Support Nurse Kat's Recovery Journey

Hi, everyone -

My name's Phil, and I am creating this GoFundMe on behalf of my mother Kathy, who many lovingly know as Nurse Kat.

My mother is a mother of five, lives in the Charleston area, and has been a nurse for over a decade now. She's a warm, nurturing, kind-hearted woman who loves a good puzzle and can still party with the best of them!

A few weeks ago, in late February of 2025, my mother was involved in a freak accident that left her with severe facial damage and a traumatic brain injury. Her upper jaw was fractured, her upper lip punctured, a front tooth knocked almost sideways, and she developed an arachnoid hematoma (also known as a brain bleed).

While the talented medical staff at Medical University of South Carolina Hospital (MUSC) were able to quickly stabilize her and help to begin repairing the damage, my mother has a long road ahead. She has already had a series of reconstructive surgeries on her lip and jaw and will need several more over the next couple of months to restore her ability to talk and chew properly!

My mom is a trooper, but she is in constant pain, and because of the traumatic brain injury, she is unable to go back to work full-time (as a nurse) because of the very real concern that she could have a recurrence of that brain bleed and make the neurological symptoms worse. She has a lengthy recovery ahead of her.

Part of that recovery, unfortunately, means helping her get back on her feet financially. Because of her reduced work schedule, she is struggling to pay her regular bills (like the mortgage on her home), in addition to the avalanche of new medical bills coming in. From the $500 ambulance fee, the first reconstructive dental surgery totaling $2200 (with at least two more scheduled), and anticipating her hospital bills to be in excess of $15,000, my mother is facing a steep uphill battle. She will also need physical therapy down the road to help overcome some injuries to her knee, which may or may not be covered by her medical insurance.

My siblings and I desperately want to help her with this, but these costs are far outside of our ability to help. We are hoping that the community she has lovingly served as a healthcare provider will feel inspired to help us get Nurse Kat back on her feet!