Help Anna with her medical expenses

I am Maddie St. John and I have the privilege to know Anna and some of her family. Anna's sister Erinn Chenevert is the receptionist at my animal hospital and her sister, Anna Wines often works with us as a veterinary technician.

The last week in October of 2021, Anna was working in her garden and experienced what felt like a pinched nerve. About a week later, she fell suddenly and was paralyzed from the waist down. Anna received surgery the next day to repair degeneration of her vertebrae and discs. Anna did well after surgery and regained feeling in her legs. She was able to get around on a walker and attend all of her doctor's appointments.

Right after Thanksgiving, Anna started her physical therapy. She woke up one morning with a bad headache and nausea. Anna went to an urgent care facility where they thought she had a possible virus or migraine, so they sent Anna home with medications. About four hours later, Anna woke up from a nap in extreme pain. They rushed her back to the hospital to find that Anna was septic from a severe infection in her spine and leaking spinal fluid.

The doctors performed another surgery to clean out the infection and they put in a drain pump. Anna was in the hospital for about 5 days after that when she was finally coherent enough to know what was happening. Anna has no memory of a second surgery.

The doctors kept her at the hospital for a few more days and then took out her drain pump. A few hours later, Anna began having a reaction to the sutures used to repair the site of her drain pump. The doctors had to do a surgical repair using mesh. At that point, Anna seemed to be recovering well and was sent home a day later. Anna began receiving home health care with a PICC line, which is how she would receive IV antibiotics for the next 6 weeks.

On December 9, Anna started leaking spinal fluid again and was rushed back to the hospital.

When Anna is stable enough, she will need another surgical procedure.

Anna's husband is a middle school history teacher and due to the physicality of being a veterinary technician, Anna has been unable to work consistently through this.

As one could imagine, this is a heavy financial burden on their family, and Anna will likely need continuing medical support for the next several months. If you have the pleasure of knowing anyone in their family, you know they are some of the kindest, considerate and selfless people. I am hoping for any financial support for this family to relieve some of the worry that they are experiencing right now.