LIFE CRASH!!!
Health is the most important aspect of our daily lives. When you're faced with sudden, unexpected issues that COMPLETELY disrupt and end your ability to work, care for your child OR even walk on your own...you have a very real and terrifying wake up call.
On July 21, 2016... Monica woke up with an excruciating pain in her back. Ok, ER TIME! Within 3 hours the tests revealed several kidney stones...the largest a 1.2 cm, unpassable stone. The urologist placed a stent in order to relieve the extreme swelling and backed up urine due to the large stone.
These things happen all the time you say! True. But there's a twist. Through the placement, blood loss and testing...Monica's hemoglobin level was DANGEROUSLY low, resulting in two seperate blood transfusions. A litany of tests followed during the two week stay. Ct scans, Pulmonary Embolism, Ekg, Eeg, Ultrasounds, MRI...you name it, it was done.
As a server, walking is your LIFEBLOOD.
Not only does Monica have Blood and Kidney Issues...it was discovered that she also has TWO BROKEN HIPS, a BROKEN TAIL BONE, a HIATAL HERNIA and UTERINE TUMORS requiring Hysterectomy due to her advanced PCOS! It has been 3 weeks since the initial intake and the acute injuries are still being dealt with.
After discharge on Aug 3, 2016 she has been ordered on complete bedrest due to broken hips and severe anemia from blood loss.
August 8, 2016
Monica lost consciousness and is now BACK in the hospital due to continued blood loss from the kidney stent and anemia. It was also discovered that the syncope and devastatingly low hemoglobin levels she was experiencing were due to carbon monoxide poisoning...by fluke in the ambulance. Her level was reading at 19 en route to the hospital and 20 while in the ER. The ER physician sent an immediate response unit to her home to check CO2 levels and the reading came up negative. She received oxygen therapy to remove the poison from her blood and fluids to increase blood production while being monitored for any other major symtoms during her four day admittance.
August 11, 2016
Monica has been discharged again. Sent home to rest ( on COMPLETE bedrest unless utilizing a walker or wheelchair)and recover until Monday August 15, 2016 when she is due for her kidney surgery. Continued bleeding is being monitored by medical professionals just in case she might require more blood. She is also scheduled for appointments with her Cardiologist for a heart monitor ( the carbon monoxide affected negatively), the hematologist ( further testing into why the blood isn't building correctly) and the neurologist ( due to the extremely high carbon monoxide level in her body Monica has suffered startlingly apparent neurological side effects. Lapses of memory, inability to recall simple short term memory and quick functions of thought processing have been greatly affected.)
Monica is going to be out of commission physically for the next year or longer. The amount of surgeries required are astounding! Lithrotripsy and Kidney Stent Removal, Double hip surgery ( pin, plate), Hiatal Hernia Repair and Hysterectomy due to advanced PCOS are ALL upcoming in the next few months. Thankful for the discovery of these issues, yet absolutely overwhelmed with the realization that life as she and her daughter Sophia know it...is OVER for the time being.
If you've ever had the experience of being a part of Monica's life...in ANY way...you know what a vibrant, independent and amazing woman she truly is. There are times such as this when help is truly needed. NOW IS THAT TIME!!! Losing the use of her body to work is going to COMPLETELY devastate her in every way possible. She honestly needs help and would never ask on her own.
If anyone would like to donate to help Monica make it through this impossibly difficult time...it will be FOREVER appreciated and remembered.
Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers through this extremely difficult time...there is a LONG journey of healing and need ahead. Anything will help make a difference.