Donations for Duncan
Donation protected
Our beloved friend and bartender, Duncan, has been through the wringer! After six months fighting compounding illnesses, undergoing multiple rounds of antibiotics, suffering through complications, losing 25 pounds due to pain and the inability to eat a regular diet, and eventually having surgery, our dear friend, Lord Duncan MacGregor Chase is finally home and (fingers crossed) on the path toward recovery.
It all began in August and September of 2016, battling a long, persistent case of pneumonia which weakened his immune system.
Then on October 18th, the first attack of diverticulitis hit hard. Pain and suffering began, but he did his best to continue working and keep that beautiful smile and sharp wit about him as he started the first of many rounds of antibiotic therapy. The diverticulitis persisted through November, and in late November, he started developing urinary tract infections (UTIs).
There were many doctor's appointments, prescription medications, and the diet became very specialized. Working a full schedule was difficult and not always possible due to pain and fatigue, but Duncan worked as much as possible, and he tried his best not to let folks know just how sick he truly was.
He experienced allergic reactions to some of the prescribed medications, and full recovery never happened, instead new and different symptoms continued to develop, as he lost weight and became weaker and more frail.
Somewhere during this time, he developed a fistula (connection) between sigmoid colon and bladder, which was likely the cause of the UTIs, but diagnosis was very difficult because of scar tissue from old hernia surgeries. Duncan continued to see doctors, have medical tests, and was determined to stay out of the hospital and find the root cause of the ongoing issues he had been facing for months.
Finally he was referred to a gastro-intestinal specialist and underwent CT scans that were able to identify the fistula and need for surgical repair. From there he met with an excellent surgeon, Dr. Thomas Whang.
Surgery was scheduled, and on February 8, 2017, Duncan had a nearly four-hour, successful laproscopic surgery to treat his sigmoid diverticular fistula and had 7-8 inches of colon removed.
Duncan continued to show his strength of character and persistence by getting out of the hospital only three days after surgery.
He went home with a foley catheter still inserted (yes, that should make you flinch, especially the men!) and is on indefinite medical leave. He has a weight restriction of only lifting 10 pounds, which means doing his regular bartending work wouldn't even be possible if he were healed and feeling well. The surgeon indicated he may be out of work as long as six weeks.
Duncan is motivated to get back to doing as much as he can as soon as he can, and I know part of that motivation is financial.
I am writing this GoFundMe because Duncan is one of my best friends and one of the most generous people I know. I took the day off work to take him to surgery and while I was sitting in the waiting room, I had time to think about how hard this past six months must have been. Seeing how this bout of illness has knocked him so far down, physically and financially, has been scary. I am also a single person who lives on a meager paycheck, and I work in healthcare so I know how quickly medical expenses and hospital bills add up. Duncan would never ask for help, in fact he was going to take a taxi to surgery until I insisted on driving him and staying the day with him.
Duncan touches the lives of many. He listens to us when we need an ear, makes us that perfect cocktail or pours exactly the right dram when we don't want to talk--we just want to drink, he educates us, he laughs with us, he doesn't complain about how hard he works (being a bartender past the age of 60 is hard!), he loves us unconditionally. Now is the time for us to show him how much we love and appreciate him and help him truly get back on his feet.
It all began in August and September of 2016, battling a long, persistent case of pneumonia which weakened his immune system.
Then on October 18th, the first attack of diverticulitis hit hard. Pain and suffering began, but he did his best to continue working and keep that beautiful smile and sharp wit about him as he started the first of many rounds of antibiotic therapy. The diverticulitis persisted through November, and in late November, he started developing urinary tract infections (UTIs).
There were many doctor's appointments, prescription medications, and the diet became very specialized. Working a full schedule was difficult and not always possible due to pain and fatigue, but Duncan worked as much as possible, and he tried his best not to let folks know just how sick he truly was.
He experienced allergic reactions to some of the prescribed medications, and full recovery never happened, instead new and different symptoms continued to develop, as he lost weight and became weaker and more frail.
Somewhere during this time, he developed a fistula (connection) between sigmoid colon and bladder, which was likely the cause of the UTIs, but diagnosis was very difficult because of scar tissue from old hernia surgeries. Duncan continued to see doctors, have medical tests, and was determined to stay out of the hospital and find the root cause of the ongoing issues he had been facing for months.
Finally he was referred to a gastro-intestinal specialist and underwent CT scans that were able to identify the fistula and need for surgical repair. From there he met with an excellent surgeon, Dr. Thomas Whang.
Surgery was scheduled, and on February 8, 2017, Duncan had a nearly four-hour, successful laproscopic surgery to treat his sigmoid diverticular fistula and had 7-8 inches of colon removed.
Duncan continued to show his strength of character and persistence by getting out of the hospital only three days after surgery.
He went home with a foley catheter still inserted (yes, that should make you flinch, especially the men!) and is on indefinite medical leave. He has a weight restriction of only lifting 10 pounds, which means doing his regular bartending work wouldn't even be possible if he were healed and feeling well. The surgeon indicated he may be out of work as long as six weeks.
Duncan is motivated to get back to doing as much as he can as soon as he can, and I know part of that motivation is financial.
I am writing this GoFundMe because Duncan is one of my best friends and one of the most generous people I know. I took the day off work to take him to surgery and while I was sitting in the waiting room, I had time to think about how hard this past six months must have been. Seeing how this bout of illness has knocked him so far down, physically and financially, has been scary. I am also a single person who lives on a meager paycheck, and I work in healthcare so I know how quickly medical expenses and hospital bills add up. Duncan would never ask for help, in fact he was going to take a taxi to surgery until I insisted on driving him and staying the day with him.
Duncan touches the lives of many. He listens to us when we need an ear, makes us that perfect cocktail or pours exactly the right dram when we don't want to talk--we just want to drink, he educates us, he laughs with us, he doesn't complain about how hard he works (being a bartender past the age of 60 is hard!), he loves us unconditionally. Now is the time for us to show him how much we love and appreciate him and help him truly get back on his feet.
Organizer and beneficiary
Michelle Rowlett
Organizer
Seattle, WA
Duncan Chase
Beneficiary