Manhattan Mermaid Now In Hawaii Needs Your Help!

Hello, my name is Valerie, and I wanted to start a GoFundMe page for my dear friend Mercedes "Toni" Franco. Instead of writing about my beautiful friend, Toni asked if she could tell her story in her own words.

Aloha All,

Happy spring, and blessed Lenten Season to you and yours!

With the help of my dearest and treasured Camp LENOLOC Director Karenne Bloomgarden and my camp sisters (Bananas) of 40 years, I am asking for help to pay for several items I need to purchase due to my partial leg amputation. Though I have insurance, it does not cover several items I will need before being discharged from the hospital.

Here’s my story:

On January 3rd, I accidentally stubbed my big and middle toes while making my bed. I had socks and sneakers on, but that did not prevent me from hurting myself. After a few days of pain, I called 9-1-1 and was taken to Straub Medical Center. After a C.T., X-ray, and Bone Density Scan, it showed that the bones were like seashells…and INOPERABLE.

I was admitted to the hospital to address the infection, and a week later I was sent home with a PICC Line in my right arm and a traditional cast from my toes to my kneecap to contain the infection. For two weeks, I administered my antibiotics, saline, and heparin. All was going well until January 27th came along, and that’s when blood and puss began to leak from my cast with a smelly odor.

My wonderful nurse called the ER and asked that they make a space for me because she needs her cast to be removed. Nurse Randy made sure I was comfortable, and that’s when I asked that they give me the news in a good bedside manner and with finesse. While in the ER, after two cuts of the cast (which sounded like a construction zone), my cast was pulled open, and a wound the size of a half-dollar formed.

This happened because of the constant rubbing of the cast against the arch of my foot. The wound was a non-infected ulcer, and that’s when they decided to re-admit me back into the hospital. I was blessed to be on the same floor as my first admittance on the 6th floor.

Once I was on my floor, the aides, nurses, clerks, and housekeeping staff asked me, “What are you doing back?”, and “Where is your cast?”. And I had to explain with a heavy heart that an amputation was required. Dr. Nakasone and his team from Straub Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii took just under an hour to complete the successful operation.

I have enclosed some photos of myself, my stump (Cutie-Pie), and the various items I will need once I am finally discharged from the hospital.

My journey has been to the ER, admission into the hospital, The Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, back to the hospital for another operation to clear a blockage in my small intestines, back to rehabilitation, and then back to the ER for monitoring of my heart.

As I write this, I am at a skilled nursing facility Nu’u’anu Hale, on O’ahu, waiting on my insurance coordinator and skilled nursing facility and case management team to organize my needed equipment, wheelchair, home health aide, slide/transfer boards, walker, cane, and other items shown in the photographs. Due to Covid, there is a supply shortage on some supplies. I will purchase a Power Scooter from the showroom floor and hope to be partially reimbursed. Insurance pays for some scooters, which will take several months to receive (which means I will need to wait), and I have to give “Cutie-Pie” time to heal for me to receive my prosthetic.

Mahalo Nui Loa, (Thank you from the HEART) in Hawai’ian for visiting this page and for whatever amount you can contribute. And thank you to the precious people who put this all together.

Sincerely,

Rosie & Jackie’s (Daughter)

That Wahine from NYC!

Mecedes Antoinette (Toni) Franco

XOXOXOXO

Items Needed: