For those of you that don't know, Our father is an extremely giving, hardworking man and really never asks for anything in return.  He is retired military, an avid swimmer, a surfer, a softball/baseball fanatic, a health nut, and a caring loving dad. He is currently a Limo driver in Beverly Hills, California and works five to six days a week. He sometimes works 18 hour days on top of little sleep just so he can make ends meet. His job is mainly commission based and he does not receive any PTO, Paid Sick time or have any health benefits through his company.  He has been going through the VA for any medical help and has struggled tremendously. After his recent medical issues, he is unable to drive and has now been out of work for almost a month. He will not be able to go back to work anytime soon and is having a really hard time covering any medical costs (being uninsured and paying out of pocket) on top of monthly bills.  



Summary of Rick Kearn’s Health Issues: 

In 2016 after countless visits to the VA in Long Beach CA he was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome (an auto immune disease that attacks salivary glands) causing dental problems, fluid in eyes and vasculitis in the legs.

 On Friday 3/3/17, he woke up with pain in his lower left front tooth. His dentist is closed on Fridays, so he took some Ibuprofen hoping the pain would go away. On Saturday he went to work and started to feel severe pain and tingling on the left side of his face.  He was strongly encouraged to get home and be taken to a hospital for possibility of a stroke.  His girlfriend took him to the Long Beach VA Emergency Center where they diagnosed him with Bell's Palsy and gave him some Steroids and an Rx for Prednisone. He was then sent home with minimal information and was told to not stress out.  After a few days there was no improvement... his face continued to swell up and the pain just kept increasing. 


Tuesday 3/7, He went to the VA ER in West LA.  They told him that he did NOT have Bell's Palsy and they then diagnosed him with TRIGEMINAL Neuralgia.  They gave him a RX for Tegretol and sent him home and told him to rest. He was in so much pain that he took the medication immediately.  


 By the time he got home, his tongue was swelling up and he was having trouble breathing. He started to get blisters and severe hives all over the left side of his face.  He then took Benadryl hoping to relieve some of the symptoms.  His pain continued to escalate and worsen through the next few days. 


On 3/9 his swelling had gotten so bad that his left ear was completely sealed shut as well as his eyes. He was unable to eat, speak or even swallow. After researching the diagnosis he was given (which showed no swelling), the swelling had gotten so bad and the pain had gotten so excruciating, we encouraged him to get a second opinion. With a complete lack of faith in the VA his girlfriend took him to the UCLA Emergency center (without health insurance)  where 4 different doctors diagnosed him with Shingles and advised him he had been completely misdiagnosed.  They prescribed Gabapentin and Cipro ear drops since his left ear was completely swollen shut. 



The UCLA pharmacy would not accept his VA card, so he had to drive over to the VA to get his RX filled. Unfortunately The VA told him that they wouldn't accept a UCLA RX. He then went to CVS to get his Rx filled without insurance and paid out of pocket. 

He is now seeing an acupuncturist (out of pocket) to help with pain but is still unable to see or hear out of his right side.  




Throughout this whole experience his biggest concern has been getting back to work to get his bills paid. As his daughters, we are trying to raise money to help cover the costs of our father's medical bills. Any donation at all is greatly appreciated.

Thank You