Bring the Chocolate Lady Home

If you've ever met my friend Stephanie, aka The Chocolate Lady, you'd remember that meeting.  From the moment you meet "Choco", as those of us around her lovingly refer to her, you feel like you're with a friend you've known your whole life. She's warm, funny and brings you right in. Next thing you know you're sharing a laugh, probably sharing some food and she's got you roped into volunteering somewhere in the community. That's what she does...she cares about her community.  When she's not planning the Chocolate on the Beach Festival, or serving as a Fire Commissioner for District 8, she can be found taking notes at various meetings or helping out somewhere around Grays Harbor.

Well Grays Harbor, it's our turn.  Choco needs our help.  On December 21st of 2020 Stephanie was admitted into Northwest Hospital & Medical Center with C-Diff and Diverticulitis.  Little did they know just how much, and how far reaching those diagnosis would go. It turned out Stephanie had 9 different perforations in her bowels and intestines and a massive infection throughout her body.  The doctors tried to clear out the massive infection before surgeries, but when it got down to it, they couldn't wait any longer.  Stephanie ended up having 2 sections of colon and 1 section of bowel removed. 9 drains were put in and the antibiotics remained on board.  The infection nearly took her life,  then her kidneys failed which also nearly took her life.  Twice we could have lost this vital part of Grays Harbor, but if you've ever met Stephanie you know she's one tough lady.  In this time she was only allowed nutrition through IV and remained in the hospital.  There was a brief stint in a rehab facility, however she was brought back to the hospital when her kidneys failed. For 3 months Stephanie remained in the hospital under 24 hour care.

The good news is Stephanie is on the mend!  It's a long road, but she's now in Sammamish at her sister in laws.  The doctors will not send her home, and that far away from the hospital,  to the North Beach until she can be completely independent.   Here's where we come in. Stephanie still has 3 drains and needs care.  She's got at least one more surgery coming up and the doctors wont even speculate yet on what the future holds for Choco. Insurance wont cover the many supplies she needs to keep clean, stay healthy and be independent. Things like a hospital bed, drainage bags, etc...  It also wont cover the help she needs to make sure drains are taken care of and other needs are met.  Jon has been by her side through it all.  However, with Jon being an independent, licensed contractor he needs to be able to work to keep up on not just the medical bills, but the every day bills.

Every little bit we can give to help Stephanie get on her feet and get back home is much appreciated not just by her friends and family, but by Jon and Steph.  They give so much to their community and ask so little.  I know this is a tough ask for them, but I also know how much they are loved and supported by the folks here in Grays Harbor and beyond.  Thank you for your support!