Fundraising to help cover expenses Phillip faces while he is in recovery from open-heart surgery and the costs currently outstanding prior to his approval for state government insurance assistance. The expenses associated with the treatment and medication for Systolic Heart Failure as advanced as his was not something our family was prepared for, in any way. While it’s not an uncommon diagnosis, Phillip’s situation is unique in many ways and caused doctors to be apprehensive in selecting the best treatment. ::: UPDATE ::: on ::: 01/19/2024 ::: Phillip has finally been approved for state insurance and his Heart Failure doctors are ready to move forward the week of 01/22/2024. During the week he had a battery of tests to decide on open heart surgery to place an LVAD. All current donations are going towards support during and after this surgery, his recovery, and travel costs associated with rehab and physical therapy. As well as making adjustments at our home life and In our home to better accommodate Phillip during his healing process. Prior to state insurance assistance, outstanding bills are balances due. We have already received medical bills from two separate hospitals, due to how the situation happened, that total over $25,000 alone. We are aware of costs in the future that will be costly as well and you are able to read about the situation as it happened and the treatment options Phillip will be facing in the future below. There are a few different options that Doctors are debating, given how medication helps in these first months after diagnosis, his Doctor feels strongly toward a LVAD placement, or Left Ventricular Assist Device for semi-long term treatment but ultimately a transplant is the best solution. This means, overall the future costs are going to be astronomical for our budgets even with assistance. Two of his Medications at this point are extremely expensive and we are alternating between the two each month because we cannot afford both at the same time. These two are the most important for his valve strengthening. Every penny donated will be used initially to pay down/off the medical debts that have accumulated already. With hope, anything after will go to daily expenses associated with his situation, medication cost, the costs for travel to treatment, and the costs for surgery when the doctor decides Phillip is strong enough and his cardiology team agrees on the right surgical option for him. This decision should be around December - if the medication does it’s job in the meantime. Prayers are requested more than anything. However anything anyone feels strongly about donating is greatly appreciated. There are people that have wanted to help, without an avenue to do so and we have created this GFM with hopes that offers an option to those that would like. Thank you again and if you would like you can read the full story of his situation below. ___________ Backstory: In June of this year, while enjoying a much-deserved beach vacation with his wife and youngest son, Phillip started experiencing severe chest pain while swimming in the ocean. It was only the first day of their vacation. Out of breath and in pain, he went back to the hotel and decided to relax for the evening. After a restless sleep spent struggling to breathe, he ultimately decided to go to the emergency room the following morning. He was admitted to Grand Strand Medical immediately. It took about 3 hours for the doctors to run tests and he was scheduled for a Heart Cath the following morning because of some abnormal EKG/ECG results. In the hours before surgery, the team would come to tell Phillip they recommended he have his gallbladder removed. The surgeon and cardiologist eventually came to an agreement, that his gallbladder and extreme fluid build up around the abdomen was causing too much restriction on his chest, and he wasn't a good candidate for surgery. The team implanted a fluid drain in his gallbladder. He received a Heart Cath on day 3 and that gave them some relief. The heart cath cleared him for risks of sudden cardiac arrest or a random heart attack. Doctors said his arteries are very clear and have little-to-no blockages. So the rest of the vacation, plus an extra day, he stayed in the hospital on the cardiac floor. When we did return home to Georgia, the next few weeks were just anxiously awaiting more answers. This was a stressful and confusing week because we did not expect him to be diagnosed with Stage 3 Systolic Heart Failure. At first, the heart cath seemed to be giving good results. When his doctors finally came to an agreement, they explained that his left valve is barely ejecting any blood from the heart and causing it to leak badly. Systolic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction >10 %. (most elderly men aged 70-80 have an EF this low). His gallbladder surgery was taken off the table because without improved ejection fraction his heart would not be able to handle a surgery. After much debate on a treatment plan, Dr. ordered Phillip to be fitted for an external lifeVest to automatically administer a shock that will hopefully save his life in the chance that he suffers from sudden cardiac death. This is different from cardiac arrest - there’s no “maybe having a heart attack” symptoms or warning signs. (SCD is : one minute he’s coherent and talking and laughing and the next he is unconscious, unresponsive, and his heart will have stopped completely - in an instant.) Along with the lifeVest, He has been placed on two life-saving medications totaling over $800/mo in the hopes that his valve can heal, even the smallest bit. While we wait on medication to help strengthen the ejection of the valve, when samples are pharmacy / doctor available and can be provided, there are two options in the next years-time he and the care team will decide on. Option one is a mechanical valve replacement, a literal external pump to pump his heart (this is NOT the same as an implanted defibrillator/pacemaker). It would be temporary, as this device is not meant to be a “forever solution.” Second option is a complete heart transplant. Fortunately, all Phillip’s other organs are functioning well and they are healthy. This makes him a great candidate for success on the list because of his age and overall health otherwise. At the time all of this happened, Phillip did not have insurance coverage and the first medical bill alone was for upwards $22,000. It's truly a sad state of affairs when a serious health condition like this can uproot your entire family's livelihood, but that's exactly what has happened. A message from Phillip : We are humbly (and let’s be honest, reluctantly) opening up to friends and family and asking for your help. At this point, insurmountable medical debt is just a small piece of what we have to deal with. We’re not sure where this is going to lead us, but we do know that we are at the end of our rope and our resources. We’re not big on being socialites on social media and have never used GoFund Me before, but what is our community and friendship if not to be there for you in your biggest time of need?I know times are hard for everyone and we hate to even ask y’all for help like this, or to ask for help at all. Really! So please, if you are able, we are eternally grateful. Any little thing is a huge gesture for us and helps us feel loved and supported throughout this whirlwind. Know that every cent that is donated here will go to the overhead cost of the medical bills, medicine costs, and temporarily provide for my daily cost of living while waiting for benefits to be approved. Love from our little family —Phillip, Hannah, and NolanThank you all so much for your friendship and family.
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