Give to Help Sharon Recover from Osteomyelitis

Have you ever had a friend who is there for you whenever you are in need? A friend who is there to support you in the great times and the day to day ups and downs? A friend who gives you your first ever surprise birthday party at age 60 and then gifts you with a trip to Disneyland to play like the little girls you once were? A friend who will tell you what you need to hear when you cannot find a loving kind word for yourself? A friend who will challenge you to rise up to be your truest kindest most loving self? One who never gives up on your friendship even when you did?  

I am fortunate; I have such a friend. Her name is Sharon Fratello Trager.

Sharon is the first person to jump to help others in need. Whether it’s to travel from her home in Tennessee to California several times to help care for her ill sister and give much needed support to her brother-in-law for weeks at a time or stepping up to financially assist family and friends in their time of need. 
Sharon has a heart of gold and she does whatever she can to help others. 

Now, my best friend is in need. It is an EMERGENCY. Her savings are gone. The medical bills are overwhelming her resources and there are many many more bills to come. I have created the:

"Give to Help Sharon Recover from Osteomyelitis"

Go Fund Me campaign because she needs my help. She needs your help. She needs everyone's help. 

Sharon cannot work because she has a severe condition called Osteomyelitis. You have probably never heard of it. Neither Sharon nor I had.  

**”Osteomyelitis can be broken down into “osteo” meaning bone, and “myelitis”, meaning inflammation of the fatty tissues within the bone. These infections can be due to one, or many types of bacteria and/or fungi. It can be the result of a trauma, surgery . . .  and can be the result of spreading infection in the blood. Patients with osteomyelitis involving the spinal vertebrae are less likely to present with many signs other than pain. Early diagnosis is very important because fast antibiotic delivery may prevent permanent bone loss.”   ** Merck Manual consumer version

Sharon has vertebral Osteomyelitis it is located on the 12th thoracic vertebrae of her spine (mid back) along with two abscesses in the bone.

 
Sharon’s Painful Journey:

·       February 28, 2020: Began with unexplainable pain on the right side of her torso and back. 

·       March 4, she saw her doctor. Even though the doctor prescribed pain medication, Oxycodone, Sharon was still in excruciating pain the next day. This level of pain would continue through early May  

 

“I was watching the clock all day waiting until I could take my next pain medication,” Sharon

 

·       On March 6, Sharon was in so much pain she called her cousins Charlene and Nathan requesting they meet her at the local emergency room.  X-rays showed Spondylosis and bone spurs on her lumbar spine and a shadow on her lower right lung was diagnosed as a large gallstone. The doctors thought the pain was caused by the gallstone.  

·       On March 10, Sharon called 911 because she could no long take the pain and was transported to the ER. The doctor ordered multiple ultrasounds of the abdominal area, liver and kidneys just to be safe. Additionally, a CT scan of her back was done. Nothing surfaced except the previously noted conditions. So she was sent home to await the gallbladder function test. 

·       The very next day, March 11, Sharon made her third visit to the ER. She knew something was terribly wrong. After another ultrasound, the doctors told her they could not find anything more and to await the upcoming tests. The pain was unbearable. 

·       On March 16, the gallbladder function test results came back normal, but the pain was so severe she made her fourth visit to the ER. After 3 more ultrasounds and lots of blood tests they could find nothing else but a UTI (urinary tract infection). At this point, even the morphine she was given did not ease the pain. They sent her home anyway with antibiotics for the UTI. 

·        On April 2nd, Sharon went to the ER for the fifth time.  More X-rays, another CT scan and an ultrasound to rule out a blood clot in her legs were done. Still nothing. The doctor thought she had Covid19 Coronavirus because they could not find any other reason for her now 103.1 temperature. They discharged her sending her to quarantine at home while still in horrible pain.

·       On April 3rd , Sharon received a call from the ER department requesting her to return to be admitted. The fateful news: she tested positive for a bacterial staph infection in her blood.  

·       April 4th an MRI confirmed a severe bone infection in her thoracic spine - Osteomyelitis - with an abscess on the bone.

·       When we visited on FaceTime she would whence, scream out or hold her breath as she went through the worst moments of the pain. It was hard to see her hurting so badly for so very long. I couldn’t imagine how she was able to endure so much pain while being severely ill, but she proved each day her strength in battling this life threatening condition.

