Support for Julie’s treatment and transplant

On August 12th, 2023 our best friend Julie Prowse had a day that would forever alter the course of her life as she knew it. Over the last several years Julie has dealt with a blood clotting disorder and has experienced blood clots in her lungs, femoral artery and both feet. Three weeks ago, she awoke thinking she had a stomach flu. It wasn’t until it turned into blood that Julie realized something more serious might be wrong. She was admitted into the hospital and they began running tests, which later revealed she had a blood clot in her SMA (Superior Mesenteric Artery). This artery supplies the blood to the small and large intestine. The survival rate of this blood clot is less than 25%. Doctors were able to successfully remove the clot, however it had severely damaged her stomach and intestines, leaving them no choice but to remove more than 90% of them. Her doctors’ exact words were to pray for a miracle.

Miraculously and to the sure surprise of her doctors, they were able to reattach what little she had left of her bowels. To date Julie has undergone several surgeries and 2 angiograms. She remained in the ICU for more than a week, is currently in the hospital, and her progress is day to day, fighting off infections and complications. Throughout all of this, Julie and her body are fighting hard to stay alive.

The road to recovery will be a long one. Julie will have to be on IV nutrients through a PICC line in her chest for the foreseeable future. Her doctors are pursuing a small intestine transplant in a larger institution like Mount Sinai in NYC or the Cleveland Clinic. Although her team here is amazing, they were very clear that her treatment is well beyond the skillset available here in Buffalo, NY.

Julie has struggled most of her life, being deemed permanently disabled due to an eye site problem which keeps her from working. Over the years she has found purpose in assisting her friends and family raise and take care of their children. She has a love of baking, gardening, crafts, and more. Julie is always the first person to volunteer to bake for party or have her friends’ kids over for a slumber party. There is an entire generation of children that love their “Aunt Julie” and are all pulling for her. Her giving spirit shines a light on everyone who knows her, adults and children alike.

Because of her other disabilities and the long road she has ahead of her with this latest issue, she will struggle to cover the medical costs incurred. The goal of this GOFUNDME is to raise funds to assist Julie in covering the hospital expenses as well as her on-going medical treatments, medications and needed equipment. We do not know what the future has in store for Julie, as her life as she knew it will be forever changed by this unfortunate medical incident.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this, and we are greatly appreciative should you choose to contribute and share.