Donate to Doug's Heart Health Fund

6/13/2025: Update: First of all, we'd like to thank everyone who has donated to try to help Doug with his heart treatment. Doug and his family are so grateful!

Here is what's been happening in the past week:

Doug is suffering from congestive heart failure. He didn't know about his heart condition until after the accident last summer, when he started struggling to live his normal life.

He was very swollen with fluids and really struggling when he was admitted to the hospital last week. He hasn't been able to sleep well or eat much. Even talking has been a challenge with his shortness of breath. He has made improvements in the past week with medical intervention, thank goodness!

This past week Doug has undergone a battery of tests (MRI's, cat scans, X-rays, etc.) Yesterday he had a procedure and had 2 stents put in. It took 3 hits of Epinephrin to stabilize his heart as he went through that! (That's scary but my husband, Ken, explained that a heart that's been under stress doesn't know what to do with itself and it kind of stutters and needs help adapting to the change. The adrenaline helps. Ken went through a more minor procedure a while back so knew a bit about this.)

Doug told his wife that he felt warm for the first time in months afterwards!

Tammy said his color is improved. He was pretty grey.

His kidneys rejected the medications they put him on, so they had to use anti-rejection medications. It is helping but not as much as they'd hoped for. At least he is better!

Our sister drove out from MN to be at the hospital with him, to keep him company as his wife, Tammy, hasn't been able to be there as much as she'd wish, as she is supporting the family right now.

Doug may be released from the hospital tomorrow. They want to make sure he's in good enough condition to be safe to go home.

If he is allowed to go home, I'm sure the hospital staff will miss him as he has been entertaining them with his stories and charm. He is a very entertaining fellow.

It is going to take some time to get him in better shape, but they think it can be done. His life can get better.

Thank you again for your generosity! Anything helps and is very much appreciated!

6/7/2025: My brother Doug is having some serious health problems. He was involved in an accident last year that damaged his heart. He’s in the hospital right now being treated as he’s gotten to a really scary point. His heart function is currently at only 15%. Should be 80%. They have drained a lot of fluid from him so he’s breathing better. The doctor and cardiologist feel that he could improve (won’t get to 100% but can be better) but it will be a long road. If any of you know Doug, he would help anyone who needs help, whether they could pay or not. That’s the kind of person he just is. I’m hoping we can cover a couple of years of deductible for him as he will need ongoing treatment and financial worries have kept him from getting properly treated until now, when he was struggling so badly, he had to finally get help. He’s a stubborn man! He thought he could just tough his way through this. Nope! We love him and need him around so hoping we can get them some help with paying his medical expenses. His wife Tammy gave me permission to do this. Doug might not have so I asked the right person! She will send more information later. His family has been having a hard year! If you can help, our whole family will be grateful! Thank you!!