A helper needs our help

Hi everyone! My name is Naomi and my good friend, Amanda, recently contracted COVID while working as a paramedic. Anyone who knows Amanda, knows how hard it is for her to ask for (or accept) help. Amanda is stressed beyond belief and worried for herself and her family. I am starting this fundraiser because I want to help relieve some of that stress and worry so Amanda can focus on regaining her health, returning home to her family, and moving forward with her life and goals - such as finishing nursing school. I hope you can help by donating if you can and spreading the word that one of the helpers needs help.

On Thursday, January 7th, Amanda was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where she has been admitted for the second time. Her oxygen levels were in the 70s and she received CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) while being transported to the hospital to keep her airway open. On top of the COVID-related pneumonia, she has also developed a rare complication that will keep her out of work for a while. Amanda has now been diagnosed with a spontaneous pneumomediastinum (a condition causing air to become trapped around the mediastinum in her chest). This will require a consultation with a cardiothoracic surgeon to determine how to proceed.

Amanda still requires large amounts of high-flow oxygen (just to keep her oxygen saturation in the 90s) at this point and will be admitted to the ICU sometime today. She remains short of breath and becomes increasingly short of breath with small amount of exertion.

Amanda is a volunteer firefighter, a paramedic, a wife, a stepmom, and a friend/mentor to many. She is also a nursing student and will likely have to miss her last semester of nursing school, which is scheduled to start January 18th. She has been out of work since December 15th and has very limited amount of income coming in. It is not enough to sustain her household during this time. She is very stressed, which is not conducive to proper healing. Amanda and her husband Chris (who also contracted COVID in December) are behind on all the bills required to keep their household afloat, not to mention to possibility of unforeseen medical bills and other needs as she continues to recover from this.

One of the great things about the first responder community is how we can come together when one of our own is in need. Any amount you can donate will be of great assistance to Amanda and her family as she continues to fight COVID and all the complications she is facing. If you are unable to donate, please share this fundraiser with other who may be able to help. Amanda and her family thank you from the bottom of their hearts for whatever you can do to support them during this challenging time.