Last Thanksgiving, what should have been a simple visit with her family turned into a life-threatening emergency. Brooke woke in the middle of the night in unbearable pain, and a CT scan revealed a ruptured bowel — a critical condition that required immediate intervention. She was transported to Charleston, WV, where surgeons warned she might lose part of her colon and could need a permanent colostomy bag. After two days of heavy antibiotics with no improvement, she became septic and was rushed into emergency surgery. Part of her large intestine was removed, a colostomy bag was placed, and she spent two weeks in the hospital fighting severe infection with IV antibiotics, steroids, TPN, and PICC-line nutrition. She wasn’t allowed to travel for six weeks. Back in North Carolina, she slowly returned to work, but complications continued. Scar tissue caused a large hernia around her stoma, tearing her abdominal wall and requiring another major surgery. She had her colostomy reversal in May, followed by another 6–12 weeks of recovery. Just as things began to stabilize, she felt another tear. A new, large hernia has grown along her surgical incision, and she now needs a complex abdominal reconstruction — another major surgery with a long recovery ahead.

The Financial Strain

During her initial emergency, insurance covered only a small portion of a large hospital bill, claiming she didn’t have coverage. She was then required to increase her premium dramatically before her second surgery, only to be told she could no longer have catastrophic coverage. After a year of medical expenses and time out of work, the financial strain has become overwhelming.

Why We’re Asking for Help

She is a mom, a friend, and a teammate who never asks for anything. She has endured more in one year than most face in a lifetime, and she’s still fighting. Your support will help cover medical expenses, surgery costs, lost income during recovery, and essential living expenses. Any contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference and help her focus on healing.