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Heart failure & auto immune healing

When Greg and I started our life together in April 2016 it was filled with hopes and dreams especially for our blended family.  Although Greg was diagnosed with severe Ulcerative colitis, an auto-immune disease shortly before our wedding it did not deter our love and commitment to enjoy real happiness together.

On March 3, 2017 following a routine shoulder surgery, Greg was admitted to ICU with a severe blood infection, he arrived at the hospital with oxygen level at 67 and fever of 104.3. Greg almost didn’t survive, but with many prayers, antibiotics and after 4 days he was able to recover and return home.

In July 2017, Greg began feeling short of breath and had a lingering cough. After multiple visits to the Doctor to treat what they thought was pneumonia, Greg continued to get worse. On September 10, 2017 Greg was rushed to the emergency room and found he was in severe congestive heart failure.  His condition was worse than they had anticipated with his heart pumping blood to his body at only 15% capacity.  Through many tears, prayers, and after 5 days and countless tests Greg was released to go home with heart medications that they hope will improve his heart function. With no known causes for why his heart failure occurred the cardiology team surmised the blood infection months earlier as the cause for the severe congestive heart failure.

In addition to treating the heart failure, Greg met again with his gastroenterologist to evaluate options for the treatment of his autoimmune disease after heart failure.  Because of the blood infection it caused his auto-immune disease to become systemic attacking other systems in his body, including his teeth and joints.  Sadly,  the heart failure makes all medications and most biologic medicines toxic to his or or will be fatal. 

Hoping to find relief from systemic damage and also the pain in his mouth, Greg visited the dentist and oral surgeon.  Lack of absorption of food is one of the effects of this auto immune disease and the daily pain caused by his dental condition makes it difficult to eat many of the foods that can also help.  Because of his auto immune disease, he is not considered a candidate for dentures because of frequent inflammation throughout his body caused from the auto immune disease.  To best treat this situation, they would need to remove his remaining teeth and replace with implants, unfortunately the cost is $36,000 an amount that is substantially higher than usual due to the added precautions to perform the procedure with his heart failure. Unfortunately dental insurance will Only cover up to $10,000 and the funds are due before treatment is started.  If his damaged teeth remain in tact and replacement isn't done soon, it can cause infections and negatively impact his heart.

Greg is a loving husband and father who has weathered these medical trials with humility and hope.  Even while in excruciating pain, short of breath or weak - he looks for ways to help, serve and do for others.  I don't want to lose this wonderful man, we just began our lives together.   There has been so much done to  save his life during 2017, with life saving efforts, prayers, procedures, and medications.  This year all the medical traumas have reduced our income, depleted our funds and financial resources to pay for the needed medical/dental help.   In January 2018, Greg will again meet with the cardiology team to evaluate if the medicine has worked to improve his heart function.

Please help my husband and our family, it's been difficult to reach out and ask for help, but we have exhausted our medical/dental appeals, financial aid and other options and are hoping for the help of others to bring the healing needed.


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Donations 

  • Carlynn Thatcher
    • $45 
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer

Stacey Leilani Green
Organizer
South Jordan, UT

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