A Time for Tokisha

Tokisha Ingram (center) shown with her daughter Shanice age 17 (left), and son Gregory 14, right.

Staff Reports

On the day she reached her thirty-sixth birthday last February 24, Tokisha Ingram had a lot to be grateful about, including her 17-year-old daughter Shanice, her son Gregory, 14, and a successful hair salon in Hendersonville, NC.

But on that day, Tokisha fell ill with a debilitating, life-threatening, and devastating disease. Twice she was taken to the emergency room, on the second visit for acute renal (kidney) failure. Her blood pressure was dropping and her vital signs were failing, and that evening in the emergency room she lapsed into a coma and was put on life support. Tokisha had a poor prognosis, and wasn’t expected to make it through the night. While on life support and in a coma for eight days, her condition somewhat improved.

During the course of these events, Tokisha developed digital Ischemia
of her hands and feet, and all her fingers had to be amputated. A month
later she underwent amputation of all her toes.

Her hospitalization was extended while she slowly recovered from
her illness. After a short stay in her home, she developed severe
infections in her legs and was hospitalized again. This time she was
sent to Baptist Memorial Center in Winston Salem North Carolina.
Surgeons performed a grafting procedure to save her legs, but found the
infection had gone deep into the bone. They delivered the devastating
news that she would need to undergo a below-the-knee amputation of both
legs.

Presently, Tokisha is recovering from the bilateral amputations
of her fingers and legs. She is dealing with her fate, but with
one major difference; she is unable to continue working in her chosen
profession, and is faced with no income and lots of debt. Tokisha was
self-employed as a beautician in Hendersonville for the last 12 years.
She used her hands and fingers to provide for her family, and now she
cannot.

Friends and family are asking the community to come together to
help. A trust fund has been set up to help with major recurring expenses
and family needs, and benefit will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on
Saturday, October 23 at Jackson Park in Hendersonville. There will be
food, live music, games, and other activities; tickets are $20 per
adult, $10 ages 13-17, and $5 for children 5-12, and all proceeds will
go into the trust fund. Children are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

For ticket and donation information please call (828) 768-3370.