Main fundraiser photo

Ralph Smith Medical Expenses/ HVAC Unit

Ralph is a pastor, husband, father, grandfather, friend, and a Veteran. 3 weeks ago, Ralph was babysitting his three grandkids when he had an upper GI bleed. EMS was called and Ralph was taken to UNC Hospital by ambulance. Since then, he has been hospitalized due to low platelet counts. He was sent home after a week but developed a bad cough. When he went to the Urgent Care a day and a half after being sent home from UNC, the Urgent Care did X-Rays and checked his blood counts. They quickly sent him by ambulance to the closest hospital where his platelet counts had dropped to 7K (normal range is 150K to 450K). Within a few hours, he was transferred back to UNC Hospitals where he has remained for the last two weeks with high risks of spontaneous bleeds. 
Ralph has received many transfusions, medicines to help his body produce platelets, and IVIG treatments to help treat ITP. Unfortunately, his spleen is also playing a big role in everything. Today, they have decided that they need to proceed with ways to fix the spleen (either radiation or doing a spleen embolization). 
While Ralph has been in the hospital, his wife has been by his side day and night. She went home to pack clothing and found that their heating unit had gone out. Their son had someone come look at it, only to find out that the whole unit needed to be replaced. 
Between 3 ambulance rides in 3 weeks, and all but 2 nights of the last 3 weeks in a hospital having tests, medication, and blood transfusions, along with his wife living out of a hospital for 3 weeks, and having to replace the HVAC, Ralph and Kathy could use your help! 
We are trying to raise enough money to cover the HVAC unit so they do not have to go home to a cold house. We would also like to alleviate some of the medical expenses, food, parking, and gas costs that have occurred and will continue to occur during this long hospital stay. His platelets are still at a dangerously low level so he will be in the hospital for an undetermined amount of time. Thank you for all your help. I know they appreciate it!

Organizer

Amy Torrence Smith
Organizer
Siler City, NC

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.