Most of you know me, but for those of you who don't, my name is Kristen Salo. I'm turning 43 on December 31st, but unfortunately, it will be my last. I'm currently on hospice from a feeding tube, a JG tube I had placed in November of 2019 due to severe malnutrition caused by gastroparesis. Unfortunately, my tube ripped out immediately after surgery, and I ended up back in the hospital where the resident who had been in my surgery the day prior came in to see me.

What you need to know is, yes, temporary tubes can be placed if your feeding tube falls out, but only if it's been in for 6 weeks or longer, which clearly mine had not. She knew it but jabbed me with a temporary tube anyway, no ultrasound guiding her, not in a surgical setting, just right there in the ER bay. Because she was so reckless, she missed where the tube had been placed, perforating and collapsing my bowel, sending so much free air into my abdominal cavity that I stopped breathing and ended up in emergency surgery and another feeding tube that was infected from day one. When I woke up, I was informed I now had chronic pancreatitis and there was nothing more they could do for me.

I've since had over 30 surgeries to try and correct the damage that was done, but due to having chronic kidney disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, heart issues such as syncope, bradycardia, super low blood pressure, and a slew of other major health issues, my body stopped gaining weight despite being on TPN, which is a special-made formula that was run through my med port implanted in my chest. I'm 5'10" and weigh 108 lbs, and it's going rapidly every day. Having to face the reality that I'm dying, and quicker than even hospice thought, I just ask for prayers for my family and if you can donate anything, it would be so greatly appreciated as we are still paying his father's funeral bill. I need to know my family won't have that burden with me, so I would appreciate anything you can donate or just share my story so maybe this doesn't end up being someone else's fate. Thank you.