Help Paula with Living Expenses
Donation protected
My name is Mark Anstine. I am here today to ask for your help.
On June 24th 2015 my wife Paula became ill with what she thought was the flu or a virus, which was going around where she worked. She was vomiting, had diarrhea and a mild fever.
The next morning June 25th 2015 her symptoms had become worse and she was unable to get out of bed. She was rushed to the Gettysburg Hospital and admitted.
She was in serious condition. She was very dehydrated, severely septic, in septic shock, her kidneys were in acute failure and her liver functions were down. Her
blood pressure was 118/46 and her oxygen saturation was 78%. Her lactic acid levels were 3 times the normal level. She was placed in ICU ASAP.
On June 26th 2015 they did a CAT scan and found what they though was a blockage.
She was scheduled for a colonoscopy the morning of June 27th 2015. When I arrived at the hospital on June 27th 2015 I received a phone call from a surgeon asking permission to place a central line in Paula and I asked why just for a colonoscopy. He told me that her condition has become worse overnight and they were going to fly her to York hospital in York, PA.
A central line was placed in Paula and the colonoscopy was performed. They found out that her whole colon had died and also some of her small intestine. Two helicopters refused to fly due to the poor weather conditions and she was transported by ambulance to the York hospital.
When I arrived at the hospital I was told she took her last breath as they inserted the intubation tube. The trauma surgeon met with me and told me that they are
treating this as a trauma surgery and it is a life saving surgery if she makes it.
When the surgery was over the surgeon told me that Paula is a very very sick patient and if she makes it through the day and night the battle for survival will begin.
The next day June 28th 2015 they performed another surgery to repair more of her insides. When her surgery was over the surgeon told me that she is still very ill and
they will need to operate the next day and if they find what they expect to find that I need to ask myself how much can a body take and consider sewing her back up and letting nature take its course. This meant that she would die.
The next day the day June 29th 2015 the operated on Paula again and performed an ileostomy, but were not happy with the way she was swelling. They explained it to me like this. Do you know what it looks like when you crack open a can if biscuits and the biscuits come popping out and you can not put them back in. I told them yes and the said that is what is happening to Paula’s small intestine.
On June 30th 2015 they operated on her again and had to remove the ileostomy due to swelling and back to the trauma ICU she goes again to lay there with an open
abdomen.
About 2 or 3 days later they operated again and performed another ileostomy. On July 9th 2015 they operated again and found that everything was looking better and closed her abdomen.
She had an open abdomen from June 27th 2015 to July 9th 2015 and was on the ventilator from June 2th 2015 to July 10 2015. She had some complications breathing after being removed from the ventilator. Paula had gone through 7 surgeries in 11 day and is still in critical condition without a release date.
I am in the process of filing for disability and Paula was our only source of income.
Currently we do not know if she will ever work again. It is my fear that without Paula’s income we will lose where we live and I will also lose my service dog.
Paula’s medical bills are going to be astronomical not to mention the traveling expenses back and forth to the outpatient medical services.
Also the cost of living expenses on top of all these other expenses along with her continued additional medical needs once she is fully functioning in her own home.
All contributions no matter how large or small will be greatly appreciated. I thank you so much in advance for your help and if Paula was able to speak I am sure she would be eternally grateful for any and all help.
Mark Anstine
On June 24th 2015 my wife Paula became ill with what she thought was the flu or a virus, which was going around where she worked. She was vomiting, had diarrhea and a mild fever.
The next morning June 25th 2015 her symptoms had become worse and she was unable to get out of bed. She was rushed to the Gettysburg Hospital and admitted.
She was in serious condition. She was very dehydrated, severely septic, in septic shock, her kidneys were in acute failure and her liver functions were down. Her
blood pressure was 118/46 and her oxygen saturation was 78%. Her lactic acid levels were 3 times the normal level. She was placed in ICU ASAP.
On June 26th 2015 they did a CAT scan and found what they though was a blockage.
She was scheduled for a colonoscopy the morning of June 27th 2015. When I arrived at the hospital on June 27th 2015 I received a phone call from a surgeon asking permission to place a central line in Paula and I asked why just for a colonoscopy. He told me that her condition has become worse overnight and they were going to fly her to York hospital in York, PA.
A central line was placed in Paula and the colonoscopy was performed. They found out that her whole colon had died and also some of her small intestine. Two helicopters refused to fly due to the poor weather conditions and she was transported by ambulance to the York hospital.
When I arrived at the hospital I was told she took her last breath as they inserted the intubation tube. The trauma surgeon met with me and told me that they are
treating this as a trauma surgery and it is a life saving surgery if she makes it.
When the surgery was over the surgeon told me that Paula is a very very sick patient and if she makes it through the day and night the battle for survival will begin.
The next day June 28th 2015 they performed another surgery to repair more of her insides. When her surgery was over the surgeon told me that she is still very ill and
they will need to operate the next day and if they find what they expect to find that I need to ask myself how much can a body take and consider sewing her back up and letting nature take its course. This meant that she would die.
The next day the day June 29th 2015 the operated on Paula again and performed an ileostomy, but were not happy with the way she was swelling. They explained it to me like this. Do you know what it looks like when you crack open a can if biscuits and the biscuits come popping out and you can not put them back in. I told them yes and the said that is what is happening to Paula’s small intestine.
On June 30th 2015 they operated on her again and had to remove the ileostomy due to swelling and back to the trauma ICU she goes again to lay there with an open
abdomen.
About 2 or 3 days later they operated again and performed another ileostomy. On July 9th 2015 they operated again and found that everything was looking better and closed her abdomen.
She had an open abdomen from June 27th 2015 to July 9th 2015 and was on the ventilator from June 2th 2015 to July 10 2015. She had some complications breathing after being removed from the ventilator. Paula had gone through 7 surgeries in 11 day and is still in critical condition without a release date.
I am in the process of filing for disability and Paula was our only source of income.
Currently we do not know if she will ever work again. It is my fear that without Paula’s income we will lose where we live and I will also lose my service dog.
Paula’s medical bills are going to be astronomical not to mention the traveling expenses back and forth to the outpatient medical services.
Also the cost of living expenses on top of all these other expenses along with her continued additional medical needs once she is fully functioning in her own home.
All contributions no matter how large or small will be greatly appreciated. I thank you so much in advance for your help and if Paula was able to speak I am sure she would be eternally grateful for any and all help.
Mark Anstine
Organizer
Mark Anstine
Organizer
Gettysburg, PA