It’s been nearly one year since a nurse and paramedic were viciously attacked by a patient at work. After what they've went through, they deserve to be sipping pina coladas on a beach by now, but the truth is they both continue to struggle medically, mentally and financially every day. Although their stories are being shared with permission from them, neither has asked for financial assistance ever. The money raised in this gofundme will go directly to both Kayla and Tammy to relieve a small portion of the financial burden they now face due to the attacks last summer. In this family, no one fights alone.

Since the attacks, the only financial assistance provided to Tammy and Kayla (aside from private fundraising from their friends and family--that Kayla chose to give her share to Tammy) has been through work comp. Per Missouri law, the maximum allowed a person can receive in lost wages each week is 2/3 of their pay up to $607.71. (Edited to add, I have since learned that for total permanant and total temporary disability, the benefit is also 2/3 of pay, but with a maximum weekly payout of $1,160.17. The laws are confusing and antiquated. I did not get extremely specific with financial numbers when talking with Tammy and Kayla.) They are not allowed to legally work another job while receiving work comp.

Tammy continues to have terrible and constant pain in her head and neck. She has had multiple corrective surgeries and may have another surgery coming. She receives physical therapy weekly and sees a trauma therapist due to horrific PTSD. She had to fight with work comp for four months to get a new therapist she was comfortable with, and during those four months did not receive any therapy. She says mostly her medical needs were taken care of initially, but she’s getting more push back from work comp for some of her more recently needed procedures.

Because Tammy worked PRN, she paid for her own medical insurance independently while working, which she was purchasing through COBRA at the time of the attacks. (COBRA is the option to continue paying the full insurance amount to remain on the plan she was purchasing through SSM. It was due to expire in Dec 2022, after which she would have needed to find private insurance). Tammy’s lawyer has reached out to SSM twice to ask for medical insurance to assist with her care since her income has been drastically reduced under work comp and private insurance will not cover her at this time due to her injuries. SSM agreed to extend her COBRA but denied taking over her payment. As of today, SSM has rejected an out of court settlement.

Additionally, Tammy purchased a new home shortly before her attack. She has since had to file for a mortgage forbearance on her house with the bank and is still waiting to see if she will be approved. She expects to be under work comp for at least another year.

Kayla has asked work comp for care related to the permanent nerve damage from being stabbed in her back, but they are currently fighting her on coverage and disputing whether the nerve damage is related to the attack. Kayla is currently in limbo with work comp while her lawyer continues to fight for coverage for the nerve damage on her behalf. Kayla planned to attempt to return to working this summer, but will not be able to while her case remains open. Work comp has elected to stop paying for Kayla’s trauma therapy, despite her ongoing PTSD symptoms. Any future therapy will have to be paid out of pocket by Kayla.

Tammy continues to refer to Kayla as her hero for saving her during the attack. When she talks about that day, she vividly remembers how scared people were for her and expresses concern not for herself, but for the coworkers who saved her. She worries about their mental health and speaks about how brave all of them were. She doesn’t mention fear for herself; she remembers the angel who held her hand in the ER (her words), and specific things people said to her while she was coughing up blood and trying not to lose consciousness. Tammy has future plans of initiating a non profit organization to help nurses and continue to fight for safety in health care.

Tammy and Kayla have not been forgotten by the health care community or their work family. Let’s continue to support them the best we can.

See the original story here:

https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/crime/bridgeton-police-stabbing-ssm-depaul-health-center/63-cdd010de-d105-468e-9429-091387c2aa96