Unimaginable Medical Crisis
Donation protected
Kelly Lucas…Sotheby's Team Partner, Sotheby's Client, Wife, Mom & dedicated friend who was 48 hours from death when she went to the ER.
One of our own agents has had an unimaginable medical crisis, and needs prayers and any financial assistance we can find in our hearts to give. She has been the main bread winner in this family and bought one of my listings last year using her income to qualify.
At 44 years young, Kelly Lucas thought her congenital heart issues were behind her after having an artificial aorta and an aortic valve implanted only 3 years ago. On July 4th, 2018, Kelly did her annual trek to Aviara with family and friends to watch the fireworks. She started feeling unwell when she got home, and spent the next day in bed to try and shake it off. On July 6th, 2018, Kelly called me in tears to say she was going to the ER, but she had no idea what she was in store for.
Kelly was immediately admitted to Prebys Cardiovascular Institute in La Jolla with a life-threatening sepsis blood infection and endocarditis. Tests showed the bacteria in her blood was attacking and eating away the artificial aorta doctors put in 3 years ago and causing organ failure. The pain in her chest was unbearable, but she was also experiencing excruciating headaches and bleeding in her brain caused by mini strokes. This quickly became a matter of life and death, and her doctors had to move fast to save her life. Due to the sepsis, 4 strokes and pneumonia, Kelly was moved to the top of the organ donor list. 2 human aortas with hearts were flown in and one week after arriving at the hospital for what they thought were minor chest pains, Kelly underwent a 12-hour open heart surgery to replace her deteriorating aorta and aortic valve. Miraculously she survived the surgery, which a panel of 8 doctors gave only a 7% chance of surviving given all the serious complications she was experiencing.
Kelly fought for her life and survived, but she continues to have setbacks since the surgery. The antibiotics used to fight the sepsis and pneumonia were so strong that her kidneys started shutting down and her entire body started retaining fluid. The doctors made rapid changes and got her kidneys back on track and she was finally able to leave the hospital only to be readmitted 2 days later with painful palpitations.
Kelly is now home recovering at home. She is grateful to be able to wake up and see her husband and son and is humbled by this miraculous gift of life. The doctors finally took the PICC line out last week and they are switching to oral antibiotics. Doctors have told her they do not want her working at all and the mounting bills are causing stress that she cannot focus on.
As successful real estate agents, we know that we must prospect daily and hustle to keep our business moving. We are blessed to earn substantial commissions on the homes we sell. What would happen to you and your family if you couldn't work for 6 months? Now add medical bills that have exceeded 8 figures to that toll, and even with insurance, the co-pays have created a financial crisis on top of the medical crisis. Sadly, Kelly and her family had just finished paying off their debt from the same surgery 3 years ago which was 1/3 the cost of this emergency life or death situation they just experienced.
Please, please help Kelly focus on healing. She is the first one to give and be extremely charitable for those who know her. It’s time to bring that generosity full circle back to her, so that she, her husband and young son can breathe a little easier from the nightmare they have experienced.
One days worth of IV antibiotics.
Just the tip of a nearly foot long incision. What you don't see is dime size scars from the drainage tubes.
Kelly & her husband Carl with their son Chase below
One of our own agents has had an unimaginable medical crisis, and needs prayers and any financial assistance we can find in our hearts to give. She has been the main bread winner in this family and bought one of my listings last year using her income to qualify.
At 44 years young, Kelly Lucas thought her congenital heart issues were behind her after having an artificial aorta and an aortic valve implanted only 3 years ago. On July 4th, 2018, Kelly did her annual trek to Aviara with family and friends to watch the fireworks. She started feeling unwell when she got home, and spent the next day in bed to try and shake it off. On July 6th, 2018, Kelly called me in tears to say she was going to the ER, but she had no idea what she was in store for.
Kelly was immediately admitted to Prebys Cardiovascular Institute in La Jolla with a life-threatening sepsis blood infection and endocarditis. Tests showed the bacteria in her blood was attacking and eating away the artificial aorta doctors put in 3 years ago and causing organ failure. The pain in her chest was unbearable, but she was also experiencing excruciating headaches and bleeding in her brain caused by mini strokes. This quickly became a matter of life and death, and her doctors had to move fast to save her life. Due to the sepsis, 4 strokes and pneumonia, Kelly was moved to the top of the organ donor list. 2 human aortas with hearts were flown in and one week after arriving at the hospital for what they thought were minor chest pains, Kelly underwent a 12-hour open heart surgery to replace her deteriorating aorta and aortic valve. Miraculously she survived the surgery, which a panel of 8 doctors gave only a 7% chance of surviving given all the serious complications she was experiencing.
Kelly fought for her life and survived, but she continues to have setbacks since the surgery. The antibiotics used to fight the sepsis and pneumonia were so strong that her kidneys started shutting down and her entire body started retaining fluid. The doctors made rapid changes and got her kidneys back on track and she was finally able to leave the hospital only to be readmitted 2 days later with painful palpitations.
Kelly is now home recovering at home. She is grateful to be able to wake up and see her husband and son and is humbled by this miraculous gift of life. The doctors finally took the PICC line out last week and they are switching to oral antibiotics. Doctors have told her they do not want her working at all and the mounting bills are causing stress that she cannot focus on.
As successful real estate agents, we know that we must prospect daily and hustle to keep our business moving. We are blessed to earn substantial commissions on the homes we sell. What would happen to you and your family if you couldn't work for 6 months? Now add medical bills that have exceeded 8 figures to that toll, and even with insurance, the co-pays have created a financial crisis on top of the medical crisis. Sadly, Kelly and her family had just finished paying off their debt from the same surgery 3 years ago which was 1/3 the cost of this emergency life or death situation they just experienced.
Please, please help Kelly focus on healing. She is the first one to give and be extremely charitable for those who know her. It’s time to bring that generosity full circle back to her, so that she, her husband and young son can breathe a little easier from the nightmare they have experienced.
One days worth of IV antibiotics.
Just the tip of a nearly foot long incision. What you don't see is dime size scars from the drainage tubes.
Kelly & her husband Carl with their son Chase below
Organizer and beneficiary
Sandra Copeland
Organizer
Carlsbad, CA
Kelly Lucas
Beneficiary
