Help Support Amanda Tylka
Donation protected
Wanted to update you all on news that Amanda has shared with us, as well as Facebook (see below)! She is so grateful for all of you that have helped her throughout this year, as well as through this fundraiser. Thank you!!!
We had a stellar doc appointment today! Right on track for surgery #2- 4 weeks off antibiotics to be sure all infection is gone, and then they'll put my pelvis back together. Thank you to all our friends and family, near and far, for your unconditional support, prayers, food, hugs, etc! We are so blessed to have such amazing people in our lives!
Many of Amanda’s close family and friends are aware, but for those of you who aren’t, around the first week of February she was experiencing severe back pain. She had to go through a handful of tests and multiple different pain medications. Originally the doctors had told her that she had a bulging disc in her back and she was also severely dehydrated. She returned home for only three days before the pain was unbearable. Amanda set out for a different hospital in hopes they would have a different opinion. Little did she know, this would turn into a month of hospitalization. She was diagnosed with: Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Flu, Pneumonia, Rhinovirus, and a bacterial blood infection (MRSA). She remained in the ICU for roughly 3-4 weeks getting every body part tested to see what the best treatment plan was going to be. They ultimately had to go into her lower back (shave part of her vertebrae down to allow more room for the antibiotics to fight the MRSA infection), as well as her knee, before the infection started making progress. She was sent home when the tests showed that the infection had completely left her body. Although her trip back home was short lived, she was able to see Colten for the first time after 6 weeks. :) After a few days, her lungs began to fill up with fluid and her kidney function was getting worse. She had 8 liters of fluid drained from her lung, and from there, they focused on getting her kidneys to healthy levels. She remained in the hospital for an additional two weeks before she was able to return home.
Unfortunately, a month and a half later (now June), she experienced more pain in her back again. Amanda was taken straight to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in hopes to find answers. The pain was being caused by the MRSA infection in a pocket that was overlooked from her previous surgeries. In July, she went through a surgery where they would go in through her abdomen to get to her pelvis where the infection was hidden. While in her pelvis, they placed antibiotic beads to help heal the infection, and also removed a few inches of bone that was being eaten by the infection. She is now at home recovering from surgery #1 that has placed her in a wheelchair for 6-8 weeks. Once the infection is healed, they will have to go back into the pelvis for a second surgery and place a metal rod to help her bones grow back together. This will require another 6-8 weeks of healing.
It has been a struggle for her both physically and mentally trying to look past what has happened these past few months. There have been so many wonderful people, friends and family, who have helped out with Amanda, Jeff, and Colten during this difficult time. I know she is truly grateful for the people who have expressed their thoughts and prayers. I know many people reached out in the hopes that you could buy flowers, make home-cooked meals, take care of the baby, etc. However, as her hospital bills are starting to build up, and will continue with her upcoming appointments and surgeries, my goal (with all of your help) is to ease some of her stress on this financial burden they were unfortunately faced with. I know she will be grateful for even the smallest donations, as they will go a long way in helping her on the road to recovery.
We had a stellar doc appointment today! Right on track for surgery #2- 4 weeks off antibiotics to be sure all infection is gone, and then they'll put my pelvis back together. Thank you to all our friends and family, near and far, for your unconditional support, prayers, food, hugs, etc! We are so blessed to have such amazing people in our lives!
Many of Amanda’s close family and friends are aware, but for those of you who aren’t, around the first week of February she was experiencing severe back pain. She had to go through a handful of tests and multiple different pain medications. Originally the doctors had told her that she had a bulging disc in her back and she was also severely dehydrated. She returned home for only three days before the pain was unbearable. Amanda set out for a different hospital in hopes they would have a different opinion. Little did she know, this would turn into a month of hospitalization. She was diagnosed with: Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Flu, Pneumonia, Rhinovirus, and a bacterial blood infection (MRSA). She remained in the ICU for roughly 3-4 weeks getting every body part tested to see what the best treatment plan was going to be. They ultimately had to go into her lower back (shave part of her vertebrae down to allow more room for the antibiotics to fight the MRSA infection), as well as her knee, before the infection started making progress. She was sent home when the tests showed that the infection had completely left her body. Although her trip back home was short lived, she was able to see Colten for the first time after 6 weeks. :) After a few days, her lungs began to fill up with fluid and her kidney function was getting worse. She had 8 liters of fluid drained from her lung, and from there, they focused on getting her kidneys to healthy levels. She remained in the hospital for an additional two weeks before she was able to return home.
Unfortunately, a month and a half later (now June), she experienced more pain in her back again. Amanda was taken straight to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in hopes to find answers. The pain was being caused by the MRSA infection in a pocket that was overlooked from her previous surgeries. In July, she went through a surgery where they would go in through her abdomen to get to her pelvis where the infection was hidden. While in her pelvis, they placed antibiotic beads to help heal the infection, and also removed a few inches of bone that was being eaten by the infection. She is now at home recovering from surgery #1 that has placed her in a wheelchair for 6-8 weeks. Once the infection is healed, they will have to go back into the pelvis for a second surgery and place a metal rod to help her bones grow back together. This will require another 6-8 weeks of healing.
It has been a struggle for her both physically and mentally trying to look past what has happened these past few months. There have been so many wonderful people, friends and family, who have helped out with Amanda, Jeff, and Colten during this difficult time. I know she is truly grateful for the people who have expressed their thoughts and prayers. I know many people reached out in the hopes that you could buy flowers, make home-cooked meals, take care of the baby, etc. However, as her hospital bills are starting to build up, and will continue with her upcoming appointments and surgeries, my goal (with all of your help) is to ease some of her stress on this financial burden they were unfortunately faced with. I know she will be grateful for even the smallest donations, as they will go a long way in helping her on the road to recovery.
Give $100 to help get this fundraiser to its goal
Organizer and beneficiary
Tarran Shaffer
Organizer
Chicago, IL
Jeff Tylka
Beneficiary
