Help and Prayers for Mike Kouba
Donation protected
Everyone knows "Mikey". You also know the avid hunter, fisherman and farmer he used to be. Unfortunately that has all changed.
On February 23, Mike (39 years old) was taken to the hospital in La Crosse in a state of cardiogenic shock (when the heart has been damaged so much that it is unable to supply enough blood to the organs). Cardiogenic shock is rare, and often fatal if not treated immediately. His heart was only working at 10% and his heart rhythm was atrial flutter at a heart rate of 177. He was found to have acute severe left ventricular systolic heart failure. He was having trouble breathing and enroute to the ICU to have tracheal intubation he went into cardiac arrest that was felt to be PEA (pulseless electrical activity). He had 17 minutes of CPR and was successfully resuscitated with restoration of spontaneous circulation following that. Only by miracle, he came out of this with no brain damage! Xrays also showed he has cardiomegaly and pulmnary edema (accumulation of fluid on the lungs).
The following day Mike was transferred to Mayo in Rochester where they put in a intraaortic balloon pump to increase oxygen to the heart and assist with pumping his blood. He was also electrically cardioverted (electrical shocking of the heart) as it was still not in normal sinus rhythm. This procedure was actually done four times during the course of his hospital stay. He was also put on a ventilator to assist in his breathing.
His body was not responding enough to all of these procedures and because his major organs were shutting down, it was determined an ECMO would need to be done. An ECMO is performed using a heart-lung bypass machine for temporary life support of patients. He was actually in the surgery room when the second miracle occurred. The ECMO Anesthesia and Critical Care Team reviewed the situation and instead they adjusted the vasopressors and inotropic support was initiated. A bronchoscopy was performed and with these additional resuscitative measures the hemodynamics seemed stable without ECMO support, and the decision was made to delay and hopefully avoid support with ECMO.
A great thing about Rochester Mayo is a "team" of doctors is always working together. Mike literally had several teams of 6-10 doctors meeting outside his room about his case every morning. He also had his own nurse, who was not able to leave his side, 24 hours a day. By now a team of kidney doctors were among those caring for Mike, as he now also has acute tubular necrosis (kidney disorder involving damage to the tubule cells of the kidneys, which can lead to actue kidney failure).
Mike ended up being hospitalzed at Rochester Mayo for ten days in CCU and ICU (much of which he doesn't remember). At one point he had over 25 different IV's running into him, along with many other various forms of support.
Mike is now out of the hospital, with 34% heart function, but has a long road to a hopeful recovery. His kidneys remain in a very cronic condiction and there is still fluid on his lungs - even though he lost 50 pounds while in the hospital. Percentages show for groups of people with his medical symptoms and his age group, 25% will regain full recovery, 25% will deteriote and die, and 50% will get better, but not to the point they were before the incident. Let's hope Mike is in the first 25%!
Mike continues with bi-weekly followup appointments to try and manage his medications. It's hard to see someone who has never been to the doctor before suddenly be on ten different medications. It's going to be a total life change for him, but at least he is alive (which was more than any doctor thought would happen). Unfortunately his first followup visit indicates his heart is in atrial flutter again. Because of this, his next doctor appointment is to discuss a catheter ablation procedure to burn the cardiac tissue responsible for the abnormality.
Mike had a very physical job working as a farm hand. Unfortunately we have not been able to get any type of disability or aid for him while he is unable to work. We are told it will be at least several months before he might be able to return to work. Obviously the medical bills are ridiculously high. His insurance out of pocket expenses are also high. He does need to continue to pay for his health insurance, as well as gas for doctor appointments and other monthly bills. Despite all of this, Mike is in very good spirits. He is spending much more time with family and we are all grateful for this opportunity and second chance at life that we didn't think we would have had a month ago.
Most of you know that Mikey has always been such a good friend to many and willing to drop whatever it was he was doing, to help anyone in need - now might be a good time to show your appreciation.
If you could find it in your heart to contribute to our brother's "Go Fund Me", we know he would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much! With much appreciation - the family of Mike Kouba.
