Caring for Kim Battling Covid
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You never think that your world will change in an instant. Sometimes it's for the better, but often when we are facing such momentous change we are hit with a reality no one could have prepared us for. And even if you did, it's most likely not enough.
On Friday, January 8, 2021, my sister was informed that she had been exposed to the Coronavirus (Covid-19). That afternoon she went to get tested and we waited on baited breath for either her results or a symptom to appear. The symptoms came first on the following Monday or Tuesday- namely a splitting earache and headache that wouldn't quit. On Wednesday, January 13, the positive result came and the fear that comes with it. There was no way to prepare for the severity of the sickness that came on as quickly as it did.
I will be forever grateful that a few friends told me to order a pulseoximeter. I remembering saying, "She sounds like she is breathing fine, is having no issues speaking to me other than that she is tired and wants to go back to bed, and does not have a cough." Thankfully, I ordered it anyway and by the grace of God it came a day early. Your normal pulseox should be 95 or above. Anything below, you NEED to go to the hospital right away. Hers was a 35. The EMT thought his was broken. She was so tired because she could no longer oxygenate her own blood due to the inflammation and scarring in her lungs caused by this vicious virus and had become hypoxic. My sister is only 42 years old and had NO underlying conditions. You legitimately cannot know how it will affect you or the person you so happen to infect accidentally. She was part of the unfortunate group that react severely to this virus.
Kim entered the hospital on Sunday, January 17. They did everything they could to keep her off of the ventilator, but she had pneumonia in both lungs and they were more than 50% compromised. Monday, January 18, 2021 was the last time I got to hear my sister's voice. That night she was intubated and put on a ventilator. It has been 37 days since she has been awake (38 in the hospital).
Though they were doing everything that they could, the hospital she was in asked to transfer her to a nearby AMAZING hospital with ECMO capabilities, God forbid she would need it, however there was a very small window for her transfer. Had they waited even a few more hours, she would not have been able to make the trip. Thankfully she arrived safely and at first improved on her own, however she has had to battle multiple complications common not only among Covid patients but for any patients that are in the hospital on mechanical ventilation for a long period of time. From infections to reactions to her medications, to problems with the machines themselves, she has survived more than any one person should have to. Everyday she is fighting the odds and she needs to keep that fight up until we can bring her home.
On Wednesday, January 27, 2021, my sister was placed on ECMO. The easiest way to explain it, is that it is acting as her lungs outside of her body oxygenating her blood for her. This is in the hopes to give her lungs the ability to rest so that they can heal as best they can. This machine is only used as a last case scenario and terrifyingly she had become that ill. At first she was doing very well. She has an amazing team that is with her 24/7 watching the machine and battling every symptom as it arises. However, early on, Kim had a severe reaction that set her healing backwards. If I posted this one week ago, we were being prepared to lose her. There was only room for improvement and no other options left. But that's when she decided to show us who's boss and slowly improved over the last week.
At this point in time (2/23/21), she is on the bridge of being able to come off of ECMO, God willing. We are hoping she is able to overcome some roadblocks she is facing in her healing and that we would be able to wean her from the ECMO machine soon. After that, we would begin the process of weaning her off of the ventilator which will take weeks at least. If we are lucky enough to get to that point, she will be transferred to a step-down facility that specializes in pulmonology and respiratory therapy. They will aid in getting her off of the ventilator and removing the trache that was necessary for reasons of safety and comfort. She will require vocal therapy and rehabilitation for her lungs and her body for months to years to come as our girl has been put through the ringer. But she keeps fighting! She is still here! And I want to prepare for her to stay here!
Preparing for that future is why I am asking for your help. I am not the best at overcoming my pride but I know that my sister and my family need your help. I need your help. I am a realist and know that we need to keep her affairs in order so that WHEN she comes home, she can focus on her healing and not have to worry about the roof over her head or the damage done to her credit. I am unsure of the future out-of-pocket medical costs as she will move to multiple stages of care and rehabilitation even before she can come home and want to be ready to tackle those as they come. And once home, she may need in-home care in addition to that which we can give her. What I do know is that my sister would help anyone in need with whatever she could. I have been blessed to receive so many kind words saying as such from her friends, students, coworkers, and people I have never met.
Please help my family help my sister return to the life she loved and deserves when she is ready. We wish we could do this on our own, but unfortunately we cannot. We will be grateful for every penny and I assure you that we WILL pay it forward in one way or another. And if you cannot spare a penny, please don't feel bad! Times are tough for everyone! We truly understand. But helping can also come in shares and prayers! Those are what I ask for above all. Prayers are what have gotten us this far when time and again the odds have been stacked against our girl.
My family and I are so grateful for all of you that have shown your support for Kimberly and our family in so many amazing ways.
