Help Jim & Sandy McLean Fight for their Lives
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Jim & Sandy McLean need our help to fight for their lives as they both battle covid and pneumonia in Oregon.
ABOUT JIM AND SANDY
Parents to 3 adult children (Randy, John & Stephanie), and grandparents to 6 year old Oliver, they have been married for 42 years and have been community members in Springfield for even longer. Jim is also a proud United States Air Force veteran. In addition to Jim’s 20+ years at Roseboro Lumber Company and Sandy’s equal time at the Springfield School District working with students with special needs, they’ve been actively involved in their beloved community through after school programs, school sports, choir and theater programs. If you’ve ever been to an event in Springfield, you’ve probably run into Sandy selling tickets or helping in some other way. Randy and John continue to live in Springfield, while Stephanie currently lives near Washington, DC and has been unable to travel home to be with her family due to the pandemic.
MEDICAL CHALLENGES
Our worst nightmare began to unfold on Sunday, December 6 when Jim wasn’t feeling well, and Sandy took him to the hospital for help. He was given an X-ray, covid test, diagnosed with pneumonia, and sent home with antibiotics. The next day, December 7, his covid test came back positive. By Wednesday morning, December 9, Jim was having trouble breathing and returned to the emergency room. He was admitted to McKenzie Willamette Medical Center that day, and his condition began to steadily decline. On Saturday, December 12, Sandy began developing symptoms and was given a Covid test, which came back positive the next day. We (her 3 children) did our best to check her vitals and care for her from a distance through FaceTime at home, but by Wednesday, December 16 her condition worsened and we had her transported by ambulance to the hospital where dad was already staying. After an x-ray, she was admitted for Covid and pneumonia as well. They shared rooms right next door to each other in the Progressive Care Covid Unit.
On Thursday, December 17, 9 days into his stay, Jim’s condition worsened and he was moved to ICU where the staff did everything they could to help him with high flow oxygen, BIPAP, and breathing therapies. On Saturday, December 19, Sandy followed him to the ICU to receive high flow oxygen. Once again, this couple who have been side-by-side for 42 years had rooms next to each other. On Monday, December 21, 13 days into his hospital stay, Jim was placed on a ventilator, and we began discussing the possibility of ECMO treatments with his pulmonologist. While this treatment sounded promising, only a handful of hospitals in one city in the entire state are able to administer it, he would need to be transported 2 hours away, and treatment machines are limited. Not only was Legacy Emanuel hospital already currently full, they would not accept Jim’s case due to his age of 65. We held on to hope that dad would improve. Christmas came and went and he remained relatively stable on the ventilator until Saturday, December 26 - day 18 of his stay. His doctor spoke with Oregon Health and Science University Hospital (OHSU) in Portland, who agreed to transfer Jim to receive higher care should he continue to deteriorate (including the possibility of ECMO). Jim was sent to OHSU via Life Flight that evening, but not before the flight nurses and hospital staff had ensured that they stopped his gurney in front of mom’s room so that she could see him and tell him she loved him before he took his flight. She hadn’t seen him since December 9. Jim made it safely to OHSU where they stabilized him and said that ECMO wasn’t warranted just yet. Four hours later, in the early hours of the morning, we received the call that they wanted to try ECMO. Dad is currently receiving ECMO for an indefinite amount of time, while he tries to heal and continues to fight. Mom makes small improvements daily, but is not out of the woods.
STOPPING THE SPREAD
We want everyone to know how serious this virus is and how important prevention is right now. Don’t gather with anyone outside of your household. If you have to go out, please wear a mask. Maintain your distance, wash your hands. Get the vaccine as soon as it is available. If you feel like you might be “coming down with a cold”, don’t be around other people. Our parents were careful, but all it took was not wearing a mask once around 2 people not from their household for a few hours. The virus affects every single person differently. Our parents both had no pre-existing conditions. One thing that is known is that this affects men and people higher in age more severely. For Jim, his only risk factors were that he is 65 and male. Just plain bad luck. Again, this virus is like roulette. Don’t take the risk. And be mindful of others. Hospitals are full. Resources are low. Doctors and nurses are tired. They urged us to share our story with others, and tell people how serious this is.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
While they are both fighting for their lives, Jim is in much more critical condition right now, and this will be a very long road to recovery for both of them. We’ve been able to get them the best healthcare possible during this difficult time, but we know that they will need some more help as they continue to heal and we try to get them home.
