A few months ago, my stepdad Tom Hemby was diagnosed with cancer in his neck (stage 3). Prognosis was that he would have some surgeries and some radiation possibly.  Maybe chemo if necessary but the outlook was positive.  To date,  he has undergone a few surgeries, like dental work and biopsies, to prepare him for the big surgery that took place just a few days ago.  Well something went wrong.  He left the hospital with an infection that he didn't know he had until it was ALMOST too late.  The incision in his neck had become so infected despite the medication prescribed by the hospital.  Keep in mind,  there is a home health nurse that comes to check in and ensure the site is thorough cleaned and my mom has an extensive background in healthcare so she keeps the site cleaned and the bandage changed.  Unfortunately, the infection was so bad that had my mom waited any longer to call 911, he could have died.  And this wasn't just a small incision.  From the front of his throat to the back of his neck and several lymph nodes were removed.  The incision was hours from rupturing completely.  Sorry if TMI, but it was serious. 

Prior to this incident, Tom accidentally put too much water in his feeding tube because the infection, the one he didn't know he had, had caused delirium.  This was another trip to the ER.  Mom is a manager at a local shop, but had to take a leave of absence so she could stay with Tom to make sure he was getting his medicines in correct doses, because he was forgetting if he had taking his meds, and not putting too much water or meal subs in his feeding tube to avoid further complication.  He just couldn't be left alone and my brothers are only 13.  

Now, this has gone from a 2 income home to a zero income home.  Luckily, Tom's employer is helping but there are ALOT of financial gaps that still need to be filled.  We don't know how long Tom will be in the hospital with this latest issue and how long my mom will be out of work once he gets out because insurance doesn't pay for a full time nurse.  Since the infection was a hospital derived infection, mom is being super cautious and is on the doctors hard core (in true Melody fashion)and is back and forth between the house taking care of my brothers and the dog and the hospital.  Because of COVID, my brother's can't see their dad because of the 1 visitor policy. 

Backing up a few months prior to Tom's battle with cancer, mom had her own health issues.  She was out of work for extended periods of time for brain surgeries due to mini stokes.  She still has to go for routine follow-up to her neurologist to check to see if the surgeries worked or not.  With mom's history of aneurysm's dating back to before I was born, you can imagine how scary this can be for all of us.  And medications are expensive.  It's been a rough couple of years for them health wise.  They are really starting to feel the financial burden of it now that they are both out of work at the same time.

That's why we are reaching out to our friends and family... If you know my mom, you know she can be stubborn and would absolutely hate that my sisters and I are doing this but it's necessary for her sake any my 2 brothers.  She needs help with gas to get back and forth and utilities and other expenses.   Anything will help even if it's just sharing this link.  If you would rather contribute through other means you can contact myself or my sisters directly.  If you don't like this forum, you can venmo me @Tiffany-Jewell-5

Thank you and God Bless.

Tiffany, Danielle, and Courtney