- S
- A
Dear Friends, Family Members, and Friends of Friends,
This is very difficult for me, as I have always been strong, self-sufficient and a survivor, even during the most adverse of times. I never thought I would have to be asking for money to help me make it through the several months that I have been unable to work, due to a serious health condition with my heart.
Within the last six months, I noticed that I was short of breath and experiencing chest pains more often and with less exertion than ever before. Historic results of stress tests, EKGs, EEGs and ultrasounds always indicated that despite a congenital heart murmur, I had a strong heart and that there was nothing wrong with me. The symptoms were blamed on my poor diet, obesity and/or possibly heart-burn and indigestion. After seeing a cardiologist in early November, I had an exploratory angiogram done within two weeks to see what was behind the symptoms that were gradually getting worse. The results indicated that my murmur had progressed to calcifying my aortic valve, which would have to be replaced. In addition, several arteries, including the carotid ones in the neck, were clogged. The doctor ordered more tests to assess the extent of the damage and to evaluate the best way to proceed. I had an appointment to see him again on December 9th, to be followed by a consultation with the surgical team on the 11th to discuss the various surgical methods available, the risks involved, and to schedule the first of two procedures. A few days short of two weeks after the initial angiogram, I wasn’t quite up to par, but feeling ok, I returned to work. Since I work in Chicago and live in Crystal Lake, I stay at a friend’s house a few nights a week. After the second day of work, I went to her house, climbed the usual stairs to the second story of the townhouse and instead of resting up for a while, I climbed the next set of stairs to my room on the third floor to use the bathroom and change. After going downstairs a few minutes later, I suddenly felt pains in my chest. I sat down on the couch to relax but the pain stayed with me and I became pale and my skin was clammy. I was rushed to the ER by ambulance and spent the weekend in the hospital, outside of my usual geographic area. After seeing my cardiologist, he recommended having the procedures done ASAP, which included the unclogging of one of my coronary arteries on December 19th with the placement of a stent; and then the replacement of my aortic valve on January 8th.
I was instructed to stay home and not to exert myself at all prior to the angioplasty, and then again until the valve replacement, which takes place tomorrow. So here I am, stuck at home, unable to go to work or do anything; having to worry about not walking around the house too quickly or doing anything strenuous, etc. Except for two days that I worked in early December, I have been unable to work since November 22nd. After my valve replacement tomorrow, I will be out for another 2-3 weeks. I should be able to return to work during the week of January 27th, which will give me a partial check on February 14th, and hopefully a full check on the 28th. I’m still facing another surgery down the road to unclog the carotid arteries in my neck. I’ve gone through the little savings I had left after missing three weeks of work earlier this year. In May, I ended up in the ER with a severe case of diverticulitis, compounded by another infection of ulcer wounds on my shin. After spending a few days in the hospital, I was discharged, but had to stay home for two weeks of intravenous antibiotic treatment for both the stomach and leg infections.
Altogether, this is about three months without a paycheck. I also made the horrible mistake of taking out one of those high interest payday loans and now I don’t have any pay days coming for the lender to take my bi-weekly payments. My wife, Carol, and I, like many other Americans, have high credit card debt and live paycheck to paycheck. Her Social Security check goes for our car payment and various insurance premiums. We have cut back as much as we could in every way possible, but as of this week, we have nothing left with which to pay our bills, and still very much in debt.
I’m reaching out to all of you for a little help. Your contributions to help me get through this difficult time would be greatly appreciated. If you cannot help, I fully understand, and I know many of you are struggling yourselves. However, if you are able to help, please do so, with the assurance that I will give forward when I get back on my feet. Or if you would prefer to make a loan offer, I can repay over time. I just need some assistance right away and should have made this appeal a lot earlier. However, I kept on thinking that I would be going back to work between procedures, not realizing how seriously damaged my heart valve actually was.
Please keep me in your prayers as I am having the valve replacement on Wednesday, January 8th and should be home by the weekend.
Thank you and may God bless you!
Sabina
This is very difficult for me, as I have always been strong, self-sufficient and a survivor, even during the most adverse of times. I never thought I would have to be asking for money to help me make it through the several months that I have been unable to work, due to a serious health condition with my heart.
Within the last six months, I noticed that I was short of breath and experiencing chest pains more often and with less exertion than ever before. Historic results of stress tests, EKGs, EEGs and ultrasounds always indicated that despite a congenital heart murmur, I had a strong heart and that there was nothing wrong with me. The symptoms were blamed on my poor diet, obesity and/or possibly heart-burn and indigestion. After seeing a cardiologist in early November, I had an exploratory angiogram done within two weeks to see what was behind the symptoms that were gradually getting worse. The results indicated that my murmur had progressed to calcifying my aortic valve, which would have to be replaced. In addition, several arteries, including the carotid ones in the neck, were clogged. The doctor ordered more tests to assess the extent of the damage and to evaluate the best way to proceed. I had an appointment to see him again on December 9th, to be followed by a consultation with the surgical team on the 11th to discuss the various surgical methods available, the risks involved, and to schedule the first of two procedures. A few days short of two weeks after the initial angiogram, I wasn’t quite up to par, but feeling ok, I returned to work. Since I work in Chicago and live in Crystal Lake, I stay at a friend’s house a few nights a week. After the second day of work, I went to her house, climbed the usual stairs to the second story of the townhouse and instead of resting up for a while, I climbed the next set of stairs to my room on the third floor to use the bathroom and change. After going downstairs a few minutes later, I suddenly felt pains in my chest. I sat down on the couch to relax but the pain stayed with me and I became pale and my skin was clammy. I was rushed to the ER by ambulance and spent the weekend in the hospital, outside of my usual geographic area. After seeing my cardiologist, he recommended having the procedures done ASAP, which included the unclogging of one of my coronary arteries on December 19th with the placement of a stent; and then the replacement of my aortic valve on January 8th.
I was instructed to stay home and not to exert myself at all prior to the angioplasty, and then again until the valve replacement, which takes place tomorrow. So here I am, stuck at home, unable to go to work or do anything; having to worry about not walking around the house too quickly or doing anything strenuous, etc. Except for two days that I worked in early December, I have been unable to work since November 22nd. After my valve replacement tomorrow, I will be out for another 2-3 weeks. I should be able to return to work during the week of January 27th, which will give me a partial check on February 14th, and hopefully a full check on the 28th. I’m still facing another surgery down the road to unclog the carotid arteries in my neck. I’ve gone through the little savings I had left after missing three weeks of work earlier this year. In May, I ended up in the ER with a severe case of diverticulitis, compounded by another infection of ulcer wounds on my shin. After spending a few days in the hospital, I was discharged, but had to stay home for two weeks of intravenous antibiotic treatment for both the stomach and leg infections.
Altogether, this is about three months without a paycheck. I also made the horrible mistake of taking out one of those high interest payday loans and now I don’t have any pay days coming for the lender to take my bi-weekly payments. My wife, Carol, and I, like many other Americans, have high credit card debt and live paycheck to paycheck. Her Social Security check goes for our car payment and various insurance premiums. We have cut back as much as we could in every way possible, but as of this week, we have nothing left with which to pay our bills, and still very much in debt.
I’m reaching out to all of you for a little help. Your contributions to help me get through this difficult time would be greatly appreciated. If you cannot help, I fully understand, and I know many of you are struggling yourselves. However, if you are able to help, please do so, with the assurance that I will give forward when I get back on my feet. Or if you would prefer to make a loan offer, I can repay over time. I just need some assistance right away and should have made this appeal a lot earlier. However, I kept on thinking that I would be going back to work between procedures, not realizing how seriously damaged my heart valve actually was.
Please keep me in your prayers as I am having the valve replacement on Wednesday, January 8th and should be home by the weekend.
Thank you and may God bless you!
Sabina