**Support Michelle’s road to recovery **

Dearest family, friends, and kind-hearted strangers,

We are reaching out to you during an incredibly challenging time for our beloved mom, Michelle Lyday. While on their dream vacation to Greece (a trip planned since 2020 and canceled due to Covid-19), with her husband Scott, Michelle experienced a life-threatening medical emergency. Her appendix ruptured while on the island of Santorini, where medical care is extremely limited and the nearest hospital is an hour long flight away in Athens. After being carried half a mile on foot by her husband and a medic to a local clinic, she was told her condition was life-threatening and she would need emergency treatment. By God’s grace, Michelle’s bowel covered the rupture in her appendix, buying her time before her condition was past the point of saving. After twelve hours of waiting on transportation (ambulance to Athens, the medic flight and another ambulance ride to Athens) finally she was greeted by the surgeon who’d been waiting on the “very critical American woman.” After all those hours waiting to get there, the leak spread and became septic; her entire abdomen was full of the poison. So serious in fact she coded on the table and the doctors told Scott, I thought we lost her. After two hours of hours of surgery and an additional 12 hours of sedation in ICU they were able to wake her up.

Thanks to the Lord, and to the expertise and dedication of the medical team, Michelle's life was saved. However, the surgery was much more extensive than anticipated, and she spent two more days in the ICU only seeing Scott one hour a day. Michelle required four blood transfusions to address significant blood loss during and after surgery. Michelle and Scott were reminded time and time again, that if surgery would have been put off any longer, our mom would not be with us today.

Michelle is a devoted Christian, a loving wife to Scott, the world's best mom and stepmom, mimi to 9 (almost 10) grand-babies who absolutely adore her, cherished daughter and daughter-in-law, and a lifelong friend to many. She has always put others before herself and rarely asks for help, even in times of need. However, due to the emergency nature of her medical care abroad, her medical bills must be paid in full before leaving to return home to her family and friends in the US. If you know our mom well, you know that what she needs most right now is to be home surrounded by all who love her.

We are immensely grateful to the clinic in Athens for saving Michelle's life. However, the financial burden is overwhelming, and we want Michelle to focus solely on her recovery and returning home to us in the US as soon as possible.

**How You Can Help:**

Your generous donations will go directly towards covering Michelle's medical expenses, including the extensive hospital stay, surgeries, medications, travel home, and ongoing care. Every contribution, whether big or small, will make a significant difference during this difficult time.

Beyond financial support, your prayers, well-wishes, and sharing of this fundraiser are deeply appreciated. We believe in the power of community and know that with your help, Michelle will continue to heal and recover.

Michelle's faith in God has been a source of strength throughout this ordeal, and we are confident that this experience will serve as a testimony to His faithfulness and grace. Your love and support mean the world to us, and we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the prayers and encouragement we have already received.

To her husband Scott, who has been the sole person providing our mom with strength and comfort, advocating for her well-being, and communicating the most terrifying situation of his life daily with our family and friends, thank you for your strength. Please pray for Scott as well, as he has had the weight of the world on his shoulders while caring for his beautiful bride.

To our family and friends who have been reaching out daily, even hourly, with prayers and well wishes for our mom, Thank you. Michelle is the glue that holds so many people together, and we don’t quite know what we would do without her. Thankfully, we do not have to find out.

Thank you for standing with us during this tragic journey. Together, we can ensure that Michelle receives the care she needs and returns home safely to us. Your kindness and generosity are truly a blessing.

With heartfelt thanks,

Madison, Morgan, Maguire, and the Lyday Family