Aiko McLaughlin Needs Our Help NOW

Hi, my name is True and I am fundraising for my best friend, Aiko McLaughlin. I know about 5 people in the area but Aiko knows anyone and everyone. Seriously, going out in public with her can be so annoying, hahaha! Anyone that knows Aiko knows that she always puts others first before herself. In December Aiko was very sick with a respiratory infection and when she should have been staying home to get better she still showed up to our foster kiddos band concert to make sure he knew that he had a village standing behind him. She always shows up when you need her, no matter what. And now it’s time for us to step up for her.

I know that when others read this fundraiser that know Aiko they likely can reflect on a time in their lives where Aiko was there for them. Aiko is a hairdresser and if she doesn’t work she doesn’t have a way to bring in an income. For some unknown reason Aiko started experiencing severe pain in her shoulder collar bone area on NYE. My wife took her to the emergency room and they sent her home with ibuprofen telling her she needed to see an ortho specialist and they couldn’t help her. Fast forward a couple of days and Aiko was in so much pain she could not care for herself. We were having to do everything for her. She wasn’t able to care for herself or her son, Knox. Fast forward 2 whole weeks of pure and utter hell for Aiko and we finally started getting answers. Many MRI’s, CT Scans, and ultrasounds later they found that Aiko had a serious infection in her chest/shoulder/clavicle area.

The infection was so serious it was in her bones. She was hospitalized while they planned out getting her infection under control and planning a surgery to save her life. At this time she has been in the hospital for one week. She has had one surgery where they removed part of her clavicle and the infection from the surrounding flesh. She has an open wound with a wound vac and will likely need more surgeries (we know of one more surgery at this time that she will be having in the next couple of days). She remains on a constant IV antibiotic for a systematic infection that has spread to her blood system, she is on a constant regime of IV pain meds, and she is in and out of consciousness. I personally watched Aiko stop breathing last night and go unconscious as 20+ people came to her aid to get her stable again.

This unknown infection is ravaging her body and we are very hopeful she will come out on the other side. But for now, there is no work for Aiko. In fact we have to pack up her salon and close shop while this is going on. There is no money coming in and yet the bills keep piling up. A mortgage, car payment, her sons care, her dogs, the list goes on and on. I’ve never been so terrified in my life. I literally thought I was watching my best friend die before my eyes last night. I foresaw our sons growing up together without her being by my side to watch it with me. Aiko is a gift from god and she needs our help financially. Please help me raise the money we need to cover gas bills, hospital parking costs, and other monies to take care of her living costs during this temporary setback in her life. We can all rally behind her and lift her up during this time of need and show her just how much she means to US ALL!!!

Aiko’s mother, Julie, has been a rock for her remaining by her side and only going home to sleep. Earl, her partner, has been an unyielding support for her while caring for Knox, going back and forth between the hospital and work, and her parents, Bob & Heather McLaughlin, have been a huge support with caring for Aiko, Knox and still holding down the fort while helping to care for Aiko’s nephew, Mason, who is battling cancer simultaneously. Then of course there are all the friends who are rallying behind Aiko during this time but most importantly is the family that continues and will always stand behind Aiko in her time of need.

Please donate if you have the ability. Every single penny counts. Share this campaign if you can’t. Pray for Aiko to continue to heal. Rally behind Aiko’s family as they care for her during her time of need. We are all SO GRATEFUL for the support to help Aiko during this time.