Joe's Medical and Funeral Fund
Donation protected
Joe was a kind, quiet man who worked hard and took care of those close to him. He lived a life of simplicity and decency, one suffused with happiness and affection for his loved ones. He had a loving marriage built on simple kindnesses and patient forbearance. He was a wonderful man who was too kind-hearted to really put into words. He showed everyone that knew him that kindness and goodness were attainable and costed nothing. He also loved reading the hell out of James Patterson books, going for long drives with his wife, and watching cheesy action movies in his favorite recliner.
In the last year, Joe started slowing down. Anyone who knew Joe, knew he was a hard working carpenter for 44 years, but was let go after his exhaustion started becoming a problem.
He stopped being himself in many ways. He no longer wanted to go for day trips on the weekend or do much other than relax watching televsion. We didn't know it at the time, and assumed it was just his age, but now it is clear that there was something more serious occurring with him.
At the end of April, Joe went to the doctor and discovered he needed a full shoulder replacement. While going through the doctor's appointments to be cleared for that surgery it was discovered by our primary care physician that his blood pressure was incredibly high. The primary care physician decided to send him to a cardiologist so he made an appointment. A few days later, my mom took his blood pressure at home and it was very high so she took him to the emergency room where his BP was 217/110. They began to run tests on his heart (MRA, MRI, catheterization) and determined he had a faulty valve.
Then, they needed to perform a CT, but had to wait on their insurance to cover the cost. They were waiting, but Joe started experiencing chest pains and shortness of breath which resulted in them going to the ER, and him being admitted into Jersey Shore University Medical Center. The CT was performed and the cardiologist determined they needed to repair Joe's aortic root due to an aneurysm which would be difficult because of the stenosis (hardening and narrowing of the heart).The surgery was scheduled for the following week.
On Wednesday, May 11th, Joe went into his surgery. The liaison came out multiple times during the surgery and said everything was going very well. Despite, a fire alarm going off during the surgery, everything was fine. Fifteen minutes after being put into the recovery room, Joe suffered life threatening arrhythmias (heart attack). The doctors needed to resuscitate him using chest compressions and defibrillation. He was in critical condition and placed on a ventilator.
Here it becomes a bit blurry because a lot started happening in a short period of time. Joe began needing multiple blood transfusions and even more tests run to determine what was wrong with his heart. The doctors have him on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma for the time being. They established that his left and right ventricles were not functionally operating to send oxygen to his lungs, therefore neither his heart nor lungs are working properly. The doctors connected him to an ecmo, which is a heart and lung bypass, to do the pumping work for his heart.
After his two week battle, Joe passed away May 26th at 6:07 pm. His heart was just not strong enough to continue fighting.
Here's why we've created this gofundme:
In the months preceding, Joe's wife was receiving disability due to her own illness. Through Obamacare, they were able to be medically insured, however, it only covers 50 to 80% of Joe's stay. He was admitted to the hospital five days prior to the operation after an emergency room visit, received emergency defribillation, various medications, numerous machines, countless consultations from doctors, helicopter airlift from NJ to PA, and another operation. This all totalling to 19 days of hospitalization in two separate hospitals in two different states.
After consulting with the funeral home, the total cost for the funeral alone would be $18,000. We want to be able to cover that and at least get our start on the medical bills that will certainly follow.
Any amount of money will help, considering we need $2,581 cash for the funeral home by Thursday June 2nd for the viewing to be held.
Many people are asking what they can do to help during this horribly painful time. Being a prideful family, asking for help is very difficult. However, asking for financial help is the only true help we need. We would be hugely grateful for anything we receive.
In the last year, Joe started slowing down. Anyone who knew Joe, knew he was a hard working carpenter for 44 years, but was let go after his exhaustion started becoming a problem.
He stopped being himself in many ways. He no longer wanted to go for day trips on the weekend or do much other than relax watching televsion. We didn't know it at the time, and assumed it was just his age, but now it is clear that there was something more serious occurring with him.
At the end of April, Joe went to the doctor and discovered he needed a full shoulder replacement. While going through the doctor's appointments to be cleared for that surgery it was discovered by our primary care physician that his blood pressure was incredibly high. The primary care physician decided to send him to a cardiologist so he made an appointment. A few days later, my mom took his blood pressure at home and it was very high so she took him to the emergency room where his BP was 217/110. They began to run tests on his heart (MRA, MRI, catheterization) and determined he had a faulty valve.
Then, they needed to perform a CT, but had to wait on their insurance to cover the cost. They were waiting, but Joe started experiencing chest pains and shortness of breath which resulted in them going to the ER, and him being admitted into Jersey Shore University Medical Center. The CT was performed and the cardiologist determined they needed to repair Joe's aortic root due to an aneurysm which would be difficult because of the stenosis (hardening and narrowing of the heart).The surgery was scheduled for the following week.
On Wednesday, May 11th, Joe went into his surgery. The liaison came out multiple times during the surgery and said everything was going very well. Despite, a fire alarm going off during the surgery, everything was fine. Fifteen minutes after being put into the recovery room, Joe suffered life threatening arrhythmias (heart attack). The doctors needed to resuscitate him using chest compressions and defibrillation. He was in critical condition and placed on a ventilator.
Here it becomes a bit blurry because a lot started happening in a short period of time. Joe began needing multiple blood transfusions and even more tests run to determine what was wrong with his heart. The doctors have him on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma for the time being. They established that his left and right ventricles were not functionally operating to send oxygen to his lungs, therefore neither his heart nor lungs are working properly. The doctors connected him to an ecmo, which is a heart and lung bypass, to do the pumping work for his heart.
After his two week battle, Joe passed away May 26th at 6:07 pm. His heart was just not strong enough to continue fighting.
Here's why we've created this gofundme:
In the months preceding, Joe's wife was receiving disability due to her own illness. Through Obamacare, they were able to be medically insured, however, it only covers 50 to 80% of Joe's stay. He was admitted to the hospital five days prior to the operation after an emergency room visit, received emergency defribillation, various medications, numerous machines, countless consultations from doctors, helicopter airlift from NJ to PA, and another operation. This all totalling to 19 days of hospitalization in two separate hospitals in two different states.
After consulting with the funeral home, the total cost for the funeral alone would be $18,000. We want to be able to cover that and at least get our start on the medical bills that will certainly follow.
Any amount of money will help, considering we need $2,581 cash for the funeral home by Thursday June 2nd for the viewing to be held.
Many people are asking what they can do to help during this horribly painful time. Being a prideful family, asking for help is very difficult. However, asking for financial help is the only true help we need. We would be hugely grateful for anything we receive.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jessica Ryan
Organizer
Freehold, NJ
Paula Weitman
Beneficiary
