Honor Amy's Legacy: Support Her Loved Ones

My name is Cindy and Amy Conner McHugh is my best friend. My life changed dramatically the day I met her. She is that spunky nurse who everyone wanted to be on shift with, and the patients always ask for her by name. She taught me so much more than nursing. She taught love, loyalty, kindness - and when to hold your ground. Amy has always been such a bright light, a warm smile, an off-topic joke, and an amazing friend. She has a lot of pride in her patients and their care. She always reminded me that it does not matter if they are young, old, Christian, atheist, inmates, or otherwise - they deserved her very best. And that is exactly what they got. But more than that, Amy is also a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, sometimes even a free therapist to her friends - and so much more to so many.

Amy has been sick for quite a while, not being able to pinpoint exactly what was going on but knowing something is not right. She has been to countless doctors, hospitalizations, tests, all to no avail. She continued to get a little worse two- three- fold at a time. She pushed through and tried another avenue again and again, but no one was able to do what needed to be done to get her back on track. Eventually, Amy could not work anymore, but the medical expenses were piling up.

On Valentine's Day, she was experiencing increasing pain to the degree she finally told her husband Steve they needed to go to the ER. So they went. And they took her directly to surgery. The surgery was intense and tedious, and they did everything they could. But it was just not enough. She stayed on the ventilator for a week but was still so very sick. Eventually, the family was told there is nothing else that can be done. Amy is tired. Her body is tired. And it just cannot fight any longer.

Amy is being moved to a hospice facility and expected to pass on to her heavenly home within a week. There has been a lot of devastation and sadness since finding out the prognosis. Her daughter Jaci and husband Steve have been a constant at her bedside.

Since Amy has not been able to work in quite a while due to illness, there is not much financial stability right now. The funeral home quote alone is beyond reach, not to mention the expenses already incurred, daily expenses traveling and staying at the hospital, and soon - the hospital bill itself. This family deserves so much more than this. No one should have to sit at a loved one's bedside waiting to say goodbye - and worry about finances.

Please - if you know Amy, if you know her family, or if you just know a story of a great nurse who gave everything they had to the world and now needs some help... please help this family. Honestly, anything will help. If you don't have anything to give - send a kind word to this family. Pray for them. Remember those who will be left behind too. She has been the support for countless families over her career and now it is time for us to be there for her and her loved ones.