Help Mark Schleihauf Breathe Again
Donation protected
In January 2017 Mark got a bad cough. He was coughing every two minutes, and was having a difficult time breathing due to his coughing.
Mark’s wife Julie called for an ambulance. When the paramedics arrived they tried talking to Mark and thought he was hyperventilating. Julie explained to them he could not catch his breath because of his coughing. After arriving they put him on oxygen and ran tests. They wrongly surmised he had emphysema.
Mark had to stop working. July 2017 he went to the hospital. He had pneumonia and was put on strong antibiotics. He ended up in the hospital for 21 days, in isolation. They could not do a biopsy on his lungs because they were afraid he would not make it through the biopsy. They decided to put him on chemo to slow down whatever was attacking his lungs. His oxygen levels were all over the place . Six months of chemo did stop the progression of the disease but that to has changed of late.
Due to other medication he was on, Mark gained weight. It was decided he would go to physio three times a week. The doctors decided he would be a good candidate for a double lung transplant but he would need to lose weight, at least 50 pounds. Loss of fifty pounds later, Mark is within the criteria of proceeding with the double lung transplant. Mark is on oxygen full time. Aside from his lungs he is in good shape physically so he is a good candidate to move forward with the double lung transplant.
To have this transplant Mark must have money to cover his medicines for the three to six months he will have to stay in Toronto. He must pay for his accommodations in Toronto for that duration. Because Julie is his primary caregiver she must share her accommodations with Mark. They will need food, transportation to and from the hospital. Once accepted physio is started in Toronto until an acceptable donor is found. They will leave behind their two children and their spouses. They will also be away from their four grandchildren who they love dearly, and who Mark has had limited time with due to his compromised immune system.
To help financially Mark and Julie sold their beautiful home and are moving in with their son and daughter in law and their two children. Avery is the granddaughter who drew the picture of her grandparents, her grandpa attached to his oxygen for the past two years, Cash, her younger brother is legally blind, and has been used to his grandparents playing an intricate part in this life. The past two years have been difficult for him because he does not understand what is going on with his grandfather.
The funds we are requesting would be beneficial in helping them cope with the huge financial burden that this horrible disease has dealt them. They have been living off our investments for the past few years, and every time they turn around they get hit with another unexpected cost for medication, or services.
This is not not an easy thing that we ask of people we do not know. This unknown disease has striped them of their dignity. They are vulnerable. Even if Mark gets a transplant it does not necessarily mean success. For the rest of his life Mark will be monitored closely, travelling to Toronto for follow ups, making sure the new to him lungs are not being rejected by his body.
On top of it all Julie, the love of his life, is having her share of medical issues. The stress of their situation wears on both of them.
Please pray for Mark and Julie and their loved ones. If you have not done so please sign your donor card, because this could happen to you, a family member, a friend or relative. If that is the only thing you get out of this is the fact that you can make a difference in the world by signing your donor card that in itself would be wonderful.
We believe the transplant work is possible because of the generosity of organ donors. The transplant organization honours these remarkable gifts from donors and their families.
God Bless
Mark’s wife Julie called for an ambulance. When the paramedics arrived they tried talking to Mark and thought he was hyperventilating. Julie explained to them he could not catch his breath because of his coughing. After arriving they put him on oxygen and ran tests. They wrongly surmised he had emphysema.
Mark had to stop working. July 2017 he went to the hospital. He had pneumonia and was put on strong antibiotics. He ended up in the hospital for 21 days, in isolation. They could not do a biopsy on his lungs because they were afraid he would not make it through the biopsy. They decided to put him on chemo to slow down whatever was attacking his lungs. His oxygen levels were all over the place . Six months of chemo did stop the progression of the disease but that to has changed of late.
Due to other medication he was on, Mark gained weight. It was decided he would go to physio three times a week. The doctors decided he would be a good candidate for a double lung transplant but he would need to lose weight, at least 50 pounds. Loss of fifty pounds later, Mark is within the criteria of proceeding with the double lung transplant. Mark is on oxygen full time. Aside from his lungs he is in good shape physically so he is a good candidate to move forward with the double lung transplant.
To have this transplant Mark must have money to cover his medicines for the three to six months he will have to stay in Toronto. He must pay for his accommodations in Toronto for that duration. Because Julie is his primary caregiver she must share her accommodations with Mark. They will need food, transportation to and from the hospital. Once accepted physio is started in Toronto until an acceptable donor is found. They will leave behind their two children and their spouses. They will also be away from their four grandchildren who they love dearly, and who Mark has had limited time with due to his compromised immune system.
To help financially Mark and Julie sold their beautiful home and are moving in with their son and daughter in law and their two children. Avery is the granddaughter who drew the picture of her grandparents, her grandpa attached to his oxygen for the past two years, Cash, her younger brother is legally blind, and has been used to his grandparents playing an intricate part in this life. The past two years have been difficult for him because he does not understand what is going on with his grandfather.
The funds we are requesting would be beneficial in helping them cope with the huge financial burden that this horrible disease has dealt them. They have been living off our investments for the past few years, and every time they turn around they get hit with another unexpected cost for medication, or services.
This is not not an easy thing that we ask of people we do not know. This unknown disease has striped them of their dignity. They are vulnerable. Even if Mark gets a transplant it does not necessarily mean success. For the rest of his life Mark will be monitored closely, travelling to Toronto for follow ups, making sure the new to him lungs are not being rejected by his body.
On top of it all Julie, the love of his life, is having her share of medical issues. The stress of their situation wears on both of them.
Please pray for Mark and Julie and their loved ones. If you have not done so please sign your donor card, because this could happen to you, a family member, a friend or relative. If that is the only thing you get out of this is the fact that you can make a difference in the world by signing your donor card that in itself would be wonderful.
We believe the transplant work is possible because of the generosity of organ donors. The transplant organization honours these remarkable gifts from donors and their families.
God Bless
Organizer and beneficiary
Leona Giesbrecht
Organizer
St Thomas, ON
Julie Schleihauf
Beneficiary