Medical Support for Jolene

Update: 3/31/2020 - Great news! Jolene is off the ventilator and breathing on her own. She's getting a little better each day and will hopefully be able to leave the ICU after another week or two. We'd really like to take a moment to thank every one of you who shared this fundraiser or donated your hard-earned money to this cause. Every cent is appreciated and will go towards Jolene's continued care. Thank you again! :)

3/23 - Jolene is still on a ventilator after ten days in ICU with no truly positive indicators that she can safely and easily breathe on her own. The hospital is recommending a tracheostomy and a conversation about longer-term care options. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and the need for more accessible equipment, my family now has to try and make a decision regarding the future of my mom's medical care while being mindful of the needs of the greater public. It's stressful, we are scare, and anything helps!


*As of March 17th Jolene has tested negative for the coronavirus and we're all breathing a sigh of relief over that. She is still in ICU and on oxygen to help fight off the influenza strain that she contracted and they expect her to be there for a while.  All of your donations and continued support mean so much to us. :)


On Friday, March 13th Jolene went to the hospital with a fever, a cough, and trouble breathing. She was taken by ambulance with paramedics that arrived in protective gear because they were concerned she might have COVID-19.  After a few hours in the local ER, she was intubated and transferred to a larger hospital where she could be cared for. We cannot see her because we are still awaiting her coronavirus test results. 

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My mother, Jolene, has been dealing with an autoimmune disease affecting her thyroid for years. She is also disabled after a botched knee replacement surgery and contends with a lot of pain on a day-to-day basis.  A few years ago, she was diagnosed with heart failure. 

All of these conditions, plus a few more, have put her at extreme risk for any upper respiratory infection. I had hoped that being mostly housebound would keep her safe from the current strain of flu going around or the new coronavirus. 

But she got sick anyways and avoided seeking medical care until her symptoms were too hard to ignore. My mom is a proud woman - she doesn't like to worry anyone, she puts on a brave face, and she never complains. (You wouldn't believe how hard it was just to find a photo of her for this campaign - I have nothing recent, because she'd rather be the one behind the camera.)

She also does not advocate strongly enough for her own medical care and that's why I'm stepping up to make sure that we are able to afford the care she is now receiving and to ensure that my younger brother who lives at home with her does not become homeless in her absence. 

I am asking for $3,000 to go towards medical expenses, bills and rent for the next few months while we focus on her care, and for any disability services we may need to pay out of pocket for when she is able to leave the hospital. 

You never think is it going to happen to you or your family. I genuinely hope that it never does, and that you and your loved ones stay healthy and safe.  Please take care of each other.