Hi everyone! We decided to start a GoFundMe to get Alex some financial help during his recovery from open heart surgery that took place on August 31.

As most know, Alex had a heart surgery in Feb 2022, giving him a new defibrillator/ pacer ICD and leads, including have a specialty team laser through arm muscle to take out old leads that were left from a previous surgery in Mississippi.

During his one year post-surgery check up this Spring, it was discovered that Alex's aortic valve was regurgitating and that he was in need of a total valve replacement which would require an open heart surgery. The past few months have included numerous doctors appointments, countless blood tests (4 weeks waiting for results), second opinion consultations, fighting with health insurance and short term disability companies, financial aid applications, etc. Through it all, Alex has stayed strong, kept his head up, and kept working full time - despite his flagging energy as the waiting time took its toll on his physical and mental health.

While he does have some financial aid promised from Billings Clinic, he is still going to go home with substantial medical bills, as well as the stress of paying his bills for the next 3 months while he is out of work and recovering. We will still fight his short term disability company every step of the way to get him some relief, but we can't hold our breaths for positive results.

So, with Alex's permission, we are creating a fund to help get him some financial breathing room to pay his bills, get his prescriptions, and buy groceries, without him having to run up credit cards and go further in debt.

We all know Alex is that amazing person who would give the shirt off his back and the last dollar in his bank account to help someone, and though he is also that person that hates asking, this is his chance to receive some help in return.

We thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts and depths of our souls for all the prayers and good vibes that have been sent his way, we've felt every single one. And as expected more often than not, reality rears it's ugly head and we have to face facts that it's okay to reach out for more help when it's needed.

Thank you!

Chalesa Hanser-Schwede