Hi. We are the Biggs family. Josh and Amber are the proud parents of 4 children ages 5, 12, 14, and 19.

We've had a ROUGH 5 months. Dec 20 2020 I ( Amber) suffered a cardiac arrest at home. Less than 2% of people who have at home cardiac arrests survive long enough to get to the hospital. We thank God I am one of those few. When paramedics arrived to our home they found me unconscious and unresponsive-not breathing and my heart wasn't beating. After several shocks to the heart with defibrillator they were able to revive me enough to get me the half a mile to Vista East.

When they got me to the hospital, I WAS IN A COMA and remained that way for several days. Unsure of what my mental or physical outcome might be they decided to preserve brain function by lowering my body temperature to 94* for 36 hours and slowly brang me back to normal temperature. A few days after the big thaw, I came out of the coma. They had to give me several days of in hospital therapy to remind my brain how to eat, walk, speak... basically I was a toddler learning all over again. On Christmas Eve I received a present like no other, doctors implanted a defibrillator/pacemaker into my heart.

Once I returned home, there were noticeable changes to the Amber/Mom I was. My attention span is much smaller, I have memory issues. I get confused at times, I have difficulty multitasking. I have language difficulties, in English and Spanish, especially with word recall or names. I am moody and feel unintelligent and even have newfound anxiety, all related to the fact that my brain was without oxygen and blood flow for an indeterminate period of time.

Due to all these issues and constant follow-up with 6 different specialists; cardiologist, electrophysiologist, speech therapist, occupational therapist, neurologists, memory care specialist, and neurophysiologists I have been out of work. The doctors have done several tests, and yet have no idea what caused the cardiac arrest, as my heart is in good condition. I am unable to return to work this School year.

Yes, I know I am a 20 year veteran teacher and should have sick time. I depleted up all of the sick days I had available to me, over 50 days accrued. I have applied to the sick bank but have been denied. I have reapplied but have not yet been given a final decision.

Then March came along and Doctors discovered a benign (thank God)  tumor in Josh's spinal cord. My husband who had never had surgery in his life had to undergo a 7+hour surgery to remove it. As you can imagine, the recovery from SPINAL CORD SURGERY is arduous. It includes numbness, relearning how to get in and out of bed, how to walk and run, and how to twist his torso. He is healing well but now the stress and anxiety of our financial situation is weighing on him. He is not being paid at this time either.

We have no income. Our savings have been depleted. Our family has helped all they can. We are in a precarious position. We are trusing and relying on our Faith and hopes that those who are in a position to help do so. Even if you cannot contribute a cent, please consider sharing.

This money will allow us to heal, pay medical bills, purchase prescriptions, feed our family, supply housing, and in short help us survive.

Thank you and God bless you for even reading this,

Josh and Amber Biggs and family.