Do you know Kerry Kissell?
A fabulous friend, wife, mother and fabulous photographer, one of our own. One of the most generous human beings I have ever met.
What Happened:
In February this year, Kerry was photographing a concert on her 300mm lens on a monopod and seriously, the next day she was in emergency with loss of movement to her upper body...
Within a week she was in the ICU with the loss of movement to her WHOLE body.
Then her breathing went, unable to swallow or eat, and then came the loss of her speech....then a partially collapsed lung and pneumonia .
Now she’s fully conscious, trapped in her body, that is deteriorating daily.
The Diagnosis:
This beautiful, bright, bubbly, strong, generous woman..... her mind “completely there” - on a breathing machine with this horrific and rare strain of “Guillain-Barre Syndrome” (GBS) - an auto immune disease which is so rare, that only 1 in 100,000 people have contracted it in various forms.
This particular strain has completely baffled even the specialists - they symptoms did not present themselves as usual in the beginning, therefor it was misdiagnosed, and they now have a specialist team dedicated to her.
There is hope, but the prognosis is not good, and the recovery that we pray for, is going to be very very long and hard for our darling Kerry.
First they have to get her stable, to date it's been one step forward, ten steps back.
The team are trying to 'stabilize' her first, and at this stage they are saying that she will be expected to be in hospital for months, then onto physiotherapy, where they will hopefully teach her how to breath on her own again, to walk and to talk again.
Now today, she had to have a tracheotomy. It’s just going from bad to worse.
Visiting her yesterday, I can only tell you that I actually thought, “here but for the grace of god, go I”....
It’s a very real reminder to live your life like every minute counts, and stop to prioritize yourself, and your loved ones in your life....
They Need Our Help NOW:
Her hubby Murray has been by her side day and night and has used up all of his leave and his sick pay and whilst his work have been extremely understanding it will now become very difficult. Kerry needs constant care.
The huge medical bills are mounting.
If you’d like to donate something else or have updates or can spare time to visit - let me know.
My number is: 0418 358 932.
Murray has been traveling from Romsey to The Austin every day since February to be with her, by her side. That is neither cheap or easy, and anyone who has been in this kind of situation or similar know that often the carer, does it tough too. It is heartbreaking watching the one you love suffer..... with no one able to give definitive answers.
Every penny you generously donate will help, whether $5.00 or $500.00.
They do not know I've started this account for them, they have asked for nothing, (and would never ask for help) - but having cancer 5 years ago myself, I know how this goes, how much this takes a toll on your heart, your life, your family and your finances....
Thank you so much for your generosity.
Hugs Shireen
ps: GoFundMe have asked me to add some information about me so here goes:
My name is Shireen Hammond, I am a photographer.
Kerry and I met at an AIPP function many years ago. We both had cancer around the same time in 2013. It was a really hard time for us both.
We've already had a terrible time once, and I know just how hard it is to be suffering and then to also worry where the hell the next dollar is going to come from when the medical bills start rolling in thick and fast.
Knowing that, I thought it would be a perfect way to raise awarness about GBS a rare auto-immune syndrom - and help raise money for Kerry's medical expanses through this GoFundMe Campaign.
Every single penny (bar the GoFundMe fee's) is going straight from my account directly to Kerry and Murray's account for their medical expenses.
Your response to our darling Kerry has been absolutely amazing. She can not speak, but we are reading Kerry your messages and she is overwhelmed at your generosity. It is keeping her spirits alive, knowing that you actually give a damn.... Thank you from the bottom of my heart for responding to the campaign.....
Biggest Hugs Shireen.
A fabulous friend, wife, mother and fabulous photographer, one of our own. One of the most generous human beings I have ever met.
What Happened:
In February this year, Kerry was photographing a concert on her 300mm lens on a monopod and seriously, the next day she was in emergency with loss of movement to her upper body...
Within a week she was in the ICU with the loss of movement to her WHOLE body.
Then her breathing went, unable to swallow or eat, and then came the loss of her speech....then a partially collapsed lung and pneumonia .
Now she’s fully conscious, trapped in her body, that is deteriorating daily.
The Diagnosis:
This beautiful, bright, bubbly, strong, generous woman..... her mind “completely there” - on a breathing machine with this horrific and rare strain of “Guillain-Barre Syndrome” (GBS) - an auto immune disease which is so rare, that only 1 in 100,000 people have contracted it in various forms.
This particular strain has completely baffled even the specialists - they symptoms did not present themselves as usual in the beginning, therefor it was misdiagnosed, and they now have a specialist team dedicated to her.
There is hope, but the prognosis is not good, and the recovery that we pray for, is going to be very very long and hard for our darling Kerry.
First they have to get her stable, to date it's been one step forward, ten steps back.
The team are trying to 'stabilize' her first, and at this stage they are saying that she will be expected to be in hospital for months, then onto physiotherapy, where they will hopefully teach her how to breath on her own again, to walk and to talk again.
Now today, she had to have a tracheotomy. It’s just going from bad to worse.
Visiting her yesterday, I can only tell you that I actually thought, “here but for the grace of god, go I”....
It’s a very real reminder to live your life like every minute counts, and stop to prioritize yourself, and your loved ones in your life....
They Need Our Help NOW:
Her hubby Murray has been by her side day and night and has used up all of his leave and his sick pay and whilst his work have been extremely understanding it will now become very difficult. Kerry needs constant care.
The huge medical bills are mounting.
If you’d like to donate something else or have updates or can spare time to visit - let me know.
My number is: 0418 358 932.
Murray has been traveling from Romsey to The Austin every day since February to be with her, by her side. That is neither cheap or easy, and anyone who has been in this kind of situation or similar know that often the carer, does it tough too. It is heartbreaking watching the one you love suffer..... with no one able to give definitive answers.
Every penny you generously donate will help, whether $5.00 or $500.00.
They do not know I've started this account for them, they have asked for nothing, (and would never ask for help) - but having cancer 5 years ago myself, I know how this goes, how much this takes a toll on your heart, your life, your family and your finances....
Thank you so much for your generosity.
Hugs Shireen
ps: GoFundMe have asked me to add some information about me so here goes:
My name is Shireen Hammond, I am a photographer.
Kerry and I met at an AIPP function many years ago. We both had cancer around the same time in 2013. It was a really hard time for us both.
We've already had a terrible time once, and I know just how hard it is to be suffering and then to also worry where the hell the next dollar is going to come from when the medical bills start rolling in thick and fast.
Knowing that, I thought it would be a perfect way to raise awarness about GBS a rare auto-immune syndrom - and help raise money for Kerry's medical expanses through this GoFundMe Campaign.
Every single penny (bar the GoFundMe fee's) is going straight from my account directly to Kerry and Murray's account for their medical expenses.
Your response to our darling Kerry has been absolutely amazing. She can not speak, but we are reading Kerry your messages and she is overwhelmed at your generosity. It is keeping her spirits alive, knowing that you actually give a damn.... Thank you from the bottom of my heart for responding to the campaign.....
Biggest Hugs Shireen.