Aid For Ef
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On September 3, 2010, I suffered a category 5 massive heart attack, this just so happened to coincide with my oldest brothers’ birthday, Joe Angel. I believe my survival was because of Jesus and Joe Angel looking out for me. My brother Joe Angel had severe heart problems resulting in him having a heart transplant in 1972. My brother was the 43rd person in the world to have a heart transplant. As one of the first people to have the heart transplant and with being an early pioneer; with all the resulting issues that come with it, he passed less than a year after his transplant. With the passing of my youngest brother Alfonso Luis, I now have 3 angels watching over me and they have kept me here in this world to be with my family longer.
For the last 7 years, I have been in the hospital continuously dealing with the effects of the category 5 heart attack. I have had numerous issues ranging from strokes, bleeding on the brain and congestive heart failures. In the immediate aftermath of the heart attack, I had two stents placed in my arteries at the Spohn Shoreline hospital. I was then sent to University Hospital in San Antonio as Corpus Christi does not have the capability to work with advanced heart failure that I was suffering. At University Hospital in San Antonio, I spent the next 35 days literally on my back inside a plastic bubble to lessen the chances of an infection that could kill me. Because of my time in the bubble I have become claustrophobic and suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. My condition improved enough that they implanted a pace maker and defibrillator. As time progressed, I no longer needed a wheel chair to move around this was about 2012. I enjoyed 2 good years of relatively good health, but in 2014 I began to feel myself starting to weaken and having trouble breathing. I discussed my issues with my Cardiologist but didn’t feel that he wanted to really help me. Telling me that this was normal, even though I was in and out of the hospital with my symptoms. I would offer up suggestions as to what I thought needed to be done and he would say don’t worry its natural process of having a weak heart. When I mentioned perhaps a heart transplant, he stated you’re not sick enough, I sure as hell felt sick.
With my health deteriorating, I decided to take matters into my own hands as I no longer believed in my Cardiologist and reached out to Stanford Hospital for assistance. This is the same hospital that had performed the heart transplant for my brother Joe Angel. I provided my medical records, not expecting to hear back. It took 21 months of dogged persistence, working with Stanford before they gave me an appointment to evaluate me for a heart transplant. I went to Stanford in February 2017, for 10 days of tests, procedures, evaluations and meetings. I was declared a candidate for a heart transplant. Many people need hearts and I was placed in the long line of people waiting for their new heart. It would require me to stay in the San Jose area for an unknown period, till a heart for me would be available. I was forced to come back to Texas as I could not cover the expenses of lodging, food, and who would care for me in San Jose. Stanford knowing of my situation, recommended that I go to Baylor Scott White (Baylor University) in Dallas and perhaps my costs would not be as great there.
By this time, I was in the worst way, dying really. I had black splotches all over my body, my face darkened, I had a dark mask around my eyes like a raccoon. This was all due to the weakness in my heart pumping blood. By Feb., 2017 I had been hospitalized 20 times.
I was seen at Baylor Scott White on the 1st of May and admitted into the hospital on the 3rd of May to begin the process of being evaluated for heart transplant all over again. I was again accepted as a candidate for a heart transplant. It was decided while I waited for transplant to have a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implant to help my heart. It was implanted on the 12th of May, it saved my life as doctors had given me about 3 weeks to live. I know my 3 Angels were looking over me, as I rapidly began to feel better. Things were going so amazingly well that the Doctors’ never had someone respond so well and quickly to the implant. I could return home in late June, shattering the record for someone to return home. I had been told that due to the LVAD and Warfaran I might experience some internal bleeding. To no one’s surprise I began to have bleeding problems. From July 2017 to the present January 2018, I have been bleeding without any success in stopping the bleed in my intestines. I have had 5 colonoscopies, 6 G.I.s, 3 angiograms, and 2 camera capsules to find the exact spot of bleeding, with no success. My Doctors have prescribed 2 new medications that will hopefully help stop the bleeding. As of Jan. 2018, been hospitalized 33 times. I will never give up, for I am a Black Knight with a Tiger heart!!
With the 2 new meds, my costs for medications are now $1,200 a month. When I get my new heart, I expect my medication costs to rise astronomically. I do not know at this time what the costs will be, as the Doctor’s will need to determine which drugs will be best for me and my new heart. Drs. Have 4 pages of meds to choose from. The rejection drug being the most expensive. My transplant will be done at Methodist Heart Hospital in San Antonio. Methodist Hospital places me closer to family as I will be needing a great deal of support after my transplant.
When Hurricane Harvey hit in August 2017, it severely damaged my house to the point it is not habitable. We are planning on rebuilding and have finally found a contractor to begin restoring my home, expect it will take several months. I intend to remain throughout transplant process with my older brother Adolfo in San Antonio, where I have been since the Hurricane.
After all this time I have finally become a Level 1A transplant candidate, just waiting on a heart, and as you can imagine I am so damn ready for it to happen!!!
