“Donna’s Healing Journey “

Help Donna Harmon With Her Recovery and Care

Hello, my name is Mila Walker, and I am creating this fundraiser for my mom, Donna Harmon. She is a kind, selfless, and loving woman who has always cared deeply for her family and friends. She has worked hard her entire life to take care of us and be there for others in their time of need — and now it is our turn to be there for her.

What Happened

About a week and a half ago, my mom went to visit her sister, Mary Ruth, in Louisville, Kentucky, where both she and I are originally from. My mom was worried about her sister because she had some medical issues and was going to have to have surgery.

While my mom was there, she had a fall because her legs and hands went numb. She was taken to the emergency room, where doctors ran tests and scans and told us she needed surgery on her spine. They explained that she would need rods and screws put in right away.

While recovering in the hospital, she was also placed on strong pain medicine, which did not agree with her body. It caused her to sleep heavily for two days and left her confused and not fully alert, which was frightening for all of us to see.

At nearly the same time, my mom’s sister, Mary Ruth, had her scheduled surgery. So there we were, with both sisters in the hospital in Louisville — my mom recovering from an emergency spine surgery, and my aunt recovering from hers.

Since then, my mom has remained in the hospital, fighting an infection. Doctors need to get the infection under control and remove the IVs before she can begin rehab. Once that happens, she will be in a wheelchair for a while, until she regains her strength and, hopefully, can stand and walk on her own again.

The Toll on Our Family

This has been difficult for my mom, but also for all of us as a family. Recently, we lost my nephew, Levi Daffron, age 29, who was a proud veteran. Losing him so suddenly was heartbreaking, and it has been especially hard for my sister, his mother, who has been grieving while trying to support my mom.

With my aunt’s surgery happening almost at the same time as my mom’s, our family has been stretched to the breaking point emotionally and financially.

We are doing everything we can to be with my mom in Kentucky, but it hasn’t been easy. My oldest sister, Myra, has spent the most time there because she has some vacation time left, but she is exhausted — often sleeping in a recliner at the hospital just to stay by mom’s side.

I have been traveling back and forth from Tennessee to Louisville, which is about a 4½-hour drive each way, but I don’t have a car of my own. I’ve been driving my mom’s car, adding miles and wear on it, and worrying what will happen if it breaks down before she even gets home. My other sister used all her vacation time when her son passed away, so she hasn’t been able to come as often as she would like.

We are all doing our best to take turns, but it has been overwhelming in every way.

Preparing Her Home

Even after she leaves the hospital and rehab, my mom cannot come home until her house is safe and ready for her wheelchair. We need to:

- Knock out a bathroom wall to make the shower accessible,

- Build a ramp outside so she can get in and out safely,

- Rearrange and modify her home so she can move between her living room, bathroom, and other areas without risk.

These are big projects, and on top of medical bills, prescriptions, and travel costs, it is more than our family can manage alone.

Why We Need Help

We are asking for support to help cover:

- Hospital and rehab expenses

- Prescriptions and follow-up care

- Travel and gas for family to stay with her

- Home modifications (wheelchair ramp, accessible shower, etc.)

We have set the fundraising goal at $15,000 because it reflects the real costs our family is facing. This includes out-of-pocket hospital and rehab bills, prescriptions, and ongoing care, along with travel expenses for family to be with her in Kentucky. It also covers the home modifications she will need before she can safely return, such as building a wheelchair ramp and remodeling the bathroom for accessibility. We want to be transparent so everyone knows exactly how your generosity will be used to support her recovery.

Transparency

Although the GoFundMe page is in my name, the funds will go directly to my sister Myra, who is set up as the official beneficiary. She will use every donation for our mom’s care, rehab, and the home modifications she needs.

How You Can Help

Every donation, no matter the size, will make a difference in my mom’s recovery and help relieve the heavy burden on our family. Even if you cannot donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser so more people can see it.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your prayers, kindness, and support during this difficult time.