Ilysa Winick

Ilysa Needs Your Support

Ilysa’s life was changed forever in June 2016 when she contracted a near fatal blood infection which caused her body to go into septic shock, shutting down her vital organs. It is extremely rare for this to affect a young, healthy person, but the illness caused blood clots to form in her extremities, and soon led to gangrene and subsequent amputations of all four of her extremities. She lost both feet below the knees, and both hands below the elbows. The illness also left Ilysa with End Stage Renal Disease, or kidney failure. As a result, she will be on dialysis until she gets a kidney transplant.

In addition to the life altering trauma of Ilysa’s illness, we have learned that insurance coverage is woefully inadequate for prostheses, and Ilysa will require multiple prostheses to regain and maintain her independence over the course of her life. Insurance also is unlikely to fully cover the costs associated with a future kidney transplant and the related immuno-suppressant drugs that she’ll have to take for the rest of her life. There will be significant other related expenses as well: home care, therapy, etc… We estimate that the uninsured portion of Ilysa’s medical expenses and care over time will be in the millions of dollars.

If you know Ilysa, you know that she is courageous and strong and has a tremendous spirit. Those who have been at her bedside through these last few months are in awe that she is still that same wonderful woman. We are especially fortunate that Ilysa has survived her physical illness with full brain function. She is determined to regain control of her life and remain a proactive Mom to Benjamin (7) and Ryan (4), a loving wife, and the proud founder of a local preschool which strives to instill a love of learning for so many of our community’s children. In support of that spirit, we ask for your assistance.

My family has been touched by the genuine outpouring of love we have received from our friends and the broader community. We are grateful for your support through the acute phase of Ilysa’s illness, through a long hospital stay and multiple procedures and surgeries. Many people have asked how they may be able to contribute on a long-term basis.

To help with the financial burden of Ilysa’s uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in her honor has been established with Help Hope Live, a trusted non-profit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than thirty years.

All donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Help Hope Live holds all funds raised and pays all medical-related bills directly.

Thank you so much for helping. Be sure to check this periodically because we will be posting updates from time to time.

Steven Winick
[email protected]