On May 19th,  our 33 yr old brother, Mike, was admitted locally to the hospital with increasing shortness of breath and chest pain after feeling generally ill for the last several months.  He suffered a major heart attack and cardiac arrest.  Unbeknownst to Mike, his family, or the doctors he was seeing, his condition was far worse.  Mike's heart attack had been the result of a severe heart infection (endocarditis) that was precipitated by a congenital defect of his heart valve.  His body went into shock and multi-organ failure.  He needed to be air-lifted to Rush Hospital in Chicago for emergent care.  Mike endured multiple major surgeries and procedures.  He required many blood transfusions, life saving medications, and was in need of every form of life support (mechanical ventilator, ecmo pump, hemodialysis, and nasogastric tube).  Mike spent 5 long weeks in the ICU.  His strength and determination has been an inspiration to us all.  Doctors who told us it was a miracle that he was alive upon admission, were overjoyed at the progress he has made. We are and forever will be grateful to family and friends for all of  their prayers, kind thoughts, and support during this difficult time.  Mike has been transferred to the Rehab unit within Rush, but still has a long road ahead of him.   To offset the  exorbitant cost of hospital bills and lost wages,  we are asking for your help and  have set up this fundraiser page for Mike and his wife, Melanie .  Any and all donations would be greatly appreciated.  If you are able to do so,  please consider making a contribution.  We thank you in advance.

The family of Mike Sczurko