Tyler Mattson’s Legionnaires’ Disease Relief Fund

On Monday June 8th, Tyler came home from work complaining about feeling nauseous and exhausted. Originally we had thought that it might have just been sun poisoning or dehydration due to the fact that he had gotten a bad sunburn at work the previous day.  When he didn’t feel any better and developed a high  fever along with vomiting we took him to get a Covid-19 test.  Later that same day his fever got so high we had him admitted him to Lake Forest Hospital, where they gave him a rapid Covid-19 test and a chest x-ray. The results from the test came back negative, but due to his symptoms and x-rays they diagnosed Tyler as suspected Covid-19.  The next four days Tyler experienced ups and downs, but continued agony. The pain was so severe he believed that he was going to die, but was being told by medical professionals that he was fine. The entire time he was monitoring his oxygen levels with an oximeter, and when they fell below 90% on Saturday he returned to the hospital.  At the hospital he was given two more Covid-19 tests, one rapid and another with results that would be back in 2-4 days.  After having three negative Covid-19 tests the hospital still believed that he had Covid-19 based on his symptoms and x-rays. It wasn’t until Monday June 16th that his doctor informed him that it wasn’t Covid-19, but instead Legionnaires disease.  Legionnaires disease is a a type of bacterial pneumonia caused by respirating legionella bacteria. It can not be spread from person to person, it is contracted by inhaling the bacteria in aerosol form.  We are not sure at this time how he came in contact with it, as it could have come from anywhere from a shower head to an air conditioner or any source of spraying water.  What we do know now, is that being discharged from the hospital the first time with out proper treatment could have killed him. Before Tyler was admitted to the hospital we believed that he had insurance through Medicaid which we later found to be untrue.  As we all know the "for profit" status of American healthcare makes medical care extremely expensive.  Due to the government shutdown forcing the closure of bars and restaurants, Tyler has unfortunately lost his job at the Wooden Nickel in Highwood, Illinois.  While he was able to find new work at a hardware store and delivering pizzas shortly after it is not certain when he will be able to go back to work or even return at all. 

I am setting up this go fund me to help ease the burdens of hospital bills and other daily expenses for the time being. We are very unsure of when he will be able to recover from this so any donations would be greatly appreciated and would help a lot. Tyler is a passionate musician who plays in a jam band called “Funk, it Let's Jam” on Wednesday’s at the Humble Pub and a Grateful Dead cover band called “Trouble Ahead”.  He has not been able to participate in either for months due to the Covid-19 outbreaks so his spirits have already been down lately. While he is from Lake Bluff, he currently resides in Highland Park, Illinois where he is known and loved by the local arts and hospitality community. No matter where we go around town he always has someone is coming up with a smile to greet him and ask him about his next show.  Any and all help would be greatly appreciated and thank you for your time.