Help Cindy recover from a heart attack
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After an EKG and a Stress Test, it was determined that Cindy had a heart issue. A cardiac catheterization was scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 14th. Prior to the procedure we were introduced to Dr. Brown on Friday, November 8th. He assured Cindy that this was a routine procedure. He did say the negative results could be a heart attack, stroke or death. He said that such issues only occur in 1 out of every 2,000 cases and reassured Cindy to not worry.
On the day of the procedure, Cindy was nervous. She was especially worried about what they would find as opposed to worrying about the procedure. Just before being taken back for procedure, Dr. Brown popped in to reassure Cindy everything will go fine. At 1:10 p.m., Dr. Brown came out to the waiting room and shared with my daughter, son-in-law and myself that there was nothing wrong with Cindy’s heart and the Stress Test guys got it wrong and we would see Cindy in about 15 minutes. We were so excited for she had worried about her heart for the last month. Cindy shared that Dr. Brown told her the same thing just after the catheterization and she began to cry for joy and relief.
As we waited, 15 minutes passed, 20 minutes passed, 25 minutes passed, and we wondered what was going on. At 30 minutes we checked with the waiting room receptionist if she might call back to see what the holdup might be. At that very moment we heard a code calling for a surgical team to the cardiac catheterization unit. Fearing that the call was for Cindy, we waited by the unit door hoping someone would come to share with us what was going on. At that time Chris, the nurse who attended Cindy in the prep area, came out and shared with us that there had been a tear of a vessel and Cindy was back in the surgical area. A few minutes later Dr. Brown came out and shared with my daughter, son-in-law and myself that a slight tear had been created in the Aorta and Cindy was having a heart attack and needed surgery. He asked permission to have her go for open heart surgery. We were allowed to see Cindy for a few seconds as she was being wheeled off to surgery.
What a roll coaster experience. At 1:10 p.m. we were told Cindy’s heart was perfect and 30 minutes later, she’s had a heart attack and in need of surgery to save her life.
5 hours later, Dr. Fernandez came to talk to my daughter and myself about the surgery. Cindy needed one bypass. We were surprised to learn that the slight tear turned into a two-inch cardiac dissection of Cindy’s Aorta. Dr. Fernandez explained that Dr. Brown attempted to stent the tear, but the stent would go behind the flap created rather than in front of it.
Cindy spent 4 days in ICU and 5 days on the Cardiac Floor. During that time, she contracted C Diff. She moved to a rehab facility on November 22nd. She spent 17 days at Pin Oaks Nursing Home in Mexico, Missouri receiving care and both physical and occupational rehab and was released to go home Tuesday, December 10, 2019.
Cindy continued to receive both physical and occupational rehab in the home until December 24, 2019. She also received weekly visits from a home health nurse.
Once she was home, I discovered that she was having flashbacks of the heart attack and cried herself to sleep each night since the surgery wondering why this happened to her. She has experienced pain and discomfort during that time as well. She also became very depressed at Thanksgiving since she could not be with family and celebrate with them.
Cindy has not been able to work since November 14, 2019. Since she is not a full-time employee, she has no sick or leave days. Up to this point her lost wages is $1,192. She will not be able to work the month of January which will add another $840 to the previous amount. We are not sure about February at this point. Total wages lost is $2,032.
Although we have health care coverage from my employer, we will need to pay a portion of medical and therapy expenses, all travel expenses and other miscellaneous expenses. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
On the day of the procedure, Cindy was nervous. She was especially worried about what they would find as opposed to worrying about the procedure. Just before being taken back for procedure, Dr. Brown popped in to reassure Cindy everything will go fine. At 1:10 p.m., Dr. Brown came out to the waiting room and shared with my daughter, son-in-law and myself that there was nothing wrong with Cindy’s heart and the Stress Test guys got it wrong and we would see Cindy in about 15 minutes. We were so excited for she had worried about her heart for the last month. Cindy shared that Dr. Brown told her the same thing just after the catheterization and she began to cry for joy and relief.
As we waited, 15 minutes passed, 20 minutes passed, 25 minutes passed, and we wondered what was going on. At 30 minutes we checked with the waiting room receptionist if she might call back to see what the holdup might be. At that very moment we heard a code calling for a surgical team to the cardiac catheterization unit. Fearing that the call was for Cindy, we waited by the unit door hoping someone would come to share with us what was going on. At that time Chris, the nurse who attended Cindy in the prep area, came out and shared with us that there had been a tear of a vessel and Cindy was back in the surgical area. A few minutes later Dr. Brown came out and shared with my daughter, son-in-law and myself that a slight tear had been created in the Aorta and Cindy was having a heart attack and needed surgery. He asked permission to have her go for open heart surgery. We were allowed to see Cindy for a few seconds as she was being wheeled off to surgery.
What a roll coaster experience. At 1:10 p.m. we were told Cindy’s heart was perfect and 30 minutes later, she’s had a heart attack and in need of surgery to save her life.
5 hours later, Dr. Fernandez came to talk to my daughter and myself about the surgery. Cindy needed one bypass. We were surprised to learn that the slight tear turned into a two-inch cardiac dissection of Cindy’s Aorta. Dr. Fernandez explained that Dr. Brown attempted to stent the tear, but the stent would go behind the flap created rather than in front of it.
Cindy spent 4 days in ICU and 5 days on the Cardiac Floor. During that time, she contracted C Diff. She moved to a rehab facility on November 22nd. She spent 17 days at Pin Oaks Nursing Home in Mexico, Missouri receiving care and both physical and occupational rehab and was released to go home Tuesday, December 10, 2019.
Cindy continued to receive both physical and occupational rehab in the home until December 24, 2019. She also received weekly visits from a home health nurse.
Once she was home, I discovered that she was having flashbacks of the heart attack and cried herself to sleep each night since the surgery wondering why this happened to her. She has experienced pain and discomfort during that time as well. She also became very depressed at Thanksgiving since she could not be with family and celebrate with them.
Cindy has not been able to work since November 14, 2019. Since she is not a full-time employee, she has no sick or leave days. Up to this point her lost wages is $1,192. She will not be able to work the month of January which will add another $840 to the previous amount. We are not sure about February at this point. Total wages lost is $2,032.
Although we have health care coverage from my employer, we will need to pay a portion of medical and therapy expenses, all travel expenses and other miscellaneous expenses. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Organizer
Joseph Allison
Organizer
Centralia, MO
