Emergency Medical Expenses for Mike
Donation protected
On Saturday, July 21, 2018, the unimaginable happened. My father, Michael Bonevich, Sr., went into cardiac arrest while driving his tractor trailer. He crashed into several concrete barriers and plowed over them into some trees. The doctors said the jolt from the impact restarted his heart. His tractor trailer was totaled. The engine block was in the cab of the truck from the force of hitting the concrete barriers. Remarkably, no other vehicles were involved and he sustained no additional injuries.
This was just the beginning of his ordeal.
The paramedics took Dad to CMC in Scranton. While in the ER, he had another cardiac event right before my eyes. His heart began to stop and I was certain I had lost him. The ER staff came flying in with a defibrillator, yelling “Michael, Michael, stay with us buddy.” His heart rate had dropped to 20 beats per minute. We were all in shock, but thanks to the medical team’s rapid intervention, they were able to revive him once again.
Tests revealed that Dad had a 3rd degree AV (Atrioventricular) block caused by Sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease he has battled for several decades, and required immediate external cardiac pacing. The following day, the cardiologist inserted a temporary transvenous pacemaker (via his neck) to prevent his heart from failing again prior to his permanent pacemaker being implanted on July 23rd, which went well and without incident.
All appeared as well as could be expected until August 4th, when his left arm became swollen, cold to the touch and dark in color. A blood clot was suspected and it proved to be severe Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), a rare complication of pacemaker surgery.
The doctor said he would have died overnight if he had not sought medical treatment when he did.
Due to his current medical situation, his CDL license to drive tractor trailers has been suspended until he has been medically cleared, which will not happen in the near future. My father was also denied workers’ compensation. Consequently, he currently has no income and will soon have no further insurance coverage. He needs to see his primary care physician, cardiologist and other specialists weekly and will be incurring the additional expenses of new medications, medical devices, treatments, etc. It is creating enormous stress upon him when what he needs most is to rest, relax and heal.
My dad constantly helps others. He would never ask for anything for himself. He has been working since he was 13 and has always worked incredibly hard to provide for us as a family -- overnights, weekends, holidays -- traveling to different states for work -- whatever he could manage. He even made sure that his elderly neighbor was taken care of for years prior to her passing -- bringing her meals, cutting her grass, checking up on her, however he could help her. He is always helping or thinking of others. My dad loves animals and rescues/re-homes strays. He has selflessly given to others his entire life.
Now that he is in need, your generosity would help to ease the severe financial stress that he and my mom are incurring, which is weighing so heavily upon them at this difficult time.
Any help would be wonderful and your donations would be so greatly appreciated. And if you are unable to donate, sharing this link on Facebook or on Twitter would also be of enormous help.
My family and I cannot thank you enough for your generosity and kindness. It means the world to us. Thank you!
This was just the beginning of his ordeal.
The paramedics took Dad to CMC in Scranton. While in the ER, he had another cardiac event right before my eyes. His heart began to stop and I was certain I had lost him. The ER staff came flying in with a defibrillator, yelling “Michael, Michael, stay with us buddy.” His heart rate had dropped to 20 beats per minute. We were all in shock, but thanks to the medical team’s rapid intervention, they were able to revive him once again.
Tests revealed that Dad had a 3rd degree AV (Atrioventricular) block caused by Sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease he has battled for several decades, and required immediate external cardiac pacing. The following day, the cardiologist inserted a temporary transvenous pacemaker (via his neck) to prevent his heart from failing again prior to his permanent pacemaker being implanted on July 23rd, which went well and without incident.
All appeared as well as could be expected until August 4th, when his left arm became swollen, cold to the touch and dark in color. A blood clot was suspected and it proved to be severe Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), a rare complication of pacemaker surgery.
The doctor said he would have died overnight if he had not sought medical treatment when he did.
Due to his current medical situation, his CDL license to drive tractor trailers has been suspended until he has been medically cleared, which will not happen in the near future. My father was also denied workers’ compensation. Consequently, he currently has no income and will soon have no further insurance coverage. He needs to see his primary care physician, cardiologist and other specialists weekly and will be incurring the additional expenses of new medications, medical devices, treatments, etc. It is creating enormous stress upon him when what he needs most is to rest, relax and heal.
My dad constantly helps others. He would never ask for anything for himself. He has been working since he was 13 and has always worked incredibly hard to provide for us as a family -- overnights, weekends, holidays -- traveling to different states for work -- whatever he could manage. He even made sure that his elderly neighbor was taken care of for years prior to her passing -- bringing her meals, cutting her grass, checking up on her, however he could help her. He is always helping or thinking of others. My dad loves animals and rescues/re-homes strays. He has selflessly given to others his entire life.
Now that he is in need, your generosity would help to ease the severe financial stress that he and my mom are incurring, which is weighing so heavily upon them at this difficult time.
Any help would be wonderful and your donations would be so greatly appreciated. And if you are unable to donate, sharing this link on Facebook or on Twitter would also be of enormous help.
My family and I cannot thank you enough for your generosity and kindness. It means the world to us. Thank you!
Organiser
Danielle Bonevich Chesek
Organiser
Scranton, PA
