Help Deryk on the road to a heart transplant

On August 4, 2023 Deryk found himself in the hospital not feeling "right", little did he know he was about to get some news that would turn his life upside down. Deryk was transferred from Calvert Memorial to Medstar Washington Hospital Center in advanced heart failure, kidney failure, and liver failure. Deryk underwent extensive testing and was receiving loads of medications and care to get him healthy again, only to find out that his heart was only working at 13%. To date they still have not figured out why this has happened to him but doctors are 98% sure it is genetic. Unfortunately, they have given Deryk's heart less than 2 years with the condition that it's in coupling with the medication he's on. The only way for him to get better now is a heart transplant.

Deryk is now under very close watch by a team of doctors at Washington Hospital Center in their Advanced Heart Failure Unit and has lots of appointments and procedures he must attend. With all of this and through doctors orders Deryk must make a lot of lifestyle changes including no longer working leaving Deryk without any income. He is currently in the process of filing for disability and things like that but we all know that's not enough to live on especially with all the medical costs.

Deryk is going to need our help through this journey with the medical bills already climbing, plus the ones yet to come. According to a January 2020 Milliman Research Report, the estimated cost of a heart transplant in the United States before insurance is $1,664,800. The breakdown of cost is as follows.

Pre-transplant medical care needs (30 days): $49,800

Organ procurement: $131,500

Hospital admission for transplant: $1,062,600

Physician cost for transplant: $111,100

Post-transplant medical care needs (180 days): $270,300

Immunosuppressants and other medications: $39,500

Insurance does help but doesn't cover it all including transportation to get there, any unexpected hospitalization and other incidentals along the way.

Deryk grew up here in Calvert has always been a wonderful, giving man in the community. He's an amazing father to 3 kids and is an overall great guy that would help anyone in need. Please help to take some of this worry off his plate while he's fighting this, and if you can't give at this moment please share this to help this reach as many people as possible. Thank you so much for your help, time, and prayers in this situation as it's greatly appreciated!