Help Us Get Through Traci’s Recovery

We never imagined we would be writing something like this, but the last few weeks have completely turned our lives upside down.

What started as a gallbladder emergency became a much more serious medical crisis involving blocked bile ducts, a serious infection, pancreatitis, multiple procedures, internal bleeding, blood transfusions, dangerously low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and surgery.

Traci originally went to the hospital with severe abdominal pain and was found to have gallstones along with stones blocking her bile duct. Because she had gastric bypass surgery many years ago, the normal procedure doctors would usually use to remove the stones was not possible. That made everything much more complicated from the beginning.

She eventually needed a biliary drain placed through her liver so the bile duct could drain.

Things became more serious when she developed cholangitis, which is an infection of the bile ducts. Cultures from the biliary drain grew multiple bacteria, including VRE, and Infectious Disease became involved. She needed IV antibiotics, oral antibiotics, a midline, and continued treatment.

She was eventually discharged, but it did not last long.

Traci ended up back in the hospital with acute biliary pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis. She went through more scans, blood work, procedures, severe pain, and repeated problems involving the bile ducts and drains.

Doctors ultimately removed her gallbladder and placed a biliary stent.

We thought we might finally be getting somewhere, but then things became even more frightening.

Traci developed a clot that required another procedure. Interventional Radiology performed an angiogram through the femoral artery in her groin to address it, and a coil was placed. She also needed another biliary drain.

After that procedure, while she was being helped to the bathroom, her blood pressure suddenly dropped, her heart rate shot up, and she lost consciousness.

A Rapid Response was called and the room filled with medical staff.

I truly thought that was the end and that I was going to watch my wife die right there in front of me. Traci has told me she thought she was dying too.

They immediately rushed to do a CT scan and emergency blood work. They discovered a hematoma around her liver and her hemoglobin had dropped significantly.

She ultimately needed two blood transfusions.

After that incident, she was moved from the regular surgical unit to the Progressive Care Unit so she could be monitored much more closely.

Thankfully, she stabilized.

After nearly two weeks of hospital stays, procedures, surgery, complications, and some of the scariest moments we have ever experienced together, Traci is finally home.

But being home does not mean this is over.

She is still weak and recovering from everything her body has been through. She currently has two drains in place, one biliary drain and one surgical drain. She has a lot of follow up appointments ahead of her, along with lab work, imaging, drain care, specialist visits, and additional procedures before all of this is finally behind us.

Because of everything that has happened, Traci will not be able to return to work for quite some time.

That is why we are asking for help.

We are trying to keep our household stable while Traci focuses on getting stronger. Any money raised will help us with our normal living expenses, rent, utilities, groceries, transportation to appointments, medical related expenses and supplies, and the income we are losing while she is unable to work.

We know everyone has their own bills and their own struggles, and we do not want anyone putting themselves in a difficult position to help us.

If you are able to donate, we are incredibly grateful.

If you cannot donate, sharing this fundraiser with others would mean just as much to us.

We also want to thank everyone who has checked on Traci, called us, messaged us, prayed for us, and reminded us that we were not going through this alone.

There were moments during all of this when we were terrified about what was going to happen next.

Right now, we are just incredibly thankful that Traci is home and that we get to focus on the next part, helping her heal and getting our lives back to normal.

Thank you for being there for us.

James and Traci