My name is Rhonda Bennett. I am hoping to raise funds to help my sister, Donna Applegate, with medical and living expenses. Please read her entire story and donate to her if you feel so inclined.

Donna, also lovingly referred to as MooMoo by many kids, needs to have another major surgery and is unable to work. Here’s a little backstory for those of you that don’t know: Donna was born with a kidney birth defect and has struggled with kidney and bladder issues her whole life. As a matter of fact, it almost killed her as a baby. In December 2022, Donna was sent to a specialist in San Antonio where it was decided that she needed to have her bladder removed. Doctors were able to use 18” of her intestines to create a pouch to replace her bladder and make a port where her pouch could be drained manually. Aside from a few complications (which were expected with a surgery of that type) and more hospital stays along the way, the surgery was a success. However, she began having bouts of diverticulitis here and there, and about 3 weeks ago, she was admitted back to the hospital with a severe ESBL infection in her pouch that was feared to have migrated into her intestines, on top of the severe diverticulitis. ESBL is resistant to antibiotics and doctors are having a hard time getting the infection under control so she can have surgery to remove a large, but unknown portion of her intestines. She was in the hospital for two weeks when a picc line was put in and she was sent home on IV antibiotics. She was only home a little over 24 hours when she started running fever again and was in terrible pain. She was admitted back to the hospital, Seaton Williamson County, yesterday (2025.07.15). The head surgeon advised today, (2025.07.16) that they could not wait any longer to do the surgery as the infection is getting worse. So, she will have surgery in the morning. The surgeon said that he does not "know what kind of a shit show it will be" (his words), but he knows it will be complicated because of the severity of the infection, her prior bladder removal, and the positioning of the pouch. He is hoping that she will not have to have an external bag for the rest of her life. It is unknown how long she will have to stay in the hospital after surgery, but it will be a long road to recovery either way.

That’s her medical story, but who is she? She is very involved in the church youth and is the Director of Discovery Days, which is a Christian preschool program and has about 35 kids that think the world of her, and also call her MooMoo. She is the one who is always doing things for others before herself. As my husband would put it-she is the one that would give her shirt off her back to give to anyone that needs it even though she can’t afford the shirt in the first place. She does without so others don't have to. She is just a plain good person with a huge heart full of gold. That's her - that's it. No sugar coating.

Any amount you can spare will help her with her daily living expenses on her road to recovery. Not only that, but it will help her buy medical

supplies that she will need for the rest of her life. Even if you are not able to give, please keep her in your prayers on her journey to recovery!