Before her illness, 82-year-old Jilma Gibson lived independently in her home, tending to her garden and managing her daily life with ease. But after undergoing major abdominal surgery, Jilma faced one of the toughest challenges of her life.
At 46 years old, Sydney McGriff led an independent life, working alongside her sister and managing daily activities independently. However, when Sydney arrived at a local emergency room with sepsis and respiratory failure, her condition was critical. Intubated for an extended period of time, she required a tracheostomy and ongoing ventilator support to breathe.
The past couple of years have been difficult for 63-year-old Christine Blackwell. About two years ago, Christine survived a stroke. The stroke left her with expressive aphasia, which impacts a person’s ability to produce language. Most recently, Christine had her gallbladder removed, resulting in a series of hospitalizations that lasted about three months.
