Please Help Christopher Russell
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John Lennon said in his song, Beautiful Boy, “Before you cross the street, take my hand,
life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.”
I know this to be true because on September 22, my 30-year old previously healthy son, Michael Christopher Russell, was ordered to the emergency room and ultimately diagnosed with an illness typically affecting 2-3 year olds and people over 80. He had been feeling ill for several days and after a visit to a “doc in the box,” with no improvement, he visited a Primary Care Clinic for the Uninsured. This was the doctor who told him to go immediately to the emergency room - insurance or no insurance.
His presenting problems at th ER were an unusual amount of fluid (20 + lbs) in his abdominal cavity, extremely swollen ankles, and shortness of breath. After a CT-scan, dopler procedures on his legs, and ultimately a biopsy on his kidney, he was diagnosed with Minimal Change Disease - a innocuous sounding name for what has turned out to be a dreadful disease. There are lower levels of protein in his blood than would be expected and much higher levels of protein in his urine than expected. The kidneys act as filter to filter blood and the excess protein is stopping his kidneys from working properly. As explained to me (in the best description I was given) I was told to think of the kidneys as a colander - when the protein is at normal levels, the proteins are similar to small pasta and the kidneys filter the liquid. Then the wastes (including the protein) are flushed out with your urine. The protein in Chris’ kidneys swells up like big-old giant pasta and blocks the little holes in the colander (his kidneys) and the fluid leaks out into his abdomen, ankles, and elsewhere.
He has a blood clot in his left lung, 20+ lbs of extra fluid in his abdominal cavity, and swollen ankles so huge he cannot walk. He is having difficulty eating because he feels so bloated.
My son is not a firefighter, a policeman, a model, a politician, an inventor, or anyone who would be notable
in the age of social media. He is however, a friend to his friends, an engaging companion, a jokester,
and he is my heart. He makes my life worth living.
When asked by doctors, “Why do you not have health insurance?”, he would say, in his credulous way,
“Because the premiums were too high, the deductible was too big and because I was healthy.”
He was working 55 hours a week, some days 15 hours a day, on his feet all that time as a manager
of a Barbeque restaurant. He had only recently become able to live in his own place. And he was happy after a long struggle with depression.
With no paycheck in the forseeable future, a hospital bill for 5 days in the hospital, no insurance, mounting prescription needs, and overwhelming physical concerns, he told me, “Mom, I feel as though an
18-wheeler is sitting on my chest.”
I believe that people are good if given the chance. I believe that prayer is as powerful as doubt and that
miracles are available for those who ask. I believe that events in life can sometimes blind-side us and yet
open our eyes.
He will be embarassed that I have posted this. However, whatever help you could provide at this time would be greatly appreciated.
“Beautiful Chris, before you cross the street, take my hand, life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.”
I know this to be true because on September 22, my 30-year old previously healthy son, Michael Christopher Russell, was ordered to the emergency room and ultimately diagnosed with an illness typically affecting 2-3 year olds and people over 80. He had been feeling ill for several days and after a visit to a “doc in the box,” with no improvement, he visited a Primary Care Clinic for the Uninsured. This was the doctor who told him to go immediately to the emergency room - insurance or no insurance.
His presenting problems at th ER were an unusual amount of fluid (20 + lbs) in his abdominal cavity, extremely swollen ankles, and shortness of breath. After a CT-scan, dopler procedures on his legs, and ultimately a biopsy on his kidney, he was diagnosed with Minimal Change Disease - a innocuous sounding name for what has turned out to be a dreadful disease. There are lower levels of protein in his blood than would be expected and much higher levels of protein in his urine than expected. The kidneys act as filter to filter blood and the excess protein is stopping his kidneys from working properly. As explained to me (in the best description I was given) I was told to think of the kidneys as a colander - when the protein is at normal levels, the proteins are similar to small pasta and the kidneys filter the liquid. Then the wastes (including the protein) are flushed out with your urine. The protein in Chris’ kidneys swells up like big-old giant pasta and blocks the little holes in the colander (his kidneys) and the fluid leaks out into his abdomen, ankles, and elsewhere.
He has a blood clot in his left lung, 20+ lbs of extra fluid in his abdominal cavity, and swollen ankles so huge he cannot walk. He is having difficulty eating because he feels so bloated.
My son is not a firefighter, a policeman, a model, a politician, an inventor, or anyone who would be notable
in the age of social media. He is however, a friend to his friends, an engaging companion, a jokester,
and he is my heart. He makes my life worth living.
When asked by doctors, “Why do you not have health insurance?”, he would say, in his credulous way,
“Because the premiums were too high, the deductible was too big and because I was healthy.”
He was working 55 hours a week, some days 15 hours a day, on his feet all that time as a manager
of a Barbeque restaurant. He had only recently become able to live in his own place. And he was happy after a long struggle with depression.
With no paycheck in the forseeable future, a hospital bill for 5 days in the hospital, no insurance, mounting prescription needs, and overwhelming physical concerns, he told me, “Mom, I feel as though an
18-wheeler is sitting on my chest.”
I believe that people are good if given the chance. I believe that prayer is as powerful as doubt and that
miracles are available for those who ask. I believe that events in life can sometimes blind-side us and yet
open our eyes.
He will be embarassed that I have posted this. However, whatever help you could provide at this time would be greatly appreciated.
“Beautiful Chris, before you cross the street, take my hand, life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Organizer
Pamela Russell
Organizer
Dallas, TX