Fundraiser to help Amy Edwards

Hello! My name is Betsy Dodge and I am starting this fundraiser to help support my beautiful sister Amy Edwards! This past year has been extremely difficult for her and her family!! Here is her story!

In November of 2021, Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 42. Because of a strong family history of breast cancer she made the decision to go with a bilateral mastectomy. In January she underwent her mastectomy, along with the first stage of reconstruction. Following her 2 month recovery she developed lymphedema in her right arm, hand, fingers, breast, and torso which required physical therapy for months. In August she had her 2nd stage of reconstruction with the insert of breast implants. Exactly one month after this surgery, Amy developed a serious staph infection in one of her breast implants. Within hours of the infection starting it quickly turned to sepsis and Amy’s life was almost ended. She was rushed to Fairview Southdale for emergency surgery to remove the infected implant. She needed oxygen as her lungs filled up with fluid as did her whole body. Devastatingly, because of the severe sepsis and the toll it took on her body her kidneys shut down and she was now in acute renal failure. She was again in surgery to have a dialysis port inserted into her jugular. With her creatinine numbers being 10x the normal amount she started dialysis immediately. She continued on dialysis for the 15 days she was hospitalized. Half way thru her hospitalization she also acquired a secondary infection called C. Diff due to the strong antibiotics she was getting intravenously. Following her release the drs feared her other breast implant was becoming infected as well so she again went under the knife to have it removed. She was then started on outpatient dialysis at 5am every other day and had to travel an hour to get there. She received outpatient dialysis for weeks until her kidney numbers were safe enough to taper off. Because of the severe damage to her kidneys, Amy will alway be in stage 2 renal failure but the symptoms can be managed at this time without the need for dialysis. Two weeks ago he dialysis tunnel catheter was removed and she can now concentrate on regaining strength and her health. She battles side effects from her damaged kidneys but is thankful to be off of dialysis. Amy has started anti cancer drugs and hormone therapy to reduce her chances of a reoccurrence. Her next surgery for further reconstruction will be in mid December.

The financial, emotional, and physical toll this year has taken has been catastrophic for Amy and her family. Amy and Brent have 4 beautiful children and they have all been through so much. If we can lessen the financial burden of her extensive medical bills I know that they would be so grateful!! Thank you so much!!