Monday, March 9, 2015

Detailed Update

I haven't been able to update much, due to the roller-coaster of events beginning with an important surgery on February 16th. Unfortunately, there are been five more surgeries since that time, one of which was an emergency. Here is a small medical summary of events, and how we have arrived at another year of Chris being incomplete, and possibly inoperable.

Christopher was admitted for a planned surgery on February 16th. This was anticipated by all as his "final surgery" and he would be able to heal, and we could move on after an extensive hospital stay. A few days after the surgery on 2/16, he started trying to walk and even ate a little food. Six days after the surgery, there were dangerous complications and he was sick (toxic) again from a leak. He was taken to the OR and they left him in a medically induced coma for about a week with the understanding that he would be going back to the OR multiple times the following week to clean out the wound. The pain and anxiety of being awake would have been too much for Chris to endure.

Friday, February 27, they attempted to patch the leak and Chris was woken up again from his coma. He struggled once again to get back on his feet, but kept fighting. It was harder the second time around. He began walking, trying to eat solid food, and kept pushing through his pain.

The surgeons told us they hoped there were no more planned surgeries after Feb. 27. Chris kept doing what the doctors ordered and kept moving forward. That following Friday, March 6th, it was determined that the same troublesome area of the colon was leaking again. Chris was taken back to the OR, his 32nd surgery. When he came out of surgery, the surgeons told us that there was nothing else they could do - he was "inoperable" again for another year. The leak happened again, and Chris will now be sent home with some of the same woundcare as before, until they can operate again. The pain he has endured over and over is unimaginable, and watching him go through it again has taken a toll on our families. Pray for the "village" that it takes to get Chris back on his feet every time he's knocked back down. We are heartbroken and feeling so crushed because our expectations of Chris being healthy again have been shattered.
We now face an important decision for Chris' health over the next year. He can either stay in the hospital on his TPN diet, and eat nothing by mouth or he can begin to eat and come home to manage woundcare for the year until he is ready for surgery again.
The next chapter of our lives is intimidating. Physically, mentally, and financially we have been leaning on the community alone, since April 29, 2014. We have kept this particular part of our lives private, and now there has come a time when we must have transparency with you all in order to survive day to day and month to month. It's quite honestly very difficult, and embarrassing for us to ask for help. I had to leave my job to care for Chris. He has been denied disability from the government twice. Our only source of income has been small weekly benefits of workman's comp from Allied Barton, and the benevolent gifts you all have given.

Many people have asked what they can do for us during this time - and we simply answer that prayers and financial assistance are the only options right now. With possible litigation in the future, we know that our lives are going to continue to be stressed in all areas, and we thank you all for the support that you all give to us daily.
Thank you everyone for your support in ALL areas, we appreciate every bit of it.
Jamie Lynn Sparkman


To send a letter or check:

Attn: Chris Sparkman
Levenson & Associates
125 Broad Street S.W. 
Atlanta, GA 30393

OR

DONATE ONLINE with PayPal:

(If you're on a computer, the DONATE link on the right of page will take you to PayPal)

(If you're on a mobile device, scroll to bottom of page for "web version" and then PayPal link will appear on right)


31 comments:

  1. Do you have a Facebook page? You might can get more help, prayers and shares on Facebook..

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  2. Prayers for your complete recovery.

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  3. Is there a gofundme account so that we can donate to help you through this? Chris was a classmate of mine back in high school. We spent many years in NJROTC together. For all the confidence that he me tought through those years, I want to be able to give back to the amazing person that he is

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    1. Shanna thank you. There is a place to donate above, below the blog post.

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  4. So sorry to hear of Chris' continued health issues. Your family will be in my prayers. I hope to see a GoFundMe page set up to help your family during these trying times. I do not know you personally, but my heart goes out to both of you.

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    1. There is a button at the top of the page that allows you to donate, if you want to. Thank you for your kind words and prayers. God bless you.

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  5. If you haven't done so yet, get a funding site set up. With the publicity surrounding this travesty I'm betting you would get a huge amount of funds once this need is announced, especially with The Fish involved. You don't know me, but I've been at WRC for 13yrs & know who you are. I have prayed for you & will continue to do so. God bless!

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    1. We actually do have a way for folks to donate funds. It's at the top of the page on the right hand side. It allows you to donate freely through PayPal, as opposed to paying fees through a site like GoFundMe. Thank you and God bless you.

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. Hello,

    The Paypal link isn't working for me. Please post an update when you've fixed the link so I can make a donation. Thank you!

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  8. The donation link to paypal does not work

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  9. The PayPal link is not working

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  10. My prayers are with you all through this time. My husband was in the ICU at Kennestone when Chris was brought in and e although my husband was released a few weeks later I have continued to follow your story. I can only hope and pray for a full recovery and that God will give everyone the strength they need to get through this.

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  11. Can you guys set up a gofundme account that can be shared on social media, it's free to set up and I feel you guys will get the help your needing? My continued thoughts and prayers are with you both.

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  12. I just used the PayPal link above to donate with no problems

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  13. Random fact... AlliedBarton specifically forbids guards from wearing concealed kevlar vests, including at the Kennesaw Fed Ex.

    Hopefully you guys get a good lawyer for your litigation against, as one of the guards at Fed Ex put it, "Allied Buffoons."

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  14. I am so sorry for the struggles that your husband, your family, and you have had to go through. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you.

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  15. I donated through Paypal this evening with no problem.

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  16. I pray that FedEx and Allied Barton will do the right thing and take care of your bills.

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  17. http://www.emoryhealthcare.org/physicians/g/galloway-john.html

    This man work miracles. I would get another opinion if you can.

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  18. I am incredibly sorry that both of you are having to go through this. I know it's been a long road and I hope that things start to get better. I hope that my small donation helps in some way and that you receive enough financial aid to focus on each other and not have to worry about the money.

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  19. Gofundme goes around the country through postings on Facebook; people share and share and share. It is a wonderful, wonderful tool to use and so many people would be helpful. PLEASE allow a friend to set this up. So many people have been helped with this. God bless you both.

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  20. We would like to make a donation, but would prefer not to make it directly to an attorney. Is there another address that we could make a donation directly to you?

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    1. http://www.gofundme.com/chris-sparkman

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    2. There is a button at the top that allows you to make a donation through PayPal. It's yellow and it's on the right-hand side of the page. I hope this helps. Thank you for your contribution.

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  21. I personally am horrified that FEDEX would leave your family to fend all this alone and not help with the expenses... I believe the world should boycott this billion dollar empire that feels no compulsion to pay for the life ruined for simply being in their office at the wrong time.. Money should be something you never again have to worry about and Im just sickened about it.

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  22. Are there non-monetary needs that readers can try to meet? Items you need or that would be helpful in day to day things?

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  23. Has anyone reached out to FedEx. I can't believe they wouldn't be doing everything for this child.

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    1. The Company if for no other reason send out a company wide announcement for employees to help out another employee to help you at a time like this. They should also have boxes set up so others can bring in suppiles that this family needs food household items TP, soap etc. Fed-Ex should cough up and support their own.

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  24. Praying so hard for you guys and praying that God will give your family and your attorney wisdom and favor and that Fed Ex and anyone else involved will step up and do the right thing!!!! Love you both so much and will continue praying for TOTAL healing.

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  25. Paypal link worked for me. God bless your family.

    Mike

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