My name is Jessica and my brother Eric was admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital at the Mayo Clinic February 19, 2025 for heart value surgery. After preparing Eric for surgery, it was finally scheduled for March 3, 2025. He had his mitral and tricuspid valves replaced.

During surgery, there were many complications. He had a massive right lung bleed the doctors tried to control. Within 24 hours after surgery, Eric had 50 units of blood and plasma replaced. This eventually caused liver and kidney failure. After two weeks they were able to stop the lung bleed. Eric is still in the hospital, 4 months after being admitted.

For many weeks, Eric was on life support and still has continuous support for his kidneys.

How you can help:

Financially, Eric needs a lot of assistance for his medical bills that are mounting up. The love of his life, Laura, suffered a debilitating stroke 15 years ago. It’s sometimes difficult for her to communicate, so she is unable to work. Laura is still living in their house but unable to take care of much of the maintenance that Eric did. They will need financial assistance for that too. Their savings have quickly disappeared. His previous employer does offer long term disability but they have been sending us through hoops and trying to deny coverage. They have been gathering information for the last three months and still have not approved it.

Eric is not pleased with being in the position of needing financial assistance and not providing for himself as he has done throughout his entire life. Thank you for taking the time to read his story.

How the money will help:

Medical bills and Cobra

Housing & utility expenses

Lost income replacement while Eric recovers

History: Eric is 58 years old and has had major heart health issues all his life. He was born with aortic stenosis, a narrowing of his aortic heart valve. At age 19, he had his first open heart surgery to replace the aortic valve. Ten years later, at age 29, Eric had a non-ruptured ascending aortic aneurysm. At the time he had pneumonia, so luckily the pain from that brought him to the doctor and Eric went through his second open heart surgery. Eric had 8 inches of his aorta replaced along with replacing the aortic valve.

On January 6, 2025, Eric he was admitted to the hospital to get rid of extra fluid that was building in his body and was now affecting his breathing. During that two-week hospital stay they diagnosed mitral valve regurgitation and would be facing another surgery. Because of his complicated heart history, his cardiologist referred him to Mayo Clinic in Rochester for his third open heart surgery.

Post surgery updates:

First few weeks after surgery, we had doubts about his ability to recover from this massive health crisis. One step ahead and two steps back seemed to be the norm for a while. He was on multiple medications to keep him going. Eric had lost 65 lbs. and had severe muscle loss from lying in bed so long. His blood pressure was dangerously low from inactivity.

Months later, we were seeing improvements, a tracheotomy was used for the ventilator, and a few weeks ago the vent was removed. The tube feeding was removed after passing multiple swallowing tests and is on a regular food. They had to use a ceiling lift to get him from the bed to chair.

Just a week ago, he finally took his first post-steps!

His biggest obstacle now are his kidneys, the injury from the lung bleed was severe and Eric may be on dialysis for life, 3 to 4 times a week.

So, after 4 months in the hospital, Eric will soon be transferred to a rehab facility.