HELP PEPE POST COVID AMPUTATION

COVID PNEUMONIA ... SKY HIGH BLOOD SUGAR ... POSSIBLE STROKE ... SEPSIS ... INTERNAL ... BLEEDING ... INTUBATION ... BACTERIAL INFECTION ... HEMMORRAGING ... CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE ... BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS ... 50% OXYGEN ... TRACHEOTOMY ... HEMOGLOBIN AT 6 ... CODED … TWICE ... AMPUTATION.

This was how Pepe, (my brother), his wife, kids and the entire Forina family spent summer 2021. Pepe texted the family on July 16 saying he tested positive for Covid and would be home for 2 weeks. While we checked on him daily, he never complained and always said, “I’m OK”. The morning of July 26th, I received a call from his wife, Margie. “I’ve overhead Pepe tell you all he’s OK, but he’s not. He’s very weak, I’m very worried” I spoke to him briefly, but not sure if he remembered, he was SO WEAK. She was going to take him to the ER for just a transfusion treatment, but he didn’t even have the energy to get up, she called 911. His oxygen was dangerously low … and hence began Pepe’s Covid nightmare.

Out of respect for his privacy, only the close family were told and asked to pray for him. August 9th Margie received a call that he had taken a turn for the worse … we were told he was probably not going to make it and were allowed a “compassion zoom call” on August 11th so the family could say goodbye. We’re NOT that kind of family, our faith has carried through so much and we knew God would take care of Pepe. Our youngest brother, Tony, was allowed in the ICU room and he was dousing him in Holy Water. Margie and Antonella (his 17-year-old daughter) came over to our parent’s and we had him on the big screen TV in the living room. In typical Forina form, we yelled, “Pepe! FIGHT!” “Pepe! You can do this!” “Pepe, WAKE UP!” “Pepe! When this is over, I’m going to kick your ass!” (Me) We all told him how much we loved him and how much we NEEDED him. Even though he was intubated and just gone through an endoscopy, we noticed some twitches from him which made us yell louder.

That same day, we shared Pepe’s fight on social media and asked for prayers. Calls and messages came from ALL OVER THE WORLD and thousands of prayers were raised for him … that night his numbers improved, ever so slightly and continued to do so. We are convinced that the power of prayer and Pepe’s will to live brought him out of this very dark tunnel. Yes, his feet were amputated, but his brain, his heart, his lungs and his kidneys are working at 100%. DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES YET?

Pepe’s and Margie’s life has forever changed and will have to get used to their new normal. Not only the adjustment of being in a wheelchair until he can be fitted for prosthetics, but all the other things that can happen to a body that has been in a bed for 3 months with no movement. As a family, we have been OVERWHELMED at the love and support shown to Pepe. He has always been a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, and Tio to the Forina family, and because of this Covid nightmare, we have seen he’s also been an incredible friend, coach, mentor, co-worker to many we have never met.

Forinas have always taken care of each other as a family, but the current situation is indescribable. So many have reached out asking to donate to a Go-Fund page. Pepe has always lived a life of service and he would never think of asking for help, but he’s going to need allot. After sitting with him in the hospital every week, my sister and I joked at how we are both on a whole new level of love with our brother. He had to humble himself and allow us to help with the simplest of things and we were honored to do so. It will be a while before he can go back to work, so with some help, he can focus on healing the still-open wounds, focus on getting his physical strength back and learn how to do many things that we all take for granted. Like he has told us, he is back to being a toddler. He DOES want to share his story of triumph over this horrible disease and the consequences paid for his personal choice. PEPE IS A MIRACLE and his fight is an inspiration to many.