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I'm a friend of Mark and Vicki Felten from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA., and trying desperately to help them with funds. They can use all the help they can get. This began with Mark getting the flu last January. The flu got very bad so he was taken to Mission Hospital. He had Type A flu that turned into bacterial pneumonia. So he was immediately placed into an induced coma on life support for two weeks. Shortly after that, he got Sepsis (infection throughout the body and blood) and organ failure. Life threatening complications ensued (i.e. blood clots to all four extremities (and several surgeries to remove the blood clots from his arms and legs) & lack of circulation (because of blood clots, caused gangrene & eventually amputation of his right hand. He had two more surgeries (as the blood clots came back) and some fingers on the other hand & toes/heel were amputated. He was in the hospital for 5 months with various infections and antibiotics weren't working. Due to kidney failure, he's been on dialysis for almost a year. He also has Encephalopathy due to lack of oxygen to the brain shortly after his first hospital admission.
But before he could have his skin grafts, he got an infection called C-Diff Colitis (caused by multiple antibiotic use). (The procedure to heal the infection was written up in the Orange County Register). He was put back into an induced coma in ICU and had a fecal transplant. After 2 weeks he finally had his skin grafts and then he had to be in bed for three weeks in the hospital for the skin grafts to take affect. He then started therapy in the acute rehab dept. at the hospital. He then was able to use a walker, get out of bed, etc. Then he went home. After a short time, he developed an infection in his right stump. After several weeks, he had to go by ambulance back to the hospital with a massive gall bladder infection. He was to have the gall bladder removed but the infection was too severe to do surgery so he was hospitalized for two weeks at which time they placed a drain in his side to drain the bile. He was sent home & right back to the hospital as he was too weakto have surgery or be at home (couldn't walk, go to the bathroom, needed a full time caregiver, etc.) . The hospital sent him to another nursing home to get more therapy but he was too weak to have much therapy there. He had no more insurance benefits so he had to go back home. He was finally able to have his gall bladder removed late this year.
He's now at home and needs full-time care as he's unable to sit up or walk and can't get to the bathroom. He does have a nurse visit two times a week. He's learned how to feed himself but he's unable to concentrate long on TV or reading (which was his favorite hobby and loved to read constantly). He has a part-time caregiver but that will have to end soon as the funds have dwindled.
His wife, Vicki, has had to take over all the financial responsibilities and is on disability herself. She has done so well and lives by faith in the Lord. Right now they are temporarily on COBRA until Mark can be on Medicare sometime in the next 18 months. They've gone through a tough time getting insurance coverage since he now has no job. His employer did all they could to help as long as they could.
Vicki has been working with an insurance counselor to find the best way not to lose their house, etc. As it seems now, they will have to short sell their condo. Mark has a 401K through his job but will do whatever is necessary to provide for Mark.. They lost all savings and went bankrupt. They are seemingly financially helpless.
They don't know what to do with such limited funds and if you could provide assistance in any way, it would be appreciated. They've held several garage sales, etc. and Vicki has been selling products at home. The family and friends have tried to help as much as they're able. And the state says they still make too much money to receive any assistance.
I know this is lengthy, but so much has happened in the past year that it's difficult to shorten.
But before he could have his skin grafts, he got an infection called C-Diff Colitis (caused by multiple antibiotic use). (The procedure to heal the infection was written up in the Orange County Register). He was put back into an induced coma in ICU and had a fecal transplant. After 2 weeks he finally had his skin grafts and then he had to be in bed for three weeks in the hospital for the skin grafts to take affect. He then started therapy in the acute rehab dept. at the hospital. He then was able to use a walker, get out of bed, etc. Then he went home. After a short time, he developed an infection in his right stump. After several weeks, he had to go by ambulance back to the hospital with a massive gall bladder infection. He was to have the gall bladder removed but the infection was too severe to do surgery so he was hospitalized for two weeks at which time they placed a drain in his side to drain the bile. He was sent home & right back to the hospital as he was too weakto have surgery or be at home (couldn't walk, go to the bathroom, needed a full time caregiver, etc.) . The hospital sent him to another nursing home to get more therapy but he was too weak to have much therapy there. He had no more insurance benefits so he had to go back home. He was finally able to have his gall bladder removed late this year.
He's now at home and needs full-time care as he's unable to sit up or walk and can't get to the bathroom. He does have a nurse visit two times a week. He's learned how to feed himself but he's unable to concentrate long on TV or reading (which was his favorite hobby and loved to read constantly). He has a part-time caregiver but that will have to end soon as the funds have dwindled.
His wife, Vicki, has had to take over all the financial responsibilities and is on disability herself. She has done so well and lives by faith in the Lord. Right now they are temporarily on COBRA until Mark can be on Medicare sometime in the next 18 months. They've gone through a tough time getting insurance coverage since he now has no job. His employer did all they could to help as long as they could.
Vicki has been working with an insurance counselor to find the best way not to lose their house, etc. As it seems now, they will have to short sell their condo. Mark has a 401K through his job but will do whatever is necessary to provide for Mark.. They lost all savings and went bankrupt. They are seemingly financially helpless.
They don't know what to do with such limited funds and if you could provide assistance in any way, it would be appreciated. They've held several garage sales, etc. and Vicki has been selling products at home. The family and friends have tried to help as much as they're able. And the state says they still make too much money to receive any assistance.
I know this is lengthy, but so much has happened in the past year that it's difficult to shorten.
Organizer
Barbara Phillips
Organizer
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
