My name is Mike Szlamczynski. I’m only 50 years old. On May 29, 2018, I underwent emergency surgery for an enlarged aorta and defective heart valve that needed to be replaced and another valve needing repair. During the 14 hour surgery I experienced a stroke that left permanent vision loss. These procedures kept me in the hospital for 2 weeks and then I was sent to rehab for 3 weeks to rebuild my strength and relearn basic skills. This was my first hospital visit, so I was scared and worried about my family, my job, and bills. I worked hard to recover and to get my life back. Things seemed to be back on track and I was doing well, however, Feb 25 was the beginning of a horrible experience where I was pronounced dead twice and my surgeon didn’t think that I would ever come off the table.
It began with a wellness check to my home where I was found unresponsive. I was rushed to the hospital with a high fever and I was delusional. My entire body was septic, including the mechanical heart valve that I just had put in less than 10 months earlier. I would need another open heart surgery to remove the infected heart valve. Before I could have surgery, it was discovered that my infection had spread from my heart valve to my foot, shoulder, lungs, brain and blood. As a result, I experienced multiple strokes, which I was unaware of. In order to have the open heart surgery that I needed so desperately, I needed the infection under control... so surgical holes were made to try to wash out the infection and I was put on 4 extremely strong antibiotics. (I have to continue getting these antibiotics intravenously for 6-12 weeks.) Once the infection was under control, the open heart surgery was scheduled. This would be a very dangerous surgery with all that I had going on, but it needed to be done. The heart surgery took over 13 hours and during that surgery I experienced multiple strokes and apparently died twice. All of these procedures were done while I was heavily sedated. I was actually heavily sedated for almost a week prior to the surgery as well. After the surgery, I experienced renal (kidney) failure and was put on continuous dialysis which I may need to still receive if my kidneys don’t start functioning better. I went into cardiac arrest while my mom, my oldest daughter, my granddaughter, and close friend were right there. It scared everyone and they were worried that I wasn’t going to come back, but I did. The next step in my recovery process was to become well enough to enter rehab to regain strength. About 2 weeks later I was well enough to go to rehab for a period of time that I was unsure of. Unfortunately my stay at rehab was short lived and within 2.5 hours I was sent to the ER, diagnosed with a heart attack and pneumonia. It was discovered that there were 2.5 liters of fluid in my lung that needed to be drained. I was checked back into the hospital.
During my hospital stay I constantly worried about my family, especially my youngest daughter whom I’m raising myself, my job, my everyday responsibilities and the enormous amount of debt I was incurring as a result of my medical expenses. As a newer employee at my job I found out that I was not eligible for the benefits of the Family Medical Leave Act, nor was I eligible for short term disability; the only thing that I was eligible for was medical leave without pay. This situation has humbled me. I am writing and posting this, as suggested by my friend. Although I am now home, my journey is not over. I have a nurse that comes to my home each day to check on me and help with my IV antibiotics. I am receiving physical, occupational, and speech therapy. I am unable to drive for a month. I have many more doctor appointments in my near future. I need a bit of assistance to help make ends meet while I am out of work and receiving no income. As much as I hate to reach out for help...I have no choice. I just want to be