My niece Whitney He Crow became ill July 24 and she thought it was due to going in/out of the AC from her car and home because the weather was hot. She called the Emergency Room in Chadron, Nebraska, on July 25 as she was experiencing chest pains and was instructed to wait until Monday. She googled her symptoms and it said heart attack.  She drove herself to the ER and they immediately flew her to a hospital in Rapid City, SD.  She was experiencing chest pains and breathing problems. On July 27 she was diagnosed with Pericarditis: inflammation of the pericardium, two thin layers of a sac-like tissue that surround the heart to hold it in place and help it to work. A small amount of fluid keeps the layers separate so that there is no friction between them. A common symptom of pericarditis is chest pain, caused by the sac’s layers becoming inflamed and possibly rubbing against the heart. The cause of pericarditis is often unknown, though viral infections are a common cause. It may feel like pain from a heart attack and pericarditis can disrupt the heart’s normal rhythm. In rare cases, pericarditis can have serious consequences. Recovery from pericarditis may take a few days to weeks or even months.

 Whitney’s doctor consulted with the cardiac medical staff from Mayo Clinic and she was given a pacemaker on July 30 and a heart biopsy. It will take 2 days to get the test results back. Whitney appeared to be resting comfortably and overnight her condition changed. The infection spread to her liver and kidneys. Whitney was medevac’d to the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver on the afternoon of July 31.

 Whitney’s husband Cipriano, her mother Jennie Briseno (my sister), her sister, and our cousin drove to Denver to be with Whitney. Whitney’s older sister is taking care of her 3 little children ages 2 months, 3 years and 6 years. Whitney is a healthy 32-year-old who rarely got sick.  She worked part-time and supplemented their income by creating and sewing quilts. The quilt next to her picture is one of the many quilts she sewed. Her husband was laid off from his job due to the pandemic and thankfully, found part-time employment. Whitney has not been working since the birth of her baby.  They are on limited income. This illness is going to put them in a financial bind as her husband had to leave his job to be with her. She is critically ill. There will be updates as more testing will be done. Whitney is in the cardiac intensive care unit. 

 Whitney is everything to her family and they need her to stay strong for her children. Whitney has always been an amazing, creative,  and strong woman.  Many are praying for Whitney and want her to get well so she can be with her children.  

Thank you for any financial assistance that you can give during this emergency medical crisis. We do not know how long Whitney's medical emergency will last and the family members stay in Denver, including the care of her children. Thank you so much from my South Dakota family and for my niece Whitney.