On February 23, Mike (39 years old) was taken to the hospital in La Crosse in a state of cardiogenic shock (when the heart has been damaged so much that it is unable to supply enough blood to the organs). Cardiogenic shock is rare, and often fatal if not treated immediately. His heart was only working at 10% and his heart rhythm was atrial flutter at a heart rate of 177. He was found to have acute severe left ventricular systolic heart failure. He was having trouble breathing and enroute to the ICU to have tracheal intubation he went into cardiac arrest that was felt to be PEA (pulseless electrical activity). He had 17 minutes of CPR and was successfully resuscitated with restoration of spontaneous circulation following that. Only by miracle, he came out of this with no brain damage! Xrays also showed he has cardiomegaly and pulmnary edema (accumulation of fluid on the lungs).
The following day Mike was transferred to Mayo in Rochester where they put in a intraaortic balloon pump to increase oxygen to the heart and assist with pumping his blood. He was also electrically cardioverted (electrical shocking of the heart) as it was still not in normal sinus rhythm. This procedure was actually done four times during the course of his hospital stay. He was also put on a ventilator to assist in his breathing.
His body was not responding enough to all of these procedures and because his major organs were shutting down, it was determined an ECMO would need to be done. An ECMO is performed using a heart-lung bypass machine for temporary life support of patients. He was actually in the surgery room when the second miracle occurred. The ECMO Anesthesia and Critical Care Team reviewed the situation and instead they adjusted the vasopressors and inotropic support was initiated. A bronchoscopy was performed and with these additional resuscitative measures the hemodynamics seemed stable without ECMO support, and the decision was made to delay and hopefully avoid support with ECMO.
A great thing about Rochester Mayo is a "team" of doctors is always working together. Mike literally had several teams of 6-10 doctors meeting outside his room about his case every morning. He also had his own nurse, who was not able to leave his side, 24 hours a day. By now a team of kidney doctors were among those caring for Mike, as he now also has acute tubular necrosis (kidney disorder involving damage to the tubule cells of the kidneys, which can lead to actue kidney failure).
Mike ended up being hospitalzed at Rochester Mayo for ten days in CCU and ICU (much of which he doesn't remember). At one point he had over 25 different IV's running into him, along with many other various forms of support.
Mike is now out of the hospital, with 34% heart function, but has a long road to a hopeful recovery. His kidneys remain in a very cronic condiction and there is still fluid on his lungs - even though he lost 50 pounds while in the hospital. Percentages show for groups of people with his medical symptoms and his age group, 25% will regain full recovery, 25% will deteriote and die, and 50% will get better, but not to the point they were before the incident. Let's hope Mike is in the first 25%!
Mike continues with bi-weekly followup appointments to try and manage his medications. It's hard to see someone who has never been to the doctor before suddenly be on ten different medications. It's going to be a total life change for him, but at least he is alive (which was more than any doctor thought would happen). Unfortunately his first followup visit indicates his heart is in atrial flutter again. Because of this, his next doctor appointment is to discuss a catheter ablation procedure to burn the cardiac tissue responsible for the abnormality.
Mike had a very physical job working as a farm hand. Unfortunately we have not been able to get any type of disability or aid for him while he is unable to work. We are told it will be at least several months before he might be able to return to work. Obviously the medical bills are ridiculously high. His insurance out of pocket expenses are also high. He does need to continue to pay for his health insurance, as well as gas for doctor appointments and other monthly bills. Despite all of this, Mike is in very good spirits. He is spending much more time with family and we are all grateful for this opportunity and second chance at life that we didn't think we would have had a month ago.
Most of you know that Mikey has always been such a good friend to many and willing to drop whatever it was he was doing, to help anyone in need - now might be a good time to show your appreciation.
If you could find it in your heart to contribute to our brother's "Go Fund Me", we know he would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much! With much appreciation - the family of Mike Kouba.
Organizer and beneficiary
Brian Tammy Burmeister
Organizer
Cochrane, WI
On Mike
Beneficiary