Vinny's Medical Expense Fund
Donation protected
WHY AM I STARTING THIS GOFUNDME?
Vinny, my sister Heather, her 4-year-old daughter Amelie and unborn baby Aoife have been slowly transitioning to a new life in State College, Pa. Heather moved in November to start her new job as a teacher at a local daycare, while Vinny stayed behind in Scranton to finish his last few weeks of work with the intent of joining Heather and Amelie the first week of January in time for Aoife’s birth, their first child together.
While in Scranton for the Christmas holiday, Vinny began to feel ill and by December 30th was in the hospital with a potentially fatal condition called sepsis. Vinny’s last day of work was December 23rd and his health insurance covered him until December 31st. He will now have to pay out-of-pocket to contribute to COBRA in order to keep his coverage, but he has no income to do so.
Vinny has endured many complications and procedures the past week, including surgery, a secondary diagnosis of pneumonia and damaged lungs. With that comes numerous labs, scans, blood tests, fluids, plus a lengthy stay at the hospital etc. It all adds up. What’s worse, there is a chance he will have to be intubated and placed in an induced coma to allow his severely damaged lungs to heal. There is a good change he is going to miss the birth of his first child, but his optimism is humbling. This evening he told me he’s made peace with the fact he may not be present for her birth. “I’d rather miss the birth of my child than miss the lives of both she and Amelie (who has become a daughter to him).”
Meanwhile, my nearly 9-months pregnant sister, is also trying to support herself, Amelie and unborn daughter on one very small income to stay afloat while Daddy Vinny gets well enough to return to them. Heather is struggling to afford childcare currently, but will soon be faced with the challenge of having no income during her unpaid maternity leave. She and Amelie are currently sharing a bedroom at a dear friend’s house until they are stable enough to afford an apartment of their own.
WHAT HAPPENED?
On the evening of December 30th, my 8 1/2-months pregnant sister, Heather, rushed her boyfriend Vinny to the Regional Hospital of Scranton Emergency Room. When they arrived at the entrance, Vinny stepped out of the passenger side, vomited, and in my sister’s words, “closed the door with his face” as he collapsed and temporarily lost consciousness. After futile attempts to lift him herself, Heather’s cries for help were heard and help came running to assist Vinny into the ER. The diagnosis? Severe Sepsis caused by a tooth infection. Sepsis, depending on how severe, is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by your immune system’s response to an infection. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. Vinny was likely days away from his condition turning fatal.
Within the first few days of the sepsis diagnosis, Vinny went through powerful antibiotic treatments, emergency surgery to remove a tooth and drain an abscess, and was also diagnosed with lung damage and pneumonia. Now, there is a chance he will have to be intubated and placed in an induced coma to allow his severely damaged lungs to heal. He will be in the hospital for at least another week, if not more.
WHAT WILL THESE FUNDS HELP WITH?
I’m hoping these funds will be available to help Vinny and Heather pay for medical bills as well as living expenses until they are both able to bring in an income. They will specifically pay for:
-Vinny’s growing medical expenses.
-Supplemental income for Vinny, Heather and Amelie after baby Aoife is born (my sister has to go on 6 to 12-week unpaid maternity leave).
-Childcare- for before Aoife is born, so my sister can work.
-Food
-Bills and daily expenses
The clock is really ticking on this one. Heather is due January 27th, but could go into labor at any moment. So the sooner they have some funds, the better. All the funds will go directly to Vinny and Heather.
Those of you who have the pleasure of knowing Heather, Vinny and Amelie can attest to their amazing character, love, kindness and generosity to everyone they meet. Please join me in raising them up during this difficult but joyous time in their lives.
All my love and appreciation,
Michelle Bixby
Vinny, my sister Heather, her 4-year-old daughter Amelie and unborn baby Aoife have been slowly transitioning to a new life in State College, Pa. Heather moved in November to start her new job as a teacher at a local daycare, while Vinny stayed behind in Scranton to finish his last few weeks of work with the intent of joining Heather and Amelie the first week of January in time for Aoife’s birth, their first child together.
While in Scranton for the Christmas holiday, Vinny began to feel ill and by December 30th was in the hospital with a potentially fatal condition called sepsis. Vinny’s last day of work was December 23rd and his health insurance covered him until December 31st. He will now have to pay out-of-pocket to contribute to COBRA in order to keep his coverage, but he has no income to do so.
Vinny has endured many complications and procedures the past week, including surgery, a secondary diagnosis of pneumonia and damaged lungs. With that comes numerous labs, scans, blood tests, fluids, plus a lengthy stay at the hospital etc. It all adds up. What’s worse, there is a chance he will have to be intubated and placed in an induced coma to allow his severely damaged lungs to heal. There is a good change he is going to miss the birth of his first child, but his optimism is humbling. This evening he told me he’s made peace with the fact he may not be present for her birth. “I’d rather miss the birth of my child than miss the lives of both she and Amelie (who has become a daughter to him).”
Meanwhile, my nearly 9-months pregnant sister, is also trying to support herself, Amelie and unborn daughter on one very small income to stay afloat while Daddy Vinny gets well enough to return to them. Heather is struggling to afford childcare currently, but will soon be faced with the challenge of having no income during her unpaid maternity leave. She and Amelie are currently sharing a bedroom at a dear friend’s house until they are stable enough to afford an apartment of their own.
WHAT HAPPENED?
On the evening of December 30th, my 8 1/2-months pregnant sister, Heather, rushed her boyfriend Vinny to the Regional Hospital of Scranton Emergency Room. When they arrived at the entrance, Vinny stepped out of the passenger side, vomited, and in my sister’s words, “closed the door with his face” as he collapsed and temporarily lost consciousness. After futile attempts to lift him herself, Heather’s cries for help were heard and help came running to assist Vinny into the ER. The diagnosis? Severe Sepsis caused by a tooth infection. Sepsis, depending on how severe, is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by your immune system’s response to an infection. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. Vinny was likely days away from his condition turning fatal.
Within the first few days of the sepsis diagnosis, Vinny went through powerful antibiotic treatments, emergency surgery to remove a tooth and drain an abscess, and was also diagnosed with lung damage and pneumonia. Now, there is a chance he will have to be intubated and placed in an induced coma to allow his severely damaged lungs to heal. He will be in the hospital for at least another week, if not more.
WHAT WILL THESE FUNDS HELP WITH?
I’m hoping these funds will be available to help Vinny and Heather pay for medical bills as well as living expenses until they are both able to bring in an income. They will specifically pay for:
-Vinny’s growing medical expenses.
-Supplemental income for Vinny, Heather and Amelie after baby Aoife is born (my sister has to go on 6 to 12-week unpaid maternity leave).
-Childcare- for before Aoife is born, so my sister can work.
-Food
-Bills and daily expenses
The clock is really ticking on this one. Heather is due January 27th, but could go into labor at any moment. So the sooner they have some funds, the better. All the funds will go directly to Vinny and Heather.
Those of you who have the pleasure of knowing Heather, Vinny and Amelie can attest to their amazing character, love, kindness and generosity to everyone they meet. Please join me in raising them up during this difficult but joyous time in their lives.
All my love and appreciation,
Michelle Bixby
Organizer and beneficiary
Michelle Bixby
Organizer
State College, PA
Heather Bixby
Beneficiary