Support Linda’s Road to Recovery

In the early hours of March 5th, my sister Linda woke up unable to breathe and in severe abdominal pain, resulting in her being taken by ambulance to Johnston Health Smithfield. Within hours of arriving, she had to be admitted to the ICU and was intubated due to a severe lung infection, double pneumonia, and a partially collapsed lung. We also found out that she had an ulcer, but were told that it was the least of her/our worries because it wasn’t actively bleeding or giving major issues like her lungs were. She spent a week in JMH’s ICU, getting seemingly better, until our family quickly realized on Tuesday, March 11th, that something had happened and she was very rapidly declining.

We requested a transfer to Wake Med, where she was taken back for lifesaving surgery within a few hours of being there. Her admitting diagnoses were septic shock and multiple organ failure, both due to a perforated ulcer.

In total, she has now been through 3 major surgeries, several smaller procedures, has 3 drains, a GI tube, and is on 24-hour dialysis, all while remaining on the ventilator in the STICU at Wake Med. Unfortunately, that isn’t a full list of complications she has, is, and will experience.

There have been multiple times my family has been counseled by medical staff to prepare for the worst because we were dangerously close to losing her, some of which times were after continuous progress and good reports. Every organ and system in her body sustained so much. We have learned to walk on eggshells even when she seems to be doing great because things can and have snowballed so fast.

Nonetheless, Our Lord has sustained her, and we are so thankful she is still here with us, fighting each and every day.

We are now on day 51 of hospitalization, and she has a very long road ahead of her. She has several goals to meet before she can go to a regular room and work towards getting out of Wake. Upon discharge, she is expected to need dialysis, at least for a while, 3 times a week. She will also likely be in a rehab facility before returning home.

Up until the very day this all began, Linda was working 12-hour shifts as a nurse in a dialysis clinic, as well as a part-time job. She was very active and full of life. Although her life has been turned upside down, she has displayed nothing but strength, resilience, and gratitude.

My sister has spent her entire life doing anything she could to help any and everyone she knows, and even those that she doesn’t. Without question or acknowledgment, she has always put her family, patients, friends, and others before herself.

As you can imagine, the financial strain is becoming hard to bear. For 51 days, she has been unable to fully move or talk, much less work. There have been a lot of expenses associated with family being at Wake Med around the clock, a lot of days missed from work, and, of course, there are the massive medical expenses that have and will arise from this. But the biggest burden of all is the unknown.

Even so, my sister would never think of asking anyone for help, so I am doing it for her. She is a selfless person who has put nothing but good out into this world and never asked for a thing in return. And now, for the first time, she needs the helping hand. If a small percentage of the love she has shown the world is returned to her, it will be a massive blessing.

My family would like to thank each and every one of you who have called, visited, sent encouraging cards, offered help and support, and most of all, prayed for her. We are forever thankful for you, and we will be providing updates on here now, in addition to Facebook.

Sincerely,

Ann Keen