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I am Melissa Strout and Valerie Milam Kitchens has been my best friend since we were 11 years old. "Friend" doesn't come close to describing the relationship Valerie and I share. She has been part of my family for over 20 years and I couldn't love her any more if she were my own sister! Valerie is one of the most loving, loyal, compassionate, and giving people I have ever known.
Valerie and her husband, Stephen, were blessed to welcome their first child, Addison, to the world on May 6th (just 4 days after their first wedding anniversary!). Valerie had a C-Section and did beautifully and little Addison is perfect!
She came home from the hospital on Monday and their sweet little family began their lives together. Early on Wednesday morning (May 11), Valerie began experiencing debilitating pain in her chest and abdomen. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital. After hours of receiving strong pain meds with no relief, her team of doctors decided to move her to ICU and began more involved testing to determine the cause of the pain. When the tests were inconclusive, they decided to keep her in ICU and monitor her closely.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, the Staff General Surgeon came in to check on Valerie. Immediately, he decided to take her into exploratory surgery as her condition had become critical.
The surgeon made an incision from her sternum to her abdomen. He found a quarter sized hole in her stomach which was allowing digested food, bile, and infection to flow throughout her body. The hole was sutured and Valerie was placed on a ventilator, heavily sedated, and placed back in ICU with several IV antibiotics.
The first couple of days were critical but Valerie began to stabilize and on, Saturday morning, the ventilator was removed and the medical team began to slowly wean her off heavy sedation.
She is improving very slowly and the doctors are being very cautious to avoid secondary infections. Valerie is still in ICU as of today, May 16, and is very weak. Her body has been through extreme trauma with 2 major surgeries within a few days of each other and the massive infection from the perforation in her stomach.
Stephen has been amazing....being daddy and mommy to their newborn daughter and doing his best to be there for Valerie.
The outpouring of love and prayers for this sweet family has been simply incredible and is appreciated beyond measure. Many people have asked what they can do to help.
With the extent of Valerie's illness, her recovery will be a long process and she may not be able to return to work for quite a long while. Stephen is trying to work as much as he can but, obviously, has missed several days and will most likely have to miss more.
So, we have set up the "Team Valerie Love Fund" here and ask that you prayerfully consider donating to help this precious family during their time of need. No amount is too small! As you might imagine, even though Valerie has insurance, the medical expense will still likely be huge. Whatever we, as their friends and family, can do to ease some of the burden will be such a blessing to them!
We are so thankful that God has answered so many prayers for Valerie and Stephen and we ask that you keep them in your prayers for the days, weeks and months to come.
Thank you and may God bless you!
Melissa Strout
#TEAMVALERIE
Valerie and her husband, Stephen, were blessed to welcome their first child, Addison, to the world on May 6th (just 4 days after their first wedding anniversary!). Valerie had a C-Section and did beautifully and little Addison is perfect!
She came home from the hospital on Monday and their sweet little family began their lives together. Early on Wednesday morning (May 11), Valerie began experiencing debilitating pain in her chest and abdomen. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital. After hours of receiving strong pain meds with no relief, her team of doctors decided to move her to ICU and began more involved testing to determine the cause of the pain. When the tests were inconclusive, they decided to keep her in ICU and monitor her closely.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, the Staff General Surgeon came in to check on Valerie. Immediately, he decided to take her into exploratory surgery as her condition had become critical.
The surgeon made an incision from her sternum to her abdomen. He found a quarter sized hole in her stomach which was allowing digested food, bile, and infection to flow throughout her body. The hole was sutured and Valerie was placed on a ventilator, heavily sedated, and placed back in ICU with several IV antibiotics.
The first couple of days were critical but Valerie began to stabilize and on, Saturday morning, the ventilator was removed and the medical team began to slowly wean her off heavy sedation.
She is improving very slowly and the doctors are being very cautious to avoid secondary infections. Valerie is still in ICU as of today, May 16, and is very weak. Her body has been through extreme trauma with 2 major surgeries within a few days of each other and the massive infection from the perforation in her stomach.
Stephen has been amazing....being daddy and mommy to their newborn daughter and doing his best to be there for Valerie.
The outpouring of love and prayers for this sweet family has been simply incredible and is appreciated beyond measure. Many people have asked what they can do to help.
With the extent of Valerie's illness, her recovery will be a long process and she may not be able to return to work for quite a long while. Stephen is trying to work as much as he can but, obviously, has missed several days and will most likely have to miss more.
So, we have set up the "Team Valerie Love Fund" here and ask that you prayerfully consider donating to help this precious family during their time of need. No amount is too small! As you might imagine, even though Valerie has insurance, the medical expense will still likely be huge. Whatever we, as their friends and family, can do to ease some of the burden will be such a blessing to them!
We are so thankful that God has answered so many prayers for Valerie and Stephen and we ask that you keep them in your prayers for the days, weeks and months to come.
Thank you and may God bless you!
Melissa Strout
#TEAMVALERIE
Organizer and beneficiary
Valerie Kitchens
Beneficiary