Our sweet Denise (an ECU Health employee and former dedicated Health Department employee) has been hospitalized since August 27th, 2024. Denise had fallen after her shift at ECU Health and believed herself to be okay and just tired but later collapsed completely and lost consciousness. Her husband, Jake (a longtime machinist operator) , called emergency services after arriving home from his shift. Denise was immediately transported by ambulance to the emergency room. For over 10 days, Denise experienced continued scary complications, unable to walk or speak, while doctors struggled to determine what was wrong. Jake, their son Cameron, and Denise's mom remained by her side day and night awaiting answers.

Denise and her family were finally given a formal diagnosis that she had contracted West Nile Virus from an infected mosquito bite. Her reactions to this disease have mimicked Guillain-Barre or polio-like symptoms, and to date, she is still hospitalized and unable to walk on her own. After a month so far of recovery and a VERY long way to go, Denise and her family are grateful she is on this recovery journey and regaining her strength but as we all know, the bills and expenses do not stop when someone is literally knocked off of their feet. We are also anticipating many additional expenditures and modifications Denise will need in order to return home and regain her quality of life - including a wheelchair ramp that must be in place at their home prior to the hospital releasing her, handicap rail installations, equipment to support therapies, nursing assistance once home, and other required equipment and adaptive needs. The quotes received for the wheel chair ramp alone is $10,000.

Jake and Cameron have taken as much time off as possible from work in the beginning of the emergency but are now trying to return as much as possible to save any remaining vacation time in anticipation of how much Denise will need their support once released. This GoFundMe is being created with consent on their behalf as an incredibly loving family who deserves all of our support in this incredibly challenging chapter of their lives. Please consider donating as you can for this family as they continue to navigate obstacles and Denise works hard in her therapies to recover.

We believe in you, Denise!