Support Jonnie Silva's Fight Against Stevens-Johnson

Hello! We are kindergarten teachers in the small Mississippi town of Starkville, MS. Our co-worker/teacher Jonnie Silva messaged us a few weeks ago saying she was not going to be at work. She said her husband was taking her to the emergency room. Although she had been to the doctor the day before and started several medications, her tongue, mouth, and face were continuing to swell. Her mouth, throat, and eyes were covered in what the doctor believed was thrush, and they had all become extremely painful. Additionally, since her doctor visit, her body had become covered in a severe rash, and her feet became so swollen she could barely walk.

By lunch, we had received a message from her husband saying she was being transported by ambulance to the ICU at Baptist Hospital in Jackson, MS. They believed she had Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, and it was progressing quickly. He said she was in a lot of pain and needed our prayers. He was genuinely concerned and nervous about the situation. We had never heard of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and had to look it up to find out what was happening. Basically, Jonnie was having a severe systemic reaction to antibiotics she was taking for a sinus infection. What we read made us nervous. This was serious, and if it continued to progress, it could be life-threatening.

Her body responded to the antibiotics by attacking itself with burning off of the skin, swelling, and breaking out in blisters. These blisters covered her entire body, including the insides of her mouth, nostrils, and eyelids. This caused periods of not being able to intake food, breathe, a lack of mobility, and even blindness. Her feet were swollen and covered in blisters that became open wounds as well. Days became weeks in the recovery process, and even after being released from the hospital, Jonnie has been confined to her home to reduce the risk of infection to the open sores that continue to cover her body. The doctors have said that the healing process will be extremely slow, so she has not been able to work at the position she loves as a kindergarten teacher. They also said if she gets to return to work this school year, it will not be before the end of May. So this means another two months of no paycheck. At a time when her primary focus should be on taking care of herself and getting well, Jonnie and her family do not need the added stress of struggling to pay for daily necessities. Because of the amount of leave time she has used and the continued time she will need to be out for her body to heal, she and her family could certainly use any prayers, good thoughts, or monetary gifts you feel led to share. Jonnie is a wife, mother of 3 girls, and one of the most kind and generous people we have ever known. We cannot think of anyone more selfless or deserving of a helping hand when in need.

Thank you for your consideration,

The Kindergarten Teachers

of Sudduth Elementary