Help Tony and Amy Overcome Mounting Medical Debt

Help A Loving Couple Overcome Medical Debt and Keep Their Home

Who are they?

Tony Walsh and Amy Chapman Walsh are the son-in-law and daughter of Gary and Mary Chapman. Tony and Amy are brother-in-law and sister to Jessie Chapman.

What’s going on?

Amy has been on full medical leave for 4 years due to chronic fatigue (myalgic encephalomyelitis), debilitating migraines and small fiber neuropathy. Tony has worked for REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) for 21 years. He enjoys his job and can’t imagine working for anyone else. For 18 months, he was put on part time due to financial cut backs in his company and was just given more hours a week or so before he was hospitalized. In July 2024, their insurance company sent a letter telling them they were going to cancel their home insurance unless they replaced their roof and removed trees and limbs overhanging their roof and other outdoor structures. Since they live in a wooded neighborhood, this was a huge expense ($5,000.) During this time, their savings were depleted in order to make their house payments and a loan was taken from Tony’s retirement fund to pay for the tree removal.

Perforated Colon With Abscess

In August 2024, Tony was diagnosed with a severe perforated colon with an abscess and the strong possibility of an emergency surgery if the abscess would burst. Several times surgery was scheduled just in case, but fortunately the drain tube that was inserted was able to drain it successfully. He was hospitalized for 9 days and sent home with the drain tube continuing to drain the abscess. He was not able to work for 7 weeks.

Colon Resection Surgery

On December 11th, he was admitted to the hospital to remove the diseased portion of his colon and resection it. When they began the sedation, his blood pressure dramatically fluctuated, his heart went into atrial fibrillation and abnormal sinus rhythm. The procedure had to be stopped and he was sent to the cardiac unit for tests to check his heart. He was put on medication to restore his sinus rhythm and control the atrial flutters. Surgery was rescheduled for the 13th and due to excessive bleeding, his robotic surgery was turned into a full-fledged surgical procedure with a larger opening than anticipated.

Colon Resection Gone Wrong

For a couple days, he seemed to be recovering well but the colon resection did not hold. He was taken to emergency surgery where they had to open him again and found that his abdominal cavity was full of fecal matter which is life threatening. They had to clean out his abdominal cavity and remove more of his colon. He was then sent to ICU for 7 days with an open wound. During this time, he was sedated, put on a vent and a feeding tube. His surgical site (now approximately 9 inches) was left open and he returned to surgery 2 more times for cleaning and finally for a colostomy which was not originally expected.

23 More Days In The Hospital (7 In ICU)

On January 2nd, after 23 days in the hospital (7 in ICU), he was sent home very weak, with a 9-inch open wound healing from the inside out, a wound vac to pump out any drainage from the surgical site, an ostomy bag and a walker. A Home Health nurse is coming every few days to take care of the wound, service the wound vac and the colostomy site. PT and OT will also be scheduled to help him regain his strength and stamina. It is a long healing process and it is not certain when he will be able to return to work.

Another Major Surgery Coming

In approximately 14 weeks, Tony will return to the hospital for another major surgery to remove the ostomy bag port and reconnect his colon. This will require 7 or more days in the hospital and more significant recovery time.

Critical Financial Issues

Tony is under the REI medical leave and does not qualify for FMLA. They do not qualify for financial assistance from the hospital because their combined income is a few hundred dollars over the qualifying level. Amy has been going to a food bank for groceries. Their savings have been depleted and some bills from his first hospital stay have already been turned over to collection. With Tony out of work, they are struggling to make their house payments. We (Gary and Mary Chapman) have helped with several of their house payments but we are retired, on a fixed income and cannot continue doing this. They owe out of network expenses they did not expect, as well as copays and maximum out of pocket expenses for 2024 and 2025.

They desperately need our help. They are trusting the Lord and truly believe He is their provider. Prov. 3:5-6

Thank you for your prayers and assistance.