Help Kelly Johnson with Medical Bills

Kelly Johnson has had a challenging couple of years. Kelly is, and has always been, a bright light to everyone she comes in contact with.

Kelly has MS, which complicates her medical situation. Many years ago, she had knee replacements that allowed her to walk and ride a tricycle, and she was doing fantastic.

In the last 2 years, she has been battling multiple infections in one knee. Last October, Kelly’s husband of over 40 years, Dean, was starting to feel very sick. We lost Dean within 3 weeks, to lung cancer. While Dean was in the hospital, Kelly fell and broke her hip, and needed a hip replacement. The hip dislocated many times, and her infection raged. In the last 6 months, she has been in and out of the hospital multiple times, has had multiple surgeries, and uses a picc line at home to battle the infection.

In the last month, she has broken her femur twice but is unable to have further surgeries until the infection is cleared. Kelly is now home from the hospital but has to live with a broken femur until she can have surgeries to replace the entire leg – hip, femur, knee. Thanks to her son, Mark, and her granddaughter, Jules, for being her caregivers at home, but it isn’t easy to see her in so much pain.

The pain has been excruciating. A pain doctor has now prescribed Nucynta, which should help keep her at a manageable level of pain – which Kelly considers a “7”. Most of us would be extremely uncomfortable with that constant level, but Kelly is strong and determined! The bad news is that the drug costs $240 a WEEK, even with insurance, coupons, anything she can find to mitigate the cost. You can imagine the hospital bills, the antibiotics, the PT and OT bills as well.

Please help Kelly pay for this drug and other exorbitant medical expenses. She cannot go without this pain med, or hold off on taking this drug because of cost. Please send your help and your prayers for this wonderful woman.

Thank you!

UPDATE!

On Tuesday, August 23rd, Kelly decided to amputate her right leg. She discussed it in great detail with her doctor and her family and determined it was the best option for her. Kelly amazes everyone in the hospital, and all of her friends, by using her walker and determinedly walking around the hospital and practicing home life skills with only one leg. Right after the surgery, the infections continued, but now her numbers are much better.

As with most amputees, she is plagued by phantom pain and is working through this new reality. She may have to consider modifying her home, her car, and her pain medicines, but she is still on the Nucynta for now. The surgery and hospital stays will be enormous, as we can all imagine. The generosity of her friends has been incredible, but we need more at this point. Anything you can do to help will be appreciated. No amount is too small.

We thank you so much!