End of Life Care for Baxter
Donation protected
Dear Friends,
I have been struggling with the idea of asking for this type of help, but it is becoming more and more necessary. As some of you know, my husband Baxter has end stage heart disease. He has been in and out of the hospital since December 2014. Baxter was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart) twenty years ago. While being in the hospital isn't a new thing for him, this time has been much more serious. Last month he spent his 44th birthday in the hospital, and we learned that the meds he has been on all these years are no longer working for him.
We are at the Palliative Care stage of his disease at this point. Baxter requires daily home nursing care and medications which are very expensive. When he came out of the hospital, he came home with a PICC line in his arm. The PICC line allows him to get IV medications 24 /7 to help keep him alive and comfortable. Without this medication, he would most likely die in a few days. With the medication, we are hoping he may have 6 months to a year to make final plans and say goodbye to loved ones. Because his heart is failing, he is suffering from kidney damage and Edema, (swelling in his legs and feet) which is all incredibly painful. When he lies down, he cannot breathe, so the only way he can get to sleep is by falling asleep in his chair. He is typically only awake and lucid for a couple hours per day. It is heartbreaking to watch a man that was once so strong, become so fragile.
Baxter worked in medical supply (delivering oxygen, hospital beds etc) , in his early 20s until he was diagnosed with this condition. Even after he became ill, he continued to work part time when he could. He was a comedian and magician for over 10 years, traveling up and down the East Coast, making people laugh. He has also been a chef, baker, and an actor. Before his condition worsened, he was a karaoke deejay. He also volunteered much of his time to help worthy causes including, but not limited to, helping people with cancer, people with addictions, and animals in need. He and I met when I was still in high school, and I have spent over half of my life with this man. I now have to face the reality of my life moving on without him in the near future.
Baxter and I have always done as much as we could to earn money to pay our mortgage, bills and medical expenses. Unfortunately, at this time, my salary alone is not enough to cover it all. I am sad to say that I do not have the funds to continue paying for all his medications, or to have a memorial service for him when that time comes.
I am asking for any assistance you can provide. Any amount helps. If you are not able to help out financially, I ask you to please pass this message along to others. Feel free to share on Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking site. Thank you all.
I have been struggling with the idea of asking for this type of help, but it is becoming more and more necessary. As some of you know, my husband Baxter has end stage heart disease. He has been in and out of the hospital since December 2014. Baxter was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart) twenty years ago. While being in the hospital isn't a new thing for him, this time has been much more serious. Last month he spent his 44th birthday in the hospital, and we learned that the meds he has been on all these years are no longer working for him.
We are at the Palliative Care stage of his disease at this point. Baxter requires daily home nursing care and medications which are very expensive. When he came out of the hospital, he came home with a PICC line in his arm. The PICC line allows him to get IV medications 24 /7 to help keep him alive and comfortable. Without this medication, he would most likely die in a few days. With the medication, we are hoping he may have 6 months to a year to make final plans and say goodbye to loved ones. Because his heart is failing, he is suffering from kidney damage and Edema, (swelling in his legs and feet) which is all incredibly painful. When he lies down, he cannot breathe, so the only way he can get to sleep is by falling asleep in his chair. He is typically only awake and lucid for a couple hours per day. It is heartbreaking to watch a man that was once so strong, become so fragile.
Baxter worked in medical supply (delivering oxygen, hospital beds etc) , in his early 20s until he was diagnosed with this condition. Even after he became ill, he continued to work part time when he could. He was a comedian and magician for over 10 years, traveling up and down the East Coast, making people laugh. He has also been a chef, baker, and an actor. Before his condition worsened, he was a karaoke deejay. He also volunteered much of his time to help worthy causes including, but not limited to, helping people with cancer, people with addictions, and animals in need. He and I met when I was still in high school, and I have spent over half of my life with this man. I now have to face the reality of my life moving on without him in the near future.
Baxter and I have always done as much as we could to earn money to pay our mortgage, bills and medical expenses. Unfortunately, at this time, my salary alone is not enough to cover it all. I am sad to say that I do not have the funds to continue paying for all his medications, or to have a memorial service for him when that time comes.
I am asking for any assistance you can provide. Any amount helps. If you are not able to help out financially, I ask you to please pass this message along to others. Feel free to share on Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking site. Thank you all.
Organizer
Angela Caristo
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA
