Update:

Thank you to everyone that has donated and/or shared this GofundMe. The amount of support for Erica and her family is absolutely amazing and so heartwarming. Please see below an update from Erica:

"For those who don’t know, this all started with a patellar tendon repair in mid December. After surgery I developed a blood clot in my leg. On December 27 I suffered a massive pulmonary embolism at home. Thankfully my 6 yr old little angel found me on the floor of our bedroom to which I came to just enough to see his little face looking over the side of the bed and asking me if I was sleeping on the floor. I had just enough strength to tell him to get his dad and call 911. When arriving at RUH I suffered eight cardiac arrests and was put on ECMO as a life saving measure. I initially received 8 units of blood.

When I finally was strong enough to be woken up and extubated I ended up with a condition called strider and was re-intubated while awake. I cannot say enough good things about the ICU staff and the work they do. After getting extubated a second time I was finally transferred out of the ICU.

During that time I developed an aneurysm in my left femoral artery. The aneurysm burst and was left for multiple days before receiving emergency surgery to repair it. During surgery and recovery, I received an additional 6 units of blood. I had also developed high blood pressure during this time and an infection in my brain which resulted in a stroke to the back portion of my brain and at one point complete blindness. I was admitted back into the ICU and was in a coma for approximately another week.

Thankfully when I woke up for the 3rd time half my vision was restored and continues to improve. Unfortunately the latest diagnosis is a spinal cord injury.  During the 3rd coma due to a sudden drop in blood pressure blood flow was cut off to a portion of my spine and I have an incomplete spinal cord injury. I am working hard at rehab but in reality when I leave here I will be using a combination of a walker and a wheelchair.

This is kind of the cliff notes version of the last few months and I just I want to say thank you to everyone for all your support. It means the world to me and my family. I would also like to encourage those that are eligible to go and donate blood. Without those donations I would not be here today. I have donated in the past but with my recent medical complications I may no longer be eligible."

I am starting this GoFundMe to support a very dear friend of mine, Erica Sedgwick, as she continues her recovery from a series of life-altering medical emergencies over the past three months. While Erica is now on the road to recovery, life at home will look different, and we are hoping to ease that transition for her and her family.

This fundraiser will help cover the cost of necessary home adjustments and ongoing therapies that Erica may require such as mobility aids, accessibility renovations (like ramps), and potentially a service dog, all of which will play a crucial role in helping her regain independence and rebuild her life.

Erica’s journey began in December 2025, when she slipped and fell in her driveway, sustaining a serious knee injury that required surgery. After returning home to recover, she began experiencing pain in her calf. An ultrasound at the time showed no immediate concerns, but just days later, on December 27th, everything changed. Erica suffered a massive pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening event that led to the first of three ICU stays. She required blood transfusions, was placed on bypass, and underwent numerous lifesaving interventions. Her strength and determination carried her through as she fought to survive. After time in a coma, she began to wake and slowly started the long process of healing.

Not long after being discharged from the ICU, Erica began experiencing severe pain, heat, and swelling in her left hip. As the symptoms worsened, further testing revealed a ruptured aneurysm in her femoral vein, requiring emergency surgery and marking the beginning of her second ICU stay. Once again, Erica fought her way through unimaginable circumstances, driven by her love for her partner Eric and her boys.

After this second ICU stay, Erica showed signs of progress, though she continued to struggle with headaches, high blood pressure, and nausea. Then, on January 24th, Eric received a call that Erica had suddenly lost part of her vision.

Doctors soon confirmed that Erica had suffered a stroke. This led to a third ICU stay, during which she endured two additional strokes, a seizure, and was diagnosed with PRES (Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome). She was sedated to manage dangerously high blood pressure while doctors worked urgently to determine the best course of treatment.

At one of the most critical moments when uncertainty was at its highest a miracle happened. The morning after receiving devastating news, Eric arrived at the hospital to find Erica awake and she recognized him.

From that moment forward, Erica has continued to fight with everything she has. Gradually, her vision began to return. She regained feeling in her limbs. Her scans showed improvement. With incredible determination, she has pushed herself through every stage of rehabilitation, making meaningful progress each day.

Through it all, Erica has remained remarkably strong and positive. Despite everything she has endured, she has never allowed herself to be defeated. Instead, she continues to ask, “What’s next?” and “How can I push further?” Her resilience is nothing short of inspiring.

Erica’s goal is simple but powerful: to return home to her family.

She is surrounded by an incredible support system — her partner Eric, her boys, extended family, friends, and a community that cares deeply for her. Now, we are asking for your help to be part of that support system as well.

Any contribution, no matter the amount, will go directly toward helping Erica transition home safely and continue her recovery with the resources she needs. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser would mean the world to us.

Thank you for taking the time to read Erica’s story, and for any support you are able to give.