Support Lori Lenz's Medical Recovery Journey

Hi my name is Erica Lenz, thank you for being here & your support. I would like to ask for support for my mom, Lori Lenz, in her time of need. Never in a million years did she think that she would be in the position she is today. Being a single mom with one income is tough enough, let alone having an unexpected medical emergency that leaves one unable to financially support. She could really use some financial help at the moment to go towards monthly bills and expenses for traveling for medical care. She is always there to help others when needed and this is our time to pay it forward to her to help her in her time of need. The funds raised would help pay her monthly expenses and anything over will go towards future expenses that this situation could cause. We really appreciate you reading our story and for any help that can be provided. Thank you in advance. Prayers and sharing our story are free and very much appreciated.

Below is her story...

On May 7, 2024 my mom went in for routine surgery to repair a meniscus tear and remove a baker's cyst on her left knee. She was told she would have surgery on Tuesday and back to work on Monday May 13. In recovery they told her that they had to do more work than expected as the baker's cyst was bigger than they thought and she needed to come back on Thursday May 9 for a follow up. Since that appointment things didn't heal as expected and she has been unable to work.

The month of May she was at the doctor weekly as her incision wasn't healing. May 15 they picked a scab off the back of her knee that gushed fluid out all over the table. She compared it to her watering break during pregnancy. She came home wearing paper clothing from the doctor, instructions to have someone massage her leg to get the infection out and a prescription for antibiotics. She rested and took her meds as instructed. For the next two weeks her wound was draining constantly to the point she had to change her bandage several times a day. She was in constant communication with the doctor by phone and sending text messages of her wound which she was told this is all normal. May 29 she went in for another check up in which they wound packed the hole that was draining from the back of her knee and told her to come back on May 31 for another check up. Early morning on May 31 the pain in her leg was so severe she couldn't sleep and contemplated calling 911. She called nurse direct at 4 am and they told her to wait until 8 am to go to the clinic. My youngest sister had to drive her as she was in so much pain she couldn't walk. They wheeled her in and removed the wound packing to which it literally gushed out of her like a fountain for several minutes. She was sent home, instructed to continue to have someone massage her leg and told to come June 3 for a recheck.

June 3 she went back to the doctor and they told her sometimes this just takes time and to do what she has been doing and to come back on June 10. She went back June 10 feeling defeated as nothing had changed. The physician assistant said this has been long enough and she will talk to the dr about the next steps and call her. She got a call two hours later stating she needed to come back the next day for surgery. June 11 she went in for a surgery to clean the infection out of the knee and started her back on antibiotics. They cultured the infection which came back as Enterococcus faecalis. The following week the doctor was on vacation and she again had complications with swelling and pain. She went back into the walk in on June 20 were they aspirated fluid off of the knee and told her to come back on Monday June 25 for a follow up with her doctor. Sunday June 24 the pain started getting really bad again and by morning June 25 she couldn't even walk. She had to again be wheeled into the clinic by wheelchair and the doctor looked at her and told her to immediately go to St. Elizabeth. There she had emergency surgery with an infectious disease doctor now involved to clean out the knee again. He confirmed the infection was still there and started treating with an IV penicillin. Mom had a pic line placed on June 26 and was released to come home June 27 under home nurses care for 60 days.

The month of July was filled with daily 5:30 pm iv medicine changes that she had to do at home herself for 28 full days of treatment. The home nurse would come every Monday to change the pic line dressing and take labs to make sure that everything was going ok. Occupational and physical therapy also came weekly. She had a post op appointment on July 10 with ortho and zoom appointments with the infectious disease dr on July 15 & 23 were she was told that everything looked good and she was finally on track. July 23 she completed her treatment, the wound was healed and July 24 the pic line was removed at home by the home nurse. Everything was going well until the morning of Sunday July 28 when she awoke to the back of her knee cracked opened again and was draining. She contacted her at home health team as instructed, who reached out to her doctor. They told her to contact them the next day at 8 am.

The morning of July 29 she again was in so much pain and felt completely defeated. She sat in her car with an overnight bag wondering what direction to take from here. Does she stay with the same doctor's for a possible fourth surgery or take it upon herself for a second opinion? She drove herself to Froedtert hospitals emergency room where she asked for help. She was assigned to an othro and infectious disease team whom immediately did another emergency surgery to clean out the infection in her knee. She was again diagnosed with Enterococcus faecalis and now Pseudomonas aeruginosa. She was hospitalized there until Thursday August 1 at 10 pm when she was released in a knee brace and unable to bend her left knee.

She is recovering at home and unable to work still. Three plus months of being off of work unexpectedly and not financially prepared for such an event has been very stressful. She is still under doctor's care and healing but still unknown if the infection is clearing up. She is still at risk for osteomyelitis and if this can not get under control by surgeries and medication she could lose her left leg.