This fundraiser is for my wife, Julie. We have been married for 40 years and share two grown children and four grandchildren. The purpose of this fund is to help us pay for her medical bills and the many items needed for her ongoing care.
How It Started
In February 2025, Julie began experiencing vertigo—not spinning, but a constant bobbling sensation. She didn’t tell me about it until April, when we visited her family doctor. Bloodwork suggested we should see a cardiologist, and further testing showed she needed a heart stent placed in an artery commonly referred to as ‘the widow maker.’ During the procedure, imaging also showed large kidney stones measuring 3–5 cm. She spent a week in the hospital for verification and rescanning, and that stay totaled $96,000.
Complications & Additional Hospitalizations
Because of the heart medications, Julie could not undergo treatment for the kidney stones. Instead, she had two kidney stents placed by a urology specialist. Afterward, she began having fainting spells due to dangerously low blood pressure—at one point 80/40. Another week-long hospital stay followed, costing $46,000, as doctors adjusted her medications.
Kidney stents must be replaced every three months. However, during a hospital stay in late August through early September, it was discovered that her body was calcifying the stents, meaning they must now be replaced every two months. That hospital stay cost about $42,000.
Recent Events
In February 2026, cardiology finally approved stopping the heart‑stent medication, allowing doctors to begin treating the kidney stones. Julie had a three-hour laser procedure on the left side, which removed only part of the stone. The next day, she was rushed back to the hospital because she could not stand or move and was becoming incoherent. She was diagnosed with fungal sepsis shock, requiring another week in the hospital due to weakness and intensive treatment.
Upcoming Care
Julie is scheduled for the next kidney stone procedure on the left side in late April, and hopefully the right side in May. Current out-of-pocket bills are around $12,000–$15,000, and continuing care will increase this amount.
Ongoing Medical Issues
Julie still has vertigo, and so far no specialist has been able to help. After seeing her family doctor, urologist, cardiologist, and hypertension/kidney specialist, she also saw an ENT, who confirmed she has 95% hearing loss in her left ear and about 65% hearing loss in her right ear. They are unable to treat the vertigo, so the next step is neurology. She needs an MRI of her brain to check for stroke or other neurological damage.
Additionally, because of her age, her family doctor has recommended a colonoscopy, a follow-up mammogram, and a podiatry visit to evaluate her right ankle (which has a plate and screws) and to assess whether her leg brace is helping.
Why We Need Help
The ongoing medical care, procedures, supplies, and frequent hospitalizations have placed a heavy financial burden on us. This fund will help pay for hospital co‑payments, medical bills, needed supplies, future treatments, and care‑related expenses. Your support means so much to our family as we continue navigating Julie’s medical challenges. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
