Josie and Kip Fentress Medical and Living Expenses

My Grandma Josie is the strongest woman I have ever known. I have never met another person who has gone through more than she has, and she has always kept a smile throughout it all. Right now, she and our family could really use your help.

She has had breast cancer twice and beat it both times like it was nothing. Then, 7 years ago, her husband, my Pappy, Kip Fentress, had a heart attack at work and was not found for an extended amount of time. He was rushed to Freeman Hospital where his prognosis was grim. His MRI showed that all but his brain stem had died due to lack of oxygen. He now lives with a traumatic anoxic brain injury. Despite the grim prognosis and reports given to us by the doctors that he would not live, he fought and survived… but he has never fully recovered. The fight to get him the help he needed to recover never went through and therefore, my Grandma has taken care of him by herself for the last 7 years. She has not been able to work, and they have been living off the small amount of disability income he receives.

Then, a year ago Grandma had to have half of her right foot amputated due to difficulties with diabetes. She’s been trying her best to get by despite the hardships she faces each and every day. Throughout her time caring for my Pappy, she has struggled to take care of her own health.

Last Saturday, Grandma was rushed by ambulance to Labette Health with extreme infections in her left foot. The staff at Labette Health was unable to meet her medical needs and she was then transported to Freeman in Joplin. Upon arriving at Freeman, the doctor examined her left foot and decided the foot needed to be amputated immediately. This was her good foot she still had full use of. The doctor amputated her left foot above her ankle. The diabetes had once again taken a part of her.

When she recovers, she will come to live with us, but unfortunately, she will have to be in a wheelchair. We are currently researching nursing homes for Pappy to be placed in for the long term as Grandma will no longer be able to be his caregiver.

As you can imagine, all of this leads to some very hefty expenses for my Grandma, my mom, Angie, and my stepdad, Eli.

Any contribution is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.