Patty "Momma Lewie" Lewis - Founder and Friend
Patty Lewis, known to many Marines as "Mama Lewie", is not only the amazing mom of two sons, but she has been a "mom" to countless Marines and Sailors. Patty is the founder of the non-profit organization America 4R Veterans - previously known as Mom 4R Marines and America 4R Marines.  As the situation with combat involvement changed, the mission of the organization changed - as more people became involved, the name changed, too, knowing that it wasn't just one person but the whole country that was behind our military.  Why just Marines (and  Sailors)?  There are a few reasons, but the main reason is her son (my brother) was deployed three times between 2003 and 2007 with Third Battalion Second Marines.  The motto of her organization, though, has always been "AMERICA HAS YOUR BACK". Patty is now facing many medical issues -- more than one person should have to endure -- and it is taking an extreme financial toll. The woman whose whole life has been helping others is now in need of help herself, but far too humble to ask.  It's time for America to HAVE HER BACK!


Background
Patty first became involved with the Marine Corps when her son was on his second deployment.  She found that parents were often left in the dark about important issues or situations.  She started working with the Battalion Commander to create the first ever Parent Network.  She had a parent volunteer in each state, and set up a network of parents to disseminate pertinent information while maintaining operational security (OPSEC).  While it started with 3/2 and RCT-5, she was honored when she found out that the Commandant of the Marine Corps wanted to see if it could be implemented throughout the USMC and set her up with a 3-star General to begin the process of working to present this.  She saw a gap, worked like hell for over a year and a half to make it a success, and then created a framework to have it expand across the USMC -- that is just how Patty Lewis works. 

She founded Mom 4R Marines in 2006 and started supporting Marines by working with the Commanders to see what was needed in the field by the Battalions, and getting it DONE! She started Operation Merry Christmas Marines and Sailors, sending over 4 tons of holiday stockings to entire battalions! Each year it just grew bigger.  She also started supporting Marines and Sailors as they returned home and realized the mission was changing and the organization would have to change with it.  She worked with countless Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen to get them the help and support they needed. Whether it was building memorials, emotional support, temporary financial assistance, or just someone to listen, Patty has always been there and always willing to get the job DONE!

The past few years have been a roller coaster for my parents.  Around 2015, my mom was diagnosed with a few meningiomas, a benign form of a brain tumor, and had radiation treatment every day for 6 weeks.  This took quite a toll on her, and started the roller coaster. 

In April 2017, my dad was diagnosed with gastroesophageal cancer.  He went through chemo, had surgery, and had more chemo. He still sees his oncologists regularly and his prognosis is good, but it was just another health issue and strain to add to the situation.  

While my dad was going through his treatment, my mom found she had a herniated disc after a lot of back pain. She ultimately had surgery to relieve the pressure from the disc on her spinal nerve(s).  Though this helped for a little bit, the pain has worsened significantly, but she is not a candidate for further surgery. 

While she was getting imaging done for her back, doctors found a mass on her adrenal gland.  They kept a watchful wait stance until last year when the tumor nearly doubled in size and may have been causing increased levels of cortisol, leading to a form of Cushings Syndrome. Again, she went  under the knife to have the tumor and adrenal gland removed as the risk was increasing that it could be or turn malignant. The surgeon was brutally honest about the risks associated with the surgery due to her already weakened state, but she pulled through.  

Now for the biggest issue: Because the adrenal gland with the tumor was producing too much cortisol, quite possibly on its own, they found that since it was removed, her body is producing 0 cortisol.  ZERO.  So she is now dependent on hydrocortisone to keep her alive. There are so many side effects that come along with this hormonal journey, ranging from muscles starting to atrophy, confusion, weakness, and a LOT of doctor and other medical professional visits. She has about 8 specialists she sees regularly, in addition to her primary and other ancillary services for labs, radiology, and physical therapy.  She has to always carry an emergency injection of hydrocortisone with her in the event she goes into an adrenal insufficiency crisis.  Even something like vomiting could quickly cause her cortisol level to drop to the point of no longer being able to sustain life.  I could talk for hours about the things she experiences on a daily basis, but I think I covered things enough to let you know how unwell she is feeling right now.

Even with her physically unable to do so many things, she STILL will not even consider turning away a Veteran that needs help.  She has ALWAYS put everyone else first, and ALWAYS will.  


All of this comes with a cost
Since 2016, my parents have had countless hospitalizations, doctor visits, diagnostic imaging, lab tests, surgeries, radiation, chemo, you name it. All of this comes with a cost for them.  This may not have been such a big issue, but they didn't have the best financial situation to begin with because my dad was unemployed or underemployed from 2007-2014.  He lost his job of nearly 38 years just as the recession of 2008 was beginning.  Trying to find a job in a recession is difficult under the best circumstances, but adding to the struggle was his specific skill set and the low demand for it.  For nearly seven years, their only source of income was my mom's disability.  They have used the little savings they had, my dad's 401(k), and credit cards, but they are now at a point of being forced to sell their home of 42 years because the debt from all of this is insurmountable.  They also never know when the need for an ER visit or hospitalization might arise. 

The situation is urgent, and as my mom would say, this is an "ALL HANDS ON DECK" situation.  They have literally reached their limit and don't know how to pay for the next months of prescriptions or doctor visits.