Bob's Recovery

My family and I have always been uncomfortable asking for help, but unfortunately, we have come to a point where we truly need all the help and support we can get. Over a month ago, my grandpa was admitted to the hospital to undergo a major heart surgery to repair both a bad valve that was causing him to go into congestive heart failure (as well as causing his body to fill with fluid), and a hole in his heart. Originally, he was supposed to have this surgery done on February 12th at Orange Coast Memorial Hospital, but the surgeon was called away on an emergency and had to cancel all of his appointments for a month. My grandpa's situation was dire and he could not wait another month to have the surgery, so he was transported by ambulance to Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles.  The surgery was performed on February 21st and he made it through thanks to the amazing team of surgeons who worked on him. He remained in critical condition for several days after the surgery, but he was progressively improving each day. My family has not left his side since he was first admitted to the hospital; they have taken turns over the last several weeks commuting to Los Angeles to stay with him and ensure he is being properly cared for. On Wednesday of this week, he took an unexptected turn for the worse and his situation is more critical than ever. He is fighting multiple serious infections, and has just been diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. In addition to the emotional toll this has taken on all of us, my family has been struggling financially; my mom has had to take almost an entire month off of work, and my grandparents' business has been all but put on hold. My grandpa still has a long road of recovery ahead of him, and I don't want my family to worry about rent and bills on top of everything else. Because of all the scar tissue that has built up from past surgeries, a very skilled surgeon was required to perform this surgery on my grandpa. This hospital in Los Angeles was the only available option and the cost of hotels to stay in the area has also been a financial strain on my family. I can't stress how important my grandpa is to our family; he has survived two major heart attacks, two triple bypass surgeries, and countless other heart surgeries. He is the strongest person we know and since he is currently unable to advocate for himself, my family will continue to fight for him and advocate for his care every day of his recovery. We are so grateful for any and all support, no matter the amount, and every share. I will continue to post updates throughout his recovery.