Supporting Susan Gibbons, (nee Wakefield)

It’s never easy to ask for help. But when you’ve reached the last straw - the one that breaks
the camel’s back when added to its burden - you have no other choice.
We are looking to raise $9,000 for Susan to cover expenses for several months as she recuperates from her stay in the hospital. On March 21st she went to the emergency room experiencing shortness of breath. After multiple tests, she was admitted due to some concerning results that needed to be addressed immediately for her health and safety. They found she had lost 50% of the heart’s ability to pump blood. Her heart muscles have been damaged, and they hope through pharmacological treatment and lifestyle changes, she will be able to regain what she lost. Because of her other medical conditions, they have not been able to clearly ascertain what exactly caused the damage. She is scheduled to have a PET scan in the coming week which they hope will shed light on how to proceed with further care. She returns in three months for followup tests and if her heart has not significantly improved, there is a high likelihood she will need a defibrillator as she is at a higher risk of having cardiac arrest.
She was discharged from the hospital on March 29th with an implanted cardiac monitor and an increased regimen of medications. 
Susan will be out of work for several months to allow her heart to heal, her lungs to be treated with steroids (something she is NOT happy about) and any neurological symptoms that arise due to the stress put on her body. She will not be able to work during this time, but she still needs to cover her monthly expenses without a paycheck and the minimal amount of money she will receive for disability These include her rent, doctor copays, prescription copays, car insurance, phone and internet/cable, groceries, any medical bills she will receive from her stay
in the hospital and any additional treatments they feel she would benefit from. 
For many years, Susan was repeatedly told by all the doctors she went to that the symptoms she had been experiencing were all in her head, but in 1999 she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Feeling that she wanted to live a more meaningful life, she decided to return to college so that she could be of help to others. Then in 2002, she found out she had sarcoidosis which resulted in scarring of her lungs. Her medical issues have been complex, sometimes making it difficult to ascertain which illness is causing the symptoms and consequently making it difficult to treat. You may not know this, but Susan is stubborn - VERY stubborn - something that drove me crazy when I was younger, but it turns out it has been of benefit to her.
Since returning to college for her masters degree at the age of 40 - leaving behind a financially secure profession in Bermuda - Susan has taken on the role of caring for others. She returned to Bermuda upon completing her degree where she introduced expressive therapies to the island through presentations and workshops. She now lives in New York working in care management for medically fragile children. The burdens these families have to bear have been eased by Susan’s successful appeals to get services, equipment and home modifications. Believe me, this type of job takes a lot out of you!
Susan lost her only child to suicide in 2016. Something so tragic could easily have destroyed her. It’s a loss you never recover from. Since then, she has raised over $20K for suicide prevention by taking part in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s overnight walk. She has continued to do these walks in Washington DC, Philadelphia and Boston.
In 2012 Susan moved to New York and helped provide care for our mother before we had to move her to a nursing home. At that time, she packed up her things and her 1992 Honda Civic (you gotta love those Hondas!) and moved into a modest apartment, living on a tight budget.
As her sisters, we have seen firsthand how these illnesses have deeply impacted Susan’s life. We’ve learned more about the intricacies of her conditions and have felt helpless at times knowing how to best help her. The roles have been reversed - no longer the caregiver, she is the one who needs to be cared for now. We would deeply appreciate your consideration in helping us support Susan during this difficult time. As they say, it takes a village … And to add insult to injury, Susan tested positive for COVID on March 31st. Like they say, the last place you want to be when you’re sick is in the hospital!