Doug Till's Heart Transplant Fund
Donation protected
My name is Dane Vilims. Doug Till is my brother in-law. He's married to my beloved sister, Dee.
Doug has had an incredibly tough year.
He moved to Palm City, Florida last December excited about starting a new job at Florida Power and Light on January 4th. However, around Christmas time, he fell ill, was hospitalized, and was told he needed to be evaluated for heart valve surgery. He was too sick to start the job for which he moved cross-country.
In January, after multiple tests, he was diagnosed with end stage congested heart failure and was referred to Florida Hospital Congested Heart Team to be evaluated for possible heart transplant.
In early March, Doug was hospitalized, evaluated, and subsequently put on the heart transplant list. He was sent home with an IV pump and Primacor. This is like jet fuel for the heart and helps it contract harder thereby increasing the amount of blood to the body.
In late March, the IV pump malfunctioned and administered the Primacor much too quickly. Luckily Doug was able to call 911 before collapsing. Paramedics found him and he was stabilized in Stuart, Florida emergency room. He was then taken by ambulance to Orlando Hospital Intensive Care Unit where he stayed for six weeks. This complication moved him to the top of the transplant list, A1 status. But Doug's heart health was declining. On April 18th, his heart function had deteriorated so much, he required an operation for a Left Ventricular Assisted Device (LVAD) to be used as a bridge to transplant. This was a major surgery so he was moved down to 1B transplant status so he would have time to recover.
In June, Doug was hospitalized again and diagnosed with diabetes.
In July, he started vomitting old blood, was hospitalized and given 4 units of blood and 4 units of blood products.
In August, he was feeling very ill. He went to ER and was diagnosed with sepsis. The LVAD had become infected. He was treated aggressively with IV antibiotics and moved back to 1A status.
September was yet another month in which hospitalization was required. This time for dehydration. Doctors told him to hang in there and that a heart should become available at any time. The average wait time is 2 to 6 weeks.
On November 21st, 2 days before his birthday, Doug received his life-saving gift of a new heart. Thank God! And God bless the man who donated it. Prayers go out to his family. Doug is doing well in his recovery and may be able to leave the hospital by the end of the week.
As one would expect, this has been not only an unbelievably emotional challenge for Doug and Dee, but also a hefty financial burden due to medical expenses, travel costs of countless trips to Orlando hospital which is over 2 hours away from their home, and lost wages.
Everyone who knows Dee and Doug, know how generous and helpful they are. They've helped many friends and family members, including me, on numerous occasions. This fund has been established to help just lighten some of the huge financial weight thrusted upon them.
Please keep Doug and Dee in your thoughts and prayers as Doug continues his recovery.
Thank you so much in advance.
Doug has had an incredibly tough year.
He moved to Palm City, Florida last December excited about starting a new job at Florida Power and Light on January 4th. However, around Christmas time, he fell ill, was hospitalized, and was told he needed to be evaluated for heart valve surgery. He was too sick to start the job for which he moved cross-country.
In January, after multiple tests, he was diagnosed with end stage congested heart failure and was referred to Florida Hospital Congested Heart Team to be evaluated for possible heart transplant.
In early March, Doug was hospitalized, evaluated, and subsequently put on the heart transplant list. He was sent home with an IV pump and Primacor. This is like jet fuel for the heart and helps it contract harder thereby increasing the amount of blood to the body.
In late March, the IV pump malfunctioned and administered the Primacor much too quickly. Luckily Doug was able to call 911 before collapsing. Paramedics found him and he was stabilized in Stuart, Florida emergency room. He was then taken by ambulance to Orlando Hospital Intensive Care Unit where he stayed for six weeks. This complication moved him to the top of the transplant list, A1 status. But Doug's heart health was declining. On April 18th, his heart function had deteriorated so much, he required an operation for a Left Ventricular Assisted Device (LVAD) to be used as a bridge to transplant. This was a major surgery so he was moved down to 1B transplant status so he would have time to recover.
In June, Doug was hospitalized again and diagnosed with diabetes.
In July, he started vomitting old blood, was hospitalized and given 4 units of blood and 4 units of blood products.
In August, he was feeling very ill. He went to ER and was diagnosed with sepsis. The LVAD had become infected. He was treated aggressively with IV antibiotics and moved back to 1A status.
September was yet another month in which hospitalization was required. This time for dehydration. Doctors told him to hang in there and that a heart should become available at any time. The average wait time is 2 to 6 weeks.
On November 21st, 2 days before his birthday, Doug received his life-saving gift of a new heart. Thank God! And God bless the man who donated it. Prayers go out to his family. Doug is doing well in his recovery and may be able to leave the hospital by the end of the week.
As one would expect, this has been not only an unbelievably emotional challenge for Doug and Dee, but also a hefty financial burden due to medical expenses, travel costs of countless trips to Orlando hospital which is over 2 hours away from their home, and lost wages.
Everyone who knows Dee and Doug, know how generous and helpful they are. They've helped many friends and family members, including me, on numerous occasions. This fund has been established to help just lighten some of the huge financial weight thrusted upon them.
Please keep Doug and Dee in your thoughts and prayers as Doug continues his recovery.
Thank you so much in advance.
Organizer and beneficiary
Dane Vilims
Organizer
South Haven, MI
Deanna Till
Beneficiary
