My mom has double COVID-pneumonia
Donation protected
Hello, kind world. My name is Kate, and my mom is my favorite person in the whole world. I posted a video on TikTok preparing my (then) covid-positive mom for the hospital as we waited for EMT services to arrive, and it went viral.
"In the video, Kate explains how she's preparing her COVID-positive mother for the ER as they wait for an ambulance to arrive. Notably, she's packing a bag that contains imperative personal and medical information about her mother that she will send along with her. That information includes a list of her mother's medications, her ID and insurance information, a copy of her temperature and oxygen levels, a list of four emergency contacts (and their phone numbers), and her mother's written consent to speak to them, as well as a phone charger."
- Maya Ogolini, Buzzfeed
My mom is Diane. She's a massage therapist and small business owner. When my mom tested positive for covid she took leave from her 3 part-time jobs, and I became her sole caregiver. I now have the good fortune of being her caregiver as well as her personal assistant, uber driver, and nutritionist. My mom didn't work for 2 months, but thankfully she was saving for a trip to Alaska and used that to make ends meet. She's recently been medically cleared to work 8 hrs/week. We are receiving new medical bills in the mail weekly, and my mom does not have endurance to work enough hours to keep up with the payments. I'm asking as an overwhelmed daughter who deeply loves their mom.
Below are the large medical expenses. The number reflect the Patient's Responsibility amounts
****UPDATED DAILY *****
12/13/22 EMT Services $1,234.32 BLS Emergency Base Rate $1218.70 + $15.62 interest
12/13/22 ER Visit $340.00
12/13/22 Initial hosp. care $607.00
12/14/22 Cont. hosp. care $313.00
12/14/22 Cardiology $10.26
12/13-12/15 hosp. stay $15,266.24
12/17/22 ER Visit $235.00
12/27/22 PCP appt $243.04
Every penny donated will go towards paying for my mom's bills and medical expenses. We are working with hospital financial services and government agencies to reduce medical expenses. My mom has bare minimum health insurance none of her part-time jobs offered it and cannot afford better coverage. Her finances are the last thing I want her to worry about. She needs to continue to focus on healing. Her body cannot physically handle a re-lapse. I drive her to and from work so she can rest in the car. She needs to use her inhaler before every massage. She is completely weaned off home oxygen but must continue checking her oxygen saturation levels numerous times throughout the day. One positive think that came out of covid is that my mom got off 2 of her 3 blood pressure medications. She checks her blood pressure in the morning, before work, after work (pending the pre-work reading), and before bed. We do breathing exercises throughout the day and practice mindfulness. I need my mom, and I refuse to give her anything less than the best that I can. Right now the best thing I can do is ask for help.
Below is a brief timeline of our covid journey
Jan 20, 2021 my mom starts wearing a mask as federally mandated
Dec 3 my mom was exposed to COVID from a non-masker who knew they were covid positive
Dec 5 she had to stop working due to testing covid positive
Dec 13 we utilized EMT services and she was admitted for double covid pneumonia which occurs when fluid builds up in both lungs
Dec 15 we utilized EMT services a second time after I found my mom nonresponsive
Feb 9, 2022 my mom was medically cleared to return to work 6 hrs/week with breaks in between massage clients
Feb 21st she was medically cleared to work 8 hrs/week with breaks in between massage clients
Link to the viral TikTok video: https://www.tiktok.com/@kate.escaped/video/7041267733278985518?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en
We attracted national media. Below are links to the articles.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/mayaogolini/how-to-prepare-covid-patient-for-emergency-room
https://www.today.com/health/health/viral-video-daughter-covid-19-hospital-bag-mom-rcna15164
https://www.ajc.com/pulse/woman-shares-how-she-prepared-her-covid-19-positive-mom-for-hospital/Z5THWTGMTNAN7CLTSVF5AQVXKE/
Appointment Updates
December 29th - first post-hospital appointment with PCP; not cleared to return to work, still requires daily oxygen
January 28th - second follow-up with PCP; cleared to work 6 hours/ week, nightly oxygen use only
February 7th - initial appointment with pulmonologist, orders ct scan, cleared to discontinue home oxygen
February 28th - third follow-up with PCP
March - initial appointment with specialist: allergist
Referrals:
CT Scan
Sleep study (summer 2022)
Dermatology (2 unknown spots)
I update this regularly and log as many expenses as possible. It's important I include the miscellaneous items.
I save copies of all receipts.
$103.65 post-hospital discharge medication
$59.97 bedside toilet commode
$8.78 medication - albuterol
$16.20 electrolyte beverages
$33.18 medication - 600 mg guaifenesin & 1200 mg guaifenesin
$18.44 wound care supplies
$65.67 2"full size mattress topper (+delivery fee) - my mom has been sleeping on a pull out couch and it hurts her to lay on her stomach
$6.99 digital thermometer
$8.46 paper products to store medical devices and food
$6.99 12 pack electrolyte water
$1.59 hand sanitizing wipes
$18.80 400 ct hand sanitizing wipes
$5.59 push button 7-day pill organizer
$17.60 10 N95 respirator masks
$21.00 2 smoke detectors + batteries
$9.02 4 pk disinfecting wipes
$21.06 pulse oximeter
$21.85 B-complex + Vit C vitamin
$4.49 folic acid supplement
$71.00 medication - eczema cream
$9.02 4 pk disinfecting wipes
Thank you for taking the time to read my mom's story.
cash.app/$KateandherMama
"In the video, Kate explains how she's preparing her COVID-positive mother for the ER as they wait for an ambulance to arrive. Notably, she's packing a bag that contains imperative personal and medical information about her mother that she will send along with her. That information includes a list of her mother's medications, her ID and insurance information, a copy of her temperature and oxygen levels, a list of four emergency contacts (and their phone numbers), and her mother's written consent to speak to them, as well as a phone charger."