·       Sharon remained in the hospital for 13 days on IV antibiotics, ill with fever and still in severe pain.

·       April 16th finally blood cultures indicated the infection was no longer circulating in her blood stream. Sharon was well enough to go home to continue IV antibiotic treatments 3 times per day. During this time she was not herself. The Oxycodone was taking a toll on her.

·       During home care she developed allergic reactions to 3 different IV antibiotics over a two week period.

·       On May 18, after following all her doctor’s orders for 4 weeks and a follow up MRI, Sharon received devastating news. The follow up MRI results showed the Staph infection had evaded the antibiotic treatments. The infection had not reduced in size and a second abscess, bone infection, had formed on her spine.   She was readmitted to the hospital that day. She learned from her neurosurgeon that if the infection was not cleared, the vertebrae would disintegrate and the spinal column would collapse leaving her deformed. Constructive surgery would have to be done to stabilize her spine if this were to occur.

·       Sharon was assigned a team of infectious disease doctors who went to work on determining the best antibiotic treatment for her recovery. She was put on Daptomyacin, a very strong antibiotic known to be highly successful in eliminating the exact Staph infection Sharon has.

·       May 21: after four days of Daptomyacin IV antibiotic treatment and thankfully her body tolerating the medicine well, Sharon was released to continue the IV treatments at home.

·       May 28: Thankfully Sharon’s body is continuing to tolerate the medication and barring any further complications, she will continue giving herself daily IV antibiotic treatments at home through June 10th.

·       Next week Sharon has follow up appointments with her primary care physician, neurosurgeon and infectious disease team.

·       For the most part, Sharon has been bedridden for three months so, her strength and endurance have been impacted considerably. It is yet unknown how long it will take to fully eliminate the infection and abscesses- Osteomyelitis or how much time and rehabilitation with physical therapy will be needed before Sharon’s recovery is complete.

Sharon’s hope is to bounce back quickly once the infection is gone, but is aware it may take time before she can get back to work. Nonetheless she is hopeful she will be able to return to her normal life including work soon.

Sharon is eagerly awaiting to find out from her medical team as to when she might be able to return to working with her beloved clients. Sharon is a home health care provider. She loves caring for her clients. She treats them with the utmost kindness, compassion, care and respect. She is a ray of sunshine brightening their days and as you can imagine they are too are eagerly awaiting her return. Sharon is sorely missed by those in her care.

While this whole ordeal has had a huge physical, mental and financial impact of Sharon’s life, she has faced each step with a huge open heart of courage. She has been spirited and grateful leaning on her faith with hope and a strong intention for coming through this a better person with more compassion and ability to give from her experience to those in her life.  Through this Sharon has continued to teach me to be a stronger more courageous person to take life’s ups and downs more lightly with trust in myself and that life is always for me even in the most challenging of times there is much to be grateful for.

I pray Sharon’s body continues to accept with great tolerance the IV antibiotic – Daptomyacin and this medication does its job of ridding her body of all the infection restoring her body to its full vibrancy of health and well-being.

Won’t you Please join me in supporting Sharon get fully free and clear of Osteomyelitis and giving her the peace of mind she needs as she continues the healing process by donating to help her pay for the enormous medical bills she is facing.

 

Why All Our Donations are needed Now:       

Stress Reduction is tantamount to Sharon’s recovery...
Every dollar will help alleviate the stressful urgency she feels to get back to work so she can pay her bills.

 

Your donation will give Sharon:

~ The peace of mind that comes when your bills are paid. 
Due now is $10,000 medical out of pocket  expense.

~ A bed that supports her body giving her physical comfort. Physical comfort        allows her to rest and sleep. Rest and sleep are important and necessary for her to heal. Her current bed is very old and needs to be replaced. Her bed is inadequate in supporting her, it causes her pain as she sleeps and rests during the day. Needed now $3,800.

 ~ The comfort and peace of mind knowing you have time to heal.
Monthly living expenses for 6 month $12,000 ($2,000 per month).


Please Make Your DONATION  NOW to:

“Give to Help Sharon Recover from Osteomyelitis”           
 
With Loving Gratitude, Jan Cole