Tragedy struck our family on July 11th, Courtney had been sick for a few days, after an urgent care, PCP and ER visit; we brought her back to the ER for further help; what happened next shook our family to our core.

Courtney text me hours later, saying she was being flown to Umass Worcester for surgery; the panic set in. I got a call that night saying she was being brought into surgery and I would receive a call when it was done; I got a phone call 10 hours later that changed my life. The previous MRI had shown an infection had spread into her neck, throat and lungs, while performing surgery her throat closed, an emergency tracheostomy was performed to save her life; she had been admitted to the ICU. I cried, I held my daughter and just cried, I was able to find help with our kids and rushed to the hospital, the condition she was in was heartbreaking.

I was told she had a bacterial infection that infected her while she had strep and hand foot and mouth disease and that she was VERY sick. Courtney would need months of physical rehab, she would need to learn to use her vocal cords again, learn how to eat and possibly learn how to walk. I kept thinking “this can’t be real, this can’t be happening” my beloved wife, who is so full of life and so vibrant, was sedated in a bed, fighting for her life.

That fight continues, she has undergone 5 surgeries to clear the infection from her lungs, neck and throat. This week she had septic shock, she was on life support, yet she continues to fight, defying the odds and surviving two near death episodes.

This has been the darkest time in my life, our 5 year old daughter asks me everyday “when is mommy coming home? Is mommy going to be ok?” and I just battle tears trying to ease her mind and heart.

She is going to miss our sons 1st birthday, she is going to miss our daughter’s first day of kindergarten, she may miss Halloween and fall which is her favorite time of year.

This is the hardest thing for me, to reach out for financial help; but we are going to be buried in hospital bills, costs of rehab, in home care.m, etc. We are asking for help, from wherever it can come.

Above all I want to thank everyone who has reached out regarding Courtney’s health and condition. My phone is constantly going off, receiving messages and calls of love, people offering their support and to help with the kids so I can be by Courtney’s side. Without this support I would have crumbled, knowing how many people are thinking about her keeps me going, and I tell her every time I see her that she has an army of people worried about her and wishing for her recovery.

Any help is greatly appreciated, from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for the tremendous support through this most difficult time.