Katrina Brownbill Medical/Memorial Fund
Donation protected
Nine days ago my sister suddenly had a seizure at her home and lost consciousness. EMS responded within a matter of minutes and we able to revive her. However, too much damage had been done to her brain and it began to have a constant seizure, a condition known as "status epilepticus". Despite aggressive and exhaustive medical attempts, we have not been able to bring her out of the status epilepticus without using coma-inducing medications. Once those medications are withdrawn, the unrelenting seizures begin again. In honor of her wish to not remain on life support once all attempts have been made to bring her back to us, we will begin to withdraw life support later today. She will be making a final gift of donating any and all usable tissue and organs in the hopes that others may live and have an improved quality of life, and that she may live through them.
Unfortunately, my sister has ZERO medical insurance to cover any part of the substantial bills from 9+ days in ICU. We are also facing imminent funeral and final arrangement expenses. What she DOES have is a family with 5 kids ranging in age from an adopted 3 year old little girl to a 23 year old son that she was incredibly close to; and a husband who loves her more than he loves his own life. This is a family that simply does not have money to cover any of the related bills that will begin coming in. I have put a goal on here because I have to. The medical bills themselves will likely be well over $100,000. We do not expect, nor are we asking for anywhere near what the bills will be, but in this situation quite literally ANYTHING will help.
What I am asking is for ANY assistance at all that you might be able to give to assist in providing even the smallest trickle of peace of mind during this unimaginably difficult time. My brother in law has to find a way to explain to his 3 year old daughter why mommy can't come home, ever. I can not take that pain from him, but I can try to call on anyone and everyone who maybe even has as little as a dollar to spare to help me take one more worry off of this family during this time. My sister was also the caretaker for my disabled mom who lives with them and who now is losing her oldest daughter...something no parent should ever have to deal with. Sadly our family is no stranger to early loss, when I was 16 and my sister was 20, our dad was hit by a car and killed while crossing a street. Yet somehow having gone through one loss does not make subsequent ones any easier; if anything it seems to make each new loss much more difficult.
I understand that these are difficult times financially and many of us are struggling to make ends meet for our own families, so I completely understand if all you are able to spare is your prayers and thoughts; while they obviously can't be accepted as a form of payment for bills, those things are more valuable than I can ever express and I am eternally grateful for each and every one of them.
Thank you for your time and much love to all.
Bonnie Horn
UPDATE 7/17/2013: My sister's battles are now over. She did not pass in the required time frame after removing the ventilator to qualify for organ donation, but she was still able to make a no less valuable gift of tissue donation (basically anything that can be used to help others that is not an organ) that will change so many people's lives for the better. She went peacefully with me on one side of her and her 23 year old son, Jonathan, on the other side. Now begins the second, and most difficult part of our journey, figuring out how to live in this world without her. The strength and things she taught her family will help, but I know how long of a road we have ahead of us. <3
Much love and gratitude, Bonnie
Unfortunately, my sister has ZERO medical insurance to cover any part of the substantial bills from 9+ days in ICU. We are also facing imminent funeral and final arrangement expenses. What she DOES have is a family with 5 kids ranging in age from an adopted 3 year old little girl to a 23 year old son that she was incredibly close to; and a husband who loves her more than he loves his own life. This is a family that simply does not have money to cover any of the related bills that will begin coming in. I have put a goal on here because I have to. The medical bills themselves will likely be well over $100,000. We do not expect, nor are we asking for anywhere near what the bills will be, but in this situation quite literally ANYTHING will help.
What I am asking is for ANY assistance at all that you might be able to give to assist in providing even the smallest trickle of peace of mind during this unimaginably difficult time. My brother in law has to find a way to explain to his 3 year old daughter why mommy can't come home, ever. I can not take that pain from him, but I can try to call on anyone and everyone who maybe even has as little as a dollar to spare to help me take one more worry off of this family during this time. My sister was also the caretaker for my disabled mom who lives with them and who now is losing her oldest daughter...something no parent should ever have to deal with. Sadly our family is no stranger to early loss, when I was 16 and my sister was 20, our dad was hit by a car and killed while crossing a street. Yet somehow having gone through one loss does not make subsequent ones any easier; if anything it seems to make each new loss much more difficult.
I understand that these are difficult times financially and many of us are struggling to make ends meet for our own families, so I completely understand if all you are able to spare is your prayers and thoughts; while they obviously can't be accepted as a form of payment for bills, those things are more valuable than I can ever express and I am eternally grateful for each and every one of them.
Thank you for your time and much love to all.
Bonnie Horn
UPDATE 7/17/2013: My sister's battles are now over. She did not pass in the required time frame after removing the ventilator to qualify for organ donation, but she was still able to make a no less valuable gift of tissue donation (basically anything that can be used to help others that is not an organ) that will change so many people's lives for the better. She went peacefully with me on one side of her and her 23 year old son, Jonathan, on the other side. Now begins the second, and most difficult part of our journey, figuring out how to live in this world without her. The strength and things she taught her family will help, but I know how long of a road we have ahead of us. <3
Much love and gratitude, Bonnie
Organizer
Bonnie Elphie Horn
Organizer
Kearney, MO
