Let’s get Macy home!



Update:

We are so thankful for the outpouring of generosity from the community and family and friends. We just informed Laura that we met the initial goal, but after multiple messages from her supporters suggesting an increase we feel like it needs to be adjusted to ensure that Laura will be able to focus on Macy and her needs. Although Laura feels extremely blessed and thankful for the support, she would never feel comfortable asking for this kind of help. Unfortunately, we think she will need it.

Macy’s original anticipated stay time has now been extended. Her doc came in this morning and said that 7 days is very unlikely, 10 days is likely the minimum to be in the hospital but more than likely it will be 2+ weeks in the hospital and potentially even more until she can travel. There is question about how she will travel home—in a car or van would probably be more comfortable, but of course the goal will be an airplane.

Laura has worked hard to try and partner with the hospital to try and find a place to shower as it is not allowed for a parent to clean up in a child’s room. She is trying to get a meeting with the case manager/social worker to find out her options for parent hospital stays. She may have to add additional hotel costs to have a place to clean up. She refuses to spend the nights away from Macy, and the hospital only offers a fold out chair for her to sleep on. She is adamant that she will continue to try and get a partnership with the hospital rather than incurring a hotel cost that she doesn’t feel necessary, but the reality is that she may be facing up to a $200 a night hotel cost—essentially erasing our original $2500 goal.

They were packed for a 4 day vacation and Laura will have to grab some additional personal items. She will need to travel to do laundry as well.

We have estimated that her costs could exceed $5000. We are upping the goal with the thought that if Macy can’t travel home on the plane someone will be able to fly down and drive them home so Laura can focus on Macy. She does not currently intend to have a rental car but this would allow that to happen as well so she can feel comfortable going to and from the hotel as she may need.

The PUD has told Laura to focus on Macy and not worry about work or her vacation time. A few coworkers are working together to help offset the amount of time she will be gone from work by donating her some of their vacation hours. This is a massive relief to her immediate shock of facing weeks of unpaid time off for this tragic event. Macy will require follow up care once she gets home and there is no guess at how much time off she will have to take. Laura wanted me to say thank you to her PUD family as well as her friends and family as she is treading water. She will post a Facebook update daily.

Thank you all for your support!

Original post:

Laura and Macy left for a fun filled vacation in California on March 27th and Macy became very ill the next morning and was vomiting all day.  

Laura took Macy to urgent care when Macy’s illness progressed and she began complaining about stomach pain.  Urgent care gave Macy meds for her vomiting and sent them back to the hotel.  

Thursday morning Macy continued to vomit, was unable to bear weight, and was complaining that she couldn’t breathe.  Laura called Cascade Medical Center and spoke to a nurse who advised her to call 911 and have her transported to the emergency room.  

They were transported to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and Macy was given an abdominal ultrasound that was inconclusive and then given a CT Scan that was also inconclusive.  The hospital staff called in a pediatric surgeon who came and assessed her and took her back for emergency exploratory surgery.

Macy’s appendix ruptured and had adhered to her Fallopian tube and was very low—the cause for the inconclusive ultrasound and CT Scan.  It has caused issues with her bowels and could require additional surgeries.  

Macy is unable to travel.  Will need to be in the hospital for 1-2 weeks and could need an alternative travel method to get home from California.  

Laura has a wonderful job who will support her need to be with her kiddo, but doesn’t have a large amount of paid time off available in her PTO bank. 

We are hoping to relieve Laura’s stress financially so she can focus on Macy and getting her baby home where she can heal and move past this.  

If you can’t donate, never feel bad, but we would love it if you would consider sharing this.