Kelly's Miracle Recovery Fund
Donation protected
On October 30, 2018, my sister Kelly Barnett went into sudden cardiac arrest (cause still unknown) while finishing dinner at home with her wife Colleen. Miraculously, she survived. She was discharged on November 6 with some new hardware - a defibrillator implanted by her heart. The doctors and nurses could only explain Kelly’s survival as a miracle, which you can read more about below. Now, as Kelly and Colleen begin to adjust to their new normal, we have set up this GoFundMe to support them on their long journey ahead. All contributions will go directly towards the medical costs of a hospital stay in the ICU and specialist appointments, and the sudden loss of income while Kelly waits to be cleared to return to her full-time job as a chef.
There has been such an outpouring of love and support during this difficult time, and our family is incredibly grateful to each and every one of you for lifting us up in light when life knocked us down in darkness. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for whatever you are able to give.
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THE FULL STORY
Kelly and Colleen were finishing dinner at home on October 30, 2018 when Kelly appeared to have a seizure. Colleen called 911 and the EMT arrived in minutes. After three shocks and CPR, Kelly was transported to Memorial Hospital in Santa Rosa and coded in the ER. After she was finally stabilized, she was transferred to the ICU. We learned it wasn't a seizure; it was sudden cardiac arrest that presented itself as a seizure, and Kelly was without a pulse for an estimated 4-5 minutes. She was put in a medically-induced coma while they cooled her body in an effort to limit brain swelling and damage. The plan was to cool her down on October 31, warm her back up on November 1 and try to wake her on November 2.
When I returned to the ICU room the morning of November 1, Kelly was looking straight at me. Colleen and Mom joined me shortly after. The nurses were crying. We were all crying. We lost count of the times a nurse or doctor said the word “miracle.” From there it was five long hours of Kelly waking up every few minutes with fear in her eyes, a ventilator in her mouth and restraints on her wrists. Each time one of the three of us tried to calm her down to keep her breathing steady. Once the ventilator finally came out and Kelly could talk, our greatest hopes were confirmed: no visible brain damage.
Kelly spent four days in the ICU before getting transferred to the Telemetry Unit. The cause of her cardiac arrest is still unknown. On November 5, she had a defibrillator implanted by her heart to shock her back instantly if it happens again. She was discharged on November 6 but won’t return to work for at least another six weeks, once she is cleared by her cardiologist and primary care physician.
As I write this on November 15, I’m staying with Kelly and Colleen in Santa Rosa as Colleen starts going back to work at her small business, Simply Pilates. Kelly is still wearing a sling from the surgery, can only lift 5 pounds max in either hand, can’t chop or stir or cook, and can’t be outside without a mask or for any extended period of time until the toxic air from the Camp Fire clears. Limitations aside, Kelly is improving by the day and starting to adjust to this new way of life. Now we are starting to work through the complicated psychological effects associated with surviving major trauma. We will continue to provide updates on Kelly’s progress and appreciate your support.
There has been such an outpouring of love and support during this difficult time, and our family is incredibly grateful to each and every one of you for lifting us up in light when life knocked us down in darkness. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for whatever you are able to give.
—
THE FULL STORY
Kelly and Colleen were finishing dinner at home on October 30, 2018 when Kelly appeared to have a seizure. Colleen called 911 and the EMT arrived in minutes. After three shocks and CPR, Kelly was transported to Memorial Hospital in Santa Rosa and coded in the ER. After she was finally stabilized, she was transferred to the ICU. We learned it wasn't a seizure; it was sudden cardiac arrest that presented itself as a seizure, and Kelly was without a pulse for an estimated 4-5 minutes. She was put in a medically-induced coma while they cooled her body in an effort to limit brain swelling and damage. The plan was to cool her down on October 31, warm her back up on November 1 and try to wake her on November 2.
When I returned to the ICU room the morning of November 1, Kelly was looking straight at me. Colleen and Mom joined me shortly after. The nurses were crying. We were all crying. We lost count of the times a nurse or doctor said the word “miracle.” From there it was five long hours of Kelly waking up every few minutes with fear in her eyes, a ventilator in her mouth and restraints on her wrists. Each time one of the three of us tried to calm her down to keep her breathing steady. Once the ventilator finally came out and Kelly could talk, our greatest hopes were confirmed: no visible brain damage.
Kelly spent four days in the ICU before getting transferred to the Telemetry Unit. The cause of her cardiac arrest is still unknown. On November 5, she had a defibrillator implanted by her heart to shock her back instantly if it happens again. She was discharged on November 6 but won’t return to work for at least another six weeks, once she is cleared by her cardiologist and primary care physician.
As I write this on November 15, I’m staying with Kelly and Colleen in Santa Rosa as Colleen starts going back to work at her small business, Simply Pilates. Kelly is still wearing a sling from the surgery, can only lift 5 pounds max in either hand, can’t chop or stir or cook, and can’t be outside without a mask or for any extended period of time until the toxic air from the Camp Fire clears. Limitations aside, Kelly is improving by the day and starting to adjust to this new way of life. Now we are starting to work through the complicated psychological effects associated with surviving major trauma. We will continue to provide updates on Kelly’s progress and appreciate your support.
Organizer and beneficiary
Cait Barnett
Organizer
Santa Rosa, CA
Kelly Barnett
Beneficiary