Help Alexis and Kitty Navigate their New Normal

Alexis is finally coming home (!!!), and this is our opportunity to throw in our support.

Alexis wasn’t feeling very well on New Year's Eve and decided to take it easy for the night and ring in the new year at home with her wife, Kitty. They had just finally tied the knot the week before. The next evening she knew she had to go to the emergency room, and was admitted to the hospital. So started a series of unexpected events that screeched the newlywed's lives to a halt.

Alexis had blood clots in her lungs and her legs were completely blocked. Surgeons also closed a hole in her heart. A close anaphylactic shock scare, and multiple surgeries later, she was finally close to coming home, but things took a dramatic turn.

Doctors found that Alexis’ wound on her leg had gotten badly infected, and was spreading. They had to make a quick decision to amputate her leg above the knee to stop the spread of the infection and ultimately save her life.

Over two months in a hospital (mostly in the ICU, or in shared hospital rooms), eight surgeries, nonstop pain, and a lot of bad hospital food is a lot for anyone to endure. Luckily Alexis had Kitty by her side every single day.

Alexis’ drive to GTFO of the hospital has the OT and PT team at the hospital very impressed with her progress. She is scheduled to come home Monday, March 6th.

But the journey is not over, in fact, it's just the beginning. Alexis now has to learn how to navigate this world first in a wheelchair, and eventually with a prosthetic. This means a lot of doctor visits, and a lot of physical and occupational therapy. It also means that the entire way of life she knew just a few months ago, needs to be rethought and adjusted to be safe and accessible.

If you know Alexis, you know she is always dreaming big and crushing goals and inspiring those around her to do so as well. At the end of 2022, Alexis was finally just hitting a financial stride that she was hoping would lead her to the life she dreamed of. She was lucky to have signed up for short-term disability but that only covers a portion of her income during her hospital stay and recovery time after. Kitty has been driving daily to U of M hospital to be with, support, and advocate for Alexis. The stress, lack of sleep and heartbreak she had to endure watching this all happen to the love of her life has also impacted their financial stability. She has still been taking on clients where she can, but also has had to take care of things back home, update family members and friends daily, and prepare for Alexis to come home.

In the spirit of dreaming big and taking care of our own, we are setting a goal of $50,000.

We appreciate any contribution, even as little as a dollar. If you want to help, but cannot monetarily, Kitty and Alexis will share needs regularly. We will be also posting their Venmo/Cashapp handles if you would rather contribute on those platforms.

This is what any funds raised will be put towards:

Thank you so much for reading and supporting our friends!