With your financial aid in whatever amount you can give; ALL will be worthy. I will appreciate, be thankful, humbled, and I will be forever in your debt.
All donations are tax deductible
Please share this post
Thank you from the bottom of my old and new heart. Ef
For the last 7 years, I have been in the hospital continuously dealing with the effects of the category 5 heart attack. I have had numerous issues ranging from strokes, bleeding on the brain and congestive heart failures. In the immediate aftermath of the heart attack, I had two stents placed in my arteries at the Spohn Shoreline hospital. I was then sent to University Hospital in San Antonio as Corpus Christi does not have the capability to work with advanced heart failure that I was suffering. At University Hospital in San Antonio, I spent the next 35 days literally on my back inside a plastic bubble to lessen the chances of an infection that could kill me. Because of my time in the bubble I have become claustrophobic and suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. My condition improved enough that they implanted a pace maker and defibrillator. As time progressed, I no longer needed a wheel chair to move around this was about 2012. I enjoyed 2 good years of relatively good health, but in 2014 I began to feel myself starting to weaken and having trouble breathing. I discussed my issues with my Cardiologist but didn’t feel that he wanted to really help me. Telling me that this was normal, even though I was in and out of the hospital with my symptoms. I would offer up suggestions as to what I thought needed to be done and he would say don’t worry its natural process of having a weak heart. When I mentioned perhaps a heart transplant, he stated you’re not sick enough, I sure as hell felt sick.
With my health deteriorating, I decided to take matters into my own hands as I no longer believed in my Cardiologist and reached out to Stanford Hospital for assistance. This is the same hospital that had performed the heart transplant for my brother Joe Angel. I provided my medical records, not expecting to hear back. It took 21 months of dogged persistence, working with Stanford before they gave me an appointment to evaluate me for a heart transplant. I went to Stanford in February 2017, for 10 days of tests, procedures, evaluations and meetings. I was declared a candidate for a heart transplant. Many people need hearts and I was placed in the long line of people waiting for their new heart. It would require me to stay in the San Jose area for an unknown period, till a heart for me would be available. I was forced to come back to Texas as I could not cover the expenses of lodging, food, and who would care for me in San Jose. Stanford knowing of my situation, recommended that I go to Baylor Scott White (Baylor University) in Dallas and perhaps my costs would not be as great there.
By this time, I was in the worst way, dying really. I had black splotches all over my body, my face darkened, I had a dark mask around my eyes like a raccoon. This was all due to the weakness in my heart pumping blood. By Feb., 2017 I had been hospitalized 20 times.
I was seen at Baylor Scott White on the 1st of May and admitted into the hospital on the 3rd of May to begin the process of being evaluated for heart transplant all over again. I was again accepted as a candidate for a heart transplant. It was decided while I waited for transplant to have a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implant to help my heart. It was implanted on the 12th of May, it saved my life as doctors had given me about 3 weeks to live. I know my 3 Angels were looking over me, as I rapidly began to feel better. Things were going so amazingly well that the Doctors’ never had someone respond so well and quickly to the implant. I could return home in late June, shattering the record for someone to return home. I had been told that due to the LVAD and Warfaran I might experience some internal bleeding. To no one’s surprise I began to have bleeding problems. From July 2017 to the present January 2018, I have been bleeding without any success in stopping the bleed in my intestines. I have had 5 colonoscopies, 6 G.I.s, 3 angiograms, and 2 camera capsules to find the exact spot of bleeding, with no success. My Doctors have prescribed 2 new medications that will hopefully help stop the bleeding. As of Jan. 2018, been hospitalized 33 times. I will never give up, for I am a Black Knight with a Tiger heart!!
With the 2 new meds, my costs for medications are now $1,200 a month. When I get my new heart, I expect my medication costs to rise astronomically. I do not know at this time what the costs will be, as the Doctor’s will need to determine which drugs will be best for me and my new heart. Drs. Have 4 pages of meds to choose from. The rejection drug being the most expensive. My transplant will be done at Methodist Heart Hospital in San Antonio. Methodist Hospital places me closer to family as I will be needing a great deal of support after my transplant.
When Hurricane Harvey hit in August 2017, it severely damaged my house to the point it is not habitable. We are planning on rebuilding and have finally found a contractor to begin restoring my home, expect it will take several months. I intend to remain throughout transplant process with my older brother Adolfo in San Antonio, where I have been since the Hurricane.
After all this time I have finally become a Level 1A transplant candidate, just waiting on a heart, and as you can imagine I am so damn ready for it to happen!!!
With your financial aid in whatever amount you can give; ALL will be worthy. I will appreciate, be thankful, humbled, and I will be forever in your debt.
All donations are tax deductible
Please share this post
Thank you from the bottom of my old and new heart. Ef
Organizador
Ef Ramirez
Organizador
Rockport, TX