Stand with Melinda and Anthony Through This Health Crisis

Hi. My name is Melanie & I am Melinda’s twin sister. I have decided to start a GoFundMe account for the Bernal family to try to ease the financial burden that lies ahead. Most of you have been following Anthony ‘s journey from Melinda’s giveinkind link where she gives updates. 7.5 months after the passing of our mom and after spending 4 months in and out of the hospital, our family would experience another devastating tragedy. On September 14, 2024 the lives of Anthony, Melinda, Melakai, and the rest of our family were changed forever. Anthony woke up Saturday morning with excruciating abdominal pain and was taken into Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno. It was determined that Anthony was suffering from acute pancreatitis. The cause of his pancreatitis is still unknown and could have been caused by multiple factors including drug induced (prescription drug), a recent severe infection (food poisoning), and/or antibiotics (for food poisoning). Whatever the cause most acute pancreatitis patients recover in a week and are able to leave the hospital after a few days. This unfortunately would be the start of several human errors, shortcuts, and negligence that would lead to Anthony spending the next 74 days in the ICU or an extension of the ICU.

While in Fresno Anthony contracted a secondary infection that caused the pancreatitis he had to come back. This time it came back even worse. He now had necrotizing pancreatitis. Necrotizing pancreatitis is when the pancreas becomes so inflamed it starts to die. Instead of admitting that they were in over their heads Anthony was kept at SAMC for 49 days before he was transferred out.

On 11/2/24 Anthony made it to Stanford Hospital and spent the next 25 days there. Life in Stanford is expensive. Even the least expensive hotel for a month is double my sister’s mortgage. That including her current monthly expenses, travel expenses for both Melakai and our dad, and the continuing care that Anthony needs and will need has provided a burden on both her and my dad.

On 11/27/24 Anthony was released to go home on Lovenox (a blood thinner) which caused a complication and he started to bleed internally on 11/30/24. Anthony was rushed to Clovis Community where his wife told the ER staff that she thought Anthony was bleeding internally and provided evidence as to why but nothing was done for 12 hours. By that point Anthony had lost so much blood that a mass blood transfusion protocol was put in place. Anthony received 4 units of blood and 5 bags for the mass blood transfusion. Melinda was asked to gather the family to say our last goodbyes because they were not sure he was going to make it.

Clovis was able to stabilize Anthony but Stanford did not want to accept him back because they were at capacity. Knowing they could not do anything more for Anthony, Clovis continued to reach out to Stanford until they accept him. On 12/4/24 Anthony was finally transferred back to Stanford for further care.

There is no time frame for how long he will be in Palo Alto this time around so I am asking for help to help ease some of the financial burdens that have come up with Anthony’s current condition and future needs. Anthony is literally the best person, dad, and husband, this just doesn’t seem fair. I know things are tough for everyone right now but if you’re able to donate and/or share it would be greatly appreciated. We do appreciate everyone’s prayers, thoughts, and well wishes but let’s help by allowing them to focus on themselves and not stress over finances. Every donation is appreciated exactly the same as the rest regardless of the amount!!! If you cannot donate, please share this post. Most importantly, please continue to keep the Bernal family in your prayers.