Donna Francis needs your help with medical rehab!

UPDATE: Photo from 7.9.22 of Donna Standing

UPDATE: Photo from 7.9.22 of Donna Standing

UPDATE: Photo from 7.9.22 of Donna Standing

UPDATE: 7.11.22

I don’t know where to begin or how to thank EVERYONE for all the very generous donations that have been made over the last several days. We are humbled, grateful and blessed by the overwhelming outpouring of love for Donna and her situation. We promise to somehow, someway, pay it forward.

Quick update on Donna: Bruce and I made it to San Antonio on Friday in time to be there for her PT session. With an extreme amount of encouragement (and some tough love), Donna stood THREE TIMES on Friday. The last time was for over a minute. On Saturday, we got her to stand FIVE TIMES, each being over a minute. This was the FIRST TIME that she has stood in 6 weeks. Granted that there was lots of help to get her up and standing and still giving her support while she was standing but SHE DID IT! OT called me while we were driving to San Antonio and said that she was able to put on her clothes while sitting up in her bed. This TOO was huge!!!

When Donna first entered the rehab over 2 weeks ago, she score 4 out of 100, basically being completely and totally dependent. On Friday, after her weekly evaluation, she is now 34 out of 100!!!! We are hoping to get her to close to 50% by the end of the month. The PT and OT that she is getting in this rehab facility is top-notch and they are working her hard (which she needs).

We spent Saturday morning getting half of her apartment cleaned out. It was heartbreaking and I have to admit that I cried several times throughout the process. Although I have had to do this same thing for other relatives over the years, this time was so much harder. I found myself frozen at times, but with great words of encouragement from my friends and family helping on Saturday, we got a ton accomplished.

She is gaining weight and looking healthy. Her Nurse Practitioner said on Friday during our weekly team meeting, that her overall health is good and she is gaining strength. We told Donna about the GoFundMe and I read her my original post/request several times and how much we had raised. She thinks that we are raising money for Leukemia and Lymphoma in her honor. Even in her time of need, in her mind, she is still helping others that need it more than she does.

We are not out of the “woods” yet, but we are working on it. I plan to post updates and photos weekly after we visit her on the weekends. Please continue to keep Donna in your thoughts and prayers. Also, please share the link/post on your social media pages, via email or text. The more we all can spread the word, the more help Donna can get for her road to recovery.

7.7.22

It is with a heavy heart that I write this request asking for help with medical expenses. On May 26th, my sister, Donna Francis, went to the ER after experiencing a fall and her legs not working. After spending a week in the hospital and a week in a medical rehab facility, it was determined that her original diagnosis was incorrect. Her physical capabilities/mobility functions were quickly deteriorating, as well as her mental faculties (no short-term memory, very confused, long-term memory all over the place). We had her readmitted to the hospital where they ran MANY tests including a MRI, CAT scan and a EEG to see if she had a stroke (she was showing many signs of a stroke). After another week and a half in the hospital, she was officially diagnosed with Korsakoff syndrome.

She was moved back into a very good physical rehab facility 2 weeks ago because she still cannot stand or walk, horrible hand dexterity, confusion, unable to sit up unassisted, etc. In the last 2 weeks she has made major progress with intense OT and PT. However, Medicare is running out as of July 14th and she will have to start paying out of pocket. Donna has no savings or retirement, receives a very small check from Social Security and will not be able to afford to stay past July 14th without financial help. If she is unable to get the physical rehab that she needs, she is looking at long-term, skilled nursing for the rest of her life. We are trying to get her to a point where she can at least scoot around on a walker and then she can come and live with my husband and myself, while we continue to get her in-home care and PT/OT.

Any donation will be greatly appreciated and will help Donna tremendously to extend her path to recovery for several more weeks/months. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Love Rebecca, Bruce and Donna Francis.