If you’ve lived in our community for any length of time, you probably know Mrs. Brenda and Mr. Hershel Killough. For decades, Mrs. Brenda has cared for so many of our children. Not just watching them, but a steady, dependable presence for countless families & loving our children like they were her own. Many of us remain close to her for years, even after our little ones outgrow the need for her childcare services.

Hershel was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and is now in critical condition after surgery on Thursday, July 31st and multiple life-threatening complications. He’s in a Florida hospital fighting pneumonia, blood loss, and a blood clot, and will remain there until he’s stable enough to return home to Mississippi.

This has been a sudden, unexpected and overwhelming ordeal for Brenda, Hershel, & their son, Brooks. Between travel, time away from work, lodging, and continually mounting medical bills, the costs are staggering and increasing daily. Emotionally, physically, and financially, this is a lot for anyone to deal with...and this is going on 2 weeks.

If you can, please donate to help Brenda stay by Hershel’s side through this fight. Every dollar matters. If you can’t give, please at least share this post and keep them in your prayers. If you have Venmo, you can send it straight to her & she will get it right away. She prefers Venmo, but we know not everyone uses Venmo.

Venmo is @Brenda-Killough-2

Below is a more detailed explanation:

Mr. Hershel Killough was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. On Thursday, July 31st at Singing River Hospital in Ocean Springs, Mr. Hershel had surgery to have the cancer removed. He did well through the surgery and was moved to a regular hospital room. Mr. Hershel recovered well until Sunday, August 3rd when he began to have increased bleeding from his chest tube and an increase in his white blood cells, indicating an infection. The chest tube was removed on Monday and he was continuing to be treated with 2 IV antibiotics for pneumonia.

In the early hours on Tuesday, August 5th, Mr. Hershel was moved to the ICU due to respiratory distress. He was then placed on ventilator to allow for his body to rest. They also performed a bronchoscopy to attempt to clean out his lungs and obtain specimens for cultures to determine the specific type of infection. Later that day, Mr.Hershel began bleeding and coughing up blood.

The doctors were unable to stop or control the bleeding. It was then determined that he would need to be transferred to a Hospital in Pensacola, FL where a surgeon is present who would be able to perform a procedure to determine where the bleeding was coming from. He needed to be airlifted but was transferred to Florida by ambulance due to the weather. Upon arrival to the hospital in Pensacola, the bleeding appeared to have stabilized.

On Wednesday August 6th, Mr. Hershel began bleeding again and he was rushed back Into an IR surgery in which surgeons successfully stopped the bleeding. He continues to be treated with IV antibiotics for pneumonia. He didn’t not have any bleeding on Thursday, August 7th. However, he does have a small blood clot and providers are hoping this will dissolve on its own.

They have since stabilized him, but his condition still remains critical. He will continue to stay in Florida and until he is stable and healthy enough to be transferred back to a hospital in Mississippi.