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Please help Gavin Johnson's Family Stay Together

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Our story starts back on Wednesday June 10th when Gavin woke up and said that his neck hurt. More symptoms appeared and worsened over the next couple of days, so we took him into the Ridgecrest ER Sunday morning. The ER doctor ordered a chest x-ray and Gavin was diagnosed with pneumonia. The next morning we were told that Gavin's body wasn't responding to the medication and his left lung was 3/4 full of fluid. He was going to be flown, by himself, to Loma Linda University. Gavin is on the Autism Spectrum and we were worried about him. I had to tell Gavin he was going to be flying alone and he said "Mom, it's okay, don't cry. Well, Mom, you cry when you need to, but can you please wait until I leave?" He left and my husband and I drove the hundred twenty four miles trying to be as brave as our son.

Due to COVID-19, only one of us is allowed to be with Gavin in the hospital at a time. In order to see each other and take turns staying with Gavin, Chris and I had to pay for a hotel room near the hospital.  We weren't able to afford this the entire 22 days our son initially spent in the hospital, so Chris would have to go home for several days in a row, splitting our family apart during this traumatic time.

While at the hospital, Gavin had a chest tube inserted and two liters of fluid removed. After eleven days of no change to his symptoms, Gavin was finally diagnosed with Valley Fever pneumonia. It is a fungal pneumonia. At first, the new diagnosis and treatment seemed to be working and we were able to return home. However, it turns out that the fungus is almost resistant to the medication. We were only home for ten days when Gavin's continued symptoms forced us to return to the hospital where we will be staying for an indefinite period of time.

Chris has yet to see his first Disability Family Leave check, so we cannot afford to pay for a hotel room this time. He had to go back to work and I have been here alone with Gavin. Gavin has had to have two lumbar punctures and an MRI of the brain to check for meningitis. He also has had a central line put in. Additionally, Gavin has had two blood clots, with the second one being found today as I write this.

Despite the constant barrage of tests, procedures and continuing symptoms, Gavin has kept his spirits up. However, he misses having his family together and seeing both of his parents. Christopher and I would not have been able to stay in a hotel and travel back and forth had it not been for the generosity of Chris's coworkers and our families.

We would like to be together in this trying time and would appreciate any help you could give us.

Donations 

  • Julie Malear
    • $100
    • 5 yrs
  • Runda Osman
    • $50
    • 5 yrs
  • Eileen Sarjeant
    • $50
    • 5 yrs
  • Wendy Baudhuin
    • $25
    • 5 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $100
    • 5 yrs

Organizer and beneficiary

Shannen Foreman
Organizer
Ridgecrest, CA
Christopher Johnson
Beneficiary

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