My name is Jackie Barnes and I am fundraising for my daughter, Chelsea Barnes. On February 4th, she was admitted through the emergency room to Ft. Sanders Hospital in Knoxville, TN. She was having great difficulty breathing. She had tested positive for Influenza A earlier in the day, and the doctor told her that's what was wrong with her.

Ft. Sanders discovered that she had double pneumonia as well. When they discovered that turning the oxygen level to 100% didn't provide her with any relief, they determined that she would have to be "bronked," which is when they intubated her and removed any fluids they could for her comfort, getting biopsies and making a diagnosis.

She did have double pneumonia; however, it wasn't run-of-the-mill pneumonia, but necrotizing MRSA pneumonia and a fungus as well. They also told us that it was linked to vaping. They didn't expect her to live. She was bronced many times over the next few weeks. There were many doctors, X-rays, scans, and therapy.

She was in intensive care and intubated for 2 weeks. At that time, they were able to put a trach in. She was still in a medical coma. A few days after, they started reducing the medicines. At one point, I counted 13 IV medications hanging around her bed. They were feeding her through an NG tube, but she was getting terrible diarrhea, like 15 times a shift. No food stayed in. She lost more than 30 pounds. She weighs less than 100 today.

She was in intensive care for 5 weeks. Then she was moved to a rehab to help her get off oxygen and remove her trach. I'm happy to say that she is breathing well. We hope that no lung transplant will be necessary. She's still weak as a kitten. It took her about a week out of the coma to gain enough strength to hold her cell phone. They tell us it will be a very long recovery.

We had some insurance, but she will have to pay at least $10,000 out of pocket, plus she'll need some money for food and meds. She won't be able to work for a long time. I don't know the final numbers for the hospital bill, but think about 5 weeks in intensive care on a ventilator and then 2 weeks of rehab. All those broncs, X-rays, scans, and medical specialists.

SO I am trying to help her. It would be great if you could help her as well.