Heart 4 Ati Tau "Together We Beat"
Donation protected
On Thursday, February 20, 2014, Ati was scheduled for a small procedure to remove a polyp from his nose. While preparing for the procedure, Ati had a sudden cardiac arrest, saved by CPR and immedeiately went into a COMA. Maui Memorial determined he must be airlifted to Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu for intensive cardiac care. Once he arrived at Queen's he had another sudden cardiac arrest and urgently was operated on to insert an electronic device called Impella. He is now dependent on that temporary machine to pump his heart.
His medical team say his case is unusual. He arrived Queen's Medical Center with a less than 5% of his heart working. Today, he's breathing on his own, smiling and talking but dependent on the Impella which is temporary.
Queens cardiac medical team recommended Ati for a heart transplant at Stanford University and was accpeted. Due to the type of critical care Ati requires, he must be transported by air ambulance with critical care staff on flight. Ati has medical insurance through his wife, Ofa's employer sponsored insurance with Home Depot. Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) denied to cover his air ambulance transportation because it's not a covered benefit.
We aren't giving up and doing everything we can to get Ati to Stanford. His medical team submitted a request to make a special exception due to his unusual situation. We've requested Hawaii's Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to intervene to help expedite the process.
We're not asking for a free ride to Stanford, just help from his insurance company. How many people in the State of Hawaii know that heart transplants are not an option and consider selecting a health plan that 'includes' long distance air ambulance benefits? Our ask of HMSA is to look past the price tag for Ati's transportation and see that he's asking for Life and not a denied claim, stamped and filed into a cabinet.
Time isn't in Ati's favor and we can't wait on HMSA to hopefully reconsider. This fundraising campaign is to help pay specifically for his transportation from Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii to Stanford Hospital, Palo Alto, California within the next 48 hours.
Heart 4 Ati Tau "Together We Beat "
His medical team say his case is unusual. He arrived Queen's Medical Center with a less than 5% of his heart working. Today, he's breathing on his own, smiling and talking but dependent on the Impella which is temporary.
Queens cardiac medical team recommended Ati for a heart transplant at Stanford University and was accpeted. Due to the type of critical care Ati requires, he must be transported by air ambulance with critical care staff on flight. Ati has medical insurance through his wife, Ofa's employer sponsored insurance with Home Depot. Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) denied to cover his air ambulance transportation because it's not a covered benefit.
We aren't giving up and doing everything we can to get Ati to Stanford. His medical team submitted a request to make a special exception due to his unusual situation. We've requested Hawaii's Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to intervene to help expedite the process.
We're not asking for a free ride to Stanford, just help from his insurance company. How many people in the State of Hawaii know that heart transplants are not an option and consider selecting a health plan that 'includes' long distance air ambulance benefits? Our ask of HMSA is to look past the price tag for Ati's transportation and see that he's asking for Life and not a denied claim, stamped and filed into a cabinet.
Time isn't in Ati's favor and we can't wait on HMSA to hopefully reconsider. This fundraising campaign is to help pay specifically for his transportation from Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii to Stanford Hospital, Palo Alto, California within the next 48 hours.
Heart 4 Ati Tau "Together We Beat "
Organizer
Sosefina Atelea Tau Pita
Organizer
San Mateo, CA
