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Help Mark Heal

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Mark Riley, Sr., a long-time auto mechanic in both the Phoenix and the San Francisco Bay Areas, desperately needs some help.

 

Mark being supported by his wife, Larissa, during his hospital stay.

 

How It Began


Mark has always been a hard worker and has rarely ever missed a day of work. He is a very caring individual, and a person who has always helped others (especially animals!) his whole life. He began to experience excruciating pain the end of April, has been unable to work since May 4, and was taken to the emergency room at Banner Desert Hospital in Mesa AZ on May 18. He was diagnosed with a massive infection that had invaded his lumbar spine and spread to his abdomen. The doctors determined that he had a huge abscess/cyst in his abdomen, and if it were to burst he would become septic and die. Emergency surgery was performed the morning of May 19, with both a general surgeon and a neurosurgeon operating on Mark to drain the abscess/cyst in his abdomen and cut into his spine to try to remove most of the infection there. Additionally, a staph infection got into his blood stream. The plan was to bring the infection and draining process under control with a 6-week massive antibiotics regimen through an IV to stabilize him, then transfer him to an acute care rehab-type hospital to complete his recovery.


Mark remained hospitalized until the evening of June 13. Unfortunately, Mark had no medical or disability insurance. He was turned down for help both by AHCCCS and Worker’s Comp; therefore, the hospital could not transfer him to the acute care facility to complete his recovery and had to release him to “home care” on June 13. Mark is still basically bedridden at this time and still has almost 3 weeks remaining to complete the required IV antibiotics via a PICC line twice daily. Without this required antibiotic infusion, the staph infection in his blood stream will not be completely gone, and could return with a vengeance and would be life threatening.

 

Where He Is Now


Having neither medical insurance nor disability income, this has been catastrophic to Mark and his wife. He is facing an inability to get the medical treatment he needs and financial ruination without some help. All of the medical necessities for him to achieve recovery will have to be on a “cash basis” paid at time of service, and with his not being able to work, there is no money to do this. The cost of the antibiotic infusion alone starts at $1400. Then there are weekly laboratory blood draws (at $87.00 each), follow-up visits with doctors, prescriptions that have to be filled, a second back surgery to more permanently stabilize the initial spinal surgery, and eventually several months of physical therapy. This, in addition to his normal monthly household expenses and the cost of his daily diabetic medications makes his need for help dire. He is also facing a huge hospital bill which will be in excess of $250,000, plus the second back surgery. A full recovery is estimated at 4 to 6 months, and the doctors say it is possible he may not be able to return to his profession as an auto technician and may have to re-train for a different (or related) line of work. He is looking at an estimated need of $50,000 to get through the medical and basic household needs.

 

Mark at his mother's house where he has been cared for since his release from the hospital.

 

Thank You!


Mark is a proud man, but would humbly and most gratefully accept any donation that could help him through this very difficult time. He offers his heartfelt thanks for anything that can be given and will “pay it forward” helping others once he gets back on his feet and back to work. He and his family thank everyone for their support.

 

Mark and Larissa during a much happier time.

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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $50
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer

Jenny Riley
Organizer
Mesa, AZ

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