Saeideh’s Emergency Fund



On Wednesday February 28th, my mom Saeideh Hosseini, was admitted to the ICU...and within several short hours, mom experienced multi organ failure, ultimately leading to a double leg amputation. 

That was the third time in 4 days she had been to the emergency room. Since the symptoms she was having were similar to those of a bad case of the cold or flu, she had been sent home the first two times. This time was different as her symptoms were very severe.

That night the doctor told us that it wasn’t looking good and that I should go and kiss her goodbye...hearing this and seeing someone who is usually so full of life and laughter in a coma was a huge heartbreak for me, my family, friends, and loved ones who have been so supportive. We were told the multi-organ failure was due to a virus that had attacked the heart. No one has been able to tell us what strain of virus caused this, only that unfortunately for Saeideh, not only was the heart failing, but also her lungs, kidneys, and liver were failing as well.

The doctors surgically placed a device called the IMPELA to help her heart continue pumping. Meanwhile, Saeideh needed dialysis machine to help with the kidney failure and also another device called  ECMO to help clean and oxygenate her blood. That’s when we got her transferred to the ICU unit at UCLA where she is still today. The team of doctors and nurses here have been working diligently to help my mom recover and  finally after days of being in a coma, she is awake. Her heart is beating on its own which is a miracle since on several occasions we were told that her chances of surviving this were 5%-10%!

We were also warned that there may be brain damage and wheel chair confinement.  Mom is fully functional mentally and has no brain damage. My mom has always been and always will be a very strong independent woman. I am sure with time she will move around on her own.

Unfortunately, all the medicine and medical devices used to keep her alive are not without side effects... During this time, the blood pressure medication and the devices in her groins caused poor blood flow to her lower legs which led to her having both legs amputated.

Overall my mom is dealing with this better than we thought. She is stronger and braver than any of us knew, she truly is an optimist.  She keeps a smile on her face, regardless of the discomfort and pain of being in a hospital bed. The doctors and nurses are always commenting about how pleasant and nice she is. She has earned the title of the “Most Popular Patient” of the ICU.

I want to thank everyone who has been supportive of us during this horrible ordeal. We are grateful for your prayers and we know that Saeideh being alive today is a divine gift and miracle!

Mom’s road to recovery is long and expensive. And she does not have much insurance coverage. So her recovery, rehab, medications will be prohibitively expensive. And thus, we ask you to be an angel and help if you can. Any amount will be appreciated and will go a long way. Please share and repost this and help spread the word.