Just a warning... for the first time on this blog, this post isn’t about basketball.
You may have noticed that this blog has been a bit inactive in recent weeks. I’ve been trying to keep up with my normal game load, but everything else has taken a back seat. With what's been happening going public over the last couple days and a truly overwhelming outpouring of support since then, I feel like it's only right now to inform those that care to know.
If you’ve been at any EST events, you’ve probably seen, met, or even gotten to know my mother. She’s held down the fort at the concession stand and, more importantly, has been my better half. If you've seen her, it's been with the oxygen, which she’s had for a very long time (well over a decade), so although no one ever really asks why, her less-than-pristine medical condition probably doesn’t come as news to anyone.
Right now, things are not well. She was admitted to the hospital nearly 4 weeks ago due to illness, and conditions have progressively deteriorated. With her cocktail of lung conditions over the years, her respiratory & immune systems don’t allow her to fight and recover from illness how an average person could. She developed pneumonia while in the hospital, and last Thursday morning, she went into respiratory arrest - or 'coded'. Since then, she has been in the intensive care unit, on a ventilator essentially the entire time. They’ve tried to wean her off a couple times, only to have to put her back on the vent – one step forward, one step back. There's potential that more procedures will be in the plans soon. Her condition isn’t very good to say the least, but she’s always been a fighter, and that’s what she’s continuing to do.
I’m a private person when it comes to personal matters, and I absolutely get it from her, who’s the most private person I know. Even typing this out goes against how I usually do things and certainly how she prefers things done, but I feel that with how much care & support has been shown, you all deserve to know. I’ve tried to go about business quietly over the last few weeks – hospital during the day often, especially since last Thursday, games at night. Word has started to spread rapidly over the past few days, fueled by the start of a GoFundMe account for financial support to aid in increasing medical expenses.
The support I’ve received over the last couple days, especially since it truly went public with the making of the GoFundMe account – from the emotional support, prayers, & kind words from many, to the account organized by Terrance Florence, Sean Pinkerton, Becky Heeps, & Cathy Wood and already donated to by dozens – has been eye-opening & completely overwhelming. I sincerely can’t thank all of you enough… words can’t express my gratitude to all of you. It shows me that this basketball community is tight and there are a ton of fantastic people that I’m thankful to know.
I’m going to keep trying to maintain the usual, healthy game schedule through the upcoming sectional season. I love doing this and wouldn’t trade it for the world, & I’m sure this is also the case for so many that are passionate about the game, but basketball has always been the best form of therapy for me. However, if there comes a point where I have to take a step back for any amount of time, know that this is why. With my father having passed away years ago and having no siblings, I am the family.
About the GoFundMe account... I will never ask anyone to donate – mom would never let me even if I wanted to. However, if this is a cause that you choose to make a donation for, know that anything from this account is going strictly toward her accruing medical expenses. Her expenses, even with insurance, have always been hefty – and even in a best case scenario, they’re becoming a whole lot larger. The ultimate goal is to be able to go ahead with plans for a double lung transplant, which she’ll be on the list for as soon as proper financial support can be shown (which if you’ve been through it, you know the number is absurd - expenses go deep into the 5 digit range for this). However, she’ll also need to be in the sort of physical condition to handle such a serious procedure, something that she currently isn’t in. In the meantime, there’s this very lengthy stint in the hospital and everything that comes along with it, most likely inpatient respiratory therapy if/when she gets released from the hospital, so on & so on. She hasn’t been able to work for a while and I work mainly in high school girls’ basketball, so you know I’m not making a killing – the generosity I’ve seen from so many in the community is sincerely appreciated.
She’s truly a fantastic person – you have to be to put up with me for 28 years & counting. Please keep her in your thoughts – and if you are religious, your prayers, as she’s one of the most ardent believers I know. I’ll leave the GoFundMe link directly below in case anyone is interested. Regardless, I sincerely appreciate all of you. Thank you for your love, kindness, & understanding... hopefully she’ll make it through this & be back on her feet in the near future. I still hope to see you in a gym soon!
GoFundMe (for medical expenses): https://www.gofundme.com/f/charmaine-kissner-aka-mama-mlinar-jeff-mlinar?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet
