I am starting this GoFundMe to help Melinda Lewis Torrance, (known to most of us as Mendy) with the staggering amount of medical bills that have accumulated over the past year. As you may or may not know, Mendy has been battling infections in her foot attributed to diabetes. In December 2024, she spent eight days in the hospital and was diagnosed with osteomyelitis in her toe. That resulted in a resectional surgery where they took out the bone in her fifth metatarsal. She was also septic which placed Mendy on short term disability. Soon Following in February 2025 she spent another seven days in the hospital because the infection had manifested again. Another surgery was performed to clean out the infection. This placed Mendy on Long term disability and her doctor placed her on permanent disability.

Currently, Mendy has been admitted to the hospital again still battling the same foot infection and battling sepsis again. The current plan is to amputate her toe or perhaps more when the MRI is analyzed.

In addition to the infections and sepsis. Mendy has health complications due to being diabetic. These include neuropathy affecting mobility and balance and retinopathy which affects her vision.

Mendy has worked in education as a classroom teacher for many years. Giving her time and resources to the children in our community. The battle she has been fighting has placed a tremendous financial burden on her. Her income is a fraction of what it was when teaching and she currently has bills and invoices accumulating that need to be paid. She has been making payments but struggling to keep up. With this latest hospital stay the expenses are overwhelming.

WHAT ABOUT INSURANCE? Mendy was placed on FMLA due to the length of the expected recovery from her first Surgery. However, with complications extending her disability when FMLA ran out her insurance portion was over 1000 dollars per month. In June 2025 she found new cheaper insurance that would fit her income. However, it also meant meeting new deductibles, out of pocket and what they label as “co-insurance” which is more money that comes out of pocket. She applied for Medicaid when her doctor placed her on permanent disability but was denied. There is an appeal in progress.

Medical Expenses: Where will donations go?

Diabetic Medications

And supplies

PICC line supplies

Wound Dressing supplies

IV Antibiotics

Podiatrist

Anesthesiologist

Home Health Care

Infectious Disease

Endocrinologist

Lab Core

Imaging

Physical Therapy

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Please consider donating to help cover medical expenses. We are hoping to raise 10,000 to alleviate the medical costs accumulated over the past year. Every donation counts no matter how small. On behalf of Mendy, your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated during this inordinately challenging time.

Sincerely,

Kim Herrington