Support Donna Peterson's Fight for Recovery

Hello kind community. I hate to be writing this post, but for one of the kindest souls on this earth, I would do anything. Donna Peterson is a mother, grandmother, sister, and best friend. She has worked harder than most to build herself up as an LCSW therapist to help so many people with difficulties in their lives. Now she is in need of some serious help.

Back in December, Donna suffered from pneumonia. She was treated at a local hospital and sent home after a little over a week "on the mend." Little did we know this was the beginning of a major downward spiral of medical hell. A few days post-hospital stay, she contracted C-diff. She returned to our local hospital where she was treated for 2 weeks without any improvement in her symptoms. We switched medication in hopes it would help, but still no improvement. Donna became weak and had constant bloody diarrhea. We called an ambulance, and she returned to the hospital where it was discovered she had a low hemoglobin and would need a blood transfusion (the 1st of about 10 to come). We do not have a GI specialist in our area, so she was life-flighted out to Bismarck where she would see a GI specialist. They found the C-diff cleared but discovered CMV (cytomegalovirus) and diagnosed her with CMV colitis. She was treated for 21 days with an antiviral (Valganciclovir) it didn't make a dent in her symptoms. Doctors said it would take time and sent her home again. Upon her return home, she could barely eat or walk. She had severe edema in her legs going up to her abdomen. The chronic bloody diarrhea persisted. After 3 days home, she could barely move to get up to use the bathroom. She wasn't eating or drinking and had become so weak and sick she spiraled into a deep depression. Once again, an ambulance was called, and she was again life-flighted to Bismarck. After multiple tests and biopsies, they persisted with a diagnosis of CMV colitis, so they just extended the antiviral treatment. Weeks went on, and she became even weaker and sicker. The doctors in Bismarck had hit a wall (as had we all), so we had her moved to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. This facility seemed more equipped, and she seemed to be receiving more care through teams of doctors, yet we still don't have a diagnosis. Her diarrhea persists, and she now has multiple blood clots that cannot be addressed due to the bleeding of her colon. She is now on a biologic medication to help with the ulceration of her colon (Remicade), but it's not done anything yet after 2 doses. It's now going on 4 months of dead ends, life flights, invasive testing, and emotional torture. She weighs only 91 lbs with a feeding tube in. She is now non-mobile, has absolutely no muscle mass or strength. Her PICC line ended up with an infection, so she now has to be poked daily for blood draws and medication administration.

I know this is a long story, but it's been Donna's living hell. As her family, watching an active, healthy woman who spent summers running around with my 2 crazy toddlers turn into a shell of a human in 4 months has been heartbreaking. I can't believe we have to resort to this, but being out of her job for now 5 months and having her personal business essentially shut down has left a financial uncertainty for Donna. We have no idea what the major looming medical bills will look like, but we know they are going to be staggering. We also don't know what the outcome of her treatment will be. She is looking at a complete colectomy surgery, but at this point, will not survive surgery without gaining some strength. As her family, we are looking into another possible transfer to the Mayo Clinic if they have availability.

So in conclusion, I come to you all, the good, salt-of-the-earth people who can say a prayer and, if possible, support Donna in this uncertain time. My boys need their grandma back. Donna deserves a chance to recover!