Medical Expenses & Medical Travel for Amber Weston

My name is Sarah Weston, and I am reaching out to the Facebook community on behalf of my brother Lucas and my sister-in-law Amber. Amber contracted a breakthrough case of COVID at the end of January 2022, then had a hysterectomy right after on 2/2 which gave her a kidney infection and landed her in the hospital for 3 days on IV antibiotics. Unfortunately, she has not gotten any better, unfortunately, she had only gotten worse, and it has been taxing on their family both financially and emotionally. Amber is currently at home living in her bed 24/7, hooked to an IV that is helping her hold on while the doctors figure out how to help her. Since Long COVID is new she has had issues finding proper care or a doctor who is willing to help her. Amber shared with me the symptom list that she brings to get doctors' appointments so I could try and get a better idea of where they struggle most in a day and it was extremely eye-opening and so she said I could share it here. Any little amount you can spare to help Amber and Lucas and Will is very much appreciated! Amber can’t walk, help with Will, help around the house or do anything basically and so they have been going into debt to get care for Will, meals made, and the house cleaned. Not to mention the thousands of dollars in medical bills that she accrued since this Long COVID started. Here is the list that Amber sent me if anyone is interested in some more information/detail.

• The financial strain of ER visits, copays, Lucas having to miss work because I cannot be alone with Will, meal delivery because I cannot cook, childcare so Lucas can stay at work for a full day

• Infection 5 days after surgery that put me in hospital for 4 days on 12 hours doses of antibiotics

• Chronic diarrhea

o The consistency of water

o Either the color of bile or weird dark green color

• Chronic nausea

o Any solid food that hits my stomach it tries to expel

o If I don’t throw it up it magically liquifies and comes out my bowels

▪ Not getting any nutrition

• Cognitive decline, mini seizures, muscle spasms, and loss of use of the left side of the face

• Brain fog

• Cough or shortness of breath – can’t walk to the kitchen without getting winded

• Exertional fatigue; fatigue, pain, cognitive difficulties, sore throat, and/or swollen lymph nodes after previously tolerated Page 5 physical or mental activity.

• Endoscopy last week showed black spots on my stomach, and they were not there on my endoscopy 4 months ago before COVID

• Thunderclap headaches that turn into multi day migraine

• Heart or blood vessel damage – racing heart – aren’t sure of damage yet

• Mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Complications related to COVID treatment, including airway complications that may require specialized medical or surgical evaluation and therapies – no clue what is causing the lack of ability to accept any nutrients into my body

• Been on IV fluids for 75 days and keep getting worse by the day

• Have lost 25 pounds since 2nd week in January 2022

• Been to the hospital 16 times in the past 30 days

• Emotional PTSD: Can’t interact with Will at all; can’t hold him, do any activity with him, or even be left alone with him

• Prisoner of my own bedroom – hooked up to IV at least 6 hours a day which requires sitting in bed while the infusion is happening

• My veins are so depleted that I am dealing with IVs blowing out my veins and the trauma of being stabbed with an IV needle over 100 times in 75 days

• Lucas must work for money to live

o Also, must be the primary caretaker of Will because I literally cannot do anything

• Will tells me he “wants a new Mommy because I am broken”

• I spend all the time I can stay awake on the phone with insurance companies, doctors, pharmacies, and all other medical professionals to try and get help and fight for my life because no one seems to want to help me - miserable existence

• Amber also rolled her ankle on the stairs because of dehydration and vertigo and tore all main ligaments and tendons in her right foot – now supposed to be in a cast and on crutches for 10 weeks

o Not strong enough physically to use the crutches

• Amber cannot drive anywhere to help out family; cannot pick up or drop off Will, cannot run errands, cannot go to doctor appointments without someone driving me, cannot do anything on my own