Please continue to hold your families close and keep them safe.
All of our Love,
Teena and Linda
On Friday, January 8, 2021, my sister was informed that she had been exposed to the Coronavirus (Covid-19). That afternoon she went to get tested and we waited on baited breath for either her results or a symptom to appear. The symptoms came first on the following Monday or Tuesday- namely a splitting earache and headache that wouldn't quit. On Wednesday, January 13, the positive result came and the fear that comes with it. There was no way to prepare for the severity of the sickness that came on as quickly as it did.
I will be forever grateful that a few friends told me to order a pulseoximeter. I remembering saying, "She sounds like she is breathing fine, is having no issues speaking to me other than that she is tired and wants to go back to bed, and does not have a cough." Thankfully, I ordered it anyway and by the grace of God it came a day early. Your normal pulseox should be 95 or above. Anything below, you NEED to go to the hospital right away. Hers was a 35. The EMT thought his was broken. She was so tired because she could no longer oxygenate her own blood due to the inflammation and scarring in her lungs caused by this vicious virus and had become hypoxic. My sister is only 42 years old and had NO underlying conditions. You legitimately cannot know how it will affect you or the person you so happen to infect accidentally. She was part of the unfortunate group that react severely to this virus.
Kim entered the hospital on Sunday, January 17. They did everything they could to keep her off of the ventilator, but she had pneumonia in both lungs and they were more than 50% compromised. Monday, January 18, 2021 was the last time I got to hear my sister's voice. That night she was intubated and put on a ventilator. It has been 37 days since she has been awake (38 in the hospital).
Though they were doing everything that they could, the hospital she was in asked to transfer her to a nearby AMAZING hospital with ECMO capabilities, God forbid she would need it, however there was a very small window for her transfer. Had they waited even a few more hours, she would not have been able to make the trip. Thankfully she arrived safely and at first improved on her own, however she has had to battle multiple complications common not only among Covid patients but for any patients that are in the hospital on mechanical ventilation for a long period of time. From infections to reactions to her medications, to problems with the machines themselves, she has survived more than any one person should have to. Everyday she is fighting the odds and she needs to keep that fight up until we can bring her home.
On Wednesday, January 27, 2021, my sister was placed on ECMO. The easiest way to explain it, is that it is acting as her lungs outside of her body oxygenating her blood for her. This is in the hopes to give her lungs the ability to rest so that they can heal as best they can. This machine is only used as a last case scenario and terrifyingly she had become that ill. At first she was doing very well. She has an amazing team that is with her 24/7 watching the machine and battling every symptom as it arises. However, early on, Kim had a severe reaction that set her healing backwards. If I posted this one week ago, we were being prepared to lose her. There was only room for improvement and no other options left. But that's when she decided to show us who's boss and slowly improved over the last week.
At this point in time (2/23/21), she is on the bridge of being able to come off of ECMO, God willing. We are hoping she is able to overcome some roadblocks she is facing in her healing and that we would be able to wean her from the ECMO machine soon. After that, we would begin the process of weaning her off of the ventilator which will take weeks at least. If we are lucky enough to get to that point, she will be transferred to a step-down facility that specializes in pulmonology and respiratory therapy. They will aid in getting her off of the ventilator and removing the trache that was necessary for reasons of safety and comfort. She will require vocal therapy and rehabilitation for her lungs and her body for months to years to come as our girl has been put through the ringer. But she keeps fighting! She is still here! And I want to prepare for her to stay here!
Preparing for that future is why I am asking for your help. I am not the best at overcoming my pride but I know that my sister and my family need your help. I need your help. I am a realist and know that we need to keep her affairs in order so that WHEN she comes home, she can focus on her healing and not have to worry about the roof over her head or the damage done to her credit. I am unsure of the future out-of-pocket medical costs as she will move to multiple stages of care and rehabilitation even before she can come home and want to be ready to tackle those as they come. And once home, she may need in-home care in addition to that which we can give her. What I do know is that my sister would help anyone in need with whatever she could. I have been blessed to receive so many kind words saying as such from her friends, students, coworkers, and people I have never met.
Please help my family help my sister return to the life she loved and deserves when she is ready. We wish we could do this on our own, but unfortunately we cannot. We will be grateful for every penny and I assure you that we WILL pay it forward in one way or another. And if you cannot spare a penny, please don't feel bad! Times are tough for everyone! We truly understand. But helping can also come in shares and prayers! Those are what I ask for above all. Prayers are what have gotten us this far when time and again the odds have been stacked against our girl.
My family and I are so grateful for all of you that have shown your support for Kimberly and our family in so many amazing ways.
Please continue to hold your families close and keep them safe.
All of our Love,
Teena and Linda
Organizer
Teena OConnell
Organizer
Toms River, NJ
