Holly McAndrew
My name is Gracie, I am Holly's sister. Holly is a 42 year old wife and mother of 6 children with special needs. A week ago Holly was an amazing, beautiful, active, healthy, vibrant, full of life woman. Today she is fighting for her life on a ventilator due to COVID-19. Just as unbelievable as Holly is, her diagnosis is as well since she doesn't fit the profile of a COVID patient fighting for their life. Aside from having asthma she has no other underlining health issues that would cause her to be fighting for her life.
A week ago she was sewing costumes for the children at her church for a play, two days later she is placed in the ICU, with later that night having CPR performed, two chest tubes were inserted into her chest, she was intubated, and placed on many medications and sedation to stabilize her. On the third day she had a third chest tube placed and the doctor stated that she needed to be transferred to another hospital and placed on ECHMO, a special machine that would rest her heart and lungs until the virus is done attacking. The hospital called every hospital in our area, surrounding areas, and even as far as Gainesville to get her a bed for ECHMO. Holly has been unable to be transferred to a bed in any facility for this desperately needed treatment due to all the beds being full. As the days have ticked by Holly has made great strides to improving, yet now she is in a very gray window of waiting and needing a miracle from God for healing.
Tom, her husband is currently taking care of their 6 children, unable to work due to testing positive himself and the children needing someone to care for the children. Holly is the backbone of this family (and her community)! She is the planner, the organizer, and the balancing force of this family! Even with 6 kids at three different schools she manages to volunteer at each one of them, volunteer for her church in any way asked, sew costumes for the children in Woodland Community Church's plays, show-up for a friend in need, take phone calls from stressed out families in the adoption process, and the list goes on and on! And she manages all of this with still finding time to put on her famous red lipstick and heels!
Having stood bedside as a nurse this past year and a half I have seen this disease ravage the life of so many and I have also see this virus loose and patients healed. We don't know why COVID attacks some worse than others; however, what I do know is that she isn't just another number, she is a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, and a friend that has stepped up so often for so many and now she needs us to step up for her.
This family is in need of money to help cover her medical cost and to care for the kids, especially since Tom is not working, with no idea when he will be able to return. And if you are unable to give financially, please give by praying for this sweet woman.