Today they will be holding a walk of honor for Chandra as they move her from the ICU where she has been on life-support since Tuesday to the surgical room where the team will prepare her organs for the donations. It is a sad day, but a meaningful one, and, her donations of life are to be celebrated. 

I have a very sad change of events to report, yesterday in the very early morning, Chandra's body could no longer fight the infection ravaging her brain and she had to be put on life support. In what is to be her last, unselfish, giving act of her life, Chandra will be donating her organs. Her son and husband now face the agonizing wait for suitable recipients to be identified and for the surgical team to transfer her lifesaving gifts to the patients and families waiting for their miracle.

Please pray and send positive thoughts for the successful transfers and her family experiencing the loss of Chandra as their mother and wife in this world. The last two-plus months have taken a financial toll on the family, please help support their decision to give the gift of life of organ donation. Thank you everyone for helping support this selfless act of kindness.

Hi Everyone, yesterday was Chandra's Birthday and still she lies in the hospital fighting to heal and come back to us! I think the fact that the few times she has come out of her deep sleep, she can say a few words, and recognize her son Chris and husband Terry lets us know she is still in there! She is aware and is waiting for the infection to be gone to heal and begin her journey back to health and life with her family and friends. We will never, ever give up on her! Happy Birthday Chandra, we love you!!

Update 4-7-2023

Hi Everyone, I haven't posted in a few days as there have been a lot of ups and downs. Since I last posted, Chandra has had 2 more surgeries to clear more infections and open up her ventricles.

The good news is that the antibiotics seem to be helping but she is still in the hospital still under very close supervision. She did speak today, calling her son Chris by name and recognizing him but not much more.

There will be another MRI tomorrow revealing more information and I will report on those results as soon as I hear.

Don't forget this family and Chandra fighting each day for her life. Please, please keep the positive thoughts, prayers and donations coming for Chandra and her family.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity!

Karen Degney

Update 3-27-2023

Chandra was not doing as well as before so new tests were done and she was rushed into emergency surgery again yesterday. More fluid was removed from her brain and will be sent again for testing. They inserted a drain to keep the fluid from building again and are monitoring her closely. She will stay in the hospital for now so they can keep a close eye on her condition.

Please, please send what you can, even $5.00 will help! Please share this link with everyone you know, on your Facebook page and anywhere else you can think of! And Prayers, Prayers, Prayers and positive thoughts for Chandra and her family while she is in this fight for her life!

XOXO

Karen

UPDATE!

Yesterday, Chandra was noticeably more groggy and so a CAT scan was performed on her this morning. The results show the abscess may be building again so she is being re admitted to the hospital with more scans/tests ordered. Please, please send positive thoughts and prayers now, Chandra, Terry and son Chris need them more than ever. Please share as much as possible. Thank you for all the love!!

Hi, My name is Karen Degney and on February 20, my good friend, Chandra Butcher began feeling ill with flu-like symptoms, by that Friday, the 24th, she became unresponsive and was rushed to the hospital where she underwent emergency brain surgery and was diagnosed with a very rare brain abscess.

Since then, she has been in the ICU on a ventilator for a week and then heavily sedated for another week before moving out of the ICU. She was transferred a few days ago to a long-term rehab facility where hopefully she will regain speech, relearn to walk and daily self-care. Currently, her prognosis is unknown but her husband and son are there with her every day to support her and are comforted by the outpouring of prayers and positive thoughts going to Chandra and her family.

Those of you that know Chandra and Terry know they have been married for 32 years and have lived in the Virginia City Highlands for over 21 years where they raised their son Chris who recently obtained his PhD and is working in National Defense Research, his mom is so proud!

Terry has worked at the Virginia City Christmas Store for over 10 years and they are so happy to be a part of such a special community. Chris has taken a leave of absence from his job in the SF Bay Area and plans on moving home until his mom can regain her independence.

I have known and worked with Chandra for over 20 years as she is one of the most hardworking and tenacious mortgage lenders ever, getting hundreds of people into their homes, sometimes when other lenders have given up for over 32 years! Her contagious laugh and kindness are felt by all who meet her.

I ask that we all pull together to help this deserving family during a time so challenging and unsure. Since Chandra is unable to work and her son Chris and husband Terry is with her every day, they need financial help for medical and everyday expenses.

I would like to start by contributing $250.00 to help them and ask that everyone give what they can, no matter how little, every bit helps. And prayers, positive thoughts, and more prayers for this wonderful, hard-working, honest and kind family. Let’s get Chandra back home with her pups Diggle and Logan, so Chris can get back to his career and she and Terry can get back to their community and go home to cooking and watching silly movies together each night!

Thank you for caring!

Karen