- Maya Ogolini, Buzzfeed
My mom is Diane. She's a massage therapist and small business owner. When my mom tested positive for covid she took leave from her 3 part-time jobs, and I became her sole caregiver. I now have the good fortune of being her caregiver as well as her personal assistant, uber driver, and nutritionist. My mom didn't work for 2 months, but thankfully she was saving for a trip to Alaska and used that to make ends meet. She's recently been medically cleared to work 8 hrs/week. We are receiving new medical bills in the mail weekly, and my mom does not have endurance to work enough hours to keep up with the payments. I'm asking as an overwhelmed daughter who deeply loves their mom.
Below are the large medical expenses. The number reflect the Patient's Responsibility amounts
****UPDATED DAILY *****
12/13/22 EMT Services $1,234.32 BLS Emergency Base Rate $1218.70 + $15.62 interest
12/13/22 ER Visit $340.00
12/13/22 Initial hosp. care $607.00
12/14/22 Cont. hosp. care $313.00
12/14/22 Cardiology $10.26
12/13-12/15 hosp. stay $15,266.24
12/17/22 ER Visit $235.00
12/27/22 PCP appt $243.04
Every penny donated will go towards paying for my mom's bills and medical expenses. We are working with hospital financial services and government agencies to reduce medical expenses. My mom has bare minimum health insurance none of her part-time jobs offered it and cannot afford better coverage. Her finances are the last thing I want her to worry about. She needs to continue to focus on healing. Her body cannot physically handle a re-lapse. I drive her to and from work so she can rest in the car. She needs to use her inhaler before every massage. She is completely weaned off home oxygen but must continue checking her oxygen saturation levels numerous times throughout the day. One positive think that came out of covid is that my mom got off 2 of her 3 blood pressure medications. She checks her blood pressure in the morning, before work, after work (pending the pre-work reading), and before bed. We do breathing exercises throughout the day and practice mindfulness. I need my mom, and I refuse to give her anything less than the best that I can. Right now the best thing I can do is ask for help.
Below is a brief timeline of our covid journey
Jan 20, 2021 my mom starts wearing a mask as federally mandated
Dec 3 my mom was exposed to COVID from a non-masker who knew they were covid positive
Dec 5 she had to stop working due to testing covid positive
Dec 13 we utilized EMT services and she was admitted for double covid pneumonia which occurs when fluid builds up in both lungs
Dec 15 we utilized EMT services a second time after I found my mom nonresponsive
Feb 9, 2022 my mom was medically cleared to return to work 6 hrs/week with breaks in between massage clients
Feb 21st she was medically cleared to work 8 hrs/week with breaks in between massage clients
Link to the viral TikTok video: https://www.tiktok.com/@kate.escaped/video/7041267733278985518?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en
We attracted national media. Below are links to the articles.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/mayaogolini/how-to-prepare-covid-patient-for-emergency-room
https://www.today.com/health/health/viral-video-daughter-covid-19-hospital-bag-mom-rcna15164
https://www.ajc.com/pulse/woman-shares-how-she-prepared-her-covid-19-positive-mom-for-hospital/Z5THWTGMTNAN7CLTSVF5AQVXKE/
Appointment Updates
December 29th - first post-hospital appointment with PCP; not cleared to return to work, still requires daily oxygen
January 28th - second follow-up with PCP; cleared to work 6 hours/ week, nightly oxygen use only
February 7th - initial appointment with pulmonologist, orders ct scan, cleared to discontinue home oxygen
February 28th - third follow-up with PCP
March - initial appointment with specialist: allergist
Referrals:
CT Scan
Sleep study (summer 2022)
Dermatology (2 unknown spots)
I update this regularly and log as many expenses as possible. It's important I include the miscellaneous items.
I save copies of all receipts.
$103.65 post-hospital discharge medication
$59.97 bedside toilet commode
$8.78 medication - albuterol
$16.20 electrolyte beverages
$33.18 medication - 600 mg guaifenesin & 1200 mg guaifenesin
$18.44 wound care supplies
$65.67 2"full size mattress topper (+delivery fee) - my mom has been sleeping on a pull out couch and it hurts her to lay on her stomach
$6.99 digital thermometer
$8.46 paper products to store medical devices and food
$6.99 12 pack electrolyte water
$1.59 hand sanitizing wipes
$18.80 400 ct hand sanitizing wipes
$5.59 push button 7-day pill organizer
$17.60 10 N95 respirator masks
$21.00 2 smoke detectors + batteries
$9.02 4 pk disinfecting wipes
$21.06 pulse oximeter
$21.85 B-complex + Vit C vitamin
$4.49 folic acid supplement
$71.00 medication - eczema cream
$9.02 4 pk disinfecting wipes
Thank you for taking the time to read my mom's story.
cash.app/$KateandherMama
Co-organizers (2)
Kate Fenno
Organizer
Hazleton, PA
Sara Jones
Co-organizer