Billy’s Life threatening cardiac surgeries
Donation protected
I feel compelled to be starting this Go Fund Me for my 53 year old brother Billy Masilotti.
It all started on August 8th, 2020, when I received a phone call from someone I didn't know. Her name was Jessica. She was calling me to tell me that my brother went into cardiac arrest at his home, after working all day. I could hear his wife screaming and calling his name in the background. The neighbors who we are forever grateful for were performing CPR and were able to get a very faint pulse, and kept it going until the ambulance and EMT's arrived. They shocked his heart and intubated him on the scene. One of the EMT's got on the phone with me telling me that my brother was very sick, and they were doing everything they could for him. I was screaming for them to save my brother. PLEASE SAVE MY BROTHER! They needed our family history which I gave to them, and told him that some of the women on my mother's side had heart disease, and passed away from it.
They got him to the hospital where he was stabilized, and eventually moved to the ICU unit. After his heart catheterization, I was on the phone with the surgeon who told me that my brother had no coronary artery disease. I asked about his heart valves, and was told they were functioning, and he had a little regurgitation. I was praying that he would need a bypass or a valve repair, but my worst nightmare was confirmed. My brother's heart muscle was very weak. Billy was diagnosed with the same horrible debilitating disease that we lost our mother to 20 years ago. This horrific disease is called Cardiomypathy. I've been petrified of getting this disease since I lost my mother, and I never even thought about my brother getting this disease. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition. Cardiomypathy is a progressive heart disease in which the heart is abnormaly enlarged, thickened, and/or stiffened. The heart ability to pump blood is less efficient, often causing heart failure.
He had an internal defibrillator implanted at the hospital. This device will shock his heart back into rhythm if he goes into an unsafe rhythm. I know this only to well after living through this disease with my mother. My mother was diagnosed at 56 years old, and passed at 59.
Cardiomypathy is the worst heart diagnosis you could have . My brother's ejection fraction was pumping 15 - 20% where as a healthy ejection fraction is generally between 55% and 70%. Nobody can understand how he was working so hard day after day, but it is his strong will to provide.
We are praying that with new cutting edge medication, that his heart gets strengthened in time. He lives in Florida, and will need to be followed in a heart failure center. In looking ahead he may be faced with needing a heart transplant. I've contacted Yale New Haven Hospital who will be reviewing his records, and I will be bringing him there for a consult when he's able to travel.
On a personal note, my brother Billy is such a great man. Before this happened he always worked a full-time job and side work providing for his family. Everyone that meets him automatically loves him. His personality and humor draw people to him. He puts everyone else first before himself, and always has. He's very easy going and always ready to help someone in need. It's very hard seeing him in this condition, as he is such very strong person. We were told that he was very lucky to have survived cardiac arrest because many people don't survive. The two couples that fought frantically for his life told me afterwards that he was blue. If it weren't for his wife and his neighbors things would have turned out differently. I am forever grateful for his neighbors who we consider our forever angels, hero's and friends.
My brother just moved into his house a week before this cardiac event. I call the road they live on now "Miracle Road" where there are families of marines, army, detectives, nurses and many caring people. One of the couples who revived him were from New Jersey and ran a EMT clinic there. The husband a marine. The other couple's husband is a marine who saw my brother working in his yard earlier that day. They quickly started talking and Richey the marine and a friend came to help my brother with something in the yard.
Life is precious, people are precious and I'm grateful that my brother is here. I want to do everything I possibly can for his recovery. A very special and heartfelt thank you to Richey, Jessica, Ricky & Maria, for all you did to make it possible for my brother to be blowing out the candles on his 54th birthday September 5th.
From the bottom of our hearts we humbly ask that you share this link with friends and family and if possible in giving (any amount will help.)
We thank you for your prayers, words of encouragement and support. God bless each and every one of you!
Debbie Masilotti McKnight
It all started on August 8th, 2020, when I received a phone call from someone I didn't know. Her name was Jessica. She was calling me to tell me that my brother went into cardiac arrest at his home, after working all day. I could hear his wife screaming and calling his name in the background. The neighbors who we are forever grateful for were performing CPR and were able to get a very faint pulse, and kept it going until the ambulance and EMT's arrived. They shocked his heart and intubated him on the scene. One of the EMT's got on the phone with me telling me that my brother was very sick, and they were doing everything they could for him. I was screaming for them to save my brother. PLEASE SAVE MY BROTHER! They needed our family history which I gave to them, and told him that some of the women on my mother's side had heart disease, and passed away from it.
They got him to the hospital where he was stabilized, and eventually moved to the ICU unit. After his heart catheterization, I was on the phone with the surgeon who told me that my brother had no coronary artery disease. I asked about his heart valves, and was told they were functioning, and he had a little regurgitation. I was praying that he would need a bypass or a valve repair, but my worst nightmare was confirmed. My brother's heart muscle was very weak. Billy was diagnosed with the same horrible debilitating disease that we lost our mother to 20 years ago. This horrific disease is called Cardiomypathy. I've been petrified of getting this disease since I lost my mother, and I never even thought about my brother getting this disease. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition. Cardiomypathy is a progressive heart disease in which the heart is abnormaly enlarged, thickened, and/or stiffened. The heart ability to pump blood is less efficient, often causing heart failure.
He had an internal defibrillator implanted at the hospital. This device will shock his heart back into rhythm if he goes into an unsafe rhythm. I know this only to well after living through this disease with my mother. My mother was diagnosed at 56 years old, and passed at 59.
Cardiomypathy is the worst heart diagnosis you could have . My brother's ejection fraction was pumping 15 - 20% where as a healthy ejection fraction is generally between 55% and 70%. Nobody can understand how he was working so hard day after day, but it is his strong will to provide.
We are praying that with new cutting edge medication, that his heart gets strengthened in time. He lives in Florida, and will need to be followed in a heart failure center. In looking ahead he may be faced with needing a heart transplant. I've contacted Yale New Haven Hospital who will be reviewing his records, and I will be bringing him there for a consult when he's able to travel.
On a personal note, my brother Billy is such a great man. Before this happened he always worked a full-time job and side work providing for his family. Everyone that meets him automatically loves him. His personality and humor draw people to him. He puts everyone else first before himself, and always has. He's very easy going and always ready to help someone in need. It's very hard seeing him in this condition, as he is such very strong person. We were told that he was very lucky to have survived cardiac arrest because many people don't survive. The two couples that fought frantically for his life told me afterwards that he was blue. If it weren't for his wife and his neighbors things would have turned out differently. I am forever grateful for his neighbors who we consider our forever angels, hero's and friends.
My brother just moved into his house a week before this cardiac event. I call the road they live on now "Miracle Road" where there are families of marines, army, detectives, nurses and many caring people. One of the couples who revived him were from New Jersey and ran a EMT clinic there. The husband a marine. The other couple's husband is a marine who saw my brother working in his yard earlier that day. They quickly started talking and Richey the marine and a friend came to help my brother with something in the yard.
Life is precious, people are precious and I'm grateful that my brother is here. I want to do everything I possibly can for his recovery. A very special and heartfelt thank you to Richey, Jessica, Ricky & Maria, for all you did to make it possible for my brother to be blowing out the candles on his 54th birthday September 5th.
From the bottom of our hearts we humbly ask that you share this link with friends and family and if possible in giving (any amount will help.)
We thank you for your prayers, words of encouragement and support. God bless each and every one of you!
Debbie Masilotti McKnight
Organizer and beneficiary
Deborah McKnight
Organizer
Norwalk, CT
William Masilotti
Beneficiary