Being an essential worker has its downfalls....On March 29th Andy Hooper went to urgent care for a what he thought was his annual bronchitis. He left with that diagnosis but it was only the beginning of his medical journey. The following Wednesday April 1st, Andy checked into Carthage ER for COVID 19 testing and never returned home to his wife and kids. Instead Andy was urgently shipped to Upstate in Syracuse in Respitory Distress. His COVID-19 results came back positive in the early morning of April 3rd, but Andy never got those results because early that morning he had to be placed into a medically induced coma and placed on a ventilator. This alone is costing and arm and a leg. 
The doctors struggle to keep his fevers down and find a good ventilator setting for him to breathe. So far he has been on this life saving machine for 7 days and it appears it could be several more.
Andy has health insurance through his employer that pays at a rate of 80% ,but has a $6,500 deductible he must meet. He will be out of work for weeks, if not months on a reduced disability payment and will need therapy and rehab when he is able to return home to his family. His wife will need to take some time to be home with him as well.
Everyone who knows Andy knows he would give you the shirt off his back if he could. He is a strong, loving, wonderful husband, father and grandpa. He doesnt deserve the stress of worrying about how to support his family because he was reporting to work as required, putting himself at risk everyday.
Please consider helping Andy and his family out in what will be a trying few months. All funds will be used to help relieve any financial burden they may encounter through this process. And I know it’s already hard for some families to get by during this time not being at work, but any little bit helps. Thank you!