Tim's Mobility Van
Donation protected
Tim Marshall went from a miracle of a heart transplant to being forced to have both feet and part of his hand amputated. His kidneys were also damaged where he is now on dialysis. How did that happen?
March 4, 2019 was a miracle day. Tim received a heart. Tim and his wife Debbie will be forever grateful for the gift of life from a precious donor. Four years previous Tim had to have a VAD pump sewn into his heart. But after four years his heart simply wore out. His only hope was a heart transplant.
When word came that he had a heart, Tim and his wife Debbie both cried tears of joy. The surgery lasted eight hours and the family waited with great expectation of success. But something tragic happened to change their lives forever.
When they took Tim to his ICU room there was a malfunction of a tube that carried the medicine to his body to keep his blood pressure regulated. The medicine ended up on the floor and his blood pressure dropped to almost zero.
An emergency call went out to the heart surgeon and it was several minutes before he arrived in Tim’s room. He had to split his chest open right there taking his new heart in his hands and pumping it to restore his blood pressure. But severe damage was already done to his body.
When the blood pressure dropped, Tim’s body sent out signals to shut down the circulation to his extremities, especially his hands and his feet. They thought it might have severely affected his brain as well. Fortunately it did not affect his brain.
In the days to come his feet and his hands started turning black just like a person would see in severe frostbite. His feet lost almost all circulation and his right hand was severely impacted by the lack of blood flow. The decision was made; the feet would have to be amputated! Also some of his fingers on his right hand had to be amputated. In addition, his kidneys stopped functioning and Tim had to be put on dialysis.
If that were not enough, during the surgery they had to surgically remove one of his lungs from the heart pump that had grown into the lung. His lungs were damaged and he has trouble breathing properly now.
Tim and Debbie are some of the most kind and compassionate people on the face of the earth. Their trust is in their God and Tim, in spite of his severe problems, still has a sense of humor and is constantly being an inspiration to all who talk with him.
The only thing he has said about his condition is, “It is what it is. I have chosen to trust God.” Wow, how many people would have that kind of positive attitude after such catastrophic loss?
He has been in the hospital for over three months now and is improving and is in rehab in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is expected to be well enough in a few weeks to go home.
One thing that he MUST have is a wheelchair accessible van. It’s the only way he and Debbie will have to get around. He will have to be taken three times a week for dialysis and will make many trips from Bedford, Indiana to Indianapolis for continuing rehab for months to come. (70 miles away)
It’s not a want, it’s an absolute need. For this reason we are endeavoring to raise $30,000 to buy Tim and Debbie a mobility van. Your kind consideration of this wonderful man and his wife will be so greatly appreciated.
March 4, 2019 was a miracle day. Tim received a heart. Tim and his wife Debbie will be forever grateful for the gift of life from a precious donor. Four years previous Tim had to have a VAD pump sewn into his heart. But after four years his heart simply wore out. His only hope was a heart transplant.
When word came that he had a heart, Tim and his wife Debbie both cried tears of joy. The surgery lasted eight hours and the family waited with great expectation of success. But something tragic happened to change their lives forever.
When they took Tim to his ICU room there was a malfunction of a tube that carried the medicine to his body to keep his blood pressure regulated. The medicine ended up on the floor and his blood pressure dropped to almost zero.
An emergency call went out to the heart surgeon and it was several minutes before he arrived in Tim’s room. He had to split his chest open right there taking his new heart in his hands and pumping it to restore his blood pressure. But severe damage was already done to his body.
When the blood pressure dropped, Tim’s body sent out signals to shut down the circulation to his extremities, especially his hands and his feet. They thought it might have severely affected his brain as well. Fortunately it did not affect his brain.
In the days to come his feet and his hands started turning black just like a person would see in severe frostbite. His feet lost almost all circulation and his right hand was severely impacted by the lack of blood flow. The decision was made; the feet would have to be amputated! Also some of his fingers on his right hand had to be amputated. In addition, his kidneys stopped functioning and Tim had to be put on dialysis.
If that were not enough, during the surgery they had to surgically remove one of his lungs from the heart pump that had grown into the lung. His lungs were damaged and he has trouble breathing properly now.
Tim and Debbie are some of the most kind and compassionate people on the face of the earth. Their trust is in their God and Tim, in spite of his severe problems, still has a sense of humor and is constantly being an inspiration to all who talk with him.
The only thing he has said about his condition is, “It is what it is. I have chosen to trust God.” Wow, how many people would have that kind of positive attitude after such catastrophic loss?
He has been in the hospital for over three months now and is improving and is in rehab in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is expected to be well enough in a few weeks to go home.
One thing that he MUST have is a wheelchair accessible van. It’s the only way he and Debbie will have to get around. He will have to be taken three times a week for dialysis and will make many trips from Bedford, Indiana to Indianapolis for continuing rehab for months to come. (70 miles away)
It’s not a want, it’s an absolute need. For this reason we are endeavoring to raise $30,000 to buy Tim and Debbie a mobility van. Your kind consideration of this wonderful man and his wife will be so greatly appreciated.
Organizer and beneficiary
AngieCharlie Tidd
Organizer
Bedford, IN
Kristi James
Beneficiary
