My mom, Jackie, is currently fighting for her life in the ICU at Mayo Clinic Hospital after a series of sudden and severe complications.

Since November, Jackie has endured multiple major surgeries related to complications from a prior operation on her lower intestinal tract. This past spring, Mayo Clinic was able to perform a procedure that gave her back her quality of life. For the first time in a long time, she was feeling well enough to take care of other health issues — including repairing a hernia she had developed.

On Monday, August 4th, Jackie underwent hernia repair surgery, which went well at first. But within days, she was in extreme pain, rushed into emergency surgery, and placed in the ICU under sedation and on a ventilator. Doctors discovered that part of her lower intestine had suddenly died. In just four days, she has endured four more surgeries.

Because of the number of operations, her surgical area was initially left open to avoid repeated reopenings, meaning she had to remain on a ventilator. On Sunday, August 10th, doctors were finally able to close the surgical site successfully but her journey is far from over. The immediate goal now is to get her off the ventilator and out of sedation so she can begin the next phase of recovery.

Why we need help:

Jackie’s husband arrived in Rochester on Monday August 4th with her for the hernia surgery expecting to stay just three days. Her children rushed to be there on Thursday the 7th when they were notified something was wrong, and have remained since. Expectedly none of them are working while she is in the ICU during this time and her husband is retired. No one could have imagined this turn of events and unanticipated costs are adding up fast for her family primarily with hotels and food. Unfortunately what was meant to be a quick stay has turned into an open-ended, and potentially high-cost challenge.

How your donation will help:

Your generosity will go directly toward:

• Hotel stays so her family can rest between long ICU days. They are with her 6am-10pm for visiting hours

• Gas to travel between home 2hours away and the hospital as needed since this will be a long stay for her overall

• Meals and basic necessities while away from home for her husband and kids

Any amount will help ease the stress on her family so they can focus on supporting Jackie through this critical recovery.

We are deeply grateful for your kindness, prayers, and support during this incredibly difficult time.