About two weeks ago, my mother woke up feeling dizzy and thought it was just her ears being clogged. She assumed it was a balance issue, but when she went to the hospital, we learned it was actually her heart. The doctors told us she needed quadruple bypass surgery and a valve replacement right away. Coming out of surgery, she had to stay on a ventilator for an extra day because she couldn’t breathe on her own. The surgery caused her to fill up with fluid, and her weight jumped from 130 to 180 pounds in a short time. This water weight has made it hard for her to walk and has caused serious problems with her kidneys. She is now in stage one kidney failure. While she isn’t on dialysis yet, the doctors are giving her medication to try to prevent that. They are also keeping a close eye on her liver and kidneys, which are not looking good right now. The doctors say she will need to stay in the hospital for at least two more weeks.

We’ve been trying to visit her every day, but the cost of gas and balancing work with hospital visits has been really hard on our family. On top of that, we are facing mounting medical bills and need to make sure her service dog, Shadow, is cared for while she recovers.

Every dollar that is donated to my mother and Shadow is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your support, care, and love for them. Your kindness will help us get through this difficult time and make sure my mother and Shadow have what they need to heal.