Please help William "Willie" Wheeler. Willie has been fighting for his life since August 31, 2021.

My name is Starbuck Wheeler and I am Willie's oldest son. I am a life long resident of Missouri, and we are a family that has always been in southwest Missouri including my mothers and fathers side of the family.

Dad and I have been partners in an excavation and demolition business since 1998. I have spent more time with dad than anyone else on this Earth. Dad is loved by anyone who he has met. Even as he lies at a hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He has nurses come see him before their shift starts just so “Willie“ will give them his signature wave. Dad can’t talk but he sure can win you over with a wave and his facial expressions.

Dad was diagnosed with Covid on August 31st 2021.

He has been put to the test through this illness, yet everything Covid has hit him with he has persevered. We are 145 days into this disaster. Dad has 5 days left of his reserve lifetime medicare days. I had no clue what reserve lifetime days was until about 60 days ago. As my understanding goes, Medicare has a set amount of days for each illness. Once those days are reached, then you start on your lifetime reserve days. In 5 days (January 29th) my dad will need to leave his current facility and be transported to a nursing home north of Chicago in Illinois. That’s roughly 10-11 hours from our home. This is unacceptable to our family. We are told Missouri does not have a facility that can take my dad because he has a tracheotomy, needs dialysis and has a stage 4 bed sore. Or we can bring him home where he can’t get dialysis (Covid restrictions) and he can pass away at home. This is also unacceptable. Our last option is to self pay at $2,500.00 per day with payment made 2 weeks prior to his stay. These are our options as of today.

Here is what my thoughts are on how we can resolve this matter.

1) Medicare can give my dad more time at the current facility because Covid is not a normal illness and per doctors instructions more time is needed for recovery.

2) Find some Covid funding. Either state funds or federal funds.

3) Find another facility close to our home that dad can be moved to so we can help aid in his recovery. (Doctors have told us our family care is his best chance of coming home)

4) Find the personnel to give us 24 hour medical care with speech therapy, physical therapy, respiratory care and wound care.

I don’t have all the answers but I do have common sense approaches to this ordeal we are currently in. We are 2 years into this pandemic. By now the greatest nation on Earth should have a system in place for the Covid survivors that need additional time and care. I believe the strength of this nation lies in each one of us to do our part. All we need is your willingness to get involved and find a resolution to this nightmare. I can go into more detail about this whole situation but I’m trying to just outline what our current situation is. I appreciate your time in hearing our story and listening to my thoughts. My dad is a miracle and I’ve been told God doesn’t waste miracles. To what will come from this we will soon find out.

God Bless and Best wishes,

Starbuck Wheeler