Terri is a loving mother of two (Chris Ellis-oldest) (Joe Ellis-youngest) a grandmother of six and one on the way.

She never really had much growing up but one thing she has always taught us was family was all you needed. No matter your differences, disagreements, hardships family would always be there.

Just 35 days ago at the age of 65, Terri had experienced pressure on her chest, shoulder blades, fatigue, light headedness and had on going for 4 days. During those days of trying to subside the uncomfortableness of what she thought was medical complications she’s been diagnosed with (diabetes, COPD and a few others unknown to the family) or side effects of previous surgeries, she had noticed nothing was getting better and had decided to drive and omit herself to the ER where she has remained for the last 31 days.

Upon arrival, checking all her vitals and blood work. The doctors and nurses of UT medical center had noticed that the blood sample had came back irregular and showing bacterial infection in her blood stream as well as her valve in her heart leaking. The doctors stated that the heart would need to be repaired and open heart surgery would need to be taken place. But could only do so after the infection was taken care of to lessen the likely hood of it getting worse or causing more complications. During that time she had several unnoticed strokes. The strokes were caused by the debris of the infection in her valve that dropped and because the infection was in her blood stream had also managed to make its way to her brain. The fallen debris had then lead to a blood clot, while doctors were fighting the infection they then had to fight the blood clot. That clot was broken up and removed by an Impella. That device caused her to loose feeling and mobility of her leg, GI bleed causing her victuals to crash a number of times resulting in Defibrillation.She has been placed in ICU and on life support for majority of her days. The 1st visit to ICU on the ventilator she showed great signs of improvement. But after this second visit she has lost vituals twice in a day, her heart is very faint, her system is shutting down. All we can do is watch, support and do our best to hold onto her as much as we possibly can before it is not longer an option. We are afraid she does not have much longer.

I have had to make some very hard decisions that no child should have to make for their parent. I have held down the fort, have done everything in my power to be there for her all while operating two businesses, four children of my own a wife and a household. I am spread thin emotionally, physically and financially I am doing my best to keep it together for it only myself but my children. They were looking forward to her visit for Thanksgiving and Christmas unable to celebrate that with them is truly heart breaking.

With no support from any other of our relatives I am the only one who has to do it all for her while obtaining my own family and business. I am only one man doing the job of many.

I have poured every penny into my business’s to assure that my children will some day be able to take my place. With the holidays around the corner it makes it that much more difficult I have sacrifice friends, time with my children, wife, happiness at the sake of making everything better for them in the future to leave my footprint on this earth. To make my mother proud. I am not the kind of person to ask for help because I always find a way to make things move. But this is a battle I can not do alone.

She has fought all she could fight throughout her stay. Ultimately we are at a crossroads, with no sedations she is unable to feel pain, not responsive to sounds, touch.

With her heart condition,the strokes,and her over all health she has swollen up and gained probably 60 plus pounds worth of fluids. Her heart is trying to stop and blood pressures are extremely low.

I am not one to ask for help, I have so much pride but there is only so much I can do with no other help from any other family member. I am all she has. Her final wish was to be buried with her mother and father in Alabama just 4 hours from knoxville.

I know she isn't gone yet but we are running out of time.

If you have it in your heart to help that would be greatly appreciated. I do not know the cost of any of this nor have I ever had to do any of this before so I'm sorry if i have left out any details.

Thank you for taking the time to help support me and everyone who has followed up with my or my wife to check on my mother as well as my well being everyday. I never knew so many people could come together and show so much love and support especially those who do not even really know me or my family. So again thank you for everything!