s insurance would no longer cover her stays at City Of Hope’s ICU, as it is for specialized cancer care (which she blessedly continues to be in remission from for 10 years, and counting!). The plan was to have Amanda transferred to the Barlow Respiratory Hospital in Whittier, which specializes in rehabilitating tracheostomy patients. Amanda spent a few more weeks at ICU learning how to breathe with her tracheostomy, but still not being cleared to swallow even water. When Amanda got to the top of a waiting list for a bed at Barlow, on March 13th, she received a positive test result for tuberculosis. The results had come from a culture performed on February 17th and took four weeks to arrive. A large number of additional tests needed to be performed to verify the diagnosis, which thankfully came back negative. This didn’t delay her too much, as she was able to transfer to Barlow Respiratory Hospital on Friday, March 15th.

Despite her anxiety for the long road of recovery ahead, Amanda continued to make huge strides. At Barlow, she had a highly skilled and trustworthy team, which spurred her conviction to heal. She worked diligently during her speech, respiratory, and physical therapies. Her breathing continued to improve, as she spent more time breathing solely through her tracheostomy with no additional support. She was able to speak again, and in one of her most exciting milestones yet, was able to have thickened water and soup on March 25th. On March 28th, Amanda was able to start eating solid foods. Her recovery began to soar and she had her tracheostomy removed on April 6th. She then embarked on the next step of her path, transferring to NeuroRestorative.

Amanda arrived at the rehabilitation center on Monday, April 15th and was only able to stay there until Sunday. On Saturday, she had a heavy cough, and her care team ordered a chest X-ray at PIH Hospital of Whittier. Results revealed that she was once again positive for COVID and pneumonia. At this time, imaging also uncovered a pulmonary embolism. Despite this setback, Amanda is not letting it dim her determination to continue recovering.

(Amanda + Serenity at PIH Hospital. 5/5/2024)

We are asking for your support to help alleviate the tremendous financial burdens of this time so our mother can devote herself to healing and inspiring others with her life story. Our Amanda is no stranger to survival, and has been overcoming unthinkable challenges since her earliest days. From tumultuous childhood beginnings, to becoming a teen mother, to being diagnosed with cancer in her early 30s, and working full-time through it all. Some may remember when Amanda fought for a new life when she received a Stem cell transplant from City of Hope in 2015, which finally sent her 10-year battle with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma into remission. After, she was diagnosed with Graft vs Host Disease as the donor cells viewed her body’s cells as a threat. Despite this, Amanda has never let her health conditions or struggles defeat or get the best of her.

Before this illness began, Amanda finished her associates degree at Santa Monica College in 2021, and went on to graduate Cum Laude from Long Beach State University with a double major in English Literature and Creative Writing in 2023. It is her ultimate dream to use her education, talent, and the unprecedented obstacles she has overcome to inspire others with her life of strength. If you have the privilege of knowing Amanda, you know that her warmth, giving soul, and resilience knows no bounds, and that there is no obstacle too big for her to tackle. Please help her overcome this next obstacle on her path to recovery. We are so grateful for your prayers and words of encouragement for our beautiful Amanda’s fight.

At present, she remains at PIH Hospital where she is being monitored and continuing her PT.

With Love & Blessings,

Amanda’s Daughters- Jennifer, Serenity, and Jessica

(Amanda & her girls, 2006)