This fundraiser is for my mother, Marie "June" Guzzardo, known to her friends as June, to help offset the costs of medical rehab, specialized equipment and hospital costs that Medicare does not cover.

Mom was in the hospital from the end of February to mid-March. She was brought in for low O2 saturation levels and anemia. While there she had three blood transfusions, was in ICU twice and almost didn't survive. Her first transfusion was in the ER where they worked to stabilize her. She was put on a bipap mask to help remove the 95% CO2 that was filling her chest cavity due to a pleural effusion underneath her right lung, pushing it up into her chest causing her to not be able to blow out the CO2 when she was exhaling. This took a few days to complete. Over the course of the week she began to stabilize and was downgraded to Progressive ICU but moved to a regular room due to room necessity. She was in her new room less than three days when she suffered cardiac arrest after coming back from the bathroom while doing physical therapy. Personnel were finally able to intubate her (her jaw clenched when she collapsed causing a delay in getting the tube down her throat). She was rushed to an SICU room as it was the closest nearby. Once there, she coded again. She was placed on a ventilator for multiple days. As a result of the necessary CPR, she suffered multiple rib fractures. The multiple codes hit her kidneys hard especially since she was already in Stage 3a/b CKD. She was on steroids, antibiotics, multiple IVs to where a central line had to go in because the veins were untouchable. Mom stayed in SICU for 3-4 days and was transferred back to regular ICU. CT scans of her brain showed no detrimental effects from multiple cardiac arrests however the continuous meds administration have hit her liver as well as kidneys. The doctor's biggest concern at that time was the kidney recovery. It was extremely touch and go for a while there and we did not know if she would make it. She was finally weaned off the vent again and moved to a regular room. We were there every day, twice a day. Over the course of the next week, the prognosis was to get her kidney numbers down to the Stage 3a/b again as the episodes put her into S4. This and another transfusion helped increase her blood levels. They also located multiple small bleeds in her body as a result of a blood thinner she was on after a Watchman procedure. The blood thinners were stopped in the ER so the multiple procedures could be done with fear of more blood loss. Her blood is currently stable. Her kidneys are improving but the multiple cardiac arrests prevented her from receiving home health care. As a result, her rehab would have to be in a skilled nursing facility. One was located and the hospital set it up to send her there.

Mom has been in this facility for almost 3 weeks. The goal is to re-gain strength in her legs, stomach and glutes to be able to stand on her own with a walker and due things herself. Medicare does not cover the entire stay at 100%. The first 20 days are fully covered but, starting on the 21st day which is next week, Medicare copays kick in costing $218.00/per day or $1526.00 per week until she hits her out of pocket max of $5900. She is currently at $824.71. Mom may also need some Home Health when she comes home. She will need a power recliner, and a shower chair with bars and, possibly, a wheelchair. The funds raised will be used to offset these costs and help cover the hospital bills Medicare does not cover. Mom is progressing and has been downgraded back to real food and drink from pureed and nectar.

No donation is too small. If you can donate, please share so we can help my mom. Anyone who knows June knows she hates bringing attention to herself but she approved this GoFundMe so hopefully we can give her one less thing to worry about so she can concentrate on recovery. She is definitely not used to being in the hospital for an extended stay much less a nursing home/rehab so to say she’s scared is an understatement.