BY KERRY MARSH
Enquirer Contributor
SUNMAN, Ind. -- Amber Covert will face the biggest challenge of her young life today.
The 6-year-old triplet, diagnosed in January with a life-threatening brain condition, is to undergo a four-hour surgery this morning to relieve fluid pressure in her brain caused by a malformation blocking the spinal cavity.
But for Amber's mom, Tracy, the surgery typifies the pressure she feels to single-handedly hold her young family together.
Shortly after Amber's condition was diagnosed, Ms. Covert's husband left her, leaving her with no income, the triplets, a 5-year-old daughter and a baby due in March.
The town of Sunman rallied to the family's aid and was raising enough money to cover living expenses when Ms. Covert found out that her estranged husband's insurance would no longer cover Amber's medical expenses.
And Monday evening, when the family should have been preparing for Amber's surgery, Ms. Covert was at the hospital with her 5-week-old son. He has an infection that causes severe coughing and congestion. "This time I am just functioning on auto-pilot," Ms. Covert said.
Amber said she is trying to keep her spirits up and concentrate on one thing -- "getting better."
Amber's condition, called a Chiari malformation, causes severe head and neck pain, nerve damage and muscle control problems.
Fran Zimmer, a friend of the Coverts who is coordinating the fund-raising efforts, said they have received nearly $25,000 for the family. However, she warned that with no insurance, the hospital bills could clean out the fund.