Your support will help with bills for:
- ICU care for both Jim & Sandy at McKenzie Willamette Medical Center in Springfield
- Life Flight transport for Jim to OHSU in Portland
- ICU care for Jim at OHSU, including ECMO treatment
- Transport and accommodations for family to and from Portland
- Post treatment rehabilitation for both Jim & Sandy
- Leave of absence from Sandy’s employment at the Springfield School District
If you would like to ensure that Jim & Sandy receive 100% of your donation or prefer not to donate online, please send your support directly to:
Jim & Sandy McLean Medical Fund
Oregon Community Credit Union
1981 Mohawk Blvd, Suite B
Springfield, OR 97477
*NOTE: If you are sending a check, please put the numbers 7073 in the memo line.
Venmo @JimandSandy-McLean
We are so very grateful for the hundreds of people who have reached out with messages of well wishes, thoughts, and prayers for our mom & dad. Prior to mom being hospitalized, some very generous friends were also leaving food and supplies on their porch. We appreciate everything more than we can ever say.
As kids, we watched a lot of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood and were always told to “look for the helpers” when scary things were happening in the world. There is always someone helping. Jim and Sandy are some of the hardest working, most caring people in the world, who always put others before themselves. They have never been ones to ask for help, but we need them here with us to continue making our world a kinder, better place. And right now, they need some help. So, we’re looking for their helpers. Please help if you can.
All our love and gratitude,
The McLean Family
*Randy McLean, Trinity Pruitt & Logan Pruitt
*John, Jackie, & Oliver McLean
*Stephanie & Tommy Atkinson
Thank you, KVAL and KMTR for sharing our story.
KVAL Story
KMTR Story
ABOUT JIM AND SANDY
Parents to 3 adult children (Randy, John & Stephanie), and grandparents to 6 year old Oliver, they have been married for 42 years and have been community members in Springfield for even longer. Jim is also a proud United States Air Force veteran. In addition to Jim’s 20+ years at Roseboro Lumber Company and Sandy’s equal time at the Springfield School District working with students with special needs, they’ve been actively involved in their beloved community through after school programs, school sports, choir and theater programs. If you’ve ever been to an event in Springfield, you’ve probably run into Sandy selling tickets or helping in some other way. Randy and John continue to live in Springfield, while Stephanie currently lives near Washington, DC and has been unable to travel home to be with her family due to the pandemic.
MEDICAL CHALLENGES
Our worst nightmare began to unfold on Sunday, December 6 when Jim wasn’t feeling well, and Sandy took him to the hospital for help. He was given an X-ray, covid test, diagnosed with pneumonia, and sent home with antibiotics. The next day, December 7, his covid test came back positive. By Wednesday morning, December 9, Jim was having trouble breathing and returned to the emergency room. He was admitted to McKenzie Willamette Medical Center that day, and his condition began to steadily decline. On Saturday, December 12, Sandy began developing symptoms and was given a Covid test, which came back positive the next day. We (her 3 children) did our best to check her vitals and care for her from a distance through FaceTime at home, but by Wednesday, December 16 her condition worsened and we had her transported by ambulance to the hospital where dad was already staying. After an x-ray, she was admitted for Covid and pneumonia as well. They shared rooms right next door to each other in the Progressive Care Covid Unit.
On Thursday, December 17, 9 days into his stay, Jim’s condition worsened and he was moved to ICU where the staff did everything they could to help him with high flow oxygen, BIPAP, and breathing therapies. On Saturday, December 19, Sandy followed him to the ICU to receive high flow oxygen. Once again, this couple who have been side-by-side for 42 years had rooms next to each other. On Monday, December 21, 13 days into his hospital stay, Jim was placed on a ventilator, and we began discussing the possibility of ECMO treatments with his pulmonologist. While this treatment sounded promising, only a handful of hospitals in one city in the entire state are able to administer it, he would need to be transported 2 hours away, and treatment machines are limited. Not only was Legacy Emanuel hospital already currently full, they would not accept Jim’s case due to his age of 65. We held on to hope that dad would improve. Christmas came and went and he remained relatively stable on the ventilator until Saturday, December 26 - day 18 of his stay. His doctor spoke with Oregon Health and Science University Hospital (OHSU) in Portland, who agreed to transfer Jim to receive higher care should he continue to deteriorate (including the possibility of ECMO). Jim was sent to OHSU via Life Flight that evening, but not before the flight nurses and hospital staff had ensured that they stopped his gurney in front of mom’s room so that she could see him and tell him she loved him before he took his flight. She hadn’t seen him since December 9. Jim made it safely to OHSU where they stabilized him and said that ECMO wasn’t warranted just yet. Four hours later, in the early hours of the morning, we received the call that they wanted to try ECMO. Dad is currently receiving ECMO for an indefinite amount of time, while he tries to heal and continues to fight. Mom makes small improvements daily, but is not out of the woods.
STOPPING THE SPREAD
We want everyone to know how serious this virus is and how important prevention is right now. Don’t gather with anyone outside of your household. If you have to go out, please wear a mask. Maintain your distance, wash your hands. Get the vaccine as soon as it is available. If you feel like you might be “coming down with a cold”, don’t be around other people. Our parents were careful, but all it took was not wearing a mask once around 2 people not from their household for a few hours. The virus affects every single person differently. Our parents both had no pre-existing conditions. One thing that is known is that this affects men and people higher in age more severely. For Jim, his only risk factors were that he is 65 and male. Just plain bad luck. Again, this virus is like roulette. Don’t take the risk. And be mindful of others. Hospitals are full. Resources are low. Doctors and nurses are tired. They urged us to share our story with others, and tell people how serious this is.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
While they are both fighting for their lives, Jim is in much more critical condition right now, and this will be a very long road to recovery for both of them. We’ve been able to get them the best healthcare possible during this difficult time, but we know that they will need some more help as they continue to heal and we try to get them home.
Your support will help with bills for:
- ICU care for both Jim & Sandy at McKenzie Willamette Medical Center in Springfield
- Life Flight transport for Jim to OHSU in Portland
- ICU care for Jim at OHSU, including ECMO treatment
- Transport and accommodations for family to and from Portland
- Post treatment rehabilitation for both Jim & Sandy
- Leave of absence from Sandy’s employment at the Springfield School District
If you would like to ensure that Jim & Sandy receive 100% of your donation or prefer not to donate online, please send your support directly to:
Jim & Sandy McLean Medical Fund
Oregon Community Credit Union
1981 Mohawk Blvd, Suite B
Springfield, OR 97477
*NOTE: If you are sending a check, please put the numbers 7073 in the memo line.
Venmo @JimandSandy-McLean
We are so very grateful for the hundreds of people who have reached out with messages of well wishes, thoughts, and prayers for our mom & dad. Prior to mom being hospitalized, some very generous friends were also leaving food and supplies on their porch. We appreciate everything more than we can ever say.
As kids, we watched a lot of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood and were always told to “look for the helpers” when scary things were happening in the world. There is always someone helping. Jim and Sandy are some of the hardest working, most caring people in the world, who always put others before themselves. They have never been ones to ask for help, but we need them here with us to continue making our world a kinder, better place. And right now, they need some help. So, we’re looking for their helpers. Please help if you can.
All our love and gratitude,
The McLean Family
*Randy McLean, Trinity Pruitt & Logan Pruitt
*John, Jackie, & Oliver McLean
*Stephanie & Tommy Atkinson
Thank you, KVAL and KMTR for sharing our story.
KVAL Story
KMTR Story
Fundraising team: The McLean Family (3)
Stephanie Atkinson
Organizer
Springfield, OR
Randy McLean
Beneficiary
John McLean
Team member
Randy McLean
Team member