Supporting Troy Smart’s Recovery from COVID-19

If you are blessed to know Troy and Jeanne Smart, you probably have been on the receiving end of their generosity at some point in your life. Whether it’s been a bag of groceries dropped off at your door, materials purchased to fix a toilet or shower and the time and work put in to get things back and running, a gift or act of service at the perfect time, or something done “just because they knew you needed it,” this couple gives to others without a second thought. Troy worked for Bernhardt for decades, drives for MDI part-time and serves as a contract mail delivery truck driver for USPS. Troy loves to fish at Fort Caswell off the pier with his sons and grandsons, go hunting, support the effort to restore the Hildebran Bell Tower, and serve others. Jeanne has served in many nursing and administrative roles including at Caldwell County Hospice and Trinity Ridge, and is currently a nursing educator at an NC public school. She loves to spend time with family, cook and craft with her grandsons, and give back to others. Married for almost 35 years, Troy and Jeanne have given selflessly to friends, family, church family, and strangers in need for years. Now is our chance to give back!

On Christmas Day 2020, Troy tested positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms initially andJeanne tested positive several days later. They quarantined and treated symptoms at home, praying for a quick recovery. Unfortunately, Troy began to have breathing issues that resulted in him having to be hospitalized in Hickory for multiple days in ICU. On January 6th, he was released and sent home with oxygen support and breathing treatments, and began his road to recovery from COVID-19. While we knew he would need time to gain strength and recover, little did we know where God would bring him on this recovery journey.

After ten days at home, Troy was brought by ambulance to the hospital on January 16th and was admitted to ICU because he was struggling to breathe. Tests and scans showed that he had suffered a heart attack and that he had fluid buildup around his heart as well as damage to his lungs. He was put on high-flow oxygen support and struggled to make progress toward recovery. There were many unknowns about what was causing his severe medical complications, and he took a turn for the worst. His family was called to say goodbyes to their dad and husband. Thankfully, God knew this was not the end of Troy’s life story!

On January 23, Troy was transported by a medical team to Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC. He has continued to have tests run and scans done to determine his condition and to address medical complications he is having. On Monday, January 25th, the medical team at Mission decided to do a bronchoscopy to determine the condition of Troy’s lungs. Because of his struggle to keep his oxygen levels up without full oxygen support by nasal cannula or bipap, the team determined that Troy needed to be sedated and put on a ventilator for this procedure and for a time afterwards to allow his lungs to heal. This decision was done for the best possible outcome for Troy. As test results continue to come in, Troy is making steps towards recovery, one day at a time. As of the evening of January 27th, Troy is still sedated and on a ventilator, but he is responding to directions to open his eyes and squeeze hands! He is a fighter and serves a mighty God!

This entire journey has been filled with prayers for healing and peace  from friends, family, and strangers across the country. Your texts, messages, and words of encouragement have meant more to Jeanne and Troy and their family than you will ever know. We are blessed to have you crying out to God and trusting the Great Physician with us!

So many people have asked how they can help Troy and Jeanne in tangible ways during this time. Troy has been out of work since December 25, and his journey to recovery will require a significant amount of time as he gains the ability to breathe without the ventilator, heals from the infections his body is fighting and continues to be treated in ICU, and builds back the strength after this battle with COVID-19 and complications from this virus. Giving to this GoFundMe will allow Troy and Jeanne to pay bills while Troy fights this medical battle for his life without a paycheck, cover the cost of travel expenses back and forth from Lenoir to Asheville, and go towards medical bills that are incurring from his extended hospitalizations. If you can’t give financially, please continue to pray for Troy, consider sharing this GoFundMe link on social media with others, and continue to trust God with us. We serve a mighty God, the Great Physician!

On behalf of Jeanne and Troy and the whole Smart family, thank you for showing us an incredible amount of love during this time. We love you!