Support the Mollica Family In Their Time Of Need

Many of you probably know Charlie and Jean Mollica and their kids Chris and Renee. They are the most loving, tight knit family that you will find. Charlie is known throughout the music industry for singing 60+ years of Doo-Wop with some of the greatest names in the industry. He sang lead for the Chaperones, the Impaks and Back In Time. Jeannie was by his side all the way, every concert, show and dance.  Speaking of dancing, boy could they do a Lindy!!! Like magic on the dance floor. As many of you also know, Charlie and Jean Mollica and their family have been going through an extremely rough time 24/7. After a grueling 2017-2019 with Jeannie not feeling well and exhausting every specialist they could find, she fell extremely ill.  She was admitted into St. Charles hospital on April 28 2019, and the family was told she had a stroke. Then, with certainty that it was not. That is where the nightmare actually began. For the past 11 months, the Mollica’s have watched Jean need life support TWICE, spend weeks nearly catatonic in a hospital bed and witnessed her get multiple biopsies of her brain and bone marrow. She has had MRI and CT scans more this year for ten lifetimes. Still, she’s tough and has pushed through repeatedly, with grace, as only Jeannie does.    Currently, after all this, there is still NO ROOT DIAGNOSIS. Countless specialized doctors through seven countries, a dozen medical journals (which she is now a part of) and 4 different hospitals cannot pinpoint a reason she is being attacked by nearly every neurological virus humans fear. What we do know is Jean is 1 of 35 people in the WORLD since 1970 with a similar non-diagnosis and symptoms. Hydrocephalus, encephalitis, multiple forms of Meningitis and a thickened dura surrounding her entire brain and spinal cord is the “what”, but the “WHY” is the answer the doctors and scientists are searching for. The best minds IN THE WORLD cannot figure this out and they are trying their best. They’re playing tag with symptoms as they arise and barely keeping up. Jean has not spent a night in their home since last April. There is not even talk of that happening. Because of her condition, the family is faced with the reality that Jean will never be even 50% of what she once was, which was 100% amazing! Although currently stable, she has absolutely no short-term memory. Her long term memory isn’t even accurate either. There are no moments of clarity to really cherish. No comprehension of her own situation. Inconsistent recognition of the people she has loved her whole life. She doesn’t know she can’t walk, can’t stand on her own, isn’t at home cooking for guests or busy crafting and decorating. There is no understanding of bodily functions that adults should understand.  Due to this, she has fallen at least 10 times in two nursing homes, breaking bones in her spine, pelvis and last time splitting her forehead to the bone requiring emergency reconstructive surgery. She has no recollection nor understanding of any of these events, even while they were happening. Charlie and Jean have been financially responsible their whole lives. They saved, lived within their means, planned for the future. Even took out THREE health insurances. Still, it isn’t supporting the mounting costs. Needing 24/7 care, the Mollica’s have been making it work. Charlie’s there daily for most of the day/evening until bedtime. Chris spends his morning hours protecting her, from breakfast to as late as he can stay. Renee comes in the evenings and has the daunting task of running point with EVERY doctor, insurance and medical aspect.  They have been paying out of pocket for companions to protect Jean all night, Every night. With no end in sight. Imagine doing the right thing and for it all to crumble in your 70s.    To maintain her vitals, Jean needs weekly infusions , copays and other expenses for her care have run into the 10’s of thousands. Add 11+ hrs/day to the overnight companions to protect Jean as she cannot afford another fall.  Plus then the cost of regular doctors visits and the items the facility does not provide her. You can imagine the tremendous financial strain on the family. This is why I decided to start this GoFundMe. Jean’s family will always continue to do what they have been. They will continue to fight for Jean on their own. They will not ask for money or help as it’s just not them. They think everyone else has their problems to deal with, so it would be nice to give back to a family who has done so much for others throughout the years. This amount requested, believe it or not is only enough to get the Mollica’s through a little over a year with their current expenses for Jean, which really will not change. But we do hope and pray that one day, we can see Jeannie back in her home, with her family, her grandchildren and friends, eating & laughing again. Until then, we try to help how we can.