Robert Ortiz Infective Endocarditis/Broken Heart

Where do I begin ? I would do anything to help my sister my niece and my brother in law . This is where I am . 
 

Many years ago, my little sister married Rob, a crazy half Puerto Rican who has become my brother and best friend. They immediately set out to have a child together. Unfortunately my sister suffers from endometriosis and after years of trying and expensive and painful fertility treatments and several pregnancy losses they were unable to have a baby. It was with great excitement that they decided to adopt a child.  They bought a beautiful home  to increase their chances of being chosen to be parents of a child.  Little did they know how much the neighbors would become family. In 2008, a little girl was born and Rob and Tricia were chosen to be her parents.  They have gratefully watched her grow in their home where they hoped to spend the rest of their lives. In February of 2019 Rob started to feel ill. His blood pressure became erratic and he had several ER and doctor visits. Ultimately he was diagnosed with diabetes and began to treat it,  but he continued to feel more and more ill. In May of 2019 he began to spike fevers. He had made significant dietary and lifestyle changes yet still he was not feeling any better. Still he went to work, despite losing more and more weight (by then 40lbs) . Their daughter graduated from the 5th grade and ended her elementary school days on June 25th. On June 26th Rob collapsed, unable to breathe, and was taken by ambulance to a county hospital. His lungs were full of fluid and he was diagnosed with pneumonia. He was sent home only to receive a call 36 hours later that he was septic and he should come immediately back to the hospital. After being admitted it became more and more clear that something was Gravely wrong with Rob's heart. He was in heart failure. Finally on June 30th it was confirmed that Rob had infective endocarditis and it had attacked three of his heart valves. He was told that he could die at any minute which was not surprising given that he felt so awful. 
 
Rob was sent by ambulance to a Hospital in NYC where teams of infectious disease specialists, cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, and endocrinologists worked together to save his life.. their  daughter came to live with me while my sister stayed in the hospital, grabbing a hotel night stay to grab a couple of hours of sleep and a shower on occasion.  Rob was in the cardiovascular ICU, where they were told he was as close to dying As It Gets. On July 11th Rob had open heart surgery where two valves were replaced with cow valves and one repaired. Through the skill of the surgeons, and the prayers of our family and friends Rob, survived.
 
Rob has been out of work with no pay for 5 months. Yesterday he learned that he was denied disability benefits. While the Social Security Administration acknowledged that he is disabled and is unable to do the work he was doing currently or any of the work that he has done in the past, they say that he should be able within a year to adjust to some other work (where he should be able to lift up to 10lbs within a year). Those of you who know Rob know that school was very difficult for him due to his learning disabilities, and he never finished, entering the workforce as a teen.  He has always been a hard worker, working as a roofer for over 15 years and most recently for 13 years is a cargo transporter.  He was also as strong as an ox he could pick up a car. Because he was infected for so long (with Strep Group F for those who are interested, which most likely entered his blood through a scratch in his gums or something benign like that in his mouth), he experienced significant muscle wasting throughout his body.  In addition, because the infection spread throughout his heart, and was so close to the “electrical system”, he has a permanent heart block.   His strength and stamina is not now and is unlikely to return to any place close to what it was. While he would very much love to work right now to support his family, at this point it is unclear that he could do anything that would earn him a living wage.  He continues the require 3x a week cardiac rehab. At this point Rob and Tricia have no choice but to consider selling the home that they love. Even if Rob was to get a job now making menial wages, the mounting medical bills as well as the usual bills of maintaining a home make it impossible for them to catch up.
 
This family has been through so much. I would do anything I could to help them but I don't have the means myself to lift them out of this . We are all ever so grateful that he is alive and for the support they have already received throught this difficult time. It breaks my heart that they will lose their home. My sister is so thankful her husband is alive and she knows that is really all that's important.  But if anything can be done to help them suffer alittle less and not lose their home ,I'm trying . This is not something she or I would have ever done or thought we would have to do .But if you are inclined, please make a donation to help him and my sister and niece get on their feet and keep their home.  If you can't,  please send prayers and positive thoughts.