Hi, my name is Jessica Tandy. I’m starting a fundraiser because I recently had multiple ER visits where the doctors kept sending me home… I was finally admitted to the hospital. I had to take an ambulance ride from Butterworth to Blodgett because that’s where they wanted to scope me and had a bed available. I was there for a couple of days and had an endoscopy done where the doctors found a pill lodged in and burning away at my esophagus. They were able to push the pill down to my stomach, but a lot of irritation remained.

Two weeks later I began experiencing the same burning sensation as before and was readmitted to the hospital. I was rescoped, there was some improvement since before, and nothing was lodged in my esophagus (thank god)… I was released from the hospital after a couple nights of getting fluids and dextrose because my sugar was dropping from not being able to eat. I have a couple of new meds to try to keep the acid down and help me be able to eat.

In addition to my own health problems, my son Lucas (4 yo) was diagnosed with COVID-19 at urgent care the day before I was readmitted to the hospital. He was vomiting, overly tired, headache, no fever, and thankfully is doing okay now.

My husband Allen has been off work (taking personal time), and was trying to get FMLA to care for us while we heal, but unfortunately FMLA for a family member does not have any sort of pay schedule. He is the only income in our house and if he takes off anymore time we won’t have any money coming in.

As hard as it is for us to ask for help, we could really use it now. Each ER visit copay alone is $300, urgent care copay for my son $100, ambulance ride unknown, hospital stays unknown, follow-up appointments unknown. These medical bills are all very unexpected and are piling up both from myself and Lucas’ trip to urgent care.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any thoughts, prayers, and donations you send.