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Michelle Mackey, a Chehalis resident and owner of the Rise & Grind coffee stand in Ashford, remains in Costa Rica but has now been transferred to a public hospital, San Juan de Dios, in San José.
While she is still lightly sedated, her condition continues to improve and she appears to be alert and responsive, even writing on a pad to answer questions. Doctors have chosen to keep her partially sedated due to a tube remaining in her throat that’s protecting a hole in her trachea.
Mackey fell into a coma earlier this month when she suffered cardiac arrest after a reaction to anesthesia during a dental procedure that she and her boyfriend, Jack Chambers, traveled to Costa Rica for.
Chambers remained in Costa Rica with her and was joined by Michelle Mackey’s sister, Shana Mackey, as they first had to fight to get Michelle Mackey moved from the private hospital she was initially taken to that costs $15,000 per day.
Her family has now paid that hospital, Hospital CIMA, approximately $125,000 so far. The total hospital bill is $180,000, according to family friend Ethan Parker.
Now that she’s been moved to a public hospital, the family can concentrate on finally getting her home. They have secured a medical flight for her that is scheduled to depart Saturday.
“With your help we have been able to secure a med flight for Michelle to Florida! They have a bed ready and waiting! It is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 28 as long as all permits go through,” wrote family friend Lindsay Fillman in an update on the GoFundMe page set up to help pay for her medical expenses.
To donate, visit https://gofund.me/c70eaf95.
In addition to the GoFundMe, four fundraiser dinners have now been scheduled to help the family pay for her medical expenses.
First, a seafood and chicken fettuccine dinner with both live and silent auctions has been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Jan. 28 at the Big Bottom Roadhouse, located at 9791 U.S. Highway 12 in Randle.
The second will be a lasagna dinner and silent auction starting at 4 p.m. on Feb. 4 at the Mt. Rainier Lions Club, located at 27726 state Route 706 in Ashford.
Then, on Feb. 11 at 4 p.m., a spaghetti dinner, auction and raffle will be held at the Eagles Hall in Eatonville, located at 100 Weyerhaeuser Road N.
The final dinner will be on March 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. at McFiler’s Chehalis Theater, located at 588 N. Market Blvd., and will feature a silent auction.
For those unable to make it to these dinners, there are five locations accepting cash donations throughout Lewis, Thurson and Pierce Counties, including:
• Olympia Roof Doctor, located at 8120 Old Highway 99 SE in Tumwater
• Chehalis Roof Doctor, located at 1522 Bishop Road in Chehalis
• Mill Haus Cider Co. and Taproom, located at 303 Center St. E. in Eatonville
• Cedar Village IGA, located at 206 East Walnut St. in Winlock
• Rise & Grind coffee stand, located at 29716 state Route 706 E. in Ashford
Her family and friends thank the community for their continued prayers and support.
