Support Darsi In Her Healing Journey

I'm starting this GoFundMe on behalf of my mother, Darsi Axford, who I brought to the Emergency Room at Scottsdale Osborn on November 24, 2024. Her symptoms began on November 18th and she experienced Covid-like symptoms. She spent the week laying in bed while I worked hoping to improve but never did. Three days later, in the evening, on 11/22/24 she told me she thought she had shingles. It didnt look at all like a Shingles rash but instead resembled a staph infection. The abscess appeared to be a boil filled with pus and her entire right butt cheek was discolored, yellowish purple and I knew something was very wrong and she had a severe infection. It took another day of begging my mom to seek medical attention and she finally agreed to let me bring her to the hospital the morning of November 24, 2024. I'm certain it wasn't a moment too soon that I brought her to the hospital.

When I brought her to the ER, the physician mentioned DKA and sepsis. He thanked me for bringing her and basically said she would have died without using that verbiage. She had a severe infection which was determined to be Fournier Gangrene/necrotizing fasciiitis and was septic.

In the three months my mother has been hospitalized, she's had seventeen surgeries under anesthesia which required drastic measures to remove the infected flesh. She was taken to surgery hours after I brought her on 11/24 and in the ICU for 5 days on a breathing tube until Thanksgiving day.

Because the infection did so much damage to her sacral area and the underlying tissues, trauma surgeons had to place an ostomy in one of her earlier procedures. It's unclear if the ostomy will be able to be reversed once the wound has healed. She has remained in the hospital as they work to heal the massive wound from surgery to eventually do a skin graft and has experienced a few setbacks. She was discharged on January 29, 2025 but had to bring her back on the 31st. Testing showed she has a 7mm kidney stone.

Because she is self-employed, she hasn't had an income since Nov. 18th when she first became sick. She does not have any type of disability insurance. She has been resistant to having a GoFundMe, though the financial situation has reached a critical juncture, and help is sorely needed to help with basic expenses; rent, utilities, groceries, etc. As her only child and a strong advocate for her, I had to quit one of my two jobs and my life too, has been turned upside down since she became so sick to take care of her and take care of the house. I've slept in the recliner in her hospital room every night since I brought her. I'm working about 25 hours a week but simply not earning enough to keep us afloat so I'm humbly asking for financial assistance.

As if her getting so severely sick wasn't emotionally hard enough, twelve days into her being hospitalized I had to rush our oldest cat Mikey to VCA emergency in McCormick Ranch and ultimately had to have him euthanized which resulted in a $1,300.00 vet bill.

My mother's journey with her health has been arduous to say the least and we've both struggled with pride and wanting to share what she's been through with her health since mid November. We're both humbly asking our friends and loved ones to help us get back on our feet as she continues to heal. Any amount you are able to contribute will be greatly appreciated. Her goal is to get back to work in the next few months.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for reading my mother's story regarding her health and helping us -- whether it's monetarily or by simply keeping her in your heart. We appreciate your help more than we'll ever be able to adequately express.

Thank you!

Darsi and Niki Axford