Urgent Medical Funds for Terri

UPDATE: During the preparations to get Terri (my aunt) to the United States she experienced additional health complications and had to be rushed by ambulance to the hospital here in The Bahamas. We are currently trying to get Terri to the United States to get properly diagnosed so she can receive the treatment needed. Because of her current situation the only way for her to safely arrive there is to be airlifted via an air ambulance. This is very costly and because of this we have increased the goal of this fundraiser. We are very thankful for all the prayers and donations that have been made during this time. Your support has made this journey an easier one. Thank you!

“One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone.”

― Shannon L. Alder

Hi! My name is Nashanda Clarke and I am fundraising for my aunt Terri Antonio.

Over the past eight weeks, her presence on social media has been noticeably absent and so many of you have reached out to me to inquire about her since it was unusual not to see daily posts from her.

Let me fill you in on some details that may be completely new to many of you. Back in July, Terri began experiencing shortness of breath, loss of appetite, and had a chronic cough. After a visit to her physician and lab tests, she was told she was suffering from asthma and was sent home to rest. After the symptoms did not disappear, we advised her to get a second opinion. That medical visit led to additional tests which suggested that she should be admitted to the hospital for more tests and treatment.

In the hospital, she received a CAT scan. The results of this scan revealed something we were not ready for and were totally unprepared for—there is a mass on her liver, as well as metastasized lesions on the liver and the peritoneum of her abdomen!!!!! In addition, there was a large amount of fluid which saturated her entire abdominal area (the shortness of breath was caused by the fluid pressing up against the lungs). The doctors decided to perform a biopsy and the results came back “inconclusive”. My first thoughts were: “Oh God, I just lost my only brother; I can’t lose my only sister too”!

Needless to say, we were all devastated by this news! Efforts to get recommendations as to the next steps were futile and we were left to do our own networking and research. After much prayer and consultations, we as a family, have decided that we need to get Terri to the US, so that she can be properly diagnosed and begin receiving the type of treatment that she needs; too much time has already elapsed and we cannot afford to wait any longer.

Terri has not been able to eat solid foods for almost four weeks, she is constantly vomiting, and has lost lots of weight. This has left her weak and she is daily losing muscle tone in her body.

Here is why we are reaching out to Terri’s village. Many of you have asked how you can help and many of you have helped by sending cases of Ensure, coconut water, and purèed soups (the only things she can keep down). Now we are reaching out to you to provide financial assistance.

Since her retirement, she no longer qualifies for medical insurance. We are stepping out in faith and making plans to do whatever we can to ensure she gets proper medical attention. As a family, we will do what we can, but even that won’t be enough. In this vein, we have set up a Go Fund Me page, which we are kindly requesting her village to respond to as soon as you can, as we are making plans to get her to the US by the end of September.

We know that God is able and we believe He is already putting things in place for her to be properly attended to. We request your continued prayers as we traverse these choppy waters over the weeks and months ahead. We claim the promise in Ephesians 3:20 that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”. Thank you again for responding to this most urgent request!!!