Helping Patti Garretson

Patti Garretson was a nurse at Mercy Hospital (St. Johns) in Springfield, Missouri from 1971 until  her recent retirement. While working in Labor and Delivery,  she welcomed many new babies into the world and took good care of their mothers.  Patti also became an OB instructor in her later years at Mercy.  Patti touched many lives as a caretaker and teacher. Now Patti Garretson is facing major health issues and needs our help.  Patti has had scleroderma for awhile. She has developed lung issues over the last year.  She is currently going through tests to see if she will be placed on the list for a double lung transplant.  In addition to this, she learned recently that she also has severe pulmonary hypertension.  The pulmonologist has asked the transplant team to give him six months to try and get her heart stronger.  In the meantime, Patti will start pulmonary rehab 3 times a week, which can be done in Bolivar. Trips will be made to Oklahoma City for the next couple of weeks to get more testing done for the lung transplant and to get a infusion pump started for her heart meds.  Patti will be on the heart meds for the rest of her life.  Any problems Patti may incur from here on out have to be handled in Oklahoma City.  If she needs to be admitted to the hospital here, Oklahoma City has the final say and she will have to be transported to OKC once she is stable. Patti and her family have a very long road ahead of them.  Patti's sisters, Tracy and Susan, stay with Patti 24/7 to help Patti and Steve out.  They will be trained at the hospital on the infusion pump and everything involved in it's care. Unfortunately, along with all Patti’s issues, are the costs for travel, hotels and most of all meds weighing on this family. Her first med requires a $750 dollar month copay.  We have no idea yet, what the infusion will cost, but will probably be more substantial than the oral med.  The hospital has to submit for each med slowly or the insurance company will be on overload and denial is possible. Regardless of the amount you share, every dollar is appreciated. Thank you for your help and prayers are always welcome. Please share the link with everyone on your